Page 38 of To Bleed A Kingdom

Rage blazes into me, razing through my heart and lungs, igniting my blood. My biceps bulge, veins thicken and throb, and my nostrils flare as I inhale the rising smoke from the crackling and inflamed wood where my shimmering palms burn and splinter the arms of the chair.

“Sir?” Ajax asks, fear tightening his lips and the creases near his eyes, but he still boldly holds my gaze.

It’s his fear that begins to calm me, slowing my breaths and cooling my blood. Not completely, but enough to where it’s more manageable. Because it’s not Ajax’s fear I want. It’s Jareth’s and every other male like him.

Exhaling a steadying breath, I say, “You’ve done well, considering the circumstances.”

Ajax’s eyes widen. “Thank you, Sir.”

“I know all of this,” I wave my hands over the desk, “has affected you negatively, but I'm afraid it'll continue to do so. But know this: every male you’ve listed will face the consequences of their actions. I have no intention of releasing your name, but it’ll be obvious that you were my informant.”

He smiles. “I’m not concerned.”

“The backlash could be severe,” I warn.

He laughs, swiping his hands through his hair. “I don't care. Do whatever it is you need to do to fix this, and I’ll take any repercussions gladly.”

Liking him more and more with each passing second, and suspecting that he could do great things if under the proper tutelage, an idea crosses my mind.Choosing not to dwell on it too much, I decide to trust my instincts.

“Ajax, I'm removing you from your unit. Once you leave here, you're to go directly to the barracks and transfer your possessions to the Commander's quarters. From now on, you’ll report only to Commander Griffin or Commander Kace. ”

Shock crosses his face before it quickly twists into a scowl. “With all due respect, Sir, I didn't become a guard so others could protect me. I became one to protect others.”

“And I don't recruit guards that I have no intention of protecting.” Seeing his dubious expression, I add, “But that’s not the only reason. You should have been promoted long ago. Since your skills exceed anyone below a Commander, this would be a more beneficial assignment.”

He eyes me for a moment longer before giving a reluctant, “Yes, Sir.”

I nod his dismissal and he stands, heading towards the door. “Ajax?” He pauses over the threshold and glances at me over his shoulder. “Tell Lennox I wish to see Lieutenant Jareth immediately. He’s to collect him himself.”

A smirk quirks his lips. “Yes sir.”

When the door clicks shut, I slam my palms down on my desk, the inkpot toppling over from the impact. I pinch the bridge of my nose and slouch back in my chair, the cindered arms crumbling with the motion.

Kace reaches for the report. Eyes sweeping across the parchment, his expression darkens the more he reads. “Son of a bitch!” he snarls, passing the document to Griffin before pressing his knuckles into the desk, his brown hair slipping past his shoulder to partially shield his face. “I don’t give a fuck whose blood Jareth shares. I'll strangle the piece of shit!”Gripping the edge of the desk, he hangs his head. “He burned a Godsdamn child. Branded him like cattle.” Shoving off, he clasps his hands on the top of his head, his emerald jewels flickering as he shakes his head in disbelief.

I say nothing in response.

“He's right, Darius,” Griffin says, tossing the statement onto the desk. “This can't go unpunished.”

“I know.”

At another knock at the door, both males expressions clear of all emotions and resume their positions beside me.

“Enter.”

A guard cracks the door open and peeks inside. “Captain, I have Lieutenant Jareth here as you requested.”

“Bring him in.”

Lennox opens the door further and turns to the side. When I see the cocky motherfucker strut like a peacock into my office, I feel nothing but loathing.

Witha practiced smile, Jareth raises both arms in greeting. “Captain! How kind of you to request my presence. It's been too long, old friend.”Disregarding protocol, he seats himself without permission in the chair Ajax just vacated. “I was just telling Theon the other day how you haven't been to court in ages.” He chuckles, an arrogant, breathy sound that raises my hackles. “Of course, he mentioned how you despise such events, but I told him that's no excuse for avoiding your friends.”

Friends, my ass.

Wanting nothing more than to knock that ridiculous smile off his face, I instead study the entitled little shit who tormented me throughout childhood and all the way into adulthood. Even when I eventually began to transition into manhood and grew stronger and more powerful than him, he still believed I'd be willing to take his shit. But after beating him within an inch of his life, he realized his old tactics would only result in pain and embarrassment. My mother was furious with me for walloping the son of one of the highest members of court, and it took weeks to recover from the lashings I received as punishment, but I have no regrets.

Unable to forget his humiliation at my hands and incapable of besting me in strength or power, Jareth had to find more creative ways to dole out his cruelty. But cruel he is, even if it isn’t as obvious to those who didn't know him as well as I do.

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