Page 31 of Benet

“Now I owe you two debts which can’t possibly be repaid,” Kyden said. “Elara and I’d been hoping to start a family but at least in our Generation we were told we’d been created to be sterile.”

“To quote the goddess, the magic is in the blood,” Dmitri repeated.

Kyden looked around the table. “This entire topic needs to remain a Badari secret. The last thing any of us want is for non-Badari to suspect our very lifeblood confers such benefits.”

Dmitri marveled at the push of sheer Alpha power he felt as Kyden spoke. The man was strong in his role, even more than the Alpha Dmitri had followed at the labs. The energy washed over him in a wave and he savored the taste of what he’d known in the distant past, when he was part of a pack.

Marushka had to take her leave and after she was gone the conversation veered toward news from the Five Systems and updates for Benet from Kyden and Talinn on events he’d missed. From there the three men shared what he could tell were favorite stories of arena triumphs and mishaps. Dmitri envied the easy air of friendship between the trio and took full note of the respect Benet and Talinn obviously had for Kyden.

Decision made, he rose from his chair and knelt on the carpet beside Kyden. “I wish to swear my allegiance to you as my Alpha. Now, tonight.”

He ignored a gasp from Benet and Talinn stiffening in his chair, keeping himself focused on Kyden.

“Why must it be now?” Kyden asked. “We’ve barely met.”

Dmitri rubbed his chest where the ache never subsided. “All these centuries I’ve been without the pack bond. The loss is a constant grief, a never-ending pain and a reminder of all that was torn from me when I was brought here by the scientists to be a gift to the empress at the time. I’ll gladly give you my fealty in return for the joy of becoming part of a pack of Badari again.”

“We’re an odd pack,” Kyden said in a contemplative tone, glancing at Talinn, who dipped his head in agreement. “And small. You should know I wasn’t born an Alpha but took the title once I gained control of my gladiatorial House and had found Rennyr. The Great Mother has signified her approval of my presumptuousness.”

“I have no doubts you’re every bit an Alpha, however you came to the role,” Dmitri said, still on his knees, hope burning in his chest next to the void where the bond should be anchored. “I’ve observed how you interact with your men and I’ve listened to your words. My inner beast has done its assessment of yours and we both want nothing more than to be a part of your pack, to call you our Alpha.”

“And what if my first order to you as your Alpha is you must find a way to come with me to the Five Systems?” Kyden asked.

“I would answer I must remain here, where the Great Mother placed me.” Uttering the words nearly crushed Dmitri but he owed the Alpha the truth. “Until she releases me from this place, I can’t leave. She said nothing on the subject when I saw her in the vision. With the utmost respect, the commands of the goddess override even those of an Alpha.” Would Kyden refuse him now? But all a Badari had was his honor and Dmitri couldn’t lie, nor could he make plans to flee Outlier.

Kyden nodded slowly as if he’d expected the answer to be as Dmitri presented it. “You do realize the pack bond will cut off when I leave Outlier, which will happen as soon as these damn Games are over? At most you’ll have the bond for a couple of weeks, although I’ll always consider you part of my pack and my family.”

Suppressing his excitement as it seemed the Alpha was going to grant his dearest wish, Dmitri swallowed hard and again spoke his truth. “To have a pack bond again after all this time, to belong to an Alpha such as yourself, would be like rain in the desert to my soul. I—I think it would give me the strength and courage I need to face yet more endless years in Outlier as an Asset to the Crown. I know it’ll be a near mortal blow when the bond severs once you’ve departed from orbit but I need whatever time I can have as a Badari within a pack once again.”

Rising to his feet, Kyden said, “Very well. I’ll be honored to accept you into my pack. This should be done in the grove of the Great Mother and with due ceremony, song and ritual but our circumstances here are hardly ideal.”

Talinn left his chair and came to brace Dmitri, who remained on his knees but raised his chin to give Kyden the best access to his carotid artery.

“I swear to accept you as my Alpha from now until death, obeying your orders in all things, fighting at your side, protecting the pack from enemies, keeping the Badari secrets.” He readied himself to hold steady while Kyden completed the pact. “Save only that as we discussed, I must remain here in Outlier until the goddess releases me.”

“In turn I give you my promise to put the welfare of the pack above all else and to rule as a just and fair leader, preserving the Badari tradition. Accept my mark, Hendon of the Badari and by so doing pledge your fealty to me.” Moving so fast he was practically invisible, Kyden extended his fangs and blooded Dmitri to seal the bond between them.

The lights in the room darkened and the floor beneath Dmitri’s knees quivered. The pack bond slammed into him but there was no pain, only joy and warmth as the sense of belonging once more to something bigger than himself drove out all the loneliness and despair of centuries. He rose to his feet and Kyden embraced him, while Talinn pounded his back.

“Welcome to the pack, brother,” the Tzibir said.

Drawing back from the Alpha’s hug, Dmitri said with heartfelt gratitude, “I can die a happy man now, having tasted the joy of being a pack member once more.”

“Here’s to a long and happy life,” Benet said, raising his glass of wine as the other men each picked up a goblet and joined the toast, clinking the glasses together and drinking.

Kyden set his glass on the table and stared at Benet. “Are you ready? If I’m adding members to my pack tonight in this unusual way, we might as well extend the pack bond to you now. I was going to wait until we could do this in the grove at the House, with Rennyr in attendance to sing the proper paeans to the Great Mother, but now I think we should lock it all down.”

* * *

Benet blinked hard and took another gulp of wine. He and Kyden had an unbreakable bond after all the years of fighting in the arena together, guarding each other’s backs as best they could, and helping each other defeat their previous owner’s nefarious schemes. Close as he was to Kyden he’d known the three Badari had a whole other kind of bond and brotherhood. They shared things to which he wasn’t privy, although he was included in anything to do with the running of the House and its business. He was Kyden’s second in command there and even Rennyr and Talinn accepted his authority. But he had to admit there’d been times when he was a bit jealous of the way the Badari were a solid unit, with him as part of their group at times and not at others.

Having watched Dmitri take the oath and accept the pack bond, he knew what was involved. He’d been hit with a bit of power in the backwash when the bond took root in Dmitri’s heart and he was a little shaken by the secondhand experience, not to mention watching Kyden nip the other man’s artery to seal the deal.

Was he ready to be a part of whatever pack membership entailed?

Seven hells yes.

He set the goblet on the table with a thunk, straightened his shirt and walked to stand in front of Kyden, whose eyes were positively golden with power and emotion. “I’d be proud to join the four of you.”

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