Page 38 of Devil May Hunt
“Oh.” He sipped at the cup himself. “There isn’t one.”
“Bullshit.”
“There isn’t.”
“You want me to believe you used a drug that’s still in the testing stages on me without any sort of backup plan in case things went sideways?”
“Why not? We’re virtually strangers. Just because I want you, doesn’t mean I have to care what happens to you, right?”
Brennon flinched.
“I’m playing with you, pretty lover. Of course I don’t mean that.”
“So then give me the antidote.”
“No.”
“Gunho—”
“Alpha,” he interrupted. “I’m older than you and your alpha. It’s rude to call me by name.”
“Yeah, well this is Vitality, not Synastry, and I’m Vital, not an omega.” Even if he did now have to experience heats or whatever the fuck that’d been. Which he wasn’t a fan of. The thought of going through that again… “Be’tessi. I’ll call you that. That’s as far as I’m willing to go to compromise. Take it or leave it.”
Gunho thought it over. “It’s alpha in the bedroom. Otherwise, agreed.”
“Fine.” Brennon risked propping a hip against the edge of the island, bringing himself a little bit closer to the imposing man. “Give me the antidote.”
“I won’t budge on that. We’ve exchanged mating bites, and I’ve knotted you more times than I can count. I brought you home, cleaned you out, and tucked you into bed. You’re mine, Brennon Cree. Accept that, so we can start setting terms and agreements on other things. Things you actually can control.”
He hated that his interest was piqued, and yet… “I’m listening. Like what other things?”
“Do you intend to remain at the Academy?” he asked it casually, but Brennon bristled all the same.
“Don’t you dare try to mess with my life.”
“I’ll take that as a yes. What about your dorm room?”
“What about it?”
“You’re mated now. It’s inappropriate for us to live apart.”
“I’m keeping my dorm room,” Brennon insisted. “And I’m not moving in with you.”
Gunho took another sip of his coffee. “The weekends then. I’ll allow you to remain at the dorms during the week, but you return here, to me and our home, without fail every Friday before ten pm. Understood?”
“No.”
He sighed and set the mug down with a sharp clack against the marble counter. “I could chain you up and refuse to allow you to leave this house ever again. You’re no match for me, I can easily overpower you. If you think your friends or family can help, think again. Kelevra Diar doesn’t seem to like you very much, certainly not enough to interfere with my wishes regarding my Royal Consort on your behalf.”
“Royal Consort?”
“That’s what you are.” Gunho tilted his head. “Did you not realize that on your own?”
How the hell was he this guy's Royal Consort?
“I’m an Imperial in the line of succession,” he reminded. “I’m allowed a Royal Consort, and I also happen to be of a species that takes a singular life partner. It’s stranger to assume you wouldn’t be given that title than it is that you have been.”
“Maybe for you.” Brennon ran a hand through his dark hair. “Slow down.”
