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oppressive in a way that made him want to run back to his home and never leave it again.
I am sorry, my honor, Elia murmured as the door swished closed behind them, ensconcing
them in his former bedroom. I was trying to approach my father s gift diplomatically and didn t think
about how you would interpret it.
He set his lover down gingerly, and his human immediately crossed the room to put as much
distance between them as possible. He logically understood, but it still made his chest constrict. Are
you or are you not going to take that damn Eoean guy as a second concubine?
Alexis
Yes or no, Elia. That s all I want to hear.
Elia took a deep breath. I only want you, Alexis. Only you. He tried to convey in those short
sentences all the feelings that had bubbled up in the short time he d known Alexis. The phrase that had
been on the tip of his tongue since last night sounded. I love you.
Slowly, the tension in Alexis s shoulders relaxed. So I m your only concubine?
From now until I breathe my last breath, Elia promised.
Alexis s expression softened, and he opened his mouth to say something else, but the door
opened, interrupting him.
Kranok ducked through the doorway, his expression furious. Elia knew that expression well. He
internally cringed, knowing the tongue lashing he was about to get. How dare you embarrass me in
front of the other Araks, Kranok snapped. He pointed his meaty finger over at Alexis, and Elia
stepped protectively in front of him. You let that human turn you into something weak and pathetic. I
thought the power and immortality that soul resonance granted would be worth whatever cultural
hardship having a human for a first concubine placed on you, but nothing is worth you turning your
back on your duty.
I ve done my duty, Elia snapped, advancing on his father for the first time in his life. He
looked up into the face of the man who had tormented him since childhood and glared. I have done
nothing but my duty to my people and this family. I am not a child anymore, and I will not accept your
dictates any longer.
Kranok reached out and picked up Elia by his throat, his nostrils flaring in anger. Who do you
think you re talking to, boy? What stupid human habit have you picked up to talk to me in such a
fashion? His grip tightened, and Elia gasped for air, clawing at the hand on his neck. Memories of
being picked up and shook when he was an unruly spawn assaulted him, compiling his humiliation.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a streak of tanned flesh and blue fabric. Get off of him, you
sack of shit! His eyes bulged as his lover swung a chunk of Eoean sculpture at his father s head. It
connected with Kranok s jaw, and his hand fell away from the column of his throat.
Kranok roared, reaching for Alexis. Elia jumped in between them and shoved Kranok backward.
Stop it, Father! Elia shouted. You have no right to touch me or my concubine. I am Arak. He d
finally had enough of his father s control. Alexis was more than worth his father s wrath. The
connection, their soul resonance, snapped in place like a rubber band, and he was so flooded with
mental energy that the power in the room blazed bright enough to overload the lights and send all the
Eoean technologies into a kaleidoscope of color as they popped and sparked.
Kranok froze. I see, he whispered, looking between Elia and Alexis with a new calculating
look on his face. He rubbed his jaw. If you leave now and disrespect my present to you, you re no
longer welcome here. You will not see your sire or your siblings ever after.
The threat was a knife twisted in his gut, but Elia had had enough of Kranok bullying him. So
be it. We ll collect our things and be gone within the hour. Expect Task to be back at your house
tomorrow.
Kranok turned from the both of them without another word and stalked out their room. The
adrenaline that had kept him on his feet during the confrontation left in a rush. He trembled as the
reality of what he d just done sank in.
Alexis came over to him and wrapped his arms around Elia s waist. I guess there will be no
exhibition, huh? He was shaking. Elia held onto him tightly.
No, my honor. There will not. He paused, chuckled. It sounded a bit forced, but the relief was
evident. I am glad actually. I don t fit this anymore. He probably had never fit. It had taken his
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