“I’m talking here.”
Xias raised his eyebrow, something Osamu had hit him for more than once. The man hated it when he did that. “Narcissistic much?”
Osamu frowned. “Narca—what?”
“Narcissistic,” Zian said. “You know, exaggerated feelings of self-importance, arrogant behavior, a sense of entitlement, and an overwhelming need for admiration. Oh, and usually a complete lack of empathy toward others.”
Xias grinned at Zian because he got it.
Osamu’s eyes narrowed. “Who are you?”
“Oh.” Zian’s grin was wicked. “I’m a place holder.”
Huh?
“You’re a place holder?” Osamu asked.
Zian nodded.
“What in the hell is a place holder?”
Xias was kind of curious about that himself.
“I’m holding his place.” Zian pointed just beyond Osamu’s shoulder.
Xias grinned as his heart thudded a little faster. “Zhuang.”
“Xias,” Zhuang said, walking right past Osamu as if the man weren’t even standing there. Xias jumped into his arms when he held them out. “I’m sorry I’m late, mate. I got held up back at council headquarters.”
“Well, you’re here now.”
Zhuang pressed a kiss to Xias’s lips before raising his head to look at his friend. “It’s good to see you, Zian.”
“I like your mate, dude. He’s got some mighty big balls.”
Zhuang chuckled as he wiggled his eyebrows. “I know.”
The loud retort of a gunshot echoed through the trees. Xias turned to see Osamu standing there with a gun in his hand.
“I’m talking here!”
Xias glanced at Zian and chuckled.
“Narcissistic,” they both said.
Several things happened at the same time. Osamu pointed his gun at Zian and pulled the trigger. As soon as Zian was thrown back by the bullet and hit the ground, Zhuang pushed Xias down and then leapt at Osamu.
By the time Xias sat up, Zhuang and Osamu were in their shifted forms, fighting to the death. Xias stared for a moment, both proud and horrified at the same time. The fight was fierce. Both men were alphas, so that made sense.
A groan from the ground several feet away drew Xias’s attention. He crawled across the ground to Zian’s side. A quick glance showed a bullet wound in the man’s shoulder. “You need to shift.”
“Yeah, I know, but I’m not ruining these boots for anyone.”
“Seriously?”
Was the guy insane?
“These were custom made.”
