“I asked Kal earlier. He didn’t know anything about this drug, but apparently whichever Brumal concocted it was trying to imitate an omega heat. It’s too bad they hadn’t also come up with a way for it to replicate an omega’s slick, don’t you think?”
Another shake of his head in the negative. Rin knew enough about omegas to catch Kelevra’s meaning though. Apparently, they entered a heat when their bodies were ready for breeding. They’d exude an attractive scent to lure alphas, and their sexual organs produced something called slick to lubricate their passages.
“I’m not some bitch in heat,” Rin growled, internally wincing afterward when the hand in his hair yanked again, smarting his scalp.
“Let’s show a little more respect, shall we?” Kelevra suggested. “That’s an entire species you’re insulting. Besides, the second I slip this past your lips, be real, you’ll be no better than one. Want to make bets? I’m thinking you’ll beg me for it this time. Maybe even get down on your knees for me, like a good little subject should. How does that sound, Flower? Want to worship my cock like it’s your emperor?” He let out a groan. “I like that idea actually. Like the thought of you submitting.”
“This is wrong,” Rin whispered, unable to keep the fear from entering his voice now. Keeping his composure hadn’t exactly helped him in this situation anyway.
“I’m thinking,” Kel nuzzled under his jaw, “if I drug you enough times, eventually you’ll change that tune of yours all on your own and spread for me without needing it. Don’t you agree?”
“Why?” Rin leaned back when that pill was brought closer, though Kelevra didn’t try and put it in his mouth. Yet. The danger was very real. He could sense it. This wasn’t a bad joke. Kel fully intended to follow through with his threats. “Why me? I haven’t done anything to you.” Up until the other day, the two of them hadn’t even known one another.
“Honestly?” Kelevra said. “I’m just as surprised as you are. I thought for sure I’d fuck you and move on. Maybe it was because I woke up and you were gone? I didn’t like that. I should have. It’s always better when they’ve left the morning after and I don’t have to bother trying to remember their names. But with you…It felt like an insult. Felt a lot like you were trying to run away and put distance between us.” He pressed an open mouth kiss to his jugular. “I’d rather keep you close, Flower. Isn’t that interesting?”
“No.” It was terrifying. How had he gotten here? How had things escalated so quickly?
Rin had been mistaken in thinking he could handle someone like Kelevra simply because he was similar to his brother. His brother was a psychopath, not a sociopath. He played the long game, could keep a rouse going for years even. He didn’t act impulsively the same way Kel did, even when he wasn’t hiding and was giving into his true nature.
Kelevra sighed as though Rin’s response was disappointing. “You’re afraid. Are you used to fear?”
Yes. “No. Do me a favor and stop making me feel this way.” It was too open and raw, but Rin needed to say it. Not that he had high hopes it would make a difference. Kelevra wouldn’t care that this wasn’t something he wanted.
He only cared about himself.
Sure enough, the Imperial Prince tipped Rin’s head back and brought the pill closer. “You’ll feel better in a moment. I was told the effects happen much quicker on the second dose.”
Rin was in the process of struggling the best he could when the sound of approaching footsteps caught both of their attention. A couple of female voices soon followed, their whispers low and quiet due to the fact they were in the library, making it harder to correctly gauge just how far they were from reaching the top and seeing—
“Please,” Rin pleaded, he couldn’t see the stairs, his body turned away from them, but he tried turning his head in that direction as much as possible, the panic growing tenfold. “Please, don’t.”
If they saw this word would spread. And if word got around, people would take notice. Not just of him, but of his identical brother. There’d be nowhere left for them to hide, and eventually, with all of that attention, someone would catch one of them slipping, would see something they shouldn’t.
“Please,” Rin turned back, barely processing when Kelevra’s hand loosened its grip on his hair to allow him, locking eyes with him. “They’re coming.”
Kelevra searched his face for a moment, and little by little, something like understanding morphed his expression from one of determination to something else.
Possibly something even darker.
The Imperial Prince seemed…gratified.
He released Rin, shoving him away with enough force to send him stumbling back several steps.
Rin found his footing just as two girls dressed in dark gray—the shade for juniors at the university—arrived. He turned, keeping his bound hands out of view and offered them a polite smile that had them giggling and rushing off to the back.
They went straight to one of the stacks, but did nothing to hide the fact they were stealing glances at both him and Kelevra.
Great. This was going to be talked about anyway. Though, at least all that would be said was the Imperial Prince had been spotted on campus. They most likely wouldn’t mention him in any capacity other than calling him a hot Academy cadet.
The relief that washed over him was enough to have his shoulders slumping, but he stiffened all over again when Kel took a step closer and leaned in, his hot breath blowing against his cheek as he delivered one last warning.
“Come back to the Academy. If I’ve found you’ve lingered here flirting it up, there will be repercussions, cadet.” He pulled back and stared at Rin for a moment, seemingly searching for something. “You should have told me you were worried about a possible scandal. That can easily be fixed.” He pocketed the pill and then winked.
Rin opened his mouth to tell him that wasn’t it at all—even though that had been part of the problem—but then he realized his wrists were still bound.
Kelevra, the absolute prick, left him standing there without so much as a backward glance.
And no way to undo the binding.
