“Not like this.” He tugged at the collar, his finger barely fitting beneath the leather strap. “I didn’t want to be turned into your dog!”
“As I recall,” Flix planted his palms on the bed at either side of him and leaned in, “you gave me two options. Kill you or claim you. Those were the only terms, Ani.”
Aneski swore.
“That’s what happens when you make dumb decisions on the fly,” he said. “You make mistakes. You leave openings for people like me to slither in and take advantage. That’s why you were never meant to get involved with thugs like the Shepards, let alone monsters like the Brumal. You were meant to keep living your life, and eventually,Russwas meant to come collect you so the two of you could ride off into the sunset and start fresh somewhere far away from the filth that lurks in this city.
“Staying away from you was meant to make that easier.” Flix clicked his tongue. “But you forced my hand and here we are. Kill you or claim you? I clearly chose the latter, but this is where you throwing a tantrum every time you don’t get your way comes to an end. It’s partially my fault, isn’t it? I spoiled you. That was my mistake.”
“Flix.”
One of their multi-slates went off and Flix pulled away, heading back to the dresser to check. He read a message and then sent off a reply quickly and returned to his side.
“You wanted my forever, I said no, so you stabbed yourself. You missed by a fraction of an inch, by the way. If you hadn’t, Baikal’s doctor says she’s not sure even she would have been able to save you. That’s how close you were to death, Ani.”
“Who texted you, Flix?” Aneski wasn’t a fan of the tense set of the other guy's shoulders.
“You wanted to be mine?” He chuckled darkly and picked up the plastic cup he’d sipped from earlier. “So you are. You’re mine, Aneski Kendricks. Here’s the thing about the things that I own. No one is allowed to take them from me.” He pointed at him with the hand holding the cup. “No. One.”
“I’m sorry.” He really, really was. He was starting to think he should have allowed Flix to leave and then tried again later. Come up with a better plan. “It won’t happen again. I’ll never—”
“Of course you won’t,” Flix agreed. “Because I won’t give you the chance. You want to know how to torture someone? It’s not with butt plugs and vibrating cock rings. It’s here.” He poked him in the forehead and Aneski didn’t even bother trying to move away. “I’m going to fuck your mind so hard, you’ll forget all about wanting to leave.”
“That’s not going to happen. I have a life,” he repeated.
“Your life belongs to me now. I don’t know what you’re whining about. You’re the one who so brazenly gave it away.” Flix straightened and held out the cup. “Drink. The doctor said you need to remain hydrated. You’re mostly healed but not completely there yet. I can’t have you bleeding internally when I finally plug you up with my dick, now can I?”
Aneski bristled but smartly took the cup. He hesitated before drinking it however, a stubborn part of himself stillwanting to rebel despite how well that’d turned out for him already. Forcing himself, he downed the contents of the cup and thrust it back to Flix.
“Happy?” he asked. “I get that you’re angry. I was an idiot for doing what I did, but—” The room suddenly spun and he abruptly stopped talking.
“Lay down,” Flix ordered.
“What’s…” He stared at the cup as it was set back on the nightstand. “You drugged me?”
“I have to leave for a bit,” Flix told him calmly. “You can’t be left on your own right now. I’d probably get back to you having torn the skin around your neck in a foolish attempt to get the collar off, wouldn’t I?”
He…wasn’t entirely wrong, not that Aneski was stupid enough to admit that.
“It’s better this way,” he said. “Sleep until I’m back.”
“Flix.” He tried to push him off when the Brumal member reached for him, but he was already too weak and could do nothing as he was lowered to the bed and tucked back in like a child.
“I’ll be back for you,” Flix promised.
Or maybe it was threat.
Aneski honestly couldn’t tell anymore.
Chapter 16:
“Why the sudden interest in finding this dirtbag?” Saint tossed the folder onto the table and dropped down into one of the empty chairs.
They were at Void Manor in the study with Berga. Flix had been called here by the latter a half hour ago and had arrived to find no one else was around but the three of them.
He took the packet and opened it, sorting through the pages. “My Onus is looking for him.”
Saint stilled. “You have a what now?”
