“He’s mine,” Pavel said. “The Prince of Medicine is mine.”
“This just got incredibly fascinating.” Berga tilted his head and then turned to Madden. “Will you tear my throat open with your teeth as well? I would also like to feel wanted.”
Zane gaped at him and then snapped his fingers to get his attention. “First of all, it wasn’t my actual throat because then I’d be dead. Second of all, there is nothing attractive about this. Look at me!” He moved his palm enough to show him, feeling the trickle of blood instantly roll down to his chest, seeping into his shirt. “There is nothingattractiveabout being mauled in the middle of class.”
“I don’t know,” Berga disagreed. “Someone wanting me badly enough they need the entire school to know about it? It’s kind of hot.” His gaze filled with mirth, and Zane was glad no one else could see with the way the Butcher was turned toward him. “Admit it. You and I are more alike than anyone gives us credit for. If I find it a turn on…”
Zane grunted but didn’t deny it. Berga had spoken quietly enough the words would stay between the two of them anyway,and because of that, he didn’t feel the need to put on a strong front.
Because the Butcher was right. As pissed as he was from the pain and the fact that he’d now need to take time out of his busy day to get patched up, there was a tiny part of Zane that was…intrigued.
He’d thought for sure the romp through the woods was a random act of violence and he’d just been the unlucky target. But if Pavel was here, returning for seconds…
No.
He shoved those fucked up feelings down. It didn’t matter how much that inner voice of his purred at the idea of real, unfiltered attention from someone. Zane was not about to let himself be controlled by his messed-up urges.
He had too much at stake for that. Actual security he could rely on so long as he got through the rest of the school year and graduated.
Pavel’s feigned attention was thrilling, but it wasn’t tangible.
The guy would get sick of him once he’d had his fill, just like everyone else.
Madden pinched the bridge of his nose, most of the tension draining from his shoulders now that he believed this had just been a sex thing gone wrong. “You’ve been talking to Lake, haven’t you?”
Lake was a Retinue member from another planet who’d recently returned home.
Zane frowned, but a second later it became apparent he’d meant the question for Pavel.
“I was curious how it would be to try it out myself,” Pavel replied.
“Try what out exactly?” Zane demanded, not liking being left in the dark.
“On Tulniri,” Madden began, mentioning the planet their friend Lake Zyair lived, “there used to be this mating bite thing.”
“Similar to the alpha omega claiming you mentioned in jest earlier,” Berga not so helpfully added, pressing a piece of gauze he’d magically produced from one of the pockets on his lab coat to Zane’s injury.
“Apparently Lake bit someone back home and now the guy is forced to be his Royal Consort or whatever,” Madden finished.
“What is with Imperial Princes forcing people into becoming their Royal Consort?” Zane made sure his disappointment was clear in his tone. Kelevra had done the same with Rin, trapping the man in a relationship he wasn’t ready for. It’d all worked out in the end, but still.
“Don’t pout, gorgeous,” Pavel drawled, waiting until Zane met his gaze. “It’s your turn to be captured and chained.”
He huffed, mostly to cover up the shock of electricity that pinged down him at that comment. “Hate to break it to you, but this isn’t Tulniri. This,” he twirled a finger at his wound, “doesn’t mean anything here.”
“Tell that to the rest of campus.” Pavel grinned. “I bet they’re already abuzz.”
“This is starting to sound a lot like something we shouldn’t be involved in,” Madden said, only for Zane to shake his head.
“Absolutely not. This is exactly the type of thing you should be involved in because I am not interested in beingownedlike some pet.” He flung a hand out toward Pavel. “Especially not by him.”
Berga chuckled, winking when Zane set his glare on him, though his fingers never faltered as he dabbed at the wound. “You need stitches. Should I do them?”
“It’s not like I’m going to trust Madden with it,” Zane stated, settling more comfortably against the chilled panes of glass. He didn’t have to tell Berga where the kit could be located, since the Butcher took classes in this room as well.
“I can do it,” Pavel offered, only for all three of them to glare his way, even Berga.
Which was uncharacteristically nice of the Butcher.
