Before the two of them, Zane hadn’t been a slave to his bodily urges. He’d been unable to find a tether, something to quiet those ferocious voices in his head that constantly told him he would never be good enough to be kept by anyone. Sex had become a way to prove his worth, a fucked up way, sure, and a fleeting one, but a way nonetheless. Through orgasms, both giving and receiving, Zane was able to reassure himself that he was wanted, if even for a moment.
When he was allowing them to use his body for their pleasure, making them come, they wanted him desperately. In those moments leading up to release, they wanted him more than anything else on the planet. They’d programmed him to crave sex like the twisted monsters they both were and now where were they?
Kazimir was currently in a happy relationship and Lyra—
That did it. Thinking about her usually did. His cock deflated some, the acrid taste of bile rising up the back of his throat as he tried to breathe through the burst of disgust and panic that overcame him. Whenever he pictured the two of them in bed together, this is what happened. It hadn’t always been that way, but…
Zane shivered and closed his eyes. She’d return home tomorrow and she’d demand to see him.
Maybe demand was a strong word.
She’drequesthis presence, and he’d come crawling like he always did.
Like the good little lapdog she’d molded him into being.
The one he’d resigned himself into being for the rest of his life.
His eyes lingered on the empty glass bottle he’d drained more than an hour ago. He didn’t usually accept the snacks and drinks other students left for him, typically sweeping them off his desk and straight into the trash, even with the entire class watching. It never seemed to deter anyone and the next day there would simply be more. But a couple of months ago, the glass bottles started to appear and Zane hadn’t had the same disinterested reaction.
Picking it up, he turned it in the light, reading the black and gold label for the millionth time.Doc & Bro. There weren’t many childhood memories left, but this was one of them. When he’d been a kid, the sour green drink had been his favorite. At first, he’d been suspicious. Until he’d looked up the company and discovered they’d recently opened a branch on Vitality, which explained why it was suddenly available on planet. Whoever had chosen the drink for him must have merely wanted to get him something new, thinking that would impress him.
Considering he’d consumed every single bottle since they’d started appearing, they weren’t entirely wrong, though there was no way of them knowing the drink wasn’t new to him.
Maybe he should find out who was leaving them. Three months was long enough to go without a steady bed partner. Perhaps this student—or professor—could fill that role for the time being. Then Zane could go back to concentrating on what was actually important.
His multi-slate—the body borne device strapped to his right wrist that acted as both a computer and communicator—rang, cutting through his thoughts and he answered with a clipped, “What?”
There was a pause and then Madden’s voice asking, “That time of month again?”
“Why are you calling?”
“There’s a problem.”
“Sounds like a you issue.” Zane didn’t have time to deal with whatever his fellow Retinue member had going on.
There was a rustling noise and then a second later, a new person spoke. “It’s my issue, actually.”
Zane immediately straightened and then began to collect his things haphazardly. “Kelevra. Send me your location. I’m on my way.”
“No need,” the Imperial Prince drawled, stopping Zane in his tracks. “The problem is at Concealed. Head there.”
Concealed? He frowned. “Were you injured? Do I need to bring—”
“I’m fine,” Kelevra cut him off. “But yes to bringing the first aid kit. Hurry up.”
He swung his backpack over his shoulder and went for the closet where the kit was kept. His dick was still semi-hard, but he couldn’t deny a direct order. Kelevra Diar, the Imperial Prince third in line for the throne on Vitality, wasn’t just the leader of the Retinue.
He also happened to own Zane.
The drive to the club took less than twenty minutes from Vail campus, and it wasn’t until he was walking up to the two burly bouncers at the double glass doors that Zane recalled who owned this place. It’d been months since the last time Pavel and he had been alone, that weirdness from the night outside of Kazimir’s seemingly a strange dream he’d had more than reality.
Even though he’d only ever been here once or twice before, both bouncers took one glance at him and bowed,stepping aside so the censors to the doors would open for him. Zane didn’t waste time with the front desk, making a beeline for the elevators to the left as he checked the message he’d been sent from Madden.
Room 556.
Zane had no idea what was up there. It could be any number of things. Concealed was an award-winning restaurant, an exhibitionist club, and…actually, the last thing alluded him.
He pressed the button for level five and waited.
