“Didn’t we?” Kazimir blew out a breath. “I don’t know what’s up with you—No, that’s a lie. It’s this new thing I’m trying called being polite. Nate would like me to stop causing so much trouble with my bluntness. I know what’s up with you. It’s been too long since the last time you were fucked.”
Zane reached up to tug on his earlobe, slipping a finger behind it to feel at the slight bump where the tracking device had been implanted that night at the pool. When he’d gone up to his room and realized what’d been done, he’d almost pulled the thing out but had changed his mind in the end.
No one would bother putting a tracking device on someone they weren’t desperate to keep tabs on, right?
Someone they didn’t desperately want?
Was it sick of him to like it? To feel comforted by the object that’d been inserted into his body against his will?
Sure.
But knowing that didn’t stop the sweeping of relief that soothed his growing anxiety whenever he touched it, just to make sure it was still there.
As if he feared Pavel would sneak into his room one night and take it back.
“Believe it or not, I’ve always considered us friends,” Kazimir added, but before Zane could come up with any sort of reply, someone cleared their throat.
Nate Narek appeared, circling the table and dropping down into the empty chair at Kaz’s side. “Interesting choice of friends.”
Zane smiled sweetly. “Hello, Narek. I trust you’ve been well?”
“No one’s snuck into my boyfriend's house lately, so yeah, you could say that.” He stabbed Kaz’s fork into the half-eaten chocolate chip muffin on the small plate in front of him and popped it into his mouth.
“I had a key,” he reminded, mostly because he didn’t want to be associated with Pavel and his creeping ways. “But don’t worry. I lost it a long time ago.”
“Isn’t this cute.” Madden returned and set a glass mug in front of Zane before sitting next to him. “Us, together, hanging out like this. Making his man jealous for funzies.”
“I don’t know a single person who actually likes the cherry dark chocolate mocha. It’s so bitter.” Nate eyed Zane as he sipped the red and brown drink, then seemed to process the last part of Madden’s statement. “Wait, we’re doing what now?”
“Seeing someone?” Kaz smirked. “Good for you.”
“I’m undecided.” Zane was only partially here to mess with Pavel, in any case.
“He doesn’t know if he wants to keep him or not,” Madden stole a piece of Kazimir’s muffin, winking when Nate gave him a stormy look.
“Shouldn’t that be,” Nate pulled the plate closer to his side of the table, “he doesn’t know if he wants him or not?”
“Oh, he wants him,” Madden chuckled.
“Zane doesn’t bother with things that lack purpose,” Kaz agreed, reaching up to drape an arm over Nate’s shoulders casually. “So? What can we help you with? Admittedly, it was weird getting your call.”
“Just act like we’re having a good time,” Zane said.
“Why?” Nate’s brow winged up. “Hold on, he’swatchingus? Right now?”
“From the second floor of the department store across the street,” Kazimir confirmed, also cluing them to the fact he’d been aware of Pavel’s presence all this while. “He’s really not doing much to keep hidden, is he?”
“He definitely wants Zanie to know,” Madden hummed. “But that’s only part of the reason we asked you here. Baikal requested we help out with the investigation into the murder of the Brimstone sibling.”
The Brimstones were visiting Royals from another galaxy working closely with the Brumal. The eldest sibling, Jem, had recently inherited their grandfather’s trade routes, ones necessary for the Brumal to maintain their level of power within the Dual galaxy. It was safe to assume keeping him happy meant keeping the deal alive.
Unfortunately, one of his sisters who’d been visiting with him had been inexplicably murdered. So, there was that minor snafu.
Zane wouldn’t usually bother with Brumal affairs, but ever since Madden had started dating Berga, the lines between their two groups had started to blur somewhat. Before, they’d help each other out if there was a problem, but there was typically a tradeoff of sorts. As far as Zane knew, Kelevra had agreed to offer their services with nothing in return.
Although, he did suppose a pissed-off Royal with a dead sister on their planet didn’t look great for the Imperial family.
“Saint is already off world chasing down a lead,” Kazimir said. “As for the rest, Yuze has taken the case.”
