Kefir nodded again.
Mates don’t leave…The boy had stated it so calmly.The words echoed around and around inside Ellery’s head.
What they were entering into wasn’t some sort of temporary possession that would fade away when a collar was removed.It wasn’t some hook-up in a club.Part of him had been aware of that for some time—maybe even since the very first moment he’d met the little lion.
There was something about Kefir that made it impossible for him to think about him the way he had other subs that had come and gone from his protection over the years.
“I can speak for myself,” he said eventually.“If there’s a leader of my pride, it’s me.”Even if he was pretty sure Annabelle wouldn’t agree with that assessment.
Kefir seemed to let that settle into his mind for a little while.Then, he nodded, almost to himself.“Arslan says—”
“What does Arslan have to do with anything?”Ellery said.
Catching hold of Kefir’s chin, Ellery tilted it back so their gazes met and refused to let Kefir away.
“He says that humans don’t have the same kinds of instincts as lions, sir,” Kefir finished mildly, confusion flickering in his eyes as he seemed to see his master’s jealousy, even if he couldn’t make sense of it.
“Meaning?”
“If you need more time to decide what you want to happen between us, I can wait, sir.”
Because it wasn’t right to expect too much from a human.Ellery felt his spine stiffen.He’d heard that tone in Arslan’s voice far too many times already.In Arslan, it was merely mildly annoying, but the older lion’s poor opinion of humans spreading to Kefir was entirely unacceptable.
“I’m perfectly capable of making up my own mind,” Ellery said, pushing his anger down so it didn’t vent against the wrong man.“There’s no need to coddle me and assume I’m incapable of reaching a decision just as quickly as any shifter could.”
“Yes, sir.”And the little kitten just sat there, staring up at him, evidently waiting to hear what his oh-so-instantaneous decision was going to be.
Ellery glared down at him in return.“I wouldn’t have given you this if I didn’t care about you,” he said eventually, reaching out to hook his fingers under Kefir’s collar.And, in that moment, Ellery knew it was the truth.It had never been about just marking his territory so no one else would lay a hand on Kefir while he belonged to him.
It had always been about more than that.He stroked his fingers along the edge of the chain.
Kefir smiled.Dipping his head, he licked the back of Ellery’s hand, and that seemed to be the end of it.Ellery had the distinct feeling that there was nothing left to be said.At least, not to Kefir.Words often seemed entirely unnecessary with Kefir.
“You told Ryland you’d help him with dinner tonight,” he reminded the little lion a few minutes later.Kefir snuggled a little against him, apparently not at all inclined to leave his master’s lap.He offered a lick to Ellery’s neck, but when Ellery failed to encourage him, Kefir slowly pulled away.
Standing up behind him, Ellery sent the kitten on his way with a sharp tap against his backside.
Kefir smiled his delight over his shoulder as he went.
Ellery didn’t linger in the room on his own.Striding across the hallway, he rapped on the door leading into the lions’ meeting room.
“Enter.”
Ellery stepped inside.Arslan was alone, sitting in an armchair on the far side of the room.As Ellery closed the door behind him, Arslan set down his book and gave him his full attention.If a lion was expected to ask the leader of the human’s family for his blessing, Ellery guessed that he should do likewise, in respect for Kefir’s traditions if not those of lions in general, but the words stuck in his throat.
Kefir already belonged to him.Asking another man for him would be tantamount to suggesting he’d walk away if Arslan refused to give his blessing.Like there was any chance in hell of that.
“Are you under the impression that Kefir belongs to you?”Ellery asked instead, taking up a position next to the mantelpiece.
“No, he doesn’t belong to me.”
Ellery felt a little bit better about the world, just hearing Arslan admit it.
“But he is a member of my pride,” Arslan went on.“And all members of a pride are answerable to their leader.”
Ellery met Arslan’s eyes across the hearthrug.The difference between being answerable to someone and belonging to someone was far too subtle to find favour with him right then.He longed to be back in a nice, simple human club, with humans who made sense and who understood all the usual rules.
If Kefir had been human, it would have been so easy.As it was…Ellery took a deep breath and forced himself to be patient.
