He stayed that way as they shared their meal.Arslan spoke to each of the lions in his pride, checking in with them, ensuring all was well, but everyone’s attention was soon turning away from the emptied plates of food back to that week’s sacrifice.
Luther stopped idly stroking Marrick’s skin and gently nudged him to lift his head from his shoulder so they could move into a different position.But, while Marrick had seemed content to rest against him, he didn’t immediately show his enthusiasm for doing more than that.
“You don’t want to…”
Marrick hesitated.
Luther was quick to realise why.“You’re right—you should rest.”
“I donotneed to rest.”The words were hissed very low, as if they were a secret no one else could know.Marrick took a deep breath and let it out very deliberately.For a few seconds, he didn’t seem to know what to say.Finally, more words came.“You said that, if I was going to be part of the pride, I’d have to get to know the other lions in the pride,” Marrick reminded him.
Luther nodded.
“Well, it’s hard to have a sensible conversation with anyone while your cock’s buried in my arse.”
Luther couldn’t argue with the logic.A glance at Blaine showed that he was willing to agree with it, too.Luther only faltered for a moment before the whole idea fell neatly under the heading of making sure their pet had whatever he needed.
If Marrick needed to get to know the other lions before he could rest comfortably in the middle of the pride, then get to know them he would.
Marrick looked around the room until his gaze finally settled on Kefir.Perfect.Luther smiled and beckoned the little lion across the room.
*
Suddenly required to take part in the very conversation he’d demanded, Marrick found himself unable to think of a single damn thing to say.The lion Luther had called across was smaller than all the others.If Marrick wasn’t very much mistaken, he was also the only feline sub in the pride, as well as the only mated lion whose mate wasn’t there that night.
“Arslan asked you about a project?”Marrick finally managed to say.To his enormous relief, the words came out calm and steady.He didn’t sound anywhere near as exhausted as he felt.He was pretty sure no one would be able to guess his head was spinning with a sheer, overwhelming need for sleep.
The little lion nodded.
“Tell me about it?”Marrick asked.
The lion, Kefir, Marrick managed to remember through the haze his thoughts had descended into, seemed slightly surprised, but he nodded his willingness.
“Lions haven’t always kept written records as well as humans have,” he said, a little shyly.“They need to be brought up to date and fitted together so they make sense.”
“Records?”Marrick wasn’t sure if it was a sensible question, if he was making a fool of himself or not, but Blaine’s hand was stroking up and down his spine in a way that hinted the lion would like to stroke other places, and if Marrick couldn’t maintain the conversation, he knew his only other option was to admit he couldn’t keep up with them both.
That couldn’t happen.He’d battled his way into convincing them he wouldn’t break from the mildest scratch.He wasn’t going to undo all that good work now, not just because he was a bit sleepy.
Kefir glanced up at him.“Records of the prides, of which pride each cub was born into—which pride each cub joined when they left those prides.The leaders remember things, but…” He looked down for a moment.A slight frown scurried across his forehead, making him look very serious.“Even the best leader can’t remember everything.And details can be lost when they pass their knowledge on through each generation.”Through each word, his tone was carefully respectful, as if the most important thing in his world was making sure he didn’t offend any leader of any pride.
Marrick glanced across to the other side of the room, then back to Kefir.“What does Arslan think of the project?”
“He knows all about how humans keep records; he’s teaching me about it so I can keep our records the same way.”And, again, it was the tone of voice rather than what the little lion said that actually told the true story.The fact that Arslan was helping him with it obviously meant the whole world to the little guy.It was sweet enough that Marrick actually managed to think entirely nice thoughts about the lions’ leader for a few seconds.
“To properly track each pride, the details of each of any humans who join any of the different prides would be helpful.”
Marrick’s smile stayed in place.Mostly because he was too swirly-headed to quickly make sense of what Kefir was trying to tell him.By the time his mind caught up, it was too late to make it clear that he had no intention of joining the pride.
Gradually, Luther and Blaine seemed to decide talking for a little while was a good idea.As Marrick and Kefir’s conversation drew to its natural conclusion, other discussions started to flow around them.
Free to look around the room, Marrick found his attention quickly come to rest where Ryland was sitting at Arslan’s feet.Arslan was casually stroking his fingers through Ryland’s hair, and Ryland seemed to be far more than half asleep, content to let his master speak to the others while he simply took the rest he needed.
Marrick turned quickly away, only to come face to face with Kefir once more.The little lion was still sitting on the floor not far from their sofa, watching him very carefully.There was a touch of concern in his eyes, but right then, Marrick was too exhausted to work out if that was because the little guy was wary of him or worried for him or what.
Marrick looked away, forcing himself to keep his eyes open and his body language alert, demanding from himself that he be strong enough not to drop off in the middle of the damn party.
An entire lifetime passed before the human that had been thrown to the lions that night was taken outside and put into the car, much the same as Marrick had been not so long ago.He’d slept so beautifully that night…
