“Soon,” he said darkly, fists clenching at his sides. “Soon you’ll really be mine. Let’s see you deny it then.”
He reached into the sink to collect the plug he’d tossed there and threw it into the nearest trash can. Then, after settling one last lingering look on Rabbit, he turned and stormed out of the bathroom.
Rabbit’s legs gave out from under him the second the door shut behind Void and he crumpled to the pale linoleum flooring.
His ass ached, his dick was still straining, and he’d been left alone to clean up the mess, but that wasn’t even the most infuriating part.
What really got to him was Baikal’s parting words.
And how Rabbit couldn’t decide if he wanted them to be a threat.
Or a promise.
Chapter 14:
The Void estate was more a fortress than anything, built between massive prea stone, all sharp angles, and boxy frames. There were four levels in total, including a basement, and a garage attachment that was large enough to be considered a separate residence all on its own.
Like everything else on this planet, there was a hierarchy to the floors. The main floor was where guests, meals, and business were conducted. The entire level directly above that belonged to Baikal, and no one other than the cleaning crew and those he personally trusted were allowed to step foot anywhere on it.
The top level was his father’s, the highest point, traditionally occupied by the Dominus, or king, of the Brumal.
Sooner than he’d like, Baikal was going to be moving up there.
He clenched his fists at his sides, inhaling slowly through his nose in an attempt to school himself before he made his presence known. He was on that top floor now, standing just outside his father’s private office. Though he shared an apartment with Kazimir closer to campus, the continued attacks on the Brumal had made everyone uneasy and Kal had been called home.
Knowing he couldn’t avoid reality forever, he braced himself for the inevitable and rapped his knuckles against the solid wood. As soon as he heard his father’s deep voice call out, he entered, making sure to keep his expression blank when his gaze landed on the proud man who had single-handedly raised him all these years.
Behind closed doors, the illness had made Sullivan Void almost unrecognizable. Whenever he went out, which was rarely now, it took ages for him to cover up the bags under his eyes and the orange, blotchy bruises on his body. He’d lost a lot of weight, most of it muscle, but still couldn’t be considered frail yet. The doctors had assured him he’d reach the end before he ever got to that point, a small comfort, considering how important it was for him to maintain his position.
Within the Brumal there were always those vying for attention, and though there hadn’t been a grab for the crown in two generations that didn’t mean one couldn’t come.
Hell, Baikal was pretty sure that’s what was at the heart of all these attacks now even, which was why he’d been summoned. They’d need to discuss everything that had happened and how to best proceed. Between school and taking a more active role in both the Brumal and the corporation, Baikal was feeling a bit spread thin, and that sensation was only made worse by the fact he absolutely couldn’t let that on to anyone, least of all the man before him.
He bowed his head once he made it to the center of the room, keeping his hand folded at his front. Though they were close, tradition and respect had been ingrained in Baikal’s psyche from a young age, so offering that to his Dominus, even if said Dominus was his father, came as second nature to him.
Sullivan Void was the only person on the entire planet, in the entire galaxy even, that he would bow to, however.
Dominus Void’s Counselor, Chesh Vera, stood near the window, currently flipping through digital pages on a tablet. He paid Baikal no mind aside from a slight tipping of his chin, forced to show the same kind of respect to the heir.
“The fire?” His father was seated behind his mahogany desk, an IV line in his arm, the bag floating nearby, held aloft by the robot assistant the hospital had assigned to help make things easier. He’d refused to be hospitalized, even knowing it would make things easier on himself, too worried about what that might mean for Baikal and the company.
Ironically, his position amongst the Brumal wasn’t as big of an issue—even with this minor uprising, there was little to no chance of anyone actually being able to steal the throne. Baikal was the only Shout on the planet aside from Sullivan. No one could question his claim.
Void United was the problem. The business world was every bit as cutthroat as the mafia, more so even in some instances, and while their family had close connections with the Diar’s that still didn’t guarantee anything.
It was the reason Baikal had been given no choice but to study at Vail University, and why he’d needed to double major in Business Administration and Intergalactic Cultural Advancements. Being a Shout meant nothing to the board. Certificates from fancy elite schools did.
“Dealt with.” Baikal had gotten the message when he’d been locked in the bathroom with Rabbit, and he wasn’t pleased about having to abandon his little bunny in the heat of the moment, but business was business, and it always came first. At least, for now.
As soon as he was able to tie Rabbit to him permanently? That would be a different story.
“This is the fourth one in a month,” his father frowned. “Have we been able to discover anything else?”
“We’ve linked them to the break in’s,” he said. “Same group responsible. Looks like they’re gearing up for a real attack. All of this was just lead-up, their version of testing the waters. They’ve been monitoring how we react, how quickly our men can arrive on the scene, things like that.”
“Your source?”
“With Berga.”
