Tellis rolled his eyes. “It’s a physical transaction. I can take any female I choose.” He grinned a wicked expression. “Even Terrans, if I want.”
Erzo fought against the restraints. “You touch Polly, and I’ll kill you myself,” Erzo spat.
Arik stepped between them and glared at Tellis. “No you won’t. You won’t touch any Terrans here. His or otherwise. Get out of here. Erzo and I have much to discuss.”
Erzo stared at his father. “I’m worthy of a discussion?”
“Don’t waste my time, spawn.”
Tellis stomped out of the room. “This isn’t over.”
“Be mindful, Brother,” Erzo said. “Restraints won’t hold me forever.”
Arik raised his hand and stepped over to the door, sealing it behind Tellis so they were both truly alone.
“He’s always been jealous of you.”
Erzo blinked. “Because I’m so wickedly handsome?”
“Because you made your own path.” Arik came over and hit a release. The straps holding Erzo down came off.
Erzo sat up, rubbing his wrists from the restraints. He considered punching his father, finding Polly, and escaping. It wouldn’t take much. Probably exercise a lot of childhood trauma in the process.
Something in his father’s expression gave him pause, though. He had pushed the normal fiery temper back. This was something else. More to it.
“And you? Why didn’t you just kill me when I left? That’s more your style.”
“Did you want me to?” Arik asked.
“I expected you to.”
“Then maybe you don’t know me as well as you think you do, boy.”
“Surely you haven’t softened over the years,” Erzo said.
“Older and wiser. And you’re alive, because I have need for you yet.”
There it was. Back to the arrangement with Breal’s clan. “I’m not mating with Breal.”
He hopped up from the seat and started moving, if only to get his mobility back. And to flee if needed. Generosity from his father was very rare.
This felt like a generous moment.
Erzo really didn’t notice at first, but now that he took in his father, he could see the male looked old. Tired. Lines on his skin were more noticeable. His dark green coloring was lightening around his neck and over his shoulders, his age showing.
“There are rules in the Clans,” Arik said.
“The clan rules are ridiculous.”
“But they are our laws.”
“Your point is?” Erzo crossed his arms.
“We need to discuss this. Male to male,” Arik said. “Because there is a lot more at stake than just a mating.”
Erzo blinked. That was never a good sign, when his father started talking about things being bigger than the obvious. “What did you do?”
“What I always do. I took care of it.”
