Chapter 40 Family And Familial Duties

“Well, I can see why you like this one, Rye. So fiery.”

Millicent swept into a large entertaining room in front of Kari. The women had bullied him into the bath with her, dosed him with scented oils, and dressed him up in a white short-sleeve tunic ornamented with gold and yellow patterns. He was in a red breech with knee-high boots. A fabric was tied on his waist as always but now, a sash accompanied it from his left shoulder across his chest. Sparkling silver chains decorated both his arms placed just above his elbow. There were even two tiny silver bells attached to it so he tinkled as he moved.

It was super embarrassing.

Worse still, she had put something oily through his hair and painted around his eyes with a dark, almost charcoal-like stick. He was feeling ridiculously self-conscious when the crazy woman had dragged him from her quarters and through the palace. That had changed a little upon catching sight of a very naked white collared slave. Then another, and another.

So they really weren’t joking about the whole ‘pleasure slaves go naked’ threat.

And no one except Kari even noticed them. Not a single person cared that there were naked people walking amongst them. Instead Kari with his bright red cheeks and perpetual gape of surprise caught people’s attention. He felt a little less underdressed after that revelation.

That didn’t last long. He felt under-dressed once again when being led into a room where three others already resided. Golden eyes and dark hair pronounced the other two occupants in the room as Lezzker’s siblings. Rye’s siblings. There were now four Lezzkers in the room so he needed to properly distinguish them better. It was such a change to get used to though.

The atmosphere in the room was relaxed, yet the aura of casual power around each of the Lezzker siblings was daunting.

Ryedir sat slouched in an armchair and Kari approached when the man put his arm out to beckon him closer. If Kari didn’t know any better, he would have said the man was sulking. As it was, it was his first time seeing him acting in such a way. It was like a child being denied a treat, almost a glimpse into the human emotions behind his mask again.

Kari yelped as he was pulled into Ryedir’s lap and steel arms wrapped around him, pulling him close while the man’s chin rested on his shoulder so he could look at his siblings.

“So, this is why you’ve been fidgeting all evening. I’m surprised you brought him with you.” A man spoke as he leaned forward, eyes lingering on his snowstorm/snowflake tattoo. He was very similar to Ryedir, an alpha as well, but slimmer in build and dressed flamboyantly.

“Careful,” Millicent took a seat next to another woman with the Lezzker eyes. “Don’t get too close or Rye might growl at you.”

“His heat’s soon?” He leaned back in his seat, eyes still on Kari. “Terrible timing with everything that’s going on.”

Kari felt the rumblings of an aborted growl against his back. “And leave him for over a month back at Mishal? His heat is due long before that.”

“It’s not like I haven’t dealt with my heat on my own before.” Kari muttered, not intending for anyone to hear, but he must have spoken louder than intended as Millicent laughed and the other’s eyebrows jumped.

“I do like him,” Millicent said. “Such spirit and a bit of a temper. I don’t think he appreciated being my playmate, but I certainly enjoyed playing with him. But now he’s all prettied up for your attention. Aren’t I such a nice little sister?”

She sported such a devilish grin that Kari shuddered in memory of the oils and face paints. Millicent was so pretty with her large, liquid eyes and small frail stature but it hid a monstrous bully.

Ryedir’s arms tightened around him slightly and his nose buried in his neck. It was like he had suddenly reverted to being a horny teenager, unable to keep his hands to himself and instead tried to press himself on Kari even more.

He wondered if that was the effect of being more relaxed around his family or because they had been parted for the entire afternoon. Now that he thought about it, even at Mishal, he would usually see Ryedir every few hours. Even if just to drop off some food from the kitchen or to run an errand.

It was nice seeing the usually restrained man being a little needy with him, though. It made Kari feel surprisingly wanted.

*****

Kari grumbled as his alpha carried him through the halls. Ryedir was determined not to put him down and no amount of wiggling or grumbling could change his mind.

After a while, he stopped struggling and instead leant against Ryedir. Kari had a feeling he knew what this was about. The alpha had held him tight the entire time he spent with his siblings. The only Lezzker sibling that seemed to like Kari was Millicent, the other two kept frowning at him as though his very presence was a question mark.

He wouldn’t generally care but he didn’t exactly appreciate being on the end of continuous scowls as though he had something to do with his alpha’s clinginess.

Which he didn’t.

No, that was almost definitely Millicent’s fault.

They had been parted for most of the day and then when he returned, he didn’t smell like Ryedir anymore. He smelt like the scented oils and perfumes she had used on him. It wasn’t a good idea to taunt an alpha at the best of times, but now? While Ryedir was already tense just being in the capital? Plus Kari’s impending heat.

It was asking for trouble.