Page 90 of Xerxes Ascendant
“And…Vin?”
“The man I met on the street whom I wanted you to give a job to,” said Kyle, despite that description only narrowing it down to half of Xerxes.
“Oh. Yes. I’m sure they’re both here somewhere.”
Akira spoke the words automatically, some remnant of the social niceties Kyle had programmed into him over the years rising to the surface.
But his boyfriend just snorted. “You don’t need to pretend with me, remember?” he murmured, nudging him with his elbow. “I only want the real you.”
“I just...” Akira struggled with the words. “I find it hard to care about people I don’t know.”
“That’s normal.”
“Is it?” Doubt laced his voice. “Youcare.” About everyone and everything. He’d been fretting about the welfare of Benedict fucking Mackenroth, for stars’ sake.
Kyle laughed, loud and amused. “AmInormal, Master?”
“No.” That, Akira was certain of. “You’re extraordinary, Kyle Randall.”
“Well then,” Kyle said. “Let’s be extraordinary together.” He pulled him close with an arm wrapped around his waist, before brushing his lips against his. And then he stiffened, his whole body going rigid.
Akira knew immediately what had upset him. A few metres away, juxtaposed against all the happy reunions around them, voices had raised in anger.
“You can’t do this!” an older man was yelling at a pair of Carrions, his face stretched in anguish. “She’s my daughter!”
He tried to wrench the woman from their arms but they held firm, one going so far as to click the safety off his gun.
“And you can have her,” the Carrion said. “Whenyou give us the credits.”
“No one else had to pay!”
“How unlucky for you,” the other Carrion said with a smirk. Realising their altercation had attracted an audience, he glanced around and spoke even louder. “We did all of you fine folks a service. Do we not deserve a little compensation for risking our lives to save your loved ones?”
“You did it because your boss ordered you to!” shouted Kyle. He looked to Sinead for assistance, but she’d already disappeared with her wife and closest guards. Akira didn’t bother searching for her: he knew she wouldn’t give a shit abouther men extorting Lowers, even if it meant keeping a father and his child apart for the sake of a few credits.
“Price has now gone up, old man,” the Carrion brandishing the gun warned. “Maybe you can collect donations from all your friends here, who should be grateful we’re not chargingeveryone.”
It was impressive how the crowd instantly thinned. Faced with a loaded weapon and the threat of having to fork over their last credits, many clearly decided now was an excellent time to return home.
Kyle took an angry step towards the Carrions but Akira caught his arm with a vice grip, halting his indignant boyfriend in his tracks. An irate Kyle was an adorable thing to witness, but an irate anddeadKyle was not.
Akira scanned the ground, crouched, and scooped up two discarded bottlecaps from the dust. He handed them to Kyle. “Hold these.”
The blonde’s eyes lit up in as much wonder and gratitude as though he’d been gifted precious jewels.
“I will treasure them forever!” he declared, clutching the filthy rubbish to his chest. “I will keep them close to my heart and never let them out of my sight!”
“Don’t do any of those things,” said Akira. Ignoring his suddenly pouting boyfriend, he led the way over to the two extortionist gang members. “Gentlemen, good morning.”
Running his eyes over Akira’s torn clothes and ragged appearance, one turned away, already dismissing him. But he’d been recognised by the other Carrion.
“Master Epsilon?” the armed thug asked, his title subsequently echoed in a low murmur through the watching crowd. The Coterie was well known on Xerxes.
Akira inclined his head in wordless confirmation. “I would like topersonallythank you for returning our friends andfamilies, gentlemen. And by way of gratitude, I offer you unlimited access to the services of my House.”
Both men’s faces lit up at that.
“Present these tokens on arrival and my staff will ensure your every need is met, no matter how...” Akira paused for dramatic effect, diminishing his voice into a sensual purr as he dipped his head and looked up at them from under slightly fluttering eyelashes. “...unusual.”
