Page 5 of You Will Crave Me
“Now, onto my High Council. The members will be Hexon, who will retain his role as Grand Chancellor. Joining him will be Monroe, Valier, and Belinda,” Kendrick said.
I noted that he named two of the oldest and wisest members of the old council with Hexon and Valier, and then added two of his wolves, who most likely had been his council all this time and he trusted them to give him their perspectives. Interesting.
“I am sure some of you realize that two wolves are missing who used to be chained to the former king’s throne. I have freed them and they have returned to their families and pack. Never will a wolf be the slave of a dragon. Those of you who have taken wolves as your prize in a battle before my time will release those wolves tonight,” Kendrick said.
Fuck! This was what I was worried about.
“My Liege, my wolf must be the exception as he served Vampire King Ara,” Théoden said.
Kendrick cocked an eyebrow. “Does he need to serve him under your roof? And not with his pack?”
“To protect my house, yes, my Liege,” Théoden replied.
“Don’t you and your sons rise during the day?”
“Not my grandchildren, my Liege,” Théoden answered. “Also, having a wolf immune to dragon venom only strengthens my hold. And as Prince of the City, such protection is necessary. My King, Ara, would have it no other way.”
I could see Kendrick’s chest heave in his frustration, but an alliance had been made. He would not meddle in Ara’s matters as he would expect Ara not to meddle in his. “Very well. As for the rest of you, I am your sole King.”
“Sir… if I may speak,” Giorgio humbly spoke up, and I was curious as to what he wanted to say.
Kendrick turned to him, his eyes taking in Giorgio’s outfit, one I’d purchased because it was easier to fuck him in. “It is my understanding that you are Dion and Dio’s oldest brother, taken as a slave as payment for your father’s failure to defeat my Knight over there. You may speak.”
Monroe cackled as his hand went to his chest, dramatically. “Oooh, you ain’t have to put him on blast like that.”
“Shut up,” Kendrick said, but you could tell that he wasn’t angry at Monroe. It was apparent the two shared a special kind of relationship he didn’t have with anyone else. It would be a mistake for any of us to assume we could be so candid with Kendrick as Monroe was.
“I wish to stay with Tylendel, Sir,” Giorgio said.
Kendrick tilted his head and huffed. “Are you serious? I’m giving you your freedom. I know dragon cock is out of this world, but come on.”
Giorgio laughed and nodded. “I’m not going to lie and pretend like Tylendel hasn’t taken me to the moon and back. But I am not his slave, Sir. I am his lover.”
My mouth dropped open when he said those words, because I’d never heard him speak that way before.
“Go on,” Kendrick said.
“At first, when it happened, hell yeah, I wanted my freedom. I wanted Tylendel dead and Théoden, too, for what they’d done to my pack. But as time went on, I began to see that Tylendel wasn’t some ogre with a great cock. He is powerful and wise and fierce, commanding, and I respect those attributes. But I also began to learn how…” Giorgio paused as if afraid to speak more.
“Go on, he will not harm you for speaking the truth. I forbid it,” Kendrick said.
Giorgio turned and looked at me, his gaze adoring, and he smiled. “I began to see that he was lonely. And me being in his life gave him a happiness I don’t think he’s ever felt before.”
My knees weakened for a split second and I took a step back as if Giorgio had dealt me a blow. I caught my balance, even though Théoden had reached out, offering me assistance. Was this what Giorgio knew about me? I hadn’t even realized that myself. But I did feel happiness with him in my life. Completion, acceptance on a level no dragon had ever given me, or human. I wasn’t known for admitting my deepest feelings, but he was right.
Giorgio locked eyes with me. “I love him, Sir.”
Again, another blow straight to my heart, because I felt the same for Giorgio. I had never spoken the words to him, but I realized that he already knew. I was lonely and Giorgio was the piece of my life I’d been missing. For him, I was the part of him that needed the love and authority I gave him along with the pleasure and company. Could this really be happening?
“I didn’t see that coming,” Kendrick said. “Tylendel, do you love him?”
I had to find my voice. “Yes, my Liege,” I said once I had. I was breathing hard. Never before had I’d uttered such declarations, let alone publicly.
Giorgio turned back to Kendrick. “Please don’t make me leave him, Sir.”
“Fine, this edict is only for those who want to leave anyway. As long as you’re not forced to stay, consenting adults are just that. I won’t interfere with your relationship,” Kendrick said.
“Does that mean we can leave, Sir?” Loriel’s wolf asked.
