Khalid's Challenge

Khalid’s Challenge Jade Buchanan The Pridelands 5

Prologue Once Upon a Time… “I wonder what she wants.” Pran rolled over on top of his lover, wrapping himself around Khalid. “I don’t really care what your mother wants.” Khalid grinned, tilting his head to accept Pran’s seeking lips. “No, really. Are you not curious? She says she needs to speak to me; that it is of utmost importance. I wonder…” Pursing his lips, Pran ran his palms down Khalid’s sides. Khalid was stretched out under him, sprawled comfortably in the grass. He looked ready to take this challenge on headfirst. The only hint of his youth was the twitching of his tail, a betraying motion he couldn’t help. Pran grinned. The cub was going to be bigger than him when he was fully grown, no doubt about it. Already they were nearly the same size, and Khalid still had a few more years until he’d reach his full maturity. Pran couldn’t wait to see him develop. See the man Khalid was going to become. Not that Pran was all that much older than him but he knew enough about his family to know he wasn’t going to be any taller than he was now. Already Pran was the same height as his father. Not quite as muscular, but that would come in time. “You have an idea?” “I think she’s going to tell me who my father is.” Pran sat up, straddling Khalid’s hips. “Really?” He wasn’t sure how he felt about that. It would be great for Khalid to know where he came from, but there were just too many unknowns surrounding the man who had fathered him. “Well, it’s about time she does. Everyone knows I’m not full Tigris. I just wish I knew.” It was true. Everyone did know Khalid wasn’t quite like the rest of them. It had been quite apparent even from birth that Khalid was part Leo. The Tigris on Himalay possessed short, lustrous coats of various shades ranging from the muted tan of the grasslands to the bright, vibrant red-orange of the sun. Stripes covered them from head to foot, patterns of black, brown, or gray unique to each individual. Their tails were smooth, the hair on their heads short and neat. The men and women were all sleek muscles, their hardened bodies perfectly suited for the extreme climate of their planet and the dominance games they played to survive. 1

Khalid was something else entirely. His fur was tawny gold with a hint of orange. His stripes were barely a shade darker than his fur, wrapping around his body. His hair was a wild mane, full and golden compared to his Tigris family. His body was built large, his barrel chest and thick, muscle-strewn limbs giving testament to his strength. A different kind of strength than the Tigris. His tail was tufted, giving further proof of his parentage. No one quite knew who his father was, because it certainly wasn’t Vasu Asher, the man who had raised him. Bala, Khalid’s mother, had never talked about it as far as Pran was aware. He was sure she had her reasons, he just didn’t know if it would be better to keep the identity of Khalid’s father to herself or not. “Why does it matter?” “It doesn’t, really.” Pran snorted, not fooled at all. He knew Khalid too well for the cub to try and act like he wasn’t bothered by the fact that he was an illegitimate half-breed without a Leo pride to call his own. “Yes, it does. You know it does, so don’t try lying to me, cub.” “Don’t call me cub!” Pran snickered. “Why, you don’t want to acknowledge your age, cub?” “I am not your cub.” Khalid crossed his arms over his chest, his lower lip sticking out. Pran couldn’t resist. Leaning forward, placing his palms flat to the ground on either side of Khalid’s head, he sucked that lip into his mouth, nipping at it with his teeth before soothing over it with his tongue. Khalid purred, arching his back, almost unseating Pran. They both started to laugh, rolling over until Khalid was on top. “Fuck me.” Running his hands along Khalid’s ass, Pran winked. “You aren’t sore from last time?” “I want to feel you in me. Fuck me, please.” “You want to feel me in you when you are with your family?” “You’re all the family I need, Pran. You matter.” Turning his head to hide the moisture in his eyes, Pran coughed. “I thought you wanted to know your father.” “I do. I just wish you could be there with me. It won’t be the same without you.” “I will be there, cub. I will always be with you.” He placed his palm to Khalid’s chest, feeling the reassuring beat of his heart. Khalid melted, there was just no other word for it. His face relaxed, his body softened. “Cittaja,” he whispered. “Always.” Khalid bent his head, leaning down until his forehead rested against Pran’s. Pran moved his hands, running them up Khalid’s back, glorying in the strength he felt in his lover’s body. His back was muscled perfection, covered in a layer of silky fur. It was a treat for the senses. Inhaling, he brought their combined scent in, loving how much Khalid truly smelled like the two of them. It was nearly impossible to differentiate them now. They had spent so much time together, covering themselves in each other until their scents combined. Grunting, Khalid shimmied his hips, his hardening shaft rubbing along Pran’s own. Trust his little Cittaja to try and hasten things along. “What do you need, cub?” “You.” That was enough for Pran. He didn’t need any further directions from his cub. Breathing deeply now, Pran shimmied, rubbing his chest against Khalid’s, hearing the cub’s heartbeat pick up. The soft and springy grass beneath Pran’s back was warm from the afternoon sunlight streaming through the forest, providing the perfect bedding for the couple. Sitting up, Khalid stretched out his arm, grasping a flowering ljuba plant nearby. He squeezed the stem and thick liquid oozed out, surrounding them with the sweet scent of the ljuba. His ass rocked back and forth over Pran’s aching shaft, teasing and promising with every motion. “Would you like the honors?”

2

Pran blinked slumberously, a purr rumbling up from his chest. “I want to see you do it.” His hands went to Khalid’s waist, holding the man in place straddling Pran’s hips. His fingers slick, Khalid grinned wickedly, his hand disappearing for a moment. Pran narrowed his eyes, waiting. Khalid shifted under his hold, his big body undulating, soft mewls escaping him as he thrust one finger into his tight hole. Thrusting gently, Khalid quickly added another long digit, tossing his head. Pran shifted his hold, running the palm of one hand back to caress that muscular ass, squeezing the firm globe. He grazed Khalid’s tail, stopping to tease the sensitive nerves at the base. Khalid whimpered, his body tensed, one hand quickly going to his curved shaft, squeezing tightly to stop himself from releasing and ending the sweet torment. His cock was flushed, weeping from the slit in a near constant stream that coated his barbs, inflaming the small nubs. Pran smirked. Khalid was doing everything possible to keep his fingers away from those sensitive barbs. A single flick from one of his deadly claws and he would be coming hard. They’d experimented with that exact scenario a time or two in the past. When Khalid had himself under control again, Pran decided to move things along. If he wasn’t buried in Khalid’s ass soon he would be in danger of premature ejaculation himself. He wanted his come inside Khalid’s ass, bathing him with Pran’s essence. A reminder of who he belonged to. He darted his fingers down Khalid’s sensitive crease, sliding one finger in alongside Khalid’s two. Khalid cried out, bearing down on the digits, rhythmically thrusting now. “Enough! I need you now.” With a final whimper, Khalid slid his fingers out, angling his hips wordlessly. Pran slid his hand from Khalid’s hip up his side, gratified to feel the strength of his lover. Fisting his hand in Khalid’s flowing mane, he pulled the other man to him, fusing their mouths together. He thrust his tongue inside Khalid, licking at his teeth, the roof of his mouth, just wallowing in his taste before letting Khalid sit up. Pran grasped his shaft with his free hand, holding it in place for his Cittaja. Brushing against the other man’s skin, he coated the head of his cock with the excess ljuba in Khalid’s crease, fitting his glans to Khalid’s ass. Pressing in, letting Khalid’s weight bear him down, he just about came from the heated clasp nearly strangling his cock. His Cittaja was always so perfectly tight, a warm vise that welcomed Pran every time. He would never tire of this, even when they were both old men, too sated from years of loving to fight their neighbors in the normal territorial battles. Khalid finally settled, his ass brushing against Pran’s tense thighs, his velvet-soft sac resting on Pran’s cobbled belly. “Oh! Oh, Pran. Fuck me. I need you to fuck me…” “Khalid!” “I want to taste you, feel you inside me, always inside me…” Ga’ad, he wasn’t going to last long if Khalid was determined to talk now. Pran gritted his teeth, the cords of his neck standing out as he began to thrust, snapping his hips against Khalid’s ass. His own barbs dragged along Khalid’s tissues, inflaming his nerves and sending shafts of pleasure through Pran’s body. He grabbed Khalid’s hips with both hands, pressing in firmly, his sharp claws releasing the coppery scent of blood to mingle with the sweat and passion filling the clearing. Khalid wriggled, twisting and sighing with every motion. His hand went to his cock, fisting the thick shaft, one finger lifting to brush his barbs, causing him to shake. “Pran, I love you so much. My Cittaja, my heartmate…” Pran roared, fighting a losing battle to keep his eyes open. Snapping his hips one last time, he felt his release start at the base of his spine, jetting out of him in spine-tingling bursts. Khalid moaned, tightening his grip on his cock, his seed falling to land on Pran’s belly before his big body followed, dropping to blanket Pran. Pran stretched, clasping Khalid tightly to his chest. “Cittaja. I love you. Always mine, you will always be mine.” “You mean that?” “Nothing will ever separate us, Khalid, my word on that. You will always be mine.”

Chapter One 3

Present Day “Get out of my way, you half-breed bastard.” Pran’s words were harsh, almost indistinguishable because of the throaty growl that accompanied them. Khalid rumbled, just barely resisting throwing Pran up against the wall. He didn’t have time for this. Baring his fangs, he watched Pran stomp away from him, itching to go after him and teach him some control. It was almost laughable. Every time he was close to the Tigris man, his control was lost entirely. He felt like a cub again, unsure, his emotions running freely. It was all he could do to hide himself away until he was back to normal. He’d never thought he’d be placed in this position again. For the past fifteen years Khalid had gained a reputation for being cold and calculating. Shrewd. He didn’t let his emotions control him. He could always be counted on to provide a level head, to look at things in a way that others missed. He wondered sometimes if he would have ended up the same had he stayed on Himalay instead of moving off planet. Who would he be now? It didn’t matter, though, so there was no point dwelling on the idea. He was who he was. He would not change that because some Tigris was bent out of shape. He still didn’t understand what Pran was doing here anyway. Fifteen years ago, they had parted in a way guaranteed to harbor resentments. “Khalid?” Khalid turned to the left, spying the lithe figure of his sister. Rabi’a lifted her hand, brushing back her thick chin-length hair. The strands parted briefly, the striped locks shining in the ship’s light. “Attika.” “Will you be all right?” He sighed, propping his shoulder against the wall of the narrow corridor. “Talk to me, Binnodara. Let me help you.” Rabi’a walked closer, her brown and beige tail curling to wrap around his wrist. Khalid dredged up a smile for her, thumping his own tail along the wall. Inhaling, he let his breath out in a shuddering sigh. “Is this about going home?” His sister’s voice lowered, her concern evident. “No.” His ears twitched. “Maybe.” “Khalid.” “I don’t know what to do. So much has changed in the past few months. I don’t know what I want anymore.” “Okay. Are you no longer happy with your brother’s pride?” Khalid considered her question. “I don’t know where I belong anymore,” he breathed. It wasn’t anyone else’s fault. It just was. She nodded in understanding. “The past fifteen years have seen you becoming one with your Leo family, first under your father and then Durai. This is good, is it not?” For many years now he had been a member of his brother’s pride, following and protecting Durai as he traveled amongst the stars, learning as much as possible about the other planets and people in the universe. He loved his life. He had always felt welcomed by his Leo brothers and sister. So why was he full of unrest now? Was it just because of the presence of Pran? “I love Durai. I always will. He is my Binnodara, just as Jai is.” Rabi’a nodded. “It cannot be easy balancing two such different families.” “Do you think I neglected you and Jai?” He had never considered it before, but seeing his younger brother on Earth had made him come to some realizations lately. He had left everything behind on Himalay, including his sister and brother. He barely contacted his mother and the man who had raised him as his son. He rubbed his wrist, feeling the scars that lay there, a constant reminder of who he now was. And who he wasn’t. “Be sure, Matputra. You must be sure this is what you want.” Vasu Asher studied him, calmly waiting. Khalid considered the man who had raised him, the man he had once called Janaka, father. “I must do this. There is no other way.” “If you leave, you must never come back. Is this what you want?” His chest ached, a deep angry chasm where his heart had been ripped out. He would carry the pain of it for eternity. It was the price that had to be paid. Khalid nodded, unable to force the words past the restriction in his throat.

4

“So be it. They will not understand. You do not fully understand. You will in time. They may in time. The future is open to many possibilities. But you will not return. This is a certainty. I banish you, son who is no son of mine. I banish you.” Khalid lowered his head, desperately holding in the tears that threatened to fall. If he let them out, he was afraid they would not stop. Unsheathing his claws, he held his hand out to the man who was no longer his father, his palm facing up. Vasu placed his hand palm down over Khalid’s. The two pressed their hands together, forcing their claws to pierce the other’s wrist. Blood flowed freely between them, neither man making a sound. The pain was welcome to Khalid. It dulled the ache in his chest, stopped the flow of tears. He gritted his teeth, acknowledging the choice he had made. He would live with his actions. Force down the pain until he no longer felt it. It was the only way for him to go on. Rabi’a ran her fingers through his mane, bringing his attention back to the present, angling his head down to meet her warm gaze. “You could never neglect us. It is not in your nature. We understand why you made the choices that you did. At least I understand. Jai is young. He knows that you care for him. When he is older, he will come to realize that you did the right thing. And if he does not come to the realization on his own, I am sure your other sister will beat it into him.” She chuckled. Khalid grinned. Things had certainly become more complicated in the past weeks. A few weeks ago, his families were separated. His younger siblings had never met each other and the older ones only briefly. Now… well, now they were definitely not separated. Khalid’s Tigris brother fell in love with his Leo sister, and Jai and Zula were now together… along with a delectable little human to hold them as a unit. Rabi’a herself fell for Khalid’s Leo brother, Rais, and the two of them had a Tigris third who held them together. His family was now irreparably connected. Only time would tell how that would affect him. “So, this is where you snuck off to?” A big Leo came down the corridor, his tufted tail snaking around Rabi’a’s waist. Rais drew her in to him, kissing her shoulder. Rabi’a purred, leaning into her mate, tilting her neck in a display of submission. Khalid barely recognized her, she had changed so much. He would never have guessed she could make such a gesture. Her mating had altered her in a very positive way. He liked it. “Rais.” “Khalid, could you come up to the deck and help me out here? Pran disappeared on us, and Sheer keeps telling me I’m doing it wrong.” Khalid snickered. “I bet he tells you that all the time.” Sheer was the third to Rabi’a and Rais, a big burly Tigris who had grown up with Khalid. He considered the man a brother. Now, he literally was his brother, mated as he was to two of Khalid’s siblings. “Funny, Khalid. Very funny. I am about to kill him if he does not stop it. I have piloted the Azarnaz for years. This is not my first vessel, yet he keeps insisting that I don’t know what I am doing. I cannot imagine that a Tigris pleasure craft is all that different from Durai’s warship.” Rais shook his head, his golden mane furling out in a wild tangle around his shoulders. “I will see what I can do. It has been many years since I have piloted one of the Tigris ships, myself.” “It is not that difficult. My mates are just taking pleasure in needling each other. I will have to fuck their boredom out of them tonight. Make it a more pleasant journey tomorrow.” Rabi’a grinned wickedly. Rais groaned, lowering his head to whisper something into her ear. Khalid shook his head, deciding now would be a good time to make his escape. It was one thing to know your sister was having relations, it was another thing entirely to be witness to it. Making his way quickly to the upper deck, Khalid stepped onto a plush carpet, the soft fabric comforting on the pads of his feet. Smooth walls surrounded him, a light humming sound coming from the console to his right. A solitary Tigris manned the console, his deep orange and black striped fur contrasting with the plain black walls around him. The Tigris vessel was so different from the warship he had helped man for the past decade. The Azarnaz was open to the stars on the top deck, windows letting in the stars until it felt like they were truly among them. He missed that feeling right now. 5

Sheer turned to face him, crossing his arms over his burly chest. Khalid waited, sure the Tigris had something to say. It seemed everyone else did today. What would make him any different? “How is the human?” Khalid shrugged, not sure what answer Sheer was looking for. The human, Hunter, was someone unknown to the Felidae on either ship. He wasn’t entirely sure what to make of the man. “I believe he will be fine in time. He has been through a shocking event, and it will not be easy for him.” “You realize we had no choice, right? We had to take him with us.” Khalid shifted, deciding it was best not to say anything. He wasn’t sure it was the best thing for them. The human had been among a group that had abused his youngest brother on Earth. They had kidnapped the cub when he was drugged, vulnerable. Achan had been tied up when the Felidae found him, nearly comatose. He had been strangely silent, not wanting to tell Khalid and his brothers all that had transpired over his time in captivity. His young brother was now safely on board the Azarnaz, being watched over by Durai and the others. Khalid desperately wanted to be with him, but there was only so much room on the warship and they were stretched to capacity as it was. They had arrived on Earth carrying nine Felidae and one small human. They would have been fine to return, except they were now lugging four extra humans. Three of them were mated to members of Khalid’s pride, and the other was Hunter, who was now aboard the Tigris ship traveling to Felid. Achan had put up a fierce fight, not wanting the young human anywhere near him. The rest of them agreed, and Hunter was now under Khalid’s watchful eye -- and protection. Khalid sat down, stretching his legs out in front of him. “I am fully aware that we could not have left Hunter behind. Not after the rest of his party went missing. He would have been investigated by the human authorities and the human families of my pride mates do not need the attention if he had decided to tell tales.” “No one would believe him anyway. Not the way the humans tell it.” Snorting, Khalid shook his head. “Would you like to take that chance?” “Is he still causing trouble?” “Hunter?” Sheer nodded, his ears twitching. “Not as much. Pran does not care for him, which does not make things easy.” “Pran does not care for anyone.” Khalid rumbled. He was starting to get tired of everyone saying that. They didn’t understand. “Are you upset that Rabi’a invited him?” “My Attika is able to make her own decisions.” “That doesn’t answer my question.” Was he upset? Not entirely. It wasn’t pleasant but he knew things were getting bad for Pran back on Himalay. The way Rabi’a told it, if he didn’t get himself under control soon, he would challenge one too many people and end up dead for his troubles. Sheer considered him, a mischievous glint appearing in his amber gaze. “I have to admit, she reminds me of someone I once knew… always manipulating others in the direction she sees fit, working behind the scenes to bring people together despite their stubbornness.” Khalid arched his brow. “Surely you are not referring to anyone I know.” “How is this any different from what you did to us? As I recall it was your manipulation that ended up bringing together Rabi’a, Rais and I.” “Are you complaining?” “Not at all. I am merely pointing out that your sister is doing exactly the same as you once did. Or am I mistaken in assuming that you are also responsible for bringing your brother, Jai, here to meet his mate?” “It is not my fault that I am more observant than others.” “Right. That is what this is all about. You are just more observant.” Sheer snorted. “What else would it be?” “Why is it you can sense the mates of others, but cannot sense your --”

6

Khalid gained his feet, stepping forward to invade Sheer’s space. “Do not even think of finishing that sentence. You have no idea what you are talking about. Stay out of my life. If you are at all grateful for me bringing your Cittajas to you, stay out of this.” “Khalid, I cannot just stay silent. You are ruin --” “Stay out of it!” he forced out, his words ending with a snapping roar. Khalid stalked away, not wanting to stay and hear whatever it was Sheer was going to say next. He didn’t understand, would never understand why Khalid made the choices he did.

Chapter Two Pran paced the confines of the small room from one end to the other. He couldn’t get home quickly enough. He wanted his comfortable surroundings, to be able to escape into the forest at a moment’s notice. He didn’t want to be stuck on a ship hearing other people fucking all night -- and day -- long, forced to smell a blasted Leo and a poor excuse of a human. Snarling, Pran clenched his fists, breathing deeply. His tail lashing, he paused in his pacing, clenching his muscles to stay in one place. Inhaling, he brought up an image of Himalay in his mind, trying to recall his favorite spot back home. Thick green vegetation, lush and verdant. The sparkling azure pool tucked neatly to the side, nearly hidden by the canopy that drooped down from above. The trees were piled nearly on top of one another, creating a little paradise nook, hidden from the rest of the world. “I’ll race you to the trees, Pran. I bet you can’t catch me!” The younger man ran full tilt to the edge of the trees, uncaring of any obstacles that might be in his way. Pran gasped, his laughter bubbling out and halting his chase. He slowed down, content to watch Khalid. He had been watching him more and more lately. Pran wasn’t sure what it was about Khalid that drew his attention, but he couldn’t help himself. His heart clenched every time he came near and Pran had to hold himself in check so his attraction wasn’t obvious. Maybe it was Khalid’s scent, spice and sunshine. Intriguing and innocent at the same time. Pran wanted him, badly. “Pran! You were supposed to catch me!” “I would have if you hadn’t cheated.” Khalid gasped in mock outrage. Humor glinted from his amber gaze. He knew exactly what he’d done. “I did not cheat. Take it back!” “I will not. You cheated. In a fair race, I would have beaten you with minutes to spare.” “I don’t think so, Tigris.” “Would you like to bet on it? This time without calling the race when you’re already ahead of me?” “Hey, I called it with more than enough time for you to capture me. It’s not my fault if you are slowing down.” Pran swiped out his arm, laughing when Khalid jumped back out of reach. “I was talking to your father. I do not believe Vasu would have appreciated it if I had just deserted him to go chasing after his son.” “It would have been worth it, would it not? I would have rewarded you greatly.” The delectable halfbreed had the audacity to smirk, running one palm down his chest. “Unfortunately, you did not win, so you forfeit your prize today.” Hmm, what was the cub playing at? Pran hid his grin. “I demand a rematch then. If I have lost out on a prize, then I deserve another shot -- a fair shot -- at it.” Khalid shrugged, obviously attempting to feign reluctance. “I suppose it would only be fair.” “It would.” “Then, catch me if you can!” The words had barely left his mouth and Khalid was off, running into the brush, jumping over the first felled tree he came to. Pran was seconds behind him, purposely slowing himself so he could watch the poetry of Khalid running, racing the very wind. Realizing he couldn’t afford to lose, not when he wasn’t certain what the prize was, Pran put on a burst of speed, agilely passing Khalid, pulling the younger man’s tail on the way. Khalid hissed, swiping out with his claws. 7

Gasping with laughter, Pran missed spotting the tree branch in his path, tripping over it and stumbling into the brush to his left. Khalid followed him in, pouncing when Pran came to a stop on his back, panting for air. His arms were suddenly full of the lithe beauty. Turning his head to the side, he tried to figure out where they were. He hadn’t been paying attention. They were in a clearing, a small pool over to the side, nearly shaded by the thick canopy above. Enough light filtered through to pick up the glints in Khalid’s eyes when Pran turned to look at him again. Khalid lowered his head, brushing his nose against Pran’s. “Are you hurt?” Out of breath for an entirely different reason now, Pran could only shake his head. “You?” “I am unhurt. So, does this mean you win?” “How?” “Well, you arrived at our destination first. Are you ready to take your prize?” “Depends on what it is.” “Oh no, that’s not how we play this. You must accept first.” Pran blinked, his vision full of tawny fur and amber eyes. The corners of Khalid’s gemstone gaze were tilted, laughter lurking there. “I accept,” he whispered. “Then take your prize.” Khalid’s voice was just as soft, his head lowered, eyes shut. Pran angled his head, licking at Khalid’s lips. Khalid moaned, a heated burst. Encouraged, Pran pressed his mouth to the other man’s, tasting him for the first time. Spice burst upon his lips, claiming him within a single moment. Time was suspended, and it was just the two of them in the quiet clearing, free from everything else, basking in each other. Licking at the seam of Khalid’s mouth, Pran begged for entrance. It was granted, and he tasted that spice directly from the source, sucking Khalid’s welcoming tongue, his body arching under the younger man’s. He panted, pulling away, staring in shock up at Khalid. The other man looked just as stunned, his eyes wide with curiosity. “Pran…” “Pran!” Shaking his head, Pran turned with a grunt, rumbling at the intrusion. “What?” he snapped back, not bothering to open the door to Rabi’a. She could answer him through the door or walk away. Didn’t matter either way to Pran. “We are coming up on Felid, and need to prepare for landing. All crew must --” “I know what my duties are. I do not need you to remind me of them!” Silence greeted his outburst. Rubbing his chest, Pran waited until her footsteps receded down the hall. Probably going to collect the others. Or maybe he was the last. They didn’t seem to want to spend much time with him anyway, so it was quite possible she had only come when she could no longer wait. It hadn’t always been that way. After that fateful race into the woods, Khalid and Pran had been nearly inseparable, both wanting to spend every waking moment together. It had been nearly four months before they finally gave in to their mounting attraction and made love in that clearing, hidden from the world. Khalid’s family had practically adopted Pran from that moment, treating him as their son over the next few years in a way his own parents never had. He made his way outside, looking around carefully before he sauntered down the hall. Turning a corner, he started up the stairs to the upper deck. The sound of faint voices reached him from behind before he’d gotten halfway up. Pausing, he stayed where he was, shamelessly eavesdropping. “What do you expect on Felid?” Khalid’s words were forced out, like rocks crushed against one another. His voice had deepened over the years, although if rumor was true he barely used it anymore. That could account for the tight jaw, gritted teeth cadence of his words. “I do not know what to expect. I wish we were going to Himalay instead.” “You miss your daughter?” “Of course. I wish to hold her, introduce her to her two new fathers.” “Imagine, a child with four fathers and a single mother. One would think you were the Leo, not I, Attika.”

8

A hard thump reached Pran’s hearing. He knew what that was without even needing to see it. Khalid’s mock outrage followed the sound closely. “Behave yourself, Khalid. We already have one troublemaker on board. We do not need another.” Pran frowned, leaning forward, waiting for Khalid’s comment. She was patently referring to Pran. “What has happened now?” The tone was weary resignation, as if it was such a fucking hardship to look after him. “It is getting worse. You must deal with him, Khalid. He is out of control. He just snapped at me for telling him to come up on deck. If he tries that with any of the Leo, they are liable to gut him.” “Pran can take care of himself. He has taken great pains to remind me of that.” Pran frowned, not expecting that answer, or the thread of disinterest in Khalid’s voice. He rubbed his hand over his chest. “Khalid.” “No, Rabi’a. I do not need his sore ego to screw up anything right now. We have more important things to deal with. Hunter needs all my attention right now, if we are to keep him safe from Father wanting revenge for Achan’s abuse. Pran can take care of himself. I will not get involved in his mess.” Pran gasped, wishing he could take back the betraying sound the minute it left his lips. So, that was how Khalid really felt? He closed his eyes, thumping his head back against the wall. Their footsteps came closer, sounding overly loud to Pran’s ears. He twitched, realizing if they came around the corner now they would spot him immediately. Moving quickly, Pran bounded up the stairs, startling Hunter when he practically ran into the man. “What the hell, man?” “Fuck off!” “O-okay.” Hunter quickly scuttled to the other side of the deck, hiding beside Sheer like a coward. Pran stared after him, lifting his lip to display his canines. Hunter paled. Satisfied, Pran sniffed, avoiding Sheer’s seeking gaze. Khalid and Rabi’a reached the deck, both moving to the console in front of them. Sliding away from them, Pran ducked his head, his heart pounding so hard he was surprised they couldn’t hear it. Pausing, Khalid turned to the hairless human shivering in the corner. “Hunter, go over behind Pran. It might be best for you to stay out of the way while we start the landing procedures.” Pran barely held in his disgust. Why was he stuck babysitting the human? To his credit, Hunter stayed out of his way once he reached Pran, merely watching his fingers fly across the keyboard in front of him. Pran ignored the others, ready to do his job and nothing else. He couldn’t wait to get home. On screen the view of Felid bloomed. The planet was smaller than the one they had just left, covered nearly entirely in lush green velvet grasslands. Their landing pad was front and center as they came closer, set in a clearing surrounded by low trees. Not far away a grouping of buildings nearly blended into the grasslands, the structures made from the same materials they lived around. Mountains reached for the sky in the distance, winding streams coming down off them to feed the grasslands with abundant nutrients. Although, from where Pran was sitting, they were more like tiny hills compared to what he was used to on Himalay. Hunter sidled forward, his stink distracting Pran from the figures on his console. All right, fine, that was a blatant lie. There was nothing wrong with the human, and his scent was actually very appealing, but that didn’t mean Pran had to like it. He inhaled deeply, counting to ten in his head. One, Rabi’a sucks, two, Sheer sucks, three, Rais su -Wait. Pran inhaled again, bringing the scent of the human into his lungs. Why did he smell faintly of Khalid? Harsh soap overpowered the spicy scent, but there was no mistaking that familiar smell. Pain blossomed, exploded in his chest, freezing his limbs. Khalid and the human? Why… When would… No, that wasn’t right. Hunter shifted again, wafting air currents ripe with spice and sunshine. Pran lost it, felt his control snap. Anger filled him, betrayal a thick worm wriggling through his belly. “Stop moving! Can you not stand still for twenty seconds? You have to constantly get into everyone’s way with your useless self. We should have just killed you back on Ear --” 9

A tawny arm reached out, slamming Pran into the wall beside him. Pran looked up, meeting the irate gaze of Rais. The lights behind him turned the man’s mane into a fiery halo around his head, providing a fitting background to his currently twisted features. Weight pressed against his chest. A hand wrapped around his throat. Pran was too startled to fight back. Hot breath brushed the side of his face. “Someone needs to put you in your place!” Khalid’s snapping roar echoed in the tight confines of the upper deck, bouncing around the walls until it sounded like a dozen ferocious Leos all screaming their battle cry. The heavy weight of Rais disappeared, the man yanked away. Pran coughed, finally able to breathe again. “Do not ever touch him!” Khalid towered over his brother, one big burly fist gripping the smaller Leo’s neck in a mirror to how Rais had held Pran. Sheer and Rabi’a both moved forward, coming up behind their mate and facing off against Khalid. Pran panicked, not liking where this could head. They shouldn’t be fighting because of him. No matter how angry he was at Khalid. He thrust himself between Khalid and Rais, pushing the half-breed back a step and forcing him to let go. “I do not need you to help me.” Pran accompanied his words with another shove to Khalid’s chest. “I am not your precious, hairless human that I must be coddled and kept away from danger. Just leave me alone!” His tail lashed out, his ears flattened, tucked back along his skull. Khalid rumbled, gravel making its way up his chest and vibrating through his body. “Do not test me, cub.” “I am not your fucking cub,” he hissed. “Enough! The next man who acts like an ass is going to feel my claws piercing his precious hide. Not one more word until we land, is that clear?” Rabi’a’s voice was shrill, but he heard the warning in it, loud and clear. The females among his people were a force to be reckoned with. The males might get into more territorial matches, fight and claw and beat each other bloody, but they all feared what a single female could do if she was really motivated. They were sneaky, coming upon you when you least expected it. As much as Pran wanted to snarl back at her, he didn’t dare right now. He just wanted to go home.

Chapter Three Pran stayed to the back of the group as they made their way toward the exit of the ship, fully aware that he either appeared antisocial or like the coward they all believed he was. Their landing had been fairly uneventful. Apparently everyone else had the same thought he had. Don’t piss off Rabi’a. The Azarnaz had landed first, touching down with barely a bump. It must have been strange to fly their warship without either Rais or Khalid on board, but he wasn’t about to ask anyone. The Tigris ship touched down beside it, the two ships towering over the grasslands and small shrubs they had landed in. “Pran.” Rabi’a stopped in front of him, pivoting to face him. Grumbling beneath his breath, he waited for his list of instructions. He knew they were coming. If anything, he was glad they were doing this while still on board, and not in front of everyone else. Rabi’a didn’t disappoint. “You will keep quiet. Do not incite anyone. Do not snort, roll your eyes, grunt, growl, scratch yourself indecently or do anything else that might embarrass me or jeopardize our standing among the Felidae. Things are rough enough without adding your behavior into the mix.” He snorted, rolling his eyes. “What did I just say?” “What? I thought I had a grace period. Need to get it all out of my system if you expect me to sit like a gelded Lynx, all quiet and properly submissive.” He turned, waiting for her to call him back and go over his list of dos and don’ts again. She let him walk away, not bothering to respond. Keeping his back to Rabi’a, Pran studied his surroundings. He had never wanted to come here, and for fifteen years he had kept his promise to himself. This land represented everything he hated about the Leo. 10

The Leo were the rulers of the Felidae, making decisions that affected every race. They formed prides made up of their closest relatives, the males staying with their brothers, while the females left to join a pride of their choosing upon reaching their majority. The most dominant male in the family became the pride leader, a male capable of fiercely protecting his people and calmly deciding their future in the same heartbeat. He despised them. The group from the Azarnaz waited for them up ahead. Tawny fur mingled with spots, stripes and pale, hairless beings. He could definitely tell he was on Leo land. Especially when he moved forward and glimpsed the welcoming party exiting the buildings up ahead. Nowhere else would you find such different races all in one place. A tall Leo came toward them, his fur golden, his mane a glorious, deep, dark brown. His belly was starting to go white, the fur around his mouth doing the same. So, this was the exalted leader of his people. Haytham Gatti, the Appaliunas of the entire Felidae race. Pran straightened his shoulders, holding his head high. He would not let his people down in this moment. Behind the Appaliunas, a slim Leo female was surrounded by three others who could only be Haytham’s brothers, they resembled him so closely. A pitch black Pardus walked slightly to the right of the group. His appearance did not surprise Pran in the slightest. The Leo pride leaders were often protected by the Pardus, who lived on nearby Seren. Two of Khalid’s pridemates were from Seren, twin brothers who took great pleasure in needling everyone whenever they could. The Pardus were normally a sun-dappled cream color, covered entirely in black rosettes, their fur sleek and short like the Tigris. The rare exceptions were the Morn clans from the south. Their coats were pitch black, with crescent markings nearly indistinguishable from the rest of their fur. Pran had heard that two such men resided on Felid, so this must be one of them. Khalid would probably be stunned to know how much Pran had studied up on the other races after he’d deserted him. Pran couldn’t help himself. He had wanted to learn as much as possible, soak up every bit of information that came his way. Everything he learned served to harden his heart, just one more piece of evidence of what Khalid had chosen instead of him. Not that he was bitter or anything. He didn’t want anything to do with that bastard. The Appaliunas stopped in front of Durai and the others from the Azarnaz, but he did not greet Durai. Instead he held out his arms for a second Leo who had been standing slightly behind Khalid’s pride leader. Lev folded himself into his father’s arms, quickly letting go to hug his mother and his uncles. His Pardus mate, Morgan, and human mate, Aaron, were next to be received. Pran arched a brow, intrigued despite himself. He had assumed these Leo would have followed the hierarchy of the prides. The Appaliunas should have greeted Durai first, as he was the senior pride leader and the leader of their little expedition to Earth. Instead he had greeted his son. He didn’t know what to make of that. Lev was swallowed up by his three brothers and their mates, the hero returning from the farthest reaches of the skies. Pran turned to view the scenery beside him, very aware that he had no place here among these people. He was conscious of the greetings going on in his peripheral vision but they weren’t for him. A large group of various individuals -- different genders, races, clans and ages -- had gathered en masse to greet the returning prides. Khalid’s Leo family converged together, quickly surrounding Achan, touching him, making sure he was okay. Durai must have passed on the news of his ordeal and rescue. All around Pran people were hugging and kissing, laughing and talking over one another. Suddenly, Pran spotted someone he’d really rather not come across again. It looked like he wasn’t going to get his wish, though. A large Tigris male marched toward him, his fur a striking orange with thick black stripes. Rajiv Citrakaya was the only Tigris in the history of their people to voluntarily leave Himalay and live on Felid with the Leo. He had joined the Gatti pride, following the heir to the Appaliunas, Haytham’s firstborn son, Laithe. Unfortunately, Pran and Rajiv had a bit of a history. They had fought against one another in the last Paridhav, the last mate hunt. Rajiv had won, and his prize was the human, Aaron, who became the mate to Lev

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and Morgan. The very same man whom Pran had studiously tried to avoid the past few days while stuck on Earth with him. He was lucky that Lev and Morgan had decided not to challenge him on Earth for his participation in the Paridhav, but he had no qualms about Rajiv. “Pran! You dare show your face here?” Rajiv’s voice rumbled up, his hands flexing at his sides. Rabi’a deftly inserted herself between them before Pran could answer him. “Rajiv, now is not the time.” “He should not be here! You know what he did.” “Rajiv!” Pran shifted in place, his legs tense. He stilled his tail, sliding it along his thigh to prevent himself from betraying his first move. Rajiv did the same in front of him. This was exactly why Pran hadn’t wanted to come. This was the reason he hadn’t wanted to leave Himalay in the first place, but it was bound to happen at some time. Rajiv had more to be pissed about than just their fight at the Paridhav. There was that little matter of Pran poisoning Rajiv’s younger brother and trying to take him as mate. Unless Rajiv had forgotten all about that… “You of all people should understand why this filth should not be allowed to breathe! Or do you not care about the newest father of your child?” Okay, so Rajiv hadn’t forgotten. It was just Pran’s luck that Rajiv’s youngest brother was the Cittaja of Isha, the man who had fathered Rabi’a’s child. It served to add one more connection between the Leo and the Tigris now that Rabi’a had found her own Cittajas, her heartmates. “Rajiv, calm yourself. You do no good to anyone by acting like an ass.” Pran quickly flicked his gaze over to their new arrival. Pure white, he was utterly unmistakable. Usama Gatti was Rajiv’s mate, the man responsible for encouraging Rajiv to fight him in the Paridhav for Aaron. Another layer, another complication for Pran. Glancing around, he realized they now had everyone’s attention. The clearing had gone silent, dozens of people now staring intently at Pran. Great, because he needed to feel like the freak in the crowd. They probably expected him to do something stupid. He was tempted to hop on one foot just to see what they’d do. The original greeting party finally reached them, the Appaliunas studying Pran intently as he walked up to stand beside his son, Usama. “So, you are Pran Devan of the Tigris. I have heard many things about you, Tigris. What do you have to say for yourself?” Pran lifted his chin, meeting the amber gaze of the older Leo. “We all make choices that others cannot or will not understand.” “You stand by your actions, then? I believe they are quite lengthy. There is the matter of your treatment of my sons by marriage in your Paridhav. You abused the brother of my son by marriage. You have been involved in numerous altercations among your people, leading to several deaths. You talk of choices. What choice did you make?” Pran growled, quickly smothering it when he realized just who it was in front of him. This man might be the ruler of the Felidae, but he had no right to question the way of the Tigris. “The Paridhav is an ancient tradition among the Tigris. My actions within the framework of that mate hunt cannot and will not be questioned by anyone outside of my people. The same is true of anything I have done on Himalay. You may rule us but the Tigris will not be castrated by the Leo. We will not be forced to change our ways because you think we are too brutal. Everything I have done has been sanctioned by my laws. That was my choice. That is the only choice I make. I am Tigris in everything I do. I was born to the Tigris and I will die by their hand and no other. That, too, is my choice.” The silence was deafening. Khalid shifted in place to his left, his scent reaching Pran in the soft breeze blowing through the clearing. He smelled of fear and satisfaction. An odd combination, both bitter and sweet at the same time. The Appaliunas suddenly grinned. “Well said, Pran Devan of the Tigris. Your actions while on Himalay will not be questioned by me.” His gaze sharpened, his grin disappearing. “Step one foot out of line while on 12

Felid and I will see you hang for your actions. This is not Himalay and you are not among your kind. Keep that in mind, Tigris.” With that, he turned and walked away. One by one the others followed, leaving Pran in the clearing with the only other Tigris on this planet. Well, them and a handful of the people who had arrived with them. “That was monumentally stupid. No surprise, but I do admire your balls,” Rabi’a snorted, placing her hands on her hips. “You will not be looking at his balls. Is that clear, Cittaja?” Sheer bristled beside her. Pran snorted, ignoring them. He met Khalid’s gaze, wondering what the other man was thinking. He used to be able to read him easier than he knew his own mind. Not anymore. “Come. I will see you all find a place to rest.” Khalid started to turn. “Wait! Why do we have to stay? We delivered Achan. Lev and his mates are back here, and the Leo can take care of the stinking human now. We should just return to Himalay.” “You are not going anywhere, Pran.” “I will not stay here!” “I do not care what you want. You are not leaving because the rest of your Tigris crew is not leaving, and you cannot pilot a craft by yourself. Do you expect Jai, Rabi’a and Sheer to leave their Cittajas behind and return to Himalay just because you want to leave?” “But…” He turned to view the Tigris in question, realizing suddenly that they weren’t going anywhere. All three were standing beside their respective mates, not looking like they were about to budge anytime soon. No, this wasn’t happening. He wasn’t going to stay here. He would sleep on the ship by himself before he willingly subjected himself to the disgust of those blasted Leo. Pran just wanted to be rid of all of these bastards. He couldn’t stay here. He just couldn’t. “Come along, Pran. Just once, do something for me without arguing about it. It has already been decided that Rabi’a and Sheer will move into Rais’ room for the time being. The same goes for Jai. He and Mike will be bunking in with Zula. The only two who are currently homeless are you and Hunter. Follow me, and I will show you where you two will be staying.” Sighing, he followed Khalid to the small buildings, a very silent Hunter trailing behind. Khalid led them to a structure set a bit farther apart than the rest. Pushing open the door, they stepped into a room set with low furniture, two hallways leading off the room in front of them. Khalid pointed to the left. “Pran, you will be in there. Hunter, you will stay to the right. I will show you where it is.” The two men wandered down the right hallway, leaving Pran alone. Again. He snarled, baring his fangs. Stalking to the left, Pran threw open the bedroom door, slamming it shut behind him. The room was sparsely furnished but it was still more than he was used to. On Himalay, the structures were often a single room with sleeping pallets pushed against the wall. They probably had more need for multi-person abodes here on Felid, but it was still strange. The room boasted a bed large enough for four -- if they didn’t mind being cozy. A table was set beside the bed, a small chest against the wall beside the door. There were no windows. He was starting to feel closed in already. Dumping his small carry-all on the table by the bed, he considered his alternatives. He couldn’t stay here. It was too closed in, and there was no connection to the night sky. Pran was feeling claustrophobic already. He would find a spot in the grass if he had to. He strode to the door, flinging it open just as Rabi’a lifted her hand to knock. “What do you want?” “Hello to you too, Pran.” Pran crossed his arms, glaring at her. “I need to talk to you and Khalid. He will be here in a moment.” “I have nothing to say to either one of you.” “This is important. I am not giving you an option.” Khalid came up behind her. “What is this about, Attika?” Pran refused to inhale to see if Khalid smelled like Hunter. It was none of his concern if Khalid wanted to fuck a little, vulnerable, sickly human. 13

“Let us go into Pran’s room. We will have privacy there.” He considered not letting her in, but he wouldn’t be able to stop both of them. Pran motioned for them to come inside. Stepping back, Rabi’a shook her head, waving Khalid in first. The minute Khalid was fully inside the room, the door slammed shut behind him. “What the…?” “Rabi’a!” Khalid grasped the doorknob, twisting it to no avail. “Attika. Open the door.” “No.” Her voice was muffled by the door. “I have had enough of the two of you. You tiptoe around each other. Neither one of you will give in first, so I am taking your choice away from you. Funny, all this talk about choices has made me think. Fix this, whatever is still eating at you. I will not let you out until you have resolved something.” “Attika! Rabi’a Asher, I will not tell you again. Open this door, now.” Pran shook his head, not believing this was happening to him. He started to laugh. Khalid turned to him with such an incredulous expression that Pran just about collapsed on the floor, hooting in reaction. “This is not funny!” “I-it is. Oh, it is. This whole thing must be a dream. My life could not possibly be this bad. I am having a nightmare, am I not?” Khalid shook his head, turning back to the door. He pounded on the wood, great big banging strikes. “What? Too afraid to stay in here with me? Here is something for you to consider, half-breed. I do not want to be here with you any more than you want to be here with me. I cannot stand you. You and your perfect family and your perfect life. Getting to fuck anything you want. I bet you and your little toy had a great time exploring his new room, did you not?” His heart was racing, his palms clenched tightly. He was pretty sure he had shouted that last part, but he had suddenly gone from humor to rage within seconds and he couldn’t help himself. Khalid’s dumb expression didn’t help matters. “What?” “Do not pretend you do not know what I am talking about. You sicken me. I cannot stand you. I wish I had never seen you again. Just leave me alone! I cannot… I cannot…” Horrified, Pran felt tears welling up. “Pran…?” Pity practically dripped from the single word Khalid spoke. No, he didn’t want Khalid’s pity. He roared, throwing himself forward, catching Khalid off guard. He slammed the bigger man into the door, swinging his arm and connecting solidly on Khalid’s jaw. Khalid hollered, hitting out with a punch that snapped Pran’s head back. “Is that the best you can do, you half-breed bastard?” In hindsight, probably not the smartest thing to yell out. Khalid tackled Pran, taking him to the floor. The two started to roll, both struggling to get the upper hand. Fists and elbows connected, technique forgotten in a single moment. Pran saw a flash of gold in front of his face. Snapping out, he bit down on Khalid’s shoulder, tearing skin, tasting blood. Khalid snarled, his claws finding flesh on Pran’s side, digging furrows. The scent of blood strengthened. They crashed into the side of the bed, both moaning at the impact. Pran grabbed for Khalid’s mane, pulling hard on the back of the man’s head. Khalid retaliated by raking his claws down Pran’s ass. He howled. Ga’ad, that hurt! Khalid pulled Pran’s tail. Pran bit down on the nearest surface which just happened to be Khalid’s chest. Khalid bellowed when one of his nipples became a casualty of war, Pran’s long canine catching on the small nub. Pran arched into the other man, trying to keep his tail out of Khalid’s reach. Khalid shifted, his big body moving agilely until Pran’s loincloth-covered cock rubbed over that cobbled belly. He moaned, pushing into the movement before retreating. Khalid raked his teeth along Pran’s neck, biting in, his rough tongue lapping over the marks. “Fuck off!”

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“Well, now. I cannot refuse that offer.” Khalid grasped the back of Pran’s loincloth, tearing the material easily. Tatters of cloth fell down around them. His own clothing followed suit, and they were touching skin to skin. Pran panicked, his cock engorged with passionate fury, distracting him. “No…” “Yes…” “Khalid, get off me!” They slid against each other again, Khalid’s thick cock rubbing along his own. Pran bucked, managing to throw Khalid off him. The half-breed shook his head, freezing for one moment. It was all Pran needed. He pushed Khalid back, swinging his fist at his jaw again. “Is this what you want?” Pran reached down, grasping Khalid’s sensitive sac in his palm, nearly groaning at the feel of the silky fur. Khalid’s testes were a soft weight in his hand, and he couldn’t stop himself from stroking the skin. “Pran…”

Chapter Four “I fucking hate you, half-breed.” The words were low, growled. Heaven to his ears. Khalid gasped, bucking into Pran’s hold. “I know.” “This changes nothing.” “I know.” “Where do they keep the ljuba in this blasted room?” “The oil should be in the chest.” “What are you waiting for then?” Pulling away with an angry yowl, Khalid lunged at the chest, rummaging around until he found the bottle of oil. Throwing it at Pran, he snarled. “Get yourself ready for me.” “Wait, why do you get to fuck me?” “I’m bigger.” “So? I’m older.” “Pran, in two seconds I am going to be so far up your ass you will be feeling me in your throat, so either you lube yourself or you will be taking me dry.” A thick purr rumbled up from Pran’s chest, the man’s face flushed, his lids lowering over a slumberous gaze. “That was not meant to be an incentive. I am not playing here, Pran.” He fisted his shaft, pumping his own cock. It was engorged with blood, hard and aching. Only Pran had ever been able to do this to him, take over his own body until Khalid could not think of anything except being joined to him. Until he wanted nothing but to feel, taste, smell and hear Pran. For the rest of his days. Khalid wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not. These days it was probably a very bad thing. Pran could hurt him. He was the only man who could rip his heart out without a thought. Although, Khalid’s heart had been ripped out many years ago, so it wasn’t as if things could possibly get any worse. Pran lay back on the floor, spreading his legs, bringing up his knees. He closed his eyes, his fingers wet with oil. Khalid hadn’t even seen him get it out. Licking his lips, Pran traced his digits down his belly, slicking his fur with oil, turning his orange and black fur a deeper, richer shade until Khalid wanted to trace that path with his tongue, tasting the oil mingled with the flavor of Pran’s body. Pran was battered and bloody but it didn’t matter to Khalid. In fact, it only served to heighten his own arousal. He lifted his free hand, running his palm down his chest, hissing at the bite of pain when he touched his torn nipple. Only a Tigris would find that intoxicating. The aftermath of a good, wicked brawl. Khalid moaned, slowing his strokes to his cock, running his index finger over the barbs surrounding the head of his cock, flicking the small nubs until he wanted to come so badly he could smell his need filling the room. He pinched his intact nipple, pressing the side of his claw into his skin. This wasn’t going to last long, at this rate. He needed in that ass, needed to fuck Pran. It wasn’t just a basic desire anymore. It was absolutely imperative that they be joined in this moment. It felt too big for him, the emotions flashing through his chest, his heart heavy. 15

Pran fisted his long striped shaft, fingers dancing over each stripe, tracing his cock, lowering to play with his balls. The soft velvet grew wet with the oil, shining, beckoning to Khalid. “Now, Pran. Please…” His voice was tight, low. He wouldn’t be surprised if Pran couldn’t understand the words. Khalid could barely understand himself. Need filled him, guided him. Took over until he could barely breathe. One long finger sank into the ass displayed before him, disappearing into that dark cavern, pushing inside Pran’s body. Khalid whimpered. He glanced upward, seeking Pran’s gaze. The other man had his eyes shut still, his head turned to the side. His face was blank, or at least it appeared to be before Khalid noticed the subtle tightening at the corners of Pran’s mouth. Was he…? Did he not want this? Cold water was splashed over Khalid’s brain. He shook his head, backing up until his back was pressed against the door. Pran’s eyes popped open and he stared at Khalid in disbelief. “You are leaving?” “Pran, maybe this is not a good idea.” “You are leaving?” he repeated, shock filling his voice. “I just… If you are not ready… We are not ready for this.” Pran snapped, pulling his finger from his ass with a jerk. He gained his feet, his cock softening. Khalid suppressed his disappointment at the sight. “You are not ready. Be honest with me at least. Tell me why you no longer wish to fuck. Is it because of your human?” Khalid frowned at the other man. That was not the first time Pran had alluded to something between himself and Hunter. At least, he assumed it was Hunter Pran was referring to since his family members were currently mated to the only other humans he had contact with. Surely Pran did not think he was stupid enough to make a move on one of his brothers’ or sisters’ mates. “Hunter?” Pran reared back. “So, you admit it.” Exasperated, Khalid stood up, crossing his arms. “I admit nothing.” “You do not have to hide from me. I already know you are a bastard. It does not matter if there is one more thing that damns you in my eyes.” If he hadn’t been studying Pran so closely he would have missed the lie in those eyes. He would have taken the man at face value and broken down the door. But he saw the look in Pran’s eyes, saw the pain he was desperately trying to hide. Did that mean he cared? Did that mean Pran wanted something between them? This was so confusing. He wasn’t sure what to do. It had been too long. He couldn’t read Pran like he used to be able to. They were different people now. “There is nothing between Hunter and me.” He shouldn’t have to say the words, but he would open up any part of himself right now if it meant that Pran would do the same. “Liar!” Pran hissed. Khalid threw his hands up, meeting the irate gaze. “I do not lie!” “Then why is his scent all over you? Why does he stink of you? Why are you always protecting him as if you are being rewarded for your services later?” Was Pran jealous? What would it take to get the man to open up? “What if I was? What is it to you?” Come on, Pran, say the words. Tell me how you feel. Pran curled his lip. “It matters not.” “Does it bother you? The thought of me with someone else?” Say it, Pran. Pran turned his back, walking to the bed. “What would you do? If I was fucking him, what would you do?” Please, Pran. Say something. Anything. Tell me how you feel. Pran calmly reached for his small bag set on the table by the bed, rummaging inside. Disappointment bloomed in Khalid’s chest. Well, that was his answer then. Pran apparently did not care. He turned to leave, pressing against the door, hoping that this time it would open up. The scent of mint filled his senses. Khalid stumbled against the door, stunned. He looked down, spying the crushed white flowers and vibrant green leaves held in Pran’s hand. Pran’s hand that suddenly wrapped around Khalid’s soft shaft, stroking once, twice. His mind blanked, and he fell to his knees. Khalid followed his oldest brother, Durai, into the clearing, spying Rais passed out on the ground at Sheer’s feet.

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“What happened to him? Rais?” Durai grabbed hold of his brother, tilting his head back and frowning at the glazed look on his face. “Rais!” His voice was almost frantic. Khalid crouched down, placing one hand on Rais’ shoulder. “Sheer? What happened?” “We were following Achan’s scent. Rabi’a led us to the place and we found traces of him. His scent was all over this one plant, lingering on the crushed branches as if he rolled in it.” He paused. “I do not know what happened to him, but we found traces of humans just before Rais fell. It has to be the plant. What else would bring Rais to his knees like this?” “Show it to me.” Moving away, Khalid followed him into the brush, stopping behind Sheer. Right in front of them the forest floor was littered in tiny white flowers. Crushed greenery sprouted up around the flowers, releasing their minty fragrance. “What is this?” He reached out a hand, grasping one of the broken branches and bringing it to his face. Sneezing, Khalid abruptly stood up, stepping away from the plant. He shook his entire body, breathing deeply. His mind blanked, a great void sucking at him, pulling him in. “What the…?” Khalid took one step forward, his knees buckling. Sheer caught him, breaking his fall before he tumbled to the ground. Pran grasped Khalid on his other side, holding him up. Khalid sneezed again, shaking his head. He straightened his body, and Pran abruptly backed away. “What’s wrong, Khalid? Are you going to pass out like your weakling brother, too?” “Enough, Pran.” Sheer reached out, cuffing Pran on the side of the head. Pran scowled, snarling softly. Khalid paused, his voice shaky when it came. “I could feel it sucking at me. Whatever it was, it is very strong.” Durai’s human mate, Darren, stepped forward, holding out one of the leafy green branches. “It’s just a plant. What’s the big deal?” “It is the scent. Holding it in my hand was…” Khalid rubbed the pads of his fingers together, reaching out and wiping them on a nearby tree, wanting to get rid of the sensation. He had never felt anything like it. “How does it feel, Khalid? Do you feel weak? Out of control? You want to know what I would do if I found out you were fucking the human? I guess they were right when they called me insane. I thought the yarrow might come in handy. It works, does it not?” Khalid panted, his cock once again rock hard, flushed and weeping from the slit, encouraged by the light hold Pran had on his most sensitive parts. The scent of the yarrow was in his lungs, filling his body. Coating his body with passion. He had spied the effects the Earth plant had on Rais, had seen it make him lose consciousness, and had witnessed his arousal when he woke. Uncontrollable arousal, according to Sheer. Where had Pran gotten the yarrow? “It is strange, is it not? How we are all so similar yet a simple plant can affect us in different ways.” Khalid arched his back, Pran’s words stroking over his heated skin. A rhythmic sawing filled the room and it took him a second to realize it was coming from him. He was purring, loudly. “Take, for instance, the effect yarrow has on the Leo. Knocks them unconscious, arouses them until they cannot see straight without wanting -- no, needing -- to come. Yet, it does nothing to the Tigris beyond a slight muzzling of the head. I am curious, half-breed, how it will affect you. Will it be strong, or wear off quickly?” He opened his mouth, closing it with a snap, afraid any words he would speak would be him begging. Pran nuzzled his shoulder and Khalid’s sawing purrs increased. His fingers tightened on Khalid’s shaft, caressing him. “Will you do anything for me, now? Will you let me do anything to you? Can I fuck you? Roll around in your scent, bathe you with my seed until you reek only of me? Until you think of no one but me? Will you remember this after? Will your mind clear or will your recollections be hazy the way Rais’ were? Hmmm… should we perform a little test?” “Please…” he gasped. “Please, what?” “Pran…” “Hmmm? What do you want, Cittaja? Do you want my cock in you? Or would you prefer to lie back and let me ride you until we are both spent, wasted, utterly replete?” 17

“Oh, oh…” “Do you give him this? Is this sound for me, or do you waste it on the unworthy? What will you give me? What will you do for me?” Khalid tossed his head back, leaning on Pran. “Anything.” “Hmmm. On your back.” His body felt leaden when he tried to move and in the end Pran had to help him settle onto his back. He grinned weakly, licking his lips at the look on Pran’s face. Dominating, controlling. A dream come true. It was a look he never thought he’d see again. Khalid bucked, his hips writhing, his body on fire. He lifted his hands, pinching his nipples. The scent of nawra flowers filled the room when Pran uncapped the bottle of oil, competing with the lingering scent of mint. Oil was drizzled onto his straining shaft, and his eyes rolled back. Oh… oh, that felt… “Look at me.” Opening his eyes slowly, Khalid grinned up at Pran. Pran held his gaze, straddling Khalid’s hips. “Is this what you want, Khalid?” “Always…” he mumbled. “Is that right?” “Always been you, Pran…” Wet heat enveloped the head of his cock, the soft entrance of Pran’s oiled ass parting slowly as Pran lowered himself over Khalid. They both panted, moaning at the exquisite torture. “Pran!” “Oh, yes, yes.” His prick felt like it was in a vise, clutched by Pran’s muscles, home at last. Pran seated himself on Khalid, tossing his head, twitching his hips. The movement squeezed Khalid’s cock, milking it, urging him to find his release. He grabbed Pran’s hips, crying out when Pran began to move. Pran’s hands landed on his chest, toying with his nipples, pinching and gripping the small points until they were red and tender. He loved every minute of it. “Pran…” His balls were tight, his barbs inflamed from where they grazed the inside of Pran’s ass, catching and gliding against his tissues. It felt glorious. “Please, please, now. I need to… oh, Pran!” “Come for me, Khalid.” Soundless cries filled his mouth, too big to be released. His body was tense, tender, like his skin was too fragile to hold him together. His world narrowed, centered on Pran, everything else disappearing. “Come for me.” A sob was torn from him, white lights going off behind his eyelids. His balls drew tight, his release yanked from his very soul. Seed jetted from his cock, bathing Pran, filling him up until come dripped down Khalid’s balls with every jerk of Pran’s hips. Pran lifted his hand from Khalid’s chest, tugging himself roughly, flicking a claw over his own barbs. His shaft jerked, and he came with a shout, white liquid landing on Khalid’s chest and belly, coating him, marking him. *** Khalid sighed, the noise loud in the silence of the room. The muzziness from the yarrow had finally worn off, and he had taken Pran once more, this time fully aware of his actions. He had fucked the man until he was panting Khalid’s name, screaming out his climax, joined seconds later by Khalid’s own release. His entire body throbbed with a pleasant ache, both from their fight and from their fucking. It had been good. Better than good. Now, his head cleared from the drug-like effect of the plant and his sexual fever abated, he needed to figure something out. “What did you mean?” Pran sat up, pulling away minutely, giving Khalid his back. “What?” “What did you mean earlier? When you said it was your choice to die by the hand of one of the Tigris.” Because from where Khalid was sitting that certainly sounded like the reason he had been baiting so many

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Tigris over the past few years was in the secret hope one would beat him and end his life. But that couldn’t be what Pran meant. Right? “It meant nothing. I was caught up in the moment.” “Pran.” “Look, Khalid, it has been fun, but I would really prefer to be alone right now. Why do you not run away? Go find someone else to bother.” “Why do you continue to push me away?” He hated this. Hated how far apart they had grown. Hated that Pran could not at least look him in the eye when he lied to him. They both knew he lied. The bitter, acrid scent filled the room. “Does it matter?” Khalid grabbed Pran’s arm, stopping him from moving. “It matters!” “I think you should leave.” “Stop this, Pran. Just be honest with me. Please, you owe me that much.” “I owe you? You want to know what I owe you? Someday I will tell you exactly what I owe you, half-breed. Until then, keep your opinions to yourself. Now, get out!” Frustrated, Khalid stalked to the door, surprised when the knob turned easily. He glanced back at Pran, aching at the sight of that tense back. The man wouldn’t even look at him. Khalid closed the door gently behind him, shutting Pran inside, laying his palm against the barrier. A muffled sob reached him from the other side, followed by another and another until the scent of Pran’s pain and disgust reached him through the door. Khalid rested his forehead against the wood, desperate to go back inside and hold his Cittaja. They couldn’t keep doing this, but he didn’t know what Pran needed. What was he supposed to do?

Chapter Five Pran finally came out of the room later that night. He was tired of running away like a damn Lynx. It was time to confront everything and get this over with. He was not a coward and he refused to hide away like one. Not when he could feel Khalid inside him still, as if a part of his soul had been left behind along with his seed. He paced into the main room of the abode, spying Hunter curled up on one of the low couches. Snarling softly, he spun to avoid the man, going back the way he came. This was not something he needed. “Wait! Please!” It was the pain that stopped him, the emotion dripping from the two words. Pivoting, he studied Hunter. The human had half-risen to stop him, and now he fluttered, obviously unsure whether he should sit down or continue standing. “What do you want?” Pran lifted his lip. “Please, I just… I… Look, obviously we got off on the wrong foot. I don’t know what I did to piss you off, but I’m sorry. Okay? I just…” Hunter shrugged, lifting his hands helplessly. “I don’t have anything. I don’t know anyone here, except you guys, and this is all so… I… I don’t know what to do.” Pran sighed, his anger melting away in the face of that confusion. Cursing himself, he softened, throwing himself onto the couch opposite Hunter. The human finally settled himself, leaning forward with his elbows on his thighs. “Where is everyone?” “They’re out there somewhere. Khalid told me to stay in here out of the way.” Curious, Pran stood up and walked over to the door. Pushing it open, he twitched his ears, picking up the low sounds of voices coming from his right. Ah, so that’s what they were doing “What is it?” “Do you know anything about this world?” Hunter lifted his hands, confusion flitting over his face. “Some things. Khalid has tried to tell me about how things work but I probably wasn’t the easiest person to teach when he first started trying.” He was going to ignore that. Biting back his sarcastic reply, Pran hesitated. “The Felidae that you met on Earth are just a handful of the inhabitants of our planets. Lev Gatti, whom you have met, is the newest pride leader among the Leo. His father is the Appaliunas, our leader. Although, he is more of a figurehead when it comes to the Tigris. We listen to him when it suits us but he has no say in what we do on our own land.” Hunter leaned forward, nodding. “Yeah, Aaron’s told me a bit about how they all fit together back before… well, before we left. I still can’t believe all the Colemans have gotten mixed up in you guys. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. It’s just weird. I mean, I grew up with Aaron, Darren, Mike and Joy. They 19

went to school together with my brother.” He lowered his head, plucking at a piece of string on the end of his shirt, probably thinking about the fate of his brother. Pran decided a change in topics was in order. “They are all gathered right now to formally recognize Lev Gatti’s new pride. It seems he has a new addition to his family. Three new additions, to be exact.” “You mean Joy and her two spotted men?” “Yes.” They both fell silent, Pran trying to think of something else to say. He wasn’t good talking to people. He tended to overreact before too long, saying something that inevitably pissed them off or becoming angry himself at something they did. Besides, he couldn’t forget that this man was covered in Khalid’s scent. He was suddenly disappointed the human had such a poor sense of smell. He wanted to rub it in his face, the fact that he had been with Khalid. Juvenile, maybe, but it would definitely make him feel better. As if Hunter was aware of his thoughts, he reached out a hand, pointing to one of the scratches on Pran’s ribs. “Did you guys fight?” Pran glanced down. Was it not obvious they had fought? He’d been able to wash off the majority of the blood with the small bowl of water he had found in the room, but it was definitely apparent that he had had an interesting day. He hadn’t arrived all torn up and bloody, so how did the human think these had arrived? Sometimes he didn’t understand these hairless creatures. They so often stated the obvious. “What, does that piss you off?” “What? No, I don’t care. It’s just… I know you don’t get along.” “Did he tell you that? He’s actually going around telling people that we don’t --” “No! Nobody had to tell me. Geez, two seconds with you two and it’s very apparent you snipe at each other like no one else.” “It is complicated.” Hunter snorted, causing Pran to laugh in surprise. “No shit. You guys definitely do complicated well. I mean all of you, not just you and Khalid. My life hasn’t been this complicated since I came out to my brother.” He looked off to the side, sighing heavily. Pran shifted in place. “Does it bother you?” Hunter glanced back, meeting his gaze. “What?” “Does it bother you that I killed your brother?” Pran stalked behind Khalid, the two men easily outpacing the rest of the group. They came upon the clearing first, both stopping in shock at the sight of the low building in front of them. Creatures had been strung up outside, a macabre sight. Pran couldn’t believe his eyes. They looked like the Leo, all tawny fur, long tails and pointed ears. They did not possess a mane, and their limbs looked strange from where he was standing but it wasn’t right. Why were they strung up? Barbarians! He met Khalid’s gaze, the rage in the other man’s eyes crystal clear. They nodded, silently agreeing to whatever was about to transpire. There would be no hesitation, no mercy on monsters who would do this to another creature. If these truly were the men who had Achan, Pran didn’t want to even consider what might have happened to the young Leo. Wrapping his tail around Khalid’s calf briefly, he gave what comfort he could. If his thoughts had gone in that direction, it was definitely certain that Khalid had thought the same thing. Both men moved at the same time, gliding into the clearing, studying the silent structure carefully. Khalid motioned to the left and Pran abruptly veered off, intending to come in the back while Khalid covered the front. He was aware of the others coming up behind him, spreading out to check the smaller buildings scattered throughout the clearing. It would be their job to make sure no one came upon them while they were here. Their secrets must be kept; even Pran realized that. In this one moment, it was as if he and Khalid shared one brain. He was actually in tune with the man. He knew exactly when Khalid broke down the main door, because it was a second before Pran crashed in the back. Voices rose, panicked sounds abounded from inside the building. Pran inhaled carefully, picking up the scent of Achan, a curious combination of spice and innocence. Spying Khalid taking care of a man who had foolishly stepped into his path, Pran veered to the right, following Achan’s scent trail. The same minty scent from before permeated the room, which was going to make it a bit difficult for any Leo that entered the building. It would be up to Pran and the other Tigris to make sure 20

no one was injured. At least, no one on their side. He didn’t care if the humans were all gutted like the beasts they were. Snarls sounded at his back, the familiar voice of Sheer joining the fight. A loud bang reverberated in the room, sharp and cracking. Pran winced, not sure what that was, but knowing it couldn’t be good. Was it a weapon? The instrument that the Leo had mentioned before? Achan’s scent intensified right in front of the closed door to his left. He stopped, studying it. There were two others in the room, both human. Both related if his nose was accurate. Their base scents were identical. Inhaling deeply, Pran centered himself, kicking out with his foot, cracking the door and diving inside on his exhale. Another loud boom deafened him, the noise coming from right beside him. He snarled, baring his fangs, his snapping roar filling the room. “Stay away! I’ll kill him! I swear it! Stay away!” Pran studied the human before him. He was clearly out of shape. His belly was soft, his hair receding from his forehead. Fear filled him, surging from his pores, stinking the room with acrid, bitter smoke. He was standing over a prone figure tied to a bed, a knife held to his captive’s throat. Pran glanced at Achan, seeing the drugged, glazed look in his eyes. The white flowers of the yarrow were strewn around him, obviously keeping him out of sorts. He was aware of the second human crouched into the corner, could smell the unpleasant scent of despair coating him. Pran waited, keeping his gaze on the knife. Suddenly, the second man cried out. “Zach, stop this now. Let him go! Just let him go.” It worked as a distraction. Zach’s attention switched for a brief moment, just enough time for Pran. He thrust forward, grasping the man’s knife hand. He was stronger than Pran had expected. They grappled briefly for the weapon but Pran prevailed. He grabbed it, twisted it, stabbed it into that soft belly and pulled up hard. Death stared back at him from the man’s gaze, before he slumped to the ground with a gurgle. Khalid was suddenly at his back, grabbing for Achan, releasing his brother from his bindings, pulling him into his arms. Pran turned his back on them, glancing to the second human, the one who had inadvertently helped him. Tears dripped from his eyes, the one swollen painfully. Blood coated his split lip, covering his chin. He had obviously been beaten before they had arrived. Just made him that much more satisfied that the human had died by his hand. Hunter glanced at him now, the sheen of moisture evident in his submissive gaze. “It was my fault. I shshould have stopped him. I should ha-have done something.” How was Pran supposed to hate the man when he was obviously so torn up inside? He sighed, leaning forward. “It was his fault. For taking Achan, for abusing him, for beating you. He is the one to blame. Trust me, cub, it will do no good to hold that pain inside you. You must learn to let it go. You will never forget. You should not forget what happened. Keep it, learn from it, but do not let it rule you.” “You talking from experience?” “Pain can break you, if you are not careful. Fill you up until you cannot breathe because it hurts too much. You start to think that it would just be easier if there was a way to get rid of it. Deep down inside, you know it is not that simple. You know that every day you hold that pain is one more day that it takes over until the person you once were is no longer. You start to think that it would be simpler to end your life.” “Did you try to?” Pran smiled, knowing it would be bitter and twisted. He did not like to remember that time of his life. “We do things sometimes that we cannot explain, that we cannot reconcile with after the fact.” He hoped the cub understood what he was saying without asking for more. Pran couldn’t give it to him. It wasn’t a tale meant for Hunter to hear. They sat in silence for a time, Pran closing his eyes to try and capture the sounds from outside. He knew they would all be gathered there. Everyone but him and the human who didn’t belong anywhere. Where exactly did Pran fit into their world? Into Khalid’s world? “He won’t talk to me.” Pran started, confused for a moment. “Who?” “Achan. He won’t talk to me. I don’t know what to say to him. I tried to take care of him. I tried to look after him but I guess all he sees when he looks at me is my brother.” “What do you want him to see?” 21

“I’m not sure.” Content to drop the subject, Pran leaned back in his seat. “What’s it like?” Oh, for the love of… “What is what like?” “Sex. With one of you.” Pran paused. He studied Hunter, paid particular attention to the blush staining the hairless man’s cheeks, the scent of his embarrassment. “Do you not already know?” He was starting to guess differently, though. There were too many things that weren’t adding up. “No. I mean, kind of. I-I kissed him.” Huffing, Pran rolled his eyes. It was taking forever for this human to get his words out. “Who?” “Achan. Back in the cabin. Back before all this happened. It was a mistake, I know it. But he was just so… and he smelled so… he was drugged. I know he was. I just… I couldn’t help myself. Does that make me a bad person?” “You are talking to the wrong person if you expect me to make you feel better. You would be better off talking to Khalid.” “I did.” Curious, Pran forced the words out. “What did he do?” “He hugged me, told me it would be all right. That seems to be his comfort of choice. Every time I’ve freaked out since leaving, he’s hugged me and told me everything will be all right. I’m starting to believe him. It’s just confusing.” Hugged him. Khalid had hugged him. Multiple times. Putting his scent on the human. Past events rolled through Pran’s mind -- his accusations, Khalid’s confusion that turned into baiting, Hunter’s confession. Ga’ad, he was an idiot. Pran was about to respond when the door was pushed open and Khalid himself stood in the doorway. Light framed him from behind, casting his face into shadow. “I never thought I would see the two of you in the same room without bloodshed.” “It is because you were not here, half-breed!” He couldn’t help it, it just came out. Seemed he couldn’t take even a hint of derision from Khalid without immediately overreacting. “For which I am eternally grateful.” Khalid’s voice was dry. “Oh, for God’s sake! What is wrong with you two?” Hunter stood up, throwing his hands in the air. “What?” Pran snarled. “Open your eyes and see what everyone else can, even some stupid, ignorant human like me. We can’t all be with the ones we care about, and here you two are right in front of each other, and you’re acting like assholes. Open your goddamned eyes and stop jumping to conclusions for once in your life!” He stormed out, slamming the door shut behind him. Khalid frowned after him. “Well, that went…” “Badly?” Shrugging his big shoulders, Khalid came further into the room, taking Hunter’s previous seat. He pretended nonchalance, tapping his fingers on his knee. “So, you had a nice talk?” Pran hid his grin. Did Khalid honestly think he couldn’t tell when the big man was faking something? He nodded. “It was fine.” “What did you talk about?” “The weather.” “Oh, that is ni --” He stopped, shaking his head. “The weather?” “Mmm. He mentioned he was hot. I told him it was unaccountably warm for this time of year.” “Do not fool with me, cub!” Khalid mock-growled. Snorting, Pran rolled his eyes. “What do you think we talked about? Achan. What happened before. Sex.” “Why would you talk about sex?” “Because he wants it. From one of us.” “Us? You mean…? Well, that is just too bad. He will have to suffer because there is no way in this lifetime or any other that he will ever lay hands on you so do not even think of encouraging him!” Khalid’s voice rose in volume, deepening until Pran could barely make out the words. He couldn’t stop his beaming smile, the buoyant expression refusing to hide. “Really?” 22

“I know you have no reason to believe me.” “I am listening.” Khalid looked shocked. He blinked hard. “You are. What changed?” Unable to find the right words, Pran shrugged. “We need to talk.” “Four words every man wants to hear.” “Pran…” “Fine, I am being serious. Talk.” “Earlier, you said…” Raising his hand, Pran waved him to continue. “You called me Cittaja.” Grimacing, Pran lowered his gaze. “When?” “Right before you fucked me into the floor. I was not sure if I had heard you correctly at first, but I remember the words.” He hadn’t realized he had slipped like that. At the time all he could think about was the scent of Khalid, the feel of him in his arms for the first time in more years than he wanted to think about. “Did you mean it?” Pran knit his brow, pausing. “Pran, say the words. Please.” “I meant it.” “After all these years?” “I have always meant it. Did I not say that once? You belonged to me. I told you once that I would always be there for you.” “I hurt you.” “I know.” Pran hated thinking of the day his life had been torn apart, but curiously it didn’t ache as much now. “You just made me so angry.” “I know.” He did know. Neither one of them had had much of a choice at the time but it had been Pran who’d acted first. Pran who’d hurt Khalid first. He would never forget it, the joy on Khalid’s face when he came back from meeting his new family. The infectious awe when he told Pran that his real father was none other than Tahir Steinsson, one of the most powerful and feared of the Leo pride leaders. He remembered Khalid’s hesitation when he told Pran about his siblings, three new brothers -- one still a cub who had remained behind on Felid with his mother -- and another sister. Khalid hadn’t been certain what to think of them. They had apparently regarded him just as carefully. Pran had been so excited for him. He finally had his answer, the one he had been searching for. He knew where he came from, knew who his father was. They could let everything go now and just focus on their future. No more complications to throw challenges their way. He had been so wrong. He hadn’t anticipated Tahir’s invitation to Khalid to journey to Felid with him. “Pran?” “I wanted to go with you so badly.” “What?” Khalid was visibly astonished, sitting up straight. “I was ready, that day. I was going to tell you that I would do whatever you wished but that if you wanted to go with your Leo family, I would go with you.” “But…?” He understood Khalid’s confusion. That wasn’t exactly what he’d said when they met the second night of the Leo’s stay. “I received a visit from your Leo father. He told me what he wanted you to do, that he wanted you to come with him. He said that you had talked about me, told him that I was your Cittaja and that we came as a unit. He said it would not be possible. That I would not be good for you.” Pran stood up, unable to say this sitting down. “I argued with him at first, told him there was no way we would separate, that we belonged to each other. I yelled at him. Told him he knew nothing, he did not understand us and that he may be the type to

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cheat on his mate and sleep with someone else, but that you and I were stronger than that. We would never betray each other. Our vows.” He stopped, glancing over to Khalid. The bigger man had his head bowed, his claws imbedded deeply into the cushions on either side of him. He was shaking. Breathing deeply, Pran continued his tale. “He said you were meant for bigger things. That the Appaliunas had a dream of uniting the races, of guiding them so that we were not so divided. He said that you were a bridge, a being from two races, but belonging to both. That you were the perfect person to show the rest of the Felidae that peace was possible between us, to show how the mixing of the races could be a very good thing. But that it would not be possible with me by your side. I was too Tigris, too arrogant to help you navigate the path that lay before you. He said that the rest of the Tigris would see it as a betrayal of our ways if you left voluntarily to go to Felid. He said you would have to cut ties with everything on Himalay. Your family, your lover, everything. Only then would they listen to you, if they thought you had been forced to leave.” “You…” The rest of Khalid’s words were a muffled murmur that he couldn’t understand. “What?” “You gave us up because my father told you to?” He glanced up, his face twisted with pain, confusion, incredulity. “No! What kind of idiot do you take me for? I pretty much told him to eat grass and flitted off to find you. But when I found you, you were not alone. I heard what you said to Rabi’a. How important it would be to be a part of such a great change among the Felidae. How it was bigger than you, important for all the races. She asked you if change was what you wanted and you said yes. I heard you. You told her that the Tigris would be more likely to listen to you when you asked them to join in on the peace talks than to one of the Leo.” “I never wanted you to stay behind!” “I know! I know that. But I wanted what was best for you. I told you to leave because I thought it was what was best for you. I wanted you to have every opportunity you could possibly have, and I did not want to be the one who held you back. It was too important.” “So you told me you changed your mind? Told me that you could not live with a man like me? That you had only called me Cittaja because I had said it to you first. How could that possibly have made that better for me? You call me half-breed and it is true… I have been half a man since you pushed me away. I left behind my other half back on Himalay and I do not know what to say to you right now. You actually pushed me away because it was what was best for me? “How dare you make that decision? How dare you decide our future without even bothering to ask me what I wanted. I would have stayed for you. I would have given it all up. They could have done the same thing without me. They could have gotten the Tigris to agree to attend the talks some other way. I would have stayed. For you. I wanted to be with you above all things. And you have the nerve to stand here now and try to tell me you were being noble? Doing the right thing? You really are an idiot, Pran Devan!”

Chapter Six Khalid stormed out of the abode, too angry to even look at Pran right now. “Khalid! Wait!” He was sorely tempted to just keep going but deep inside he couldn’t bear to let Pran go. Didn’t mean he was going to let the stupid Tigris off the hook, though. “I am sorry! What more do you want me to say? We were young. Ga’ad, I was younger than Achan is now. I made a stupid mistake which was made worse when you just left. You did not even try to fight for us. I tell you to leave, say it is what I want, and you just leave? Without even trying to change my mind? So, how is this all my fault?” He exploded, pushing the other man hard in the chest, throwing him back a step. “I was hurting!” “So was I.” Pran’s voice was soft. He didn’t even try to hit Khalid back. Khalid drooped. “And after?” “After, my world disappeared. You were everything to me. I do not think I fully realized that until you were gone. I had no one, and the most important thing in my life was gone. I hated myself for pushing you away, doubted my actions, flip flopped from one extreme to the other until it just became too much for me.” 24

No, he couldn’t mean… His heart ached for his Cittaja. For what he had gone through. “Pran?” “Rabi’a found me. I think I wanted her to.” Oh, no. No. He could have lost him. His Pran. His beloved Cittaja, gone in the blink of an eye and Khalid wouldn’t even have known about it. He couldn’t breathe. Khalid opened his mouth, no words coming out. There were no words to express how anguished he felt. He sank to his knees, burying his head in Pran’s belly. A sob broke free; he was unable to hold it in. Pran’s shaking hand touched his head, fingers sliding through Khalid’s mane. He arched into the touch, rubbing his forehead against Pran’s stomach. His arms lifted. He threw them around Pran’s hips, holding the man tight. He had been reconciled with the fact that they might never see each other again, but to think that Pran might have disappeared from this life, his bright light extinguished in the blink of an eye… No, he couldn’t bear it. “Hush, Khalid. Cittaja, hush. I am fine. Do not cry.” He hadn’t known he was, but when he shifted, stroking his cheek along Pran’s fur, he discovered the soft pelt was wet. “I could have lost you. Forever.” “You were already gone. Would it really have mattered?” Khalid reared back, snarling. “It mattered! Do not dare do that again! Do you hear me? I will not lose you like that!” Pran stared back, a slight frown between his eyes. “She made me swear that I would never do it again. That I would never try to take my life again. I promised.” He exhaled slowly, not releasing Pran, his arms still tight around Pran’s waist, hands sliding up and down his back. “But the fights?” He didn’t understand that. If Pran had sworn not to try and take his life why had he been in so many challenge fights? “I heard stories about you. Going off to other planets, making a difference with Durai and the rest of his pride. It sounded so wonderful. You sounded like you had found your place. But I could not find mine. No matter how hard I tried, I had nothing. I thought maybe if I became stronger, fiercer, one of the best among us, then you might come back. If you heard that I was winning all these challenges, if you were told how great I had become, that you might want me again. Only you never came. You did not care. So, I started to seek out bigger challenges, started taking chances.” “You were either going to be the best Tigris or you would be dead and would not care anymore.” Pran nodded. Oh. What had he done? What had they done to each other? He had stayed away for so long because it had been painful to even think about Pran. He had been terrified that he would give it all up if he just got a glimpse of his beloved Cittaja so he had taken the advice of Vasu. He had never returned to his home. What would have happened, if he had gone back just once? If they had been able to talk for even a moment? This whole thing, these lost years, could have been avoided if they had just communicated back when Tahir Steinsson had first arrived on Himalay. “A single honest talk would have prevented all of this.” “I do not regret it.” “How could you not regret it? We could have been together!” He didn’t understand why Pran would say something like that. He had tried to take his own life, and then had tried to entice others to take it for him so he didn’t break his oath to Rabi’a. How was Khalid supposed to live with the knowledge that he had caused that pain? That it was his fault all this had happened? “We are different people now. Things have changed, yes, but maybe they have made us better. Ga’ad, you managed to initiate open communication between the Leo and the Tigris for the first time in a very long time. That would not have happened if you had not left. You cannot regret that.” “You cannot know what the future would have been like --” “Khalid, I have never said it before, but I am proud of what you have accomplished. I am proud of you.” His arms were suddenly full of Pran, the Tigris dropping to his knees and burrowing deep into Khalid’s hold. Khalid clasped him tightly, breathing in his scent, wallowing in it. He was never letting this man go again. They were not cubs this time. Anything they came across from this day forward could be dealt with. No, it would be dealt with. They would not be parted again. They were older, wiser. They could deal with whatever challenges came their way. 25

Khalid pulled away. “We may have both been cubs at the time but my fathers were not. If you will not let me blame myself, then I guess it is time for me to have a little chat with Tahir.” Pran’s eyes widened. “Khalid?” “Stay here. I will be right back.” He kissed the top of Pran’s head, gaining his feet. He started to run. “Khalid!” He was aware of Pran following him, and he was fine with that as long as the cub didn’t think to interfere. He found his father in the clearing in front of the grouping of Steinsson abodes, sitting beside Achan, studying his youngest son carefully. The cub still had not talked about his ordeal, refused to discuss it. They were all worried about him. Khalid’s brothers were there, all of them, and both his sisters were present. Their mates were there, and he even spotted Hunter at the back of the group standing beside his human friends. Without pausing, Khalid stepped up to his father, grabbing his shoulder and hauling him to his feet. Tahir frowned. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the movement of his uncles coming forward. They stopped at a quick motion of Tahir’s hand. “You told my Cittaja that I was better off without him? You told him to say those things to me?” “It was what was needed.” “You had no right to decide that for me.” “I am your father. I had every right. I was not alone, either. Vasu agreed with me. We knew it was what was best.” He gritted his teeth, so tempted to say something that he knew he would regret. “If one more person tells me that they know what is best for me, I will not be held accountable for my actions. You will all discover just how much of the Tigris flows through my veins.” Turning, Khalid looked at each of his family members. They all watched him with various looks of surprise. All except Rabi’a. The conniving little… she’d done this on purpose. His Attika really was more like him that he’d known. Slashing his hand in the air, he pointed to where Pran hovered at the edge of the clearing, watching everything with wide eyes. “You call him barbaric. You say he deserves to be put in his place, to be taken care of. Well, I tell you that he has more integrity than anyone I know, and you have no right to judge him. You see things in black and white and cannot understand when someone like Pran lives in the gray shades between.” “Khalid,” Tahir spoke softly, obviously trying to calm him down. No, he was tired of this. Sick and tired of the way they all treated him, talked about him. In a dozen different ways Khalid had tried to stick up for Pran but he realized he had never really come out and spoken in his defense. He had let his past feelings color his impressions of his Cittaja and let his family develop mistaken impressions of him. It wasn’t fair. They would never do that to Darren, or Mike or Joy. Even Sheer was above reproach. Well, they would just have to get used to Pran; he wasn’t going anywhere. His family could just deal with it. “Pran is one of the greatest men I know. His past may be suspect to some of you but there is a reason for every action he has ever taken. None of you is pure. We have all done things we regret.” “Khalid, surely you can see this is not easy for us. Pran --” “You do not know him! You have never given him a chance. Do it now. For me. Please.” He glanced around the clearing, meeting the gazes of his brothers, his sisters. Their mates. His uncles and their mate. He met his father’s eyes last. “Khalid is right.” Achan stirred for the first time. “Pr-Pran s-saved m-my life. Z-Zach held a knife on me. He thre-threatened to k-kill me. Pran sto-stopped him. He killed him. I w-would have died if not for him. Him and H-hunter. Hunter protected me, g-gave me food when Zach tr-tried to starve me. St-stepped in when he tried to b-beat me. He took the abuse m-meant for me.” Hunter stepped forward. “I would do it again, Achan.” He held his hand out, smiling at the Leo when Achan grasped his hand tightly. The rest of them were all silent, coming to terms with what Achan had just told them. Khalid shifted, glancing over to Pran. Who wasn’t in the clearing anymore. Sighing, he started to leave, intent on following him. “Khalid.” Tahir stopped him. “I am sorry if my actions hurt you. I never meant for that.” 26

“I know, Janaka. Father.” “Then go after him. If he makes you happy, go after him. I cannot promise that we will suddenly be the best of friends with your Cittaja, but we will try. You have my word.” Khalid grinned, setting off at a lope. “Khalid!” Pausing, he spied his sister jogging toward him. “Rabi’a.” “You are okay?” She was visibly worried. “I will be.” He smiled, reaching out to tuck her hair behind her ear. She purred, her tail bumping his knee. “And Pran?” Khalid glanced down, inhaling deeply. With a rumble, he gently enfolded his sister in his arms, rocking her back and forth. “Thank you. Thank you for saving him.” She wrapped her arms around his waist. “He told you?” Khalid nodded. “He did not mean to do it. I do not think he did. I was scared, though. I could not tell you. Please forgive me for the secret. It was near impossible to keep it from you, but I would not let you feel guilt for an action that you could not have prevented. Pran is his own person. He made the choice himself.” “Thank you.” “Go to him.” Khalid kissed the top of Rabi’a’s head, giving her one last squeeze. “I love you, Attika.” “And I you, Binnodara. Now, go spank his ass for me, while I go find my mates to amuse myself with.” Snickering, he pushed her away. Being with her always made him feel better. She was the one person who had been there for both him and Pran. He owed her a lifetime of gratitude. She would probably slap him if he told her though. They were family. That was what family did for each other. He followed Pran’s trail straight to the Tigris ship. He should have figured the cub would come here. It was a link to their past, a piece of Himalay to anchor them. He had barely entered the ship before Pran was upon him. “You should be with your family.” “Do you not understand? You are my family.” “Khalid…” “Cittaja.” “Your family will not understand.” “They will. This is what I want. What I have always wanted. Rabi’a understands that, my Janaka understands now, and you will find that my brothers and sisters are much more understanding than you give them credit for. They did not kill you all these years, after all, no matter how much you provoked them to.” “I did not --” “You did, and you know it, Cittaja. I am only sorry that I did not understand sooner.” “Understand what?” “How much pain you were in. How much I hurt you. Can you forgive me for hurting you?” “Khalid, there is nothing to forgive.” “There is --” “Then spend the rest of our lifetime together making it up to me.” Khalid grinned, definitely liking the sound of that. “I will. I swear it.” “And if you ever think of leaving me again --” “I will not!” “I will track you down and fuck you so hard you will not be able to walk for a solid month.” Khalid paused, opening his mouth before closing it with a snap. “That was not meant to be an incentive, Cittaja.” Laughing, Khalid shook his head. “Then you should not tempt me with something that sounds so good.” “Is that what you want?” “What? You to fuck me?” He shrugged, feigning nonchalance. “I could probably get into that.” “You mean I could probably get into you?”

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Oh, that painted quite the picture. He leaned into Pran, accepting his seeking mouth, falling into their kiss. He moaned, parting his lips, sucking Pran’s tongue, meeting it with his own. Pran squeezed him tightly, almost desperately. He tilted his head back. “It is okay, Pran.” “Show me.” Grinning, determined to take Pran at face value, he bent his knees, picking up the other man and hoisting him over his shoulder. Pran bucked in his hold, hissing with rage. Khalid slapped him on the ass. “Be still or I may drop you. You are not a small man.” “Put me down right now!” “In a moment, Cittaja.” He chuckled, happy to fool around with the other man once again. Joy filled his chest. This was still so hard to believe. He reached Pran’s door, pushing it open quickly and striding forward. Grateful to drop his heavy burden -- he hadn’t been joking when he said Pran wasn’t a small man -- he made sure to aim at the big bed. Pran hissed again when he landed and bounced on the mattress. “You definitely owe me for that one.” “Well, then it is only right that I give you what you deserve.” He couldn’t keep his smirk off his face, but luckily Pran seemed willing to overlook it at the moment. Khalid moved onto the bed, gaining his hands and knees. Crawling forward, he deftly inserted himself between Pran’s spread thighs. Blanketing his Tigris, Khalid nipped his chin, laving the bite with his rough tongue. Pran moaned, arching his neck. Determined to explore, Khalid set to finding every sensitive spot on Pran’s body. It had been too long since he’d had unrestricted access to this delectable body. He looked forward to relearning it, to discovering what made Pran different now than he was before. They were both older, they had changed, and it was true that they were different men now. He couldn’t wait to understand who Pran really was, be taught more than just the updates Rabi’a had been giving him through the years. They rolled together on the bed, both men eager to touch, hands grazing over fur, languid and slow. They had forever to play. There was no rush, no hurried coupling. When Pran found the ljuba, Khalid was ready for him. His breath was choppy, his fur slick with a sheen of sweat. He gained his back, wanting to be able to watch Pran, embrace him. He lifted his legs, grasping behind his knees to hold himself open for Pran. Pran prepared him gently, stretching him with his fingers. He moved down Khalid’s body, his mouth suddenly joining his digits in torturing Khalid. Pran licked and sucked at his ass, getting him wet, relaxing his body until Khalid felt utterly boneless. He cried out, his cock aching, balls drawn tight. His body was strung tightly, like a live wire had been placed inside him. Everything was more intense, brighter, more beautiful. “Pran, oh Ga’ad, Pran…” “Cittaja.” “Yes, yes, yours. I am yours.” Pran teased him, running the tip of his cock up and down Khalid’s crack, bumping over his hole on every pass. Khalid wriggled, frustrated and incredibly turned on when Pran held him in place, not letting him impale himself on that blasted prick. “Pran! Now, please, oh, please now.” “Beg me for it, Cittaja.” “I need you, Pran. Fuck me. Oh, please fuck me. Fill me, use me, whatever you want. I will do whatever you want. Please!” “Anything?” “Anything, anything!” “Promise me you will never leave me again.” Khalid sobbed, need warring with his pain. “Never, I swear. Never.” Pran growled, low and tight. The sound vibrated through Khalid’s chest, his balls tightening, his back arching. Pran fit the head of his cock to Khalid’s ass, slowly pushing in. Khalid gasped, trying to relax his muscles, but glorying in the small bite of pain mixed with so much pleasure he might die from overload.

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Sunk in to the balls, Pran began to pull back, quickly sinking back inside. He set a punishing rhythm, his grip hard on Khalid’s hip, holding him nearly immobile. Khalid let go of his knees, needing to hold onto Pran. He wrapped his legs around Pran’s waist, sliding his hands along Pran’s fur, purring at the sensations. They both cried out. They weren’t going to last long, but that was okay. They would have a lifetime to repeat this. Khalid came first, his seed wrenched out of him in pulsing jets. The clenching of his ass must have been too much for Pran because the other man roared, jerking his hips erratically. He suddenly paused, groaning, and Khalid felt the warmth of Pran’s come filling him, marking him. They collapsed together, Pran comfortably wrapped in Khalid’s arms. Panting for breath, they began to laugh. “Well, that did not last long.” He couldn’t feel his body, and his mind might just be fried from that orgasm. “Give me a minute to recover and I will fuck you until night falls.” “Hmmm…” Khalid stretched, intrigued. “I love the sound of that. I love you, Cittaja.” Pran hugged him, clasping him tightly. “I love you. Always mine, you will always be mine.” “You mean that?” “Nothing will ever separate us, Khalid, my word on that. You will always be mine.” Always. He liked the sound of that. Khalid lifted his chin, placing a tender kiss on Pran’s lips. They clung together, their scents mixing in the aftermath of their loving. Pran tasted like home. He smelled wild and clean, making Khalid think of their long-ago hidden clearing back on Himalay. They would return there one day, renew themselves under that canopy of leaves, love each other in the grasses beside the sparkling pool. But for now, they would simply hold onto each other, reacquaint themselves and learn all the things that had made them different since they parted ways. They might have loved each other then, to the depths they were able to, but they were stronger now, older and wiser. His love for Pran today was richer and more layered than what he felt for the man, once upon a time. The second chapter of their lives together was just starting. Khalid couldn’t wait to experience it all with this man, his beloved Cittaja, by his side. Always. They belonged together always.

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