Kailin's Keeper

OooO Runaway Prince OooO

“Have you lost your mind?” Araz snapped once the door was closed and he and his brother were alone. “There is no way under the suns I’m going to help Kailin break the bonding promise with Paniz. I happened to think it’s what’s best for both of them. You’d have to be blind, or Kailin, not to see that Lukin is ideally suited to him.”

“Relax, Big Brother.” Axial thumped his back, smiling conspiratorially, “I said we’re going to help Kai. I didn’t say anything about helping him out of the bond. I’m not stupid… or suicidal for that matter.”

Folding his arms across his chest, Araz narrowed his eyes, teeming with scepticism. “How exactly are we going to ‘help’ him, then?”

“We’re going to get Kailin out of the capital for a while.” Before Araz could lodge a complaint, Axial continued, “I’ll go with him. Take some guards for protection.”

“It would be much simpler just to contact Paniz now and tell him that Kailin is going off half-cocked,” Araz argued. “Let him deal with it.”

“However, Kailin needs time to cool off, and here in the tower he has a definite advantage over Paniz. They need neutral ground, where Kailin can’t pull rank, where there’s not a hundred things vying for their attention. Think of it was a bonding holiday…just it’s coming before the bonding.”

“I really don’t think…”

Axial stopped him, “Araz, just trust me on this. After all, I’m the only one of us with any experience forming a mating bond.”

“If this blows up, Paniz will…” Araz trailed off deliberately.

Axial shuttered. He didn’t want to think about the commander would do. “They’ll work it out.”

“How you can be so sure?” Araz questioned. “Kailin is set against it and know how he can be.”

“Yeah, but you know how Paniz is, too. Burning Suns know, he’s the only one who’s ever been able to handle our brother.”

“Axial…”

“Araz, trust me.”

“Okay. Fine.” Araz gave in with reluctant sigh. “What do you need me to do?”

“I’m going to procure some transport and let Wen I’m going out of the capital. I want you to find a hideaway, something remote, not more than a day or two’s travel. You’ll also need to get…”

The brothers ducked their heads together, conspiring.

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Despite his impatience to get the situation with Kailin and bond sorted out and settled, Lukin waited until noon to confront Kailin about the promise agreement. Trying to be considerate, he was giving the boy a chance to calm down and process what was going to happen now.

If he was being completely honest, his delay was also due to the fact he wasn’t eager to fight with Kailin. And a fight it would undoubtedly be. Kailin’s modus operandi had always been lashing out if he felt his back was against the wall. He didn’t try to delude himself into thinking Kailin was going to calmly accept the agreement, but he knew it would all be worth it in the end.

Lukin braced himself before knocking at Kailin’s door. He was surprised to see there were no guards outside. A niggling jealousy prodded at him. Had Kailin let the guards into his private suite?

It had been an area of disagreement between them many times in the past. Lukin didn’t like it when the guards hung out in Kailin room. But it would be just like the youngest prince to try to rile Lukin up like this. When Kailin thought he was being pushed around, he pushed back. It was one thing in a long list of things Lukin admired about Kailin – despite how much trouble it caused him.

With a grim and determined expression, Lukin knocked, louder, at Kailin’s door.

There was no answer.

Knocking again, he pressed on the handle and pushed. It was locked. Jaw set, brow furrowed in a glare, Lukin overrode the lock on the door. It clicked, unlatching, and he pushed it open. Inside the air was still and heavy; he had the feeling that there was no one in the suite. It took him a minute to confirm that hunch, systematically moving from room to room.

All empty.

Was Kailin sulking somewhere? Making Lukin search for him?

In the middle the deserted living room, Lukin pulled out his handheld transceiver. “Guard Unit One, this is Paniz.”

“Yes, sir, Guard Unit One.” The response came instantly.

“I want Prince Kailin’s location immediately.”

There was a pause, the sound of clicking buttons, a mumble of conversation, and then another pause. Finally the voice came back, hesitant, “I’m afraid I can’t do that for you, sir.”

Lukin spit out a curse, “What the rek does that mean, soldier?”

“Prince Kailin is not here.”

That brat! Lukin fumed. “Prince Kailin left the tower?”

The man on the other end of the transceiver continued, “His Excellency, Prince Axial, took Prince Kailin out of the central Arathria several hours ago. There is no way to pinpoint their exactly location now that they have left the region.”

Lukin grit his teeth. Not just the tower then, Kailin had left the city…And what role was Axial playing in this? “I assume their destination was logged before they left the capital.”

“Yes, sir.” There was another gap of dead air before the soldier came back on. “The information is restricted, sir. His Excellency, Prince Araz, made the destination privileged information. I cannot access it.”

Lukin swore, mind racing. Axial and Araz were in on it?

“Uh, sir?” The voice continued, “I can tell you six riders left: the princes, Captain V’Ox, and three guards. And they had several days of supplies with them.”

Lukin turned the transceiver off furiously. It wasn’t a little rebellion then. Kailin wasn’t hiding in the nearby. He had really run away.

Of course he had. Lukin couldn’t blame him. Why in the four worlds would an Arathrian prince want a barbaric, Arlonite, dirt-digger as his bondmate?

He knew what the honorable thing to do was. Let Kailin escape and find a way to break the bonding promise between so Kailin could find a more suitable match.

But Burning Suns forgive him; he no longer cared about being honourable. He was Arlonite; the tainted savagery ran in his veins. He couldn’t let Kailin go. That ability didn’t exist within him.

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Lukin only had to pound once on the door to Araz’s suite before it swung open.

The crown prince himself answered the door, leaning against the doorframe with one arm. Besides looking a little worn out, Araz appeared calm and unaffected. “Ah, Paniz. I was expecting you earlier, actually.”

Lukin didn’t waste time with a preamble; he pushed past Araz into the suite. “Where is he?”

The royal’s lips quirked, “You’ll have to be more specific. Who are you referring to?”

He was smiling. He had helped Kailin run away, Burning Suns knew where, and he was smiling. Lukin felt his anger explode. He stepped towards Araz.

The prince’s personal guards moved forward, eyeing Lukin uncertainly.

Self-assured, Araz waved them off and they fell back gratefully none of them wanting to oppose their commander.

Lukin swung, his fist connecting with the crown prince’s surprised face.

Araz stumbled back a little, before bringing his hand to rub his throbbing jaw, “I guess I deserved that.”

“Rekking right you did,” Lukin growled. “Where is my submissive?”

The crown prince drew a piece of paper from his front pocket, still stroking his jaw lightly, it was already starting to redden and puff up.

“What is that?” Lukin snapped irritably.

“Your bonding present, Paniz. Go on, take it.”

“A what present?” With suspicion, Lukin took it; it was a map. He gave Araz a look.

The prince explained, “There’s a small royal manor house near the Arlonite border. Lots of open space, no servants, no one to interrupt your privacy.”

“Kailin’s there?”

Araz gave a nod, “Axial escorted him. All you have to do is go and claim him.”

“Why?” Lukin demanded tersely.

The meaning of the question was clear. Araz answered frankly, “Kailin was…upset by the sudden news of the bonding promise. He wasn’t acting rationally. Axial thought, and I eventually agreed, it might be best if you two could work out your issues someplace private, with no distractions… and less opportunities for Kailin to do anything rash.”

Lukin pivoted towards the door, already deciding how quickly he could leave the capital in pursuit of Kailin. There were a number of things he would have to do: he had to get a mount, collect supplies for the journey, and arrange for trainers to take over with the recruits for a few days.

“Don’t forget this.” Araz stopped him and handed him another paper, this one a heavier stock, cream coloured with the royal seal.

Before Lukin had a chance to read it, Araz explained. “It’s leverage. A bonding license. It can be used anywhere on world, but I would appreciate it if you would at least try to bring Kailin back here, so you can be bonded with the family present.”

Lukin took the paper and started for the exit again.

“One more thing.”

Lukin stopped at the door, visibly impatient.

“Don’t be too hard on Kailin,” Araz bid. “The whole thing really did come as a shock him.”

“Kailin will be dealt with how I see fit.” Through their 18 year friendship, Araz had never been the focus of this side of Lukin: cold and hostile, his dominant drive seeping from every cell. “Don’t attempt to interfere again.”

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Because the harsh and unpredictable arid terrain around Arathria, there was only one reliable mode of transportation: trudgers. Trudgers were long-legged equines with shaggy, tan coats and oversized, three-toed hooves. Adapted to the environment, they were sure-footed in the sand, carried heavy loads, and could go long distances without resting or drinking.

Unfortunately for Kailin, despite his recent travels, he wasn’t a good rider. He had to stop after only a few hours in the saddle. He gave his trudger a pat on its long, thick neck as he slid off the leather saddle and landed on the ground, wincing at the way his thigh muscles pulled. The trudger ignored him for the most part, making a huffling, smacking sound and dropping its huge head towards the ground. Its snout rooted in the sand, looking for something to eat perhaps.

A second trudger stopped just ahead of Kailin and a hulking body swung out of the saddle.

As he approached, a shadow cast over Kailin. The prince was forced to crane his head up to look the man in the face. This particular soldier was familiar to him.

Captain Zaks V’Ox. If his size wasn’t a dead giveaway to his identity, his physical features would have been. His straw-coloured hair was shorn to the scalp on both sides and left long down the middle. A long, menacing scar ran down the side of his face and curled under his chin. His eyes were a dark green, with flecks of brown. The unusual colour of his eyes had rumours flying about his parentage. People speculated that Zaks’ father might have been Eimorinian, from the east, or even Arlonite. Lukin, who certainly didn’t care about things like a man’s parentage, had taken V’Ox on as one of his right-hand men. The giant had been promoted to captain a few years ago.

“Your Excellency, inform me before you stop.” The soldier’s voice was a deep reverberating rumble with a hint of disapproval in his tone.

Kailin nodded, knowing the man was only doing his job. “Next time, I will, Captain V’Ox. I just needed to stretch my legs.”

The captain gave a little grunt, eyes scanning the environment. “There’s a water hole nearby.”

Kailin looked around, seeing nothing but sand and sky and craggy rock hills. “How’d you figure?”

V’Ox dipped his chin, gesturing with it. “Tracks. Animals always find the water.”

Sure enough, on closer inspection, Kailin could see several types of partially obscured tracks in the sand between the blown dunes and ripples.

“Longfangs.” V’Ox stated in his curt manner.

Kailin squinted at the tracks. Did one look like an oversized paw print, something that might be left by the large feline predator? His trudger shuffled uneasily and Kailin patted its neck to calm it. “I don’t know how you can tell, Captain V’Ox. The tracks are half buried in the sand.”

In three long strides, V’Ox was at his side, crowding him back towards the trudgers. Kailin was surprised to see the captain pull two knives from belt holsters. “Not tracks. There.”

Kailin followed one pointed knife and sure enough two longfangs were prowling over a ridge 200 yards away, their pale fur blending in with the sand. The trudgers shifted again, hooves stamping the ground. Zaks never took his eyes off the longfangs, when he talked to Kailin, “Try to keep them calm, we don’t want them to bolt.”

Kailin fumbled the trudgers’ reins, wrapping them around his hands to try to pull the equine heads down and hold them steady. He made soft calming sounds, talking to the beasts softly, “Whoa, there, quiet. Everything’s okay.”

A fearsome roar rent the air, echoed soon after by a second. Kailin jumped, his eyes shot to the trudgers; one reared up and it took everything Kailin had to pull its head back down and avoid its kicking hooves.

Zaks’ wide back was blocking him, but he could just see one of the longfangs creeping closer, languid muscles rolling under the thick striped fur. The long, curving canine teeth they were named for dripped with saliva.

Kailin’s head swung around. It took a split second for his head to catch up with his body. He had looked for Lukin. Because he was scared, there was danger, and innately that meant Lukin should close by, ready to protect him.

But of course he wasn’t close by. Because Kailin had left him. You ran away from him, Kailin reminded himself, adding, idiot.

One of the trudgers whinnied, kicking up again, dragging Kailin a few feet in the sand and almost pulling him right off his feet.

A longfang repeated his roar. It was closer now, Kailin was sure of it. Fear made his skin prickle.

“HEEEE YAWW YAWW!” Zaks’ voice boomed as the captain yelled, trying to drive the pair of predators back. They seemed to stop their approach but they didn’t retreat. Instead, they circled around their prey at a distance, intelligent black eyes assessing on the two men and the trudgers, looking for a weakness.

Zaks pivoted as the cats circled, never taking his eyes off of them. He stood to his full towering height, broad shoulders squared. He shouted again, “HEEEE YAWWW!” He struck his knives together with a clang. One of the deadly cats growled, jaws snapping to show off the long, pointed teeth.

All Kailin could think about was how much he wanted Lukin there. Everything would be okay if Lukin was there.

Zaks took several strides towards the animals, which struck Kailin as reckless. The captain continued to bang his steel-and-iron knives together, shouting loud, meaningless syllables.

The longfangs continued to snarl but began to back off. After a moment one turned and raced off over the crest where they had appeared, the other followed, strides long and fluid, eating up the ground.

“They’re gone.” Kailin voice was slightly awed. “You just scared them away…” Actually, he could see how that happened. Captain V’Ox was a terrifying man. From his bulging, almost grotesque muscles, to his wild blond mohawk, dark flecked eyes, and of course the gruesome scar slicing down the left side of his face.

“They’re vicious animals, but not stupid.” In an effortless motion, Zaks pushed his knives back in their holders, turning back to Kailin and taking the reins of his own mount away from the prince. “Given the option, they don’t go after prey that can fight back.”

Kailin couldn’t believe the captain was acting so calm, his own heart was trying to beat through his chest. Adrenaline was still pumping through him, making his fingers tremble on his bridle. But most alarming was the way his head was still spinning around one central thought: he needed the one man he was running from.

There was the thunder of hooves and then, in a cloud of stirred up dust, Axial drew up on his trudger, followed by the three other guards that were accompanying them. Axial looked at Kailin and Zaks, “What’s going on? What’s the hold up?”

“Longfangs.” Zaks answered bluntly. After giving the explanation, he grabbed a handful of his trudger’s mane and swung himself up into the saddle in one easy motion – an impressive feet for someone of his enormous size.

Axial looked suitably concerned, “Burning Suns, Kailin? Are you okay?”

Kailin looked up at his brother, mouth parted slightly, unsure of what to say. Well, the longfangs were gone; so he wasn’t in danger of being eaten at present. But ‘okay’? He had the sinking feeling that he wasn’t okay. Not at all.

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Lukin pushed his trudger to its limits, the animal’s hooves sent sand spraying as it galloped over the dunes. He held the reins tightly, the bit in the animal’s mouth fitting behind its large irregular teeth.

He had only stopped only once in 12 hours. It was after midnight now. Pitch black except for the stars and three-quarter moon. Burning Suns knew it wasn’t safe to travel after dark on the desert roads. Rek, it wasn’t that safe in the bright light of day. The only sensible move to make would be stopping and finding shelter somewhere for the night.

But the commander had no intention of stopping until he reached the manor house depicted on the map Araz had given him. By his estimate it was still a few hours away.

Despite his simmering anger, he needed to know Kailin was alright and wouldn’t be able to rest without seeing with his own eyes his submissive was there and safe.

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Kailin stared out into the sky; it was a dark purply-black, stars shone brightly.

He was tired and his arse and thighs ached from riding all day. Trudgers weren’t the most comfortable mode of transportation. Because Kailin wasn’t a very proficient rider, they had been forced to stop several times along the journey (though thankfully they hadn’t run in any more longfangs), reaching the manor house at dusk.

The manor house was the complete opposite of the royal tower. Where the royal tower was a soaring, majestic building, cut out of rock and stone, the manor house was stout and square, made out of wood, only two stories tall. There wasn’t even a stable for the trudgers which were tied up in the small gated yard in back of the house.

Axial had said they would share the upstairs rooms, leaving the downstairs for their men and Captain V’Ox. The small bedroom he was currently in was sparse but clean. A small wood bedframe and side table by the window, a mismatched wardrobe against the wall.

He really should get into that bed. He was exhausted from the travelling. But he really didn’t think he could sleep. Opting to lean against the window frame and stare out into the night sky instead.

Because none of the men would dare enter the room uninvited, Kailin didn’t turn when he heard footsteps on the stairs and the door to the bedroom opened. He just assumed it would be his brother. “Axial? Did you see this? There are so many more stars here.”

“I’m afraid your brother is indisposed at the moment.”

Kailin jumped, spinning around. His mouth fell open when he saw Lukin standing in the doorway. The broad, imposing figure filled the door frame. He was covered in a fine layer of dust from travelling the desert roads that travelled north from Arathria. Kailin couldn’t do anything but gawk. “What are you doing here?”

“Didn’t you know? A keeper is never far from their charge.”

“My brothers set this up.” Kailin put the pieces together quickly, feeling a sting of betrayal.

“They were smart enough not to try to keep a dominant from his bondmate...for long at least”

“You are not my bondmate.” The protest sounded weak, even to Kailin’s own ears.

“I have a piece of paper in my possession that says that will change soon.” He took the folded paper from a protected pocket on the inside of his coat and threw it at Kailin.

The prince caught it and unfolded it, knowing what he would find. A bonding license; signed and sealed. “Lukin…”

“I just came upstairs so you would know I am here.” Paniz took the paper back, folding it back into his pocket. “We’re not having this discussion now. In my current mood, I know things would be said we would both regret. I’ve spend all day on the road, I need a shower, food, and bed.” With that he turned around, facing down the stairs. He paused and spoke without turning back. “And Kailin? Your brother won’t make the mistake of helping you again. The only guards left outside are those completely loyal to me. Things will not go well for you if you try to run away from me again.”

Lukin stomped down the stairs and Kailin heard a door slam.

Sighing, Kailin looked back out the window. The stars didn’t seem to be as bright anymore.

Kailin had convinced himself that the commander might be… relieved by his disappearance. He should have known Lukin’s sense of duty would come before his own happiness. Lukin didn’t appear relieved at all, he just seemed completely furious with Kailin.

That never sat well with the young prince. Great. Now he was definitely not going to get any sleep tonight.

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Kailin opened the door to room at the bottom the stairs. The guard posted in the hallway had let him know that was the room Lukin had commandeered. He tried to open it quietly, only widen enough to slip in so he didn’t let light in.

It wasn’t quiet enough, Lukin, always alert, awoke the moment the handle turned. He voice came, harsh, through the darkness. “What do you want, Kailin?”

“I couldn’t sleep. I needed to talk to you.”

“We’ll talk in the morning.” The directive was given in a cold, uncompromising tone. “Go back to your own room.”

“The 3035 uprising.”

“What?”

“During the 3035 uprising. Do you remember the battle in Crevi? I was 15; you had just been promoted to commander.”

“You woke me for a history lesson?”

“You came back with gouges cut out of your side and shoulder, in and out of consciousness.”

Lukin remembered it well. Infection had set in over the long ride back to Arathria. He had woken up in the royal hospital ward with a furious 15-year-old yelling at his bedside.

“I was so angry at you, because the rebels in Crevi hadn’t even been engaging in the fighting.”

Lukin said nothing.

“I couldn’t understand why you had you forced their hand,” Kailin continued. “Basically, brought the fight on yourself and almost gotten yourself killed.”

“It was only a matter of time,” Lukin cut in, turning on a bedside lamp. Light glowed in the room, shinning off Kailin’s blonde hair and illuminating the rest of his figure standing inside the door in simple linen pants and sleeveless top. Lukin himself was sitting up in bed, chest bare, blankets pooled in his lap. “They were stock piling weapons and conscripting more men.”

“I know. You called it a pre-emptive strike. You said it was necessary, because you…”

“…Can’t just wait around for the sword to fall.” Lukin finished.

“Well, this is me,” Kailin spread his arms wide, “bringing the sword down on myself.”

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Hmm, kind of a filler chapter, but I needed it to set up what happens next. Definitely getting closer to some smutty stuff, though Kailin still doesn’t really know what he wants.

As always, I want to sincerely thank everyone for their wonderful reviews, I read and enjoy each one. Please do review if you have time, I love to hear what people think.

Next up, Kailin and Lukin become a little more intimate and everyone gets a reminder about the dangers of the arid Arathrian lands. And we’ll be seeing a little more of Zaks.