Chapter 27

I stretched in the middle of the basically empty training room. The light-weight black workout clothes clung to my form as I shifted back and forth. My long hair was trapped in a messy bun, keeping it out of the way.

Monqilcolnen came to my side, giving me a slight tilt of his head. He was my only cousin, who was a cycle younger than my eldest brother, Hallonnixmin. He acted more like a brother than a cousin, but he’d always been closer with Hallonnixmin and Dontilvynsan than to me.

“That’s new,” he remarked, gesturing to my gold necklace.

“My mate bought it for me.”

“You two are getting along.”

“Yes, though he hasn’t agreed to stay yet.”

Monqilcolnen said, “It can’t be easy to leave everything behind, and in his case, he can never return to his planet.”

It was a substantial gift to ask of anyone—to give up their entire world. Despite that, I was asking, unfairly so.

“Hold fast, Pest,” Monqilcolnen said. “I do believe he will choose you.”

“Do you? Why?”

“Because you’re his soulmate.”

“He doesn’t feel the bond like I do. Besides, you know everything about my past. I hardly deserve him.”

“It’s not about deserve, Kalvoxrencol. It’s about love and trust.”

Before I formulated a response, Seth strolled in, laughing, with Wyn and Urgg at his side. The very sight of him made my soul pound and desire surge. Seth turned in my direction, and a broad smile stretched over his face.

Monqilcolnen clapped my shoulder. “Love and trust, Pest.”

When Seth came to my side, he asked, “Is this your class? Urgg asked me to come.”

“It is.”

“I didn’t want to come, but now, I’m glad I did. Though,” Seth said, peeking behind him, “I think Wyn is regretting it.”

Wyn hovered near Urgg, who was oblivious to his discomfort. Monqilcolnen caught Wyn’s gaze, then lifted a single eyebrow. Wyn ducked behind Urgg, like the sizable shield they were.

“I do believe you are right.”

Chuckling, Seth said, “Come on.”

Kal held my hand, tail around my ankle, as we moved to Urgg and Wyn’s side.

“Prince, it’s yourself,” Wyn said, tilting his head to the side.

Kal waved him off. “Ensign Wyn, how are you?”

“Fine,” he said in a strangled voice.

Glancing at me, Kal said, “I’m sure.” Urgg moved to smack me, but Kal yanked me against his side. “Do not strike my mate.”

Their hand fell.

“Kal,” I hissed.

“They left a bruise on your arm once. I won’t allow anyone to hurt you.”

Black tongue licking their lips, Urgg asked, “I hurt you?”

“You didn’t mean to. I’m fine.” I glared at Kal. He didn’t say anything, keeping me close.

Wyn patted Urgg’s arm, peeking at me.

“I swear, I’m fine,” I repeated.

“I apologize for hurting you,” Urgg said.

“You don’t need to.”

Kal frowned. He was worried; he always worried about me. Something I didn’t think would ever change, though, this time, his protectiveness didn’t bother me as much.

Letting Kal’s hand go, I slipped an arm around his waist. His breathing spiked, and he pressed closer. His breath tickled my ear, his spicy scent enveloping me.

“My Seth,” he whispered.

A blush burned me at his soft tone.

“Are you alright, Seth?” Wyn asked, moving closer. “You’ve turned an odd color.”

“I’m fine,” I said in a tight voice, and Kal chuckled in my ear, making more heat surge into my face.

Thankfully, the commander stepped onto the center of the middle mat. He was barefoot, and his long silver hair was tied into a messy knot. His clothes were pure black and loose—similar to the outfit that Kal wore—but Kal’s was much tighter, hugging his muscular frame. I tried very hard not to look too closely at Kal because it sent sensations straight to my dick. I did not need an erection to tent the front of my pants, especially with this many people around.

Kal’s cousin quickly arranged people into pairs based on their abilities. When he called my name, Kal held on to me.

“Kal, you offered to let me join,” I reminded him.

“I thought you would train with me.”

Of course he had.

I unzipped my hoodie, revealing a blue shirt that had an almost invisible pattern of vines. Slipping the hoodie off, which made Kal release me, I held it out. He tugged it on, and I suppressed a groan. I liked him in my clothes, probably more than I should have.

“Alright, Husband. I will be right here.”

I pushed him in the other direction. “You’ll be training with Urgg.”

Kal grunted but didn’t fight me. When he faced Urgg, I turned to the commander, who said, “My little cousin’s mate. I believe this is the first chance we have gotten to speak alone.”

I hadn’t really wanted to speak with him—I didn’t really want to talk to anyone. Not to mention, I couldn’t for the life of me pronounce his name. I’d heard the gigantic name a few times, but it wouldn’t stick in my mind. I hoped by all the cheese in Wisconsin I wouldn’t need to say it and embarrass myself.

“Can I say one thing for my cousin?”

“Of course.”

“Give Kalvoxrencol a chance. I’ve never seen him like this. He cares about you.”

“You know him well?” I had no cousins or at least ones I knew.

“Though he’s younger than I am by several cycles, I know him well. I have no siblings, so Pest and his brothers became mine.”

I didn’t know what to say to that. “Thank you for teaching me, Commander.”

“Please call me Monqilcolnen. We’re family now.”

I swallowed. I hadn’t had a family for a very long time. “Can I give you a nickname?”

His head tilted to the side. “That word translated oddly.”

“Another name, like you call Kal ‘Pest.’”

“An endearment. Are you struggling with my name?”

“A bit,” I confessed.

He stared at me for a moment before replying, “You may.”

“Monty?” I suggested.

“That is acceptable. Now, I need to make sure you can protect yourself so Kalvoxrencol’s worries can lessen.”

“You are not paying attention, Prince,” Urgg said, easily blocking my punch.

They were right. I wasn’t focusing on Urgg in the slightest. My back was to Seth, but I kept my ears perked to catch every whisper of his voice and thump on the mat.

“I want to observe my Seth.”

“I dislike taking my eyes off Talvax too, and she struggles even more than I do. But Seth is different. Give him some space.”

“He talks to you.”

“I’m his oravirven, but no, he doesn’t, not truly. We’ve become friends, though,” they said before throwing themselves at me.

I evaded, switching places on the mat, so I faced Seth’s direction. He and Monqilcolnen stood opposite as my cousin spoke to him in a low voice. Eyes on Seth, I didn’t pay any mind to Urgg. I slammed into the ground, ribs protesting.

“Pitiful, Prince. If I’d been an enemy, you would be dead.”

“Then it’s fortunate you’re not.” I patted their shoulder, and Urgg gracefully got to their feet. I did the same, arm around my throbbing ribs.

“Let’s go again.”

“It’s no use,” I said. Seth was all I could pay attention to.

Urgg grunted, not forcing me into another session. Instead, they wandered over to Wyn’s mat. He was currently beating his opponent with ease, despite the other drakcol being significantly taller and broader.

Seth rushed toward Monqilcolnen, and time slowed. Monqilcolnen flipped Seth over his shoulder and onto the mat. I moved before I even had the thought of doing so. The next thing I knew, I stood in front of my cousin, between him and Seth, snarling.

“Peace, Pest.”

A pained moan came from behind me, which made my muscles tighten. Monqilcolnen shifted toward Seth, and something snapped inside my head. Without thought, I tackled Monqilcolnen.

Snarling. There was a lot of yelling and growls. I blinked, trying to remember how to breathe. Pins and needles poked my lungs as I attempted to inhale.

“Prince,” someone said in a scolding tone.

Kal. Ignoring my aching lungs, I sat up. Kal was on top of Monty with his wings extended and light glowing under his scales. Despite the pain, I wasn’t injured, but he didn’t know that.

“Babe,” I said, my voice quiet.

Kal did not react and continued to fight Monty, but the commander was merely defending himself, not aggressing. No one else was stepping in. They all watched. The only one who tried to break them up was Urgg, the one non-drakcol here besides me. Kal was a prince. No one was going to stop him. Though, at the same time, no one seemed concerned.

Forcing myself to my feet, I hobbled in his direction. I stepped around his wings to get as close as possible. “Kal,” I said, touching his back. “Babe.”

His tail curled around my ankle, and he quieted. “My Seth.”

“Stop,” I ordered. “I’m fine.”

Panting, Kal looked at me first, scouring me, then slowly he stared down at Monty who lay beneath him. He scrambled to his feet, eyes wide. “My apologies.”

“It’s alright,” Monty said, utterly calm. “You didn’t hurt me, Kalvoxrencol.”

Kal snatched my hand and darted out of the gym without saying a single word.