Chapter 17
Sky eyed the stranger who’d just appeared at the top of the stairs warily.
Though he’d been permitted to roam throughout the penthouse at his leisure, he’d spent the past two days stubbornly sticking to the top floor where he’d woken.
The loft gave him view of the lower level and sight of the foyer if he stood at the railing surrounding the left hallway.
That’s where he was now, watching the guy who’d just entered and taken the stairs like he owned the place. Sky didn’t need introductions to tell who this person was, it was obvious from the familiar inky black hair and the vibrant blue eyes. Eyes that seemed to stare into him a little too deeply.
“I’m—”
“Shiloh,” Sky cut him off, straightening, though he didn’t move closer.
Kian’s youngest brother stopped in the bedroom area, gaze scanning the messed-up sheets. He played with his fingers for a moment before seemingly giving in to the need to tidy.
“I’m sorry, it’s bothering me. I hope you don’t mind,” he explained as he swiftly made the bed.
“Neat freak?” Sky asked.
“No,” he motioned to his stomach, “it’s a side effect of the pregnancy. Sarang looked it up and we think it has something to do with an omega’s desire to nest.”
“Who?”
“Oh, Sarang is Kian’s underboss.” Satisfied that he’d done a good enough job, Shiloh turned back to him. “Sorry.”
“You don’t have to keep apologizing. You’re definitely not the brother I want to hear that from anyway.”
“Right. Sor—” He laughed at himself and then shook his head.
“It’s only been a few years, but I feel like I’m always telling people sorry in his stead.
I’d like to meet Elm one day, ask him if this is usual for one of Kian’s siblings.
” He hesitated and then added, “I heard you’re Elm’s best friend? ”
“Yeah.” This was…weird. Sky glanced down at the bottom level, but no one else was down there. “Did Kian send you?”
“No, but I’m cleared to visit. Actually,” he took a step closer, smiling slightly when Sky didn’t retreat, “I was hoping you’d come out with me.”
“Out?” This was more than weird. Was it a trap? Another trick? “I’m fairly certain I’m not allowed to leave.” He was one hundred percent certain.
The past two days, Kian had come and gone, but he hadn’t once invited him so much as a foot out the front door.
“Don’t worry about that,” Shiloh waved off his concerns. “I was able to replace most of the guards on duty with my own. They’ll let us pass. We just have to be quick about it. Kian should be away for a few more hours, but you never know with him.”
“Where are we going?”
“Officially? I told them I needed help shopping for baby clothes. Unofficially?” His gaze hardened. “I’m getting you out of here.”
“Why?” Could he trust this? This was Kian’s brother…and they didn’t know each other.
“I can relate to what you’re going through.”
Shiloh was maybe an inch or so shorter than Sky, dressed in a cream-colored silk shirt tucked into black pants—an outfit that would no doubt cost Sky a month's worth of expenses. They didn’t look like they could have anything in common, but then he recalled the story Kian had told him.
The horrible experiences Shiloh had been forced to endure.
“We aren’t the same,” he found himself saying, hating himself a bit for it, but unable to resist in the face of this person who had no doubt had it much worse than he ever had.
“That’s what I’m trying to find out,” Shiloh surprised him by saying. “Kian seems to think he did you a favor. I disagree. No one should be forced into this life, Sky. Even my mother gave everyone a choice in the beginning.”
“This life?” His interest piqued, but Shiloh appeared to be caught off guard.
“He…He didn’t tell you what he does? Where you are?”
“Not really.”
Shiloh’s anger spiked, but he took a second to check his multi-slate and then shook his head. “We don’t have time. I’ll explain everything in the car. Will you come with me?”
Sky hesitated, not because he didn’t want to go, but because this all seemed too easy, and he didn’t know nearly enough about this person to make an informed decision about whether or not they could be trusted.
But then, he didn’t really have many options, did he?
He could either take the risk or stay here, twiddling his thumbs, hoping he could eventually get Kian to see reason.
“Okay. I’ll go with you.”
* * *
He was instructed to keep quiet on the way down the elevator shaft to the underground parking garage.
Shiloh remained casual at his side, standing confidently, like he wasn’t doing anything wrong.
That confidence must have helped sell it, because even though they earned a couple of lengthy looks from guards in suits here and there, no one stopped them.
A car was already waiting with the engine running as soon as they stepped out of the building and into the garage, and Shiloh waved Sky into the backseat first.
“Don’t mind him,” Shiloh said when Sky stared at the driver, waiting for the older man to recognize him and say something. “Eric, can you take us to Mall 54, please?” He pulled the holographic image of a credit card up and showed it to the driver with a grin. “We were told to spend frivolously.”
“Baby gifts, Prince?” Eric’s voice was pleasant, airy. He drove off without so much as a second glance behind them. Either Shiloh was fooling him into thinking Sky was allowed to leave, or he was fooling Sky. Only time would tell.
“The Dominus wants me to help his mate pick out a claiming gift,” Shiloh explained. “But between you and me,” he lowered into a conspiratorial whisper, “I’m planning on spending his coin on several things for the baby.”
Eric chuckled. “The little prince is lucky to have you as a father.”
“It’s a boy?” Sky asked once Shiloh had settled back into his seat. “Congratulations?”
“I get the hesitation, but don’t worry. I want this baby. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be having it. And we actually don’t know yet. Sarang made a passing comment that it must be a boy, and for some reason, that spread like gospel. I’m not far enough along to find out for sure.”
Kian had said Shiloh was having a hard time but handling it, and seeing him now, he had to agree that was accurate. There was no way he was fine, and yet, Shiloh sat next to him, poised and put together.
Meanwhile, Sky’s hair was a mess, and he was dressed in a pair of wrinkled black sweatpants and a matching pullover. He’d told Kian two wrongs couldn’t be compared, but what had been done to him was arguably better than what Shiloh had gone through.
Sky had spent most of his life infatuated with the alpha who’d taken him.
Shiloh wasn’t even sure who the father of his baby was, and even if he found out, his boyfriend was dead, and the other possible candidate had been forced into the breeding and probably wouldn’t want anything to do with the kid.
“You don’t need to pity me,” Shiloh said quietly, breaking through Sky’s thoughts and causing him to blush with embarrassment.
He figured a change in topic was in order.
“Why did he call you prince?” Sky knew the Imperial family of Synastry, and there was only one heir. Altair didn’t have any siblings or even high-standing cousins.
“That’s just my title.” Shiloh leaned back and crossed his legs. “I’m the Prince of Eumia. My sister, Sloane, is the Princess. Kian used to be called one as well, until he took the crown. Now that he’s Dominus—”
“Hold on.” Sky had to wait for the buzzing in his ears to subside as the ground seemed to drop out from under him. “Did you just say…Dominus?” As in…the leader of a mafia? There weren’t many gangs or mafia on this side of the galaxy, only—
Shit.
No wonder Eumia had sounded familiar.
“You’re part of the Eumia mafia?!” He shot back, as though there was anywhere to go in the moving hovercar, and effectively whacked his head against the window.
“Are you all right, Possessio?” Eric called out, concerned.
“He’s talking to you,” Shiloh said. “He’s fine, Eric. Just overly excited.”
“I’m not excited,” Sky growled, “I’m freaking out.”
“Yes, well, keep that to yourself. It’s never wise to tip your hand. The second someone knows how you feel, you’ve given them a target. Look what happened between you and my brother. You allowed your childhood crush on him to be known, and now it’s not so childish anymore, is it?”
“Your brother ra—”
Shiloh slammed a palm over Sky’s mouth and gave him a dark, warning glare. “Eric is loyal to me, but even he has his limits. If you insult the Dominus in his presence, he’ll be duty-bound to tattle. Do you really want Kian hearing about this?”
Sky shoved his hand off. “It’s nothing I haven’t already said to his face.”
For a moment, Shiloh seemed impressed by that, but then he noticed they’d reached the mall, and he pulled back and adjusted the sleeves of his shirt primly. “We’ve arrived. You can take us to Julian’s, Eric. Their winter line just released.”
“Of course, Prince.” Eric turned and circled the luxury mall, then pulled up directly to the curb in front of Julian’s.
“I’ve never even stepped foot in there before,” Sky mumbled before he could help it, sliding across the seat to exit the vehicle after Shiloh.
Another car came to a stop behind them, and he frowned.
He hadn’t noticed they were being followed, but four burly men dressed in black got out and bowed their heads in their direction.
“Bodyguards,” Shiloh explained. “Don’t worry. I have a plan.”
“You’re really going to help me?” They headed for the entrance, the sound of soft footsteps trailing from a few yards behind.
“I’ve got it all figured out,” he reassured, leading them through the clothing store, stopping now and again to feign interest before moving on.
“The bus schedule says one leaves from here at exactly three thirty. That gives us half an hour to make this look believable so they’ll drop their guard.
When it’s close to time, I’ll give you a diversion.
You’re going to have to make a run for it, but you should be able to catch the bus. ”
“Where is it?”
“The station is near the west wing,” Shiloh said. “I’ll get us as close to there as possible, but too close and you’ll risk them catching on and getting to you before it leaves.”
“What if it’s late?”
Shiloh glanced at him. “Then we’re both dragged back to Caelum and have to face my brother’s wrath. Let’s pray that doesn’t happen.”
They went to the jewelry section, and Shiloh pointed out a few flashy pieces to the saleswoman, urging Sky to do the same.
He wasn’t big on jewelry, but his eyes caught on a silver thumb ring with a mask on it. The mask was studded in diamonds, and though it didn’t resemble the one Kian had worn at all, it instantly reminded him of the alpha.
“Would you like to see it?” the saleswoman asked, and before he could think better of it, Sky nodded.
Turned out it was actually made of white gold, and the second he saw the price tag, he set it down on the glass counter as though burned. His family was well off, but he’d never seen money like that before, and he sure as hell wasn’t about to blow that kind of funding on a dumb piece of—
“We’ll take it,” Shiloh announced, ignoring when Sky gaped at him. “He’ll wear it out, so no need for gift wrap.”
“Wait.”
“You’re picking a claiming gift, remember?” Shiloh leaned in and whispered, “Better safe than sorry. You’re going to need a backup plan. You can pawn that for quick coin.”
That sounded an awful lot like he was implying Sky was going to have to live the rest of his life on the run, but he didn’t have the opportunity to ask for clarification. Shiloh walked off to pay, leaving Sky standing there stunned and uneasy.
He hadn’t thought it through, he realized. Even if he was out of the building and even if he managed to shake the bodyguards, he couldn’t just return to his regular life like nothing happened. The bites all over his neck would prevent him from doing that, and so would the alpha who’d claimed him.
The second Kian realized he was missing, there was no doubt in Sky’s mind he’d come hunting. And now that he knew the alpha was the leader of the Eumia…
Sky didn’t stand a chance.
He never had.
Should he call this whole thing off?
But then what would he do?
Bow his head and become the submissive omega? Just like that? To an alpha who hadn’t even cared enough to ask him his opinion on the matter? Who’d kept such a monumental secret from him all this time?
No. No, for that deception alone, he had to do something to make Kian pay.
Sky couldn’t be the only one anxious and afraid here.
What had Shiloh said? Sharing your emotions was like tipping your hand. According to Kian, he wanted Sky.
So Sky would remove himself from the equation for as long as he possibly could and make the alpha sweat for a change.