Chapter Fourteen
For a few seconds, Ellery continued to stare at the complicated family tree on the page before him, but he suddenly found himself unable to give it his full attention.
Something was jumping up and down in his hindbrain shouting at the top of its voice. Kefir wasn’t recounting an amusing story about his two bratty little friends, or even the three bratty friends, if Marrick was counted among them.
The little lion wasn’t even just blithely displaying his lack of understanding of human families.
“Kitten, are you trying to find out who you’d need to speak to if you were attempting to propose to me?” A lifetime spent on the club scene came to Ellery’s rescue, the question sounded perfectly calm.
Kefir nodded, big brown eyes perfectly serious.
Ellery stared down at him, trying to work out how the hell he could sincerely think that was a good idea, while some insane little part of him wondered what his younger sister would think if a werelion turned up on her doorstep, asking for her permission to mate with her brother.
He bit back a chuckle when it threatened to break loose. No doubt Annabelle would calmly invite him in for a cup of tea and ask him what exactly his intentions were. In any other situation, it would have been hilarious.
But the kitten was actually serious. Ellery turned his gaze back to the paperwork in front of him while his mind raced in a dozen different directions.
“Propose us being mates,” he clarified.
Kefir nodded again.
Mates don’t leave… The boy had stated it so calmly. The words echoed around and around inside Ellery’s head.
What they were entering into wasn’t some sort of temporary possession that would fade away when a collar was removed. It wasn’t some hook-up in a club. Part of him had been aware of that for some time—maybe even since the very first moment he’d met the little lion.
There was something about Kefir that made it impossible for him to think about him the way he had other subs that had come and gone from his protection over the years.
“I can speak for myself,” he said eventually. “If there’s a leader of my pride, it’s me.” Even if he was pretty sure Annabelle wouldn’t agree with that assessment.
Kefir seemed to let that settle into his mind for a little while. Then, he nodded, almost to himself. “Arslan says—”
“What does Arslan have to do with anything?” Ellery said.
Catching hold of Kefir’s chin, Ellery tilted it back so their gazes met and refused to let Kefir away.
“He says that humans don’t have the same kinds of instincts as lions, sir,” Kefir finished mildly, confusion flickering in his eyes as he seemed to see his master’s jealousy, even if he couldn’t make sense of it.
“Meaning?”
“If you need more time to decide what you want to happen between us, I can wait, sir.”
Because it wasn’t right to expect too much from a human. Ellery felt his spine stiffen. He’d heard that tone in Arslan’s voice far too many times already. In Arslan, it was merely mildly annoying, but the older lion’s poor opinion of humans spreading to Kefir was entirely unacceptable.
“I’m perfectly capable of making up my own mind,” Ellery said, pushing his anger down so it didn’t vent against the wrong man. “There’s no need to coddle me and assume I’m incapable of reaching a decision just as quickly as any shifter could.”
“Yes, sir.” And the little kitten just sat there, staring up at him, evidently waiting to hear what his oh-so-instantaneous decision was going to be.
Ellery glared down at him in return. “I wouldn’t have given you this if I didn’t care about you,” he said eventually, reaching out to hook his fingers under Kefir’s collar.
And, in that moment, Ellery knew it was the truth.
It had never been about just marking his territory so no one else would lay a hand on Kefir while he belonged to him.
It had always been about more than that. He stroked his fingers along the edge of the chain.
Kefir smiled. Dipping his head, he licked the back of Ellery’s hand, and that seemed to be the end of it. Ellery had the distinct feeling that there was nothing left to be said. At least, not to Kefir. Words often seemed entirely unnecessary with Kefir.
“You told Ryland you’d help him with dinner tonight,” he reminded the little lion a few minutes later.
Kefir snuggled a little against him, apparently not at all inclined to leave his master’s lap.
He offered a lick to Ellery’s neck, but when Ellery failed to encourage him, Kefir slowly pulled away.
Standing up behind him, Ellery sent the kitten on his way with a sharp tap against his backside.
Kefir smiled his delight over his shoulder as he went.
Ellery didn’t linger in the room on his own. Striding across the hallway, he rapped on the door leading into the lions’ meeting room.
“Enter.”
Ellery stepped inside. Arslan was alone, sitting in an armchair on the far side of the room.
As Ellery closed the door behind him, Arslan set down his book and gave him his full attention.
If a lion was expected to ask the leader of the human’s family for his blessing, Ellery guessed that he should do likewise, in respect for Kefir’s traditions if not those of lions in general, but the words stuck in his throat.
Kefir already belonged to him. Asking another man for him would be tantamount to suggesting he’d walk away if Arslan refused to give his blessing. Like there was any chance in hell of that.
“Are you under the impression that Kefir belongs to you?” Ellery asked instead, taking up a position next to the mantelpiece.
“No, he doesn’t belong to me.”
Ellery felt a little bit better about the world, just hearing Arslan admit it.
“But he is a member of my pride,” Arslan went on. “And all members of a pride are answerable to their leader.”
Ellery met Arslan’s eyes across the hearthrug. The difference between being answerable to someone and belonging to someone was far too subtle to find favour with him right then. He longed to be back in a nice, simple human club, with humans who made sense and who understood all the usual rules.
If Kefir had been human, it would have been so easy. As it was…Ellery took a deep breath and forced himself to be patient.
“His future mate, whoever that proves to be, would also be considered a member of the pride,” Arslan mentioned, almost casually, as he leaned back a little more comfortably in his chair.
“And, therefore, also considered answerable to you?” Ellery asked, raising an eyebrow at the idea.
Arslan seemed to think about that for a long time. He wanted to blurt out a simple yes. Ellery could see the tension building in the lion’s muscles as he fought against the urge. “In certain respects,” Arslan eventually said.
“Namely?” Ellery said, in much the same taught tone of voice.
“Lions are traditionally considered responsible for their mates—for making sure they treat them with respect and kindness. To make sure that they don’t hurt a weaker man, either by accident or design.”
“I think it’s safe to say that’s not something you have to concern yourself with in Kefir’s case,” Ellery bit out.
“Kefir will be held to the same standards as any other lion,” Arslan said firmly.
He’d steepled his fingers in front of him when he put his book down.
The fingertips turned white as they pressed together.
“Although, I acknowledge there may be less need for him to be reminded of such concerns than there has been with other members of the pride.”
Ellery nodded for him to continue.
“The difference, perhaps, would be that his mate is the one who could so easily hurt him. He may not be the weaker man, but perhaps he’s the man with the more yielding spirit. He’s a gentle soul.” Arslan’s voice turned more serious than ever. “The pride will not allow him to be harmed.”
“I’d be held to the same standard as a lion?” Ellery asked. The idea held a curious appeal. If the lions were the doms, and he had no interest in being treated like a human sub, then… A light seemed to be switched on at the end of the tunnel.
“I’ve found there are humans who can achieve such standards in various ways,” Arslan said.
And he sounded so bloody shocked at the revelation. Ellery found his hand tightening into a fist at his side as he reminded himself how upset Kefir would be if his master throttled his leader. It was just possible the light in the tunnel belonged to an oncoming train.
“I’ve no objection to Kefir’s pride wishing to see him safe and happy with his mate,” he snapped, with increasingly forced politeness.
“The pride would see no need to interfere in whatever understanding he reached with his mate, unless we thought one of you was in danger.”
“Reasonable,” Ellery allowed.
Arslan nodded, he seemed more than a little smug right then, as if a difficult and complicated procedure had been undertaken successfully, and that victory was all down to him.
“You realise, of course, that his mate would expect to have a similar scope, when it came to his protection.”
Arslan blinked.
“You’re the leader of this pride. I’ve no interest in challenging that.” Ellery pitched the tone of his announcement carefully. It wouldn’t do to let the guy think he was incapable, far better to inform him that he was merely uninterested.
Arslan rose, apparently no longer content to sit while another man stood tall in his presence.
The very suggestion that he could present a challenge was obviously enough to set Arslan on edge. When Ellery wanted nothing more than to let his own hackles rise in response and have out with him, he forced himself to be practical.
“You said that, in feline tradition, a lion looks after his mate. In my tradition, it’s a dom’s duty to look after his sub. I’ll respect your ways, providing the courtesy is returned.”
“Meaning?” Arslan snapped.
“The pride’s yours to control. Do your job, and I won’t have to step in and set any of your brats in their place.”
Arslan paused then, not so much a hesitation as a slight rethinking of his current perception of the world. “You heard about Luther and Blaine’s…foolishness?”
“Kefir told me,” Ellery said. “Immediately.”
Arslan remained silent as he fitted that into his mental map of the situation, too. “You have no need to be afraid of—”
“I will not have Kefir upset by their stupidity,” Ellery cut in, no longer making any attempt to rein in his anger. “If you don’t take your pride properly in hand, I will.”
He saw the light slowly dawn in Arslan’s eyes. Any idea that Ellery was worried about himself seemed to fade away. What replaced them looked suspiciously like a seedling of respect.
Kefir had been upset. He’d taken his concerns to his master, and they’d been dealt with. Anyone who upset the little lion in the future would be dealt with, too.
Arslan turned and walked away from him then, across to a set of decanters tucked away safely in a sideboard on the far side of the room out of the usual range of Luther and Blaine’s roughhousing. He poured dark amber liquid into two glasses and carried them across to Ellery.
“It’s a human tradition to toast when an understanding has been reached.” He handed Ellery a glass.
Taking it, Ellery held it up and let the light shine through the liquid. Touching the rim of their glasses together, he waited politely for Arslan to lift his drink to his lips first.
The lion tossed the contents back the same way a child might swallow down some foul-tasting medicine, in the hope he might be able to make it jump over his tongue and miss his taste buds all together.
Ellery sipped cautiously at his own drink, wary now of what might be in it.
Brandy slid past his lips, full and rich and undeniably superior to anything he had tasted in the past. It caressed its way down his throat like molten perfection.
He took another sip, holding it in his mouth to savour it, warmth embracing his tongue as the brandy danced on his taste buds.
It obviously wasn’t to a lion’s taste. A nod toward humanity, perhaps. Ellery smiled slightly over his glass as Arslan quickly set his own empty one aside. Unwilling to rush such fine liquor, he continued to appreciate it while Arslan alternated his attention between him and the fire.
He’d only just finished the last of it when he felt someone other than Arslan watching him. At the same instant, he saw Arslan look over his shoulder.
Kefir stood in the doorway, his eyes darting from his master to his leader and back again.
Ellery nodded for him to approach. He slipped easily into the gap between Ellery’s arm and his body, more sure of his welcome at his side than any human sub Ellery had ever known.
“The food’s ready, sir,” he whispered.
Arslan obviously had bloody good hearing. He nodded to them both before walking briskly out of the room, leaving them alone together.
“Are you under the impression I need a babysitter, kitten?”
Kefir shook his head, but the concerned little line between his eyebrows didn’t fade.
Ellery dipped his head and brought their lips together. His hands settled on Kefir’s back, holding him close, and he felt him tense as their mouths met. Kefir pulled away just a fraction, before quickly leaning back into the kiss.
He licked delicately at Ellery’s lips. For a moment, he seemed to be trying to take control of the kiss, and Ellery automatically tightened his grip on him.
He was more than ready to reach for Kefir’s wrist and remind him exactly who was in command of the situation when he realised he was being an idiot.
Apparently, there were some werelions who liked human flavours more than others.
As Kefir purred his pleasure at the second-hand taste of fine brandy, Ellery smiled.
As he let Kefir explore his mouth, he had to wonder just how many other things the kitten had yet to be introduced to.
He also made a mental note to acquire some good brandy to toast with after the collaring ceremony he was about to arrange.