Zercy (The Nira Chronicles, #2)

by Kora Knight

Alec glowered. So much for making Sirus work for his in. He’d just handed him his backdoor on a plate. Wholly unobstructed with a friggin’ welcome mat.

“Imagine that,” Zercy mused. He was smiling. Alec could hear it. “King of the Kríe holding his pet’s little crown.”

Again, the king chuckled. “Kríe are civilized, not savages.” His grin widened. “Kidding. We are absolutely savages.” Alec stared at him, not exactly sure how to respond. “Do not worry.” Zercy’s eyes glinted. “You are my favorite. You are safe.” “Great,” he muttered.

“Thank you,” he exhaled. Alec frowned. “For what?” His regal vibe sobered as he drifted toward sleep. “For giving me something to finally be happy about.”

Gesh had burrowed too deep under his skin. Which meant all he could do was just wait it out. Wait for his mind to forgive and forget. Wait for his heart to let him go.

Zercy leaned in through the opening and murmured in his ear. “Because I can smell it, Alick. From across the room. I do not need sight to know my pet is aroused.”

“For restoring my calm. It was not you who upset me before. I was already tense. But I am better now, Alick, because of you.”

He exhaled and looked at Alec’s mouth. “Because the moment I saw you, I felt my beast within ease. A peace inside I forgot even existed. Your men did not give me this. Only you.”

“You soothe me,” the king murmured, sounding reflective. Somber. “The light in my black night. You are mine.” He pulled Alec closer. Pressed his nose against his ear. “My Alick,” he mumbled. He was falling asleep. “I hope those humans you wait for never come.”

“Those are one of a Kríe’s highest forms of affection. I suspect Roni is more endeared to Chet than he realizes.”

Gesh was endeared to him. Noah knew he was. What he didn’t get though, was how the Kríe could sell him.

His mind wandered in remembrance. Fuck, it’d been amazing. And reckless. And euphoric. And irresponsible. And the best fuck of his life.

Chet eyed the huge guard. Hell, maybe he should say screw it and give the Kríe what he wanted. If Mannix was like Roni—and Chet was certain he was—he’d lose interest once they fucked and let Chet be. Then Chet wouldn’t have to worry about his shit anymore. One less aggravation to have to deal with.

“He is not my lover,” he murmured. “Only you are this to me.”

“The things that I do, I do for my kingdom. If that means that I am evil, then I am evil.”

Zercy stared at him. Several moments ticked by. “You do not see me,” he finally muttered, “though I stand right before you.” Alec frowned, his stomach twisting. Zercy turned to one of his guards. “We are done here. Take him to his team.”

To you, I am the monster. But I assure you of this; there are monsters far more heinous than me.

The king’s lids lowered. Then he kind of sort of smiled. “Do you truly not know?” “No. I truly do not.” “Because I missed you, Alick,” he murmured. Alec stilled. “You… did?” Zercy sighed and laid on his side. Slid Alec a look through his lashes. “I could not stay away a moment longer.”

A fissure cracked Alec’s chest. Zercy was breaking before his eyes. The proud Kríe king was falling to pieces. Next thing he knew, he was on his knees too, wrapping Zercy in his arms from behind.

Zercy dropped his arms and gazed at him. His black lashes glistened. “I am tired, Alick. It feels like the world is on my shoulders… I cannot hold its weight much longer… My strength is fading.”

It was still hard to conceive that he was doing this. Willingly welcoming Zercy into his body. But not just his dick. The rest of him, too. Into Alec’s heart. Into his soul.

“You are a gift from the gods.” His shaking fingers gripped Alec’s hand and pressed it flat against his chest. “Can you feel my heart racing? Racing for joy?” God, yes. It was hammering like he’d just sprinted a mile.

Something dimmed in Zercy’s eyes. “I would like to be your home. If you left me, I would miss you more than they.”

Alec barked out a laugh. “Bite me. I’m not that much smaller than you.” Zercy slid him a side glance, then slowly licked his fangs. “I would love nothing more than to bite you, Alick. Come closer and I will sink my teeth in deep.”

“Leo?” Zercy asked. “Yeah. Latin for lion.” Alec turned to him and grinned. “A great nickname for you, actually.” Zercy’s brows rose. “For me? Why, what is a lion?” “King of all predators. With a brave, ferocious heart.” Zercy’s eyes returned to thoughtful. Then he gave a little nod. “I should like to be this for you. Your lion heart.” Alec stilled. “Mine?” “Tah. I will be fierce for you.”

“Tah. I wish to give you me.” His big eyes glittered. His sexy lips curved. “For the rest of this night I will be your pet, Alick. And you, in return, will be my king.”

It was painfully obvious. And utterly mortifying. But also heartbreaking. They truly weren’t compatible in the way that mattered most. Not that Alec foresaw them being life mates or anything, but just knowing that wasn’t even an option was strangely… crushing.

“Do not limit your worth. You are more than just the size of your cock.”

“Listen to me, Alick. No other soul on this planet has ever filled me with even half of what you do. The pleasure you give me transcends the mere physical. Touches me deeper than any mighty cock ever could.” Okay, that was kind of a nice sentiment.

“Hey.” Alec coughed out a laugh. “You know what? Bite me.” “Come closer, little king, and I shall.”

The king’s big chest shook. “I am glad you enjoyed this. I enjoyed it, too. This has been the best of days.”

Zercy eased onto his side and cupped the back of Alec’s head, then pressed his lips to Alec’s and murmured softly, “You have always been this to me. My shelter inside the storm. That quiet melodic music that soothes my beast.”

“’Cause while you haven’t exactly calmed any inner beast of mine, you have managed to fill some pretty empty spaces.”

Zercy met his gaze, eyes thoughtful, but didn’t say a word. Just smiled a little and rejoined their mouths. A slow, wordless exchange between two star-crossed souls who couldn’t be more different—but fit perfectly.

Gesh frowned up at him. “But meesha—” “Do not meesha me, Gesh. You dicked me over hard. I’m done with you.” Garret’s eyebrows shot high at Noah’s words.

pain. Stars littered his vision. He gasped but couldn’t breathe, then gaped in shock. Shock, as he stared into the feral gaze of his king. Zercy. He’d come for him. And yet he wasn’t really there. Not the Zercy Alec knew. This male was madness.

“I found you, Alick. I will always find you. Your blood runs hot in my veins.” Alec choked, trying to shake his head. Zercy tightened his grip. But then his murderous expression morphed into despair. “Why have you forsaken me, Alick? Why would you leave me? You are my heart.”

Miros nodded with a frown. “We did not want to hurt him. Zercy is our king. But when we saw him hunched over your body and darted him as precaution, he came at us like some crazed cornered beast…” He paused, eyes thoughtful. His big shoulders slumped. “Or a desperate Kríe protecting his mate.”

Zercy had gone postal because they’d taken his mate. And despite their efforts, Alec had never wanted to leave.

“Look at him,” Miros went on. “Are you truly that blind? He yearns to be with one of ours, just as Gesh yearns to be with one of yours.”

“You’re not my king where orders count!” “Esh!” he barked, exasperated. “In what other way does it count to be king?” “King of my heart, you fucking oaf.”

Just the need to be together. The realization—on both of their parts—that life was no life at all if they had to live in a world without the other.

Zercy growled again, then nuzzled Alec’s face. “You are my heaven, Alick,” he rasped. “Not up in the sky amidst the stars. Not with Nira, nor with the gods … Mah. Buried in your heat, sharing your breath, your chest to mine… This,” he stated intently, “this is my heaven.”

“You are everything to me,” he rumbled. “I want you to know this. That I put you above all I hold dear. Nothing means more to me. Not my kingdom. Not my crown…” His hips started to move. His black lashes fluttered. “Not even life, or Nira herself. I live for you.”

“You’re my whole world too, Leo.” He smiled and shook his head. “You drive me crazy… But I love it… It makes me happy like nothing else… No one in all my life has felt so right.”

“I am your home,” he murmured roughly. “Just as you have become mine.” Alec nodded a little. “Hadn’t realized I’d been without one all this time. Always thought home was the stars. But even the stars can’t hold a candle to you.”