Free The Alpha King by Vicktor Alexander Page B

Blaze felt confusion swirl through his mind. Buck wanted Percy. Blaze could smell the arousal and need on his brother's skin whenever he got within Percy's vicinity, and yet Percy remained unclaimed. A blind man could see they wanted each other. So why the hell were they still apart?
    Now that he'd found and claimed his own mate, Blaze couldn't understand why Buck would deny his. A great guy, Percy would be perfect for Buck—they would be perfect for each other. Blaze was confused by his brother's reticence. A memory of his brother, battered and bruised, smelling of different species, blood, semen, and urine niggled at the back of his mind and Blaze wondered if perhaps Buck's hesitation had something to do with what happened to him at the age of sixteen. Not wanting to bring up such a painful subject, especially in front of his new mate, Blaze kept his mouth shut.
    "It's not that simple. There are complications, problems, things I can't get into or explain." Buck sighed and stared at Tal, his face open and vulnerable, his eyes filled with grief, despair and hopelessness, begging for understanding. "I would like nothing more than to claim my mate, but it's too dangerous for him if I do. And his safety is the most important thing to me," he explained then added, "Your Highness."
    Though Blaze couldn't understand denying a mate for any reason, especially when he'd found his own, he did understand the need to go to any lengths to keep your fated life partner safe and did not comment on the matter further. He knew Buck. There would come a time when he would explain all, just not now. Blaze could feel Tal's need to press Buck for more information, the questions swirling through their mating bond, but Blaze squeezed the younger man in his arms and breathed an unnoticed sigh of relief when Tal merely closed his mouth.
    "Did you need something, Buck?" he questioned instead.
    "Oh, yes, of course. Elder Mailon Saungfreid has requested a private audience with you and your new mate," Buck informed them. "At your earliest convenience, of course."
    "Wow, word sure does travel fast. Blaze only claimed me yesterday," Tal exclaimed. "No one knew except you, me, and Buck, that we were mates. Unless you went and told everyone this morning. But I don't think that would have been enough time for it to reach an Elder. What do they have? Cameras and sensors watching or something?"
    Blaze smiled, finding Tal's freedom in speaking his mind very refreshing. "Whenever the Alpha King is mated, when he has found his true mate, the candles in the temple flame blue and then red before turning white. They then flicker out until the mating is complete and then they light again. That won't happen again until a new Alpha King is named and has found his true mate," Blaze explained.
    "Oh! That sounds so cool. I would love to see that." Tal exclaimed, blushing when he realized the impossibility.
    Blaze gazed down fondly. "Maybe with our firstborn son, baby," he told Tal, kissing his temple.
    He cleared his throat and sat up at the sight of Buck raising his eyebrows in shock at the open display of affection.
    "Your son?" Buck asked incredulously. "You two have already discussed finding a surrogate? Blaze! You only mated him last night. I mean… Your Highness, don't you think you were being slightly hasty in speaking about a surrogate with your mate of twelve hours?"
    "Tal is Vermithian," Blaze stated proudly, pulling his mate close to his side and chuckling at his brother's amazement.
    Tal smiled sheepishly, his fingers nervously plucking at the golden sheets covering the huge king-sized bed.
    "Really? Congrats, bro! Vermithians only have a gestational period of six months." Buck clapped Blaze on his bare shoulder.
    Blaze became extremely aware of his bare chest as well as Tal's state of undress. Unable to stop the growl emanating from his throat, he glared at his brother, blinking in surprise when Tal giggled. How could his mate laugh when Blaze growled about