"Give it back to me."
What was I supposed to give back to him? I hadn't taken anything from him.
The moment I opened my mouth to ask, a golden gleam flashed within his darkened eyes. The muscles in Kongar's face tightened abruptly. He shook his head sharply from side to side before stumbling a few steps backward.
"Shut up!"
At Kongar's furious shout, Arkan immediately stopped licking my neck.
Then he straightened and stepped in front of me, completely blocking Kongar from my view. The instant my eyes left his, the invisible pressure weighing on me vanished as well. My body relaxed with the first easy breath that filled my lungs.
"Are you alright, Kayra?" Arkan asked.
I pointed behind him.
"There."
Arkan looked away from me and glanced over his shoulder. After silently scanning the room for a few seconds, he turned back to me.
"What's there?"
How?
I quickly pushed him aside and looked across the room.
"Right there—"
But he was gone.
"Who's there?" Arkan asked. His voice was as deep as ever, but he couldn't hide the concern in it.
"Kongar," I whispered, my gaze darting frantically around the room.
Just then, a deep growl rumbled from Arkan's throat, filling the room. I flinched and jumped in place.
What was happening?
"Mine."
Normally, that single word would have irritated me.
But at that moment, hearing it was enough to make my heart race all over again.
Arkan took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a brief moment. When he opened them again, his blue eyes were glowing faintly.
"Right now, all I can smell is your sweet scent."
Was he really gone?
As my thoughts tangled together, I ran my fingers through my hair and began scratching my head.
"Am I losing my mind?"
Arkan gently stopped my hands and cupped my face.
"I'm the one losing my mind right now," he said before capturing my lips with his.
At first, I couldn't return the kiss. But as his scent filled my lungs, my desire to resist him slowly faded away. My mind was still stuck on Kongar's words, yet with every passing second, my body surrendered a little more to Arkan. The strange part was that it didn't bother me. If anything, every touch of his seemed to breathe life back into my body, while the chaos inside my mind gradually began to settle.
For now, I would hold on to this peace.
---
Alpha Arkan
The warmth of the sun against my skin made me stir slightly.
Easy!
Bozok's warning made me freeze once more.
When I slowly opened my eyes, I saw her.
Kayra.
Mine.
I had waited so long for her.
No, Bozok cut in. I did.
We both did.
Look at the way she's clinging to us. Her tiny arms couldn't quite wrap around my waist, but that hadn't stopped her from throwing one of her legs over me.
I could have watched her like this for hours. That small, adorable nose... Those soft red lips, still slightly swollen from all my kisses...
Hmm...
I felt Bozok's excitement rising inside my mind, so I tried to keep my breathing as steady as possible. Kayra's head was resting completely against my chest. I didn't want to disturb her and wake her up.
My Kayra mustn't be disturbed, Bozok growled.
Yeah... she mustn't. But we had a problem.
Maybe two.
What are they? Let's tear them apart.
Kongar.
He alone was a big enough problem.
I didn't tear him apart enough, Bozok snarled.
The other was that bloodsucker, Valen.
Ugh...
Yeah... Ugh.
Feeling a soft touch move across my stomach, I lowered my gaze to Kayra.
"Good morning, Kayra," I said, placing a gentle kiss on the top of her head.
She smelled amazing.
The moment she heard my voice, her hand froze on my stomach. She lifted her head to look at me, then quickly pulled her hand away.
"Good morning!"
She immediately began scooting backward across the bed.
You scared her.
Before she could get away, I caught her wrists and pulled her back into my arms.
"Ah..."
As I trapped her naked body against mine once more, I felt my arousal stir.
I want her, Bozok growled.
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
My gaze snapped toward it. A deep growl rumbled from my throat, vibrating through my chest as it echoed across the room. Kayra flinched, held her breath, and buried her face against my chest once again.
I wished we could stay like this forever.
I really did... But who was the idiot foolish enough to interrupt us?
"A-Alpha..." the voice beyond the door said, clearing his throat. "My apologies for disturbing you."
It was Soren.
"How dare you come here?" I roared.
At the sound of my voice, Kayra wrapped her arms around me once again.
Louder, Bozok said with obvious satisfaction.
"I apologize, Alpha," Soren said. "Your guest is about to leave, but he insisted on seeing Kayra before leaving."
Why would he want to see Kayra?
Let's hide Kayra.
Bozok's suggestion drew an involuntary smile from me.
If only we could.
Besides, who was this guest?
"Who is he?" I asked.
"Targen," another voice answered. "Kongar's creator."
---
That freak had gotten us into trouble yet again. We should've been in our warm bed with Kayra. Instead, we were in an empty guest room.
According to what Soren had told me, this witch claimed to be Kongar's creator. He crafted and sold magical artifacts, and apparently, he was quite well known.
I don't care.
Of course you don't. All you care about are your own feelings.
No, Bozok cut in. The only thing that matters to me is Kayra.
I can appreciate that. But I can't ignore my responsibilities.
That's your problem.
"Yes," I began. "You said you knew something about Kongar."
Then I pulled out a chair for Kayra and helped her take a seat at the table.
"Of course, Alpha Arkan," he said, inclining his head slightly. "First of all, thank you for agreeing to meet me in another room."
He should thank Kayra, Bozok growled. If it weren't for her, I would've torn him apart for disturbing us.
"Why don't you want your sister to hear it?"
At Kayra's unexpected question, all of us turned toward her.
Targen shifted his gaze to Kayra. He bowed his head respectfully, then took a deep breath and gently pulled out the chair across from her.
"May I sit?"
I couldn't suppress the growl that rose from my throat.
Targen's shoulders tensed, and I felt Kayra's eyes on me.
"Arkan," Kayra said. Then she looked at Soren and Targen.
"Please, have a seat."
She folded her hands on the table.
"Of course, Luna," Soren said, taking the chair beside Targen.
When Kayra looked back at me, I motioned for Targen to sit before taking the seat beside her myself.
"Go on," I said.
"You asked us to find a chest," Soren began.
"Yes," Targen said.
"The one in the pit?" Kayra asked, unable to hide the excitement in her voice.
So he came out of a chest? Bozok scoffed. Pathetic.
"Yes," Targen admitted. "I should never have created it."
"Why?" I asked.
I agree. He never should have.
Targen fell silent for a moment. He swallowed hard, as if his throat had tightened.
"Because..." he said quietly. "I used the soul of the man my sister loved."
We all stared at Targen in stunned silence, while he shifted uneasily in his chair.
"What do you mean?" Soren asked. "You use souls in the things you create?"
"Is that even legal?" Kayra asked, frowning.
"Explain."
My command made Targen flinch.
"In the items I create for assistance, I normally use animal souls. Especially those of domesticated animals."
"Why?"
"Because those souls have already formed bonds with humans. That makes it much easier for them to bond with their new owners."
"Then why did you create this?" Soren asked.
"Why?" Targen said. His eyes suddenly lit up. "It was going to change everything. A whole new era."
An excited smile spread across his lips.
"We would've had servants who would serve us forever."
"Forever?" Kayra asked. "Is Kongar really immortal?"
The moment Targen heard Kongar's name, his body tensed.
"Yes," he said. "But if his owner dies, he'll die as well."
Damn it.
"What do you mean?" Soren asked.
"My creations are bound to their owner's heart through a blood pact."
"Something pricked my hand," Kayra said quietly.
"Yes," Targen replied. "You now share a single heart."
She's mine.
"What do you mean by that?" I demanded, slamming my fist onto the table.
Kayra and the others flinched, startled by my sudden outburst.
"T-That's... how it works," Targen said. "Kongar doesn't actually have a heart."
His words plunged the room into silence for several long seconds.
"Explain," I ordered.
Targen took a deep breath. His gaze slowly drifted toward Kayra.
"The heart beating inside his chest..."
He fell silent for a brief moment.
"...is yours."