The Rebellious Mate

5(ii) Them Eyes

"You need a distraction, Eros published the lux aestatis," Calek said as he returned to his chair. Whistling, he picked up a slim, glossy publication.

Drach scoffed. The practice of paying for mates or renting wombs disgusted him. Desperate to propagate their lines, many royals championed this vile custom. He didn't. If he was meant to find a mate, he would. He sure wouldn't buy one.

"For the love of Smaug, don't tell me you're considering—"

Calek's washed out blue pupils flashed and his skin paled to match his hair. Jagged silver lamina armoured his forehead and jaw. "It's my gold to spend as I see fit. I won't hoard it like you. As it is, you claim half of my stipend to invest, make me donate a quarter to the wryn. The rest is mine. And yes, I have urges and am considering buying a bedmate."

"You will not bring shame upon our name. Spit it out. What's ruffled your scales now?" Drach asked with feigned patience. Tru to form, his brother acted out when he was upset.

Calek's fair skin turned red and he yelled, "You buy me a palace and then turn it into a destination venue—for humans! How dare you! That too, without my say so? "

"I stepped in because you were mismanaging the property. It was too big for you and you squat here, so I put it to work, for you. Given your expenses, you should appreciate the extra funds, especially as you plan to establish a harem." His indifferent reply calmed Nix down.

In an instance, Calek's prune complexion lightened and he rolled his eyes. "As I trust you to manage my affairs and protect my interests, I allow it. Forget not, I stay here for your sake. Else you'll turn into a recluse. As it is, the staff quake in their boots with fear. Isolating yourself isn't healthy."

Drach scoffed. His brother refused to grow up and rode his coattails. If he didn't curtail Calek's spending, he would flitter away his fortune. On what? Throwing orgies and sponsoring sycophant leeches seeking handouts. He'd protected his sibling all his life and feared his weakness for the excesses, and human vices would ruin him.

He sipped his drink while Calek ignored him to focus on the magalogue that ought to be outlawed.

Once Drach refilled the goblet, he growled. Without looking up, Calek touched the cut glass surface. Icicles crackled on the surface of the brown liquid. Ice melted around Drach, unless created by a Draco Glacie.

His brother flicked through the pages. "Oh, another giraffe cat." Then he paused and chuckled. "That's an awful photograph... and she's a mere companion. Someone has a high opinion of themselves. Who, in their sane mind, would pay that much when she can reject suitors after stringing them along? For a fraction of the cost and time, I could hire a female to bear me an offspring."

"It's her choice. Eros swindles both parties—the patrons and the fools who choose to become slaves."

"I disagree. So does Harold. He's thrilled with his new mate, and she's given him four pups so far. She only cost him five kilograms of gold, and they're happy together. He considers it a sound investment. She thinks he's the cat's whiskers. You insult the candidates. For the record, they aren't slaves, but willing participants." An outraged Calek waved the folded magazine. "This one's a gangly kitten on stilts with bat ears. And a solitary feline breed, which means she'll be feral at worst, difficult and moody at best."

Drach caught a glimpse of the photograph.

Before he knew it, he plucked the magazine out of his brother's hand to study the monochromatic close-up. The female had startling features. If she wore makeup, it didn't cover the dusting of freckles. Their placement mimicked the dark stripe of fur present in her beast form. Some dotted her button nose. But it was the wide round eyes, with spindle pupils, that commanded his attention. Dense lashes cast a shadow on her sunken cheeks.