Chapter Forty

                                    

                                          
Once Luis and I were alone, I asked him, "What are you doing here?"
"I'm always there when you're in trouble." His eyes traced down my form, growing red. From his expression, and the spark of lust within our link, he seemed to like me in a dress.
I crossed my arms, unwilling to let him imbalance me. "You left me before. How do I know you won't leave again?"
He walked closer until he was nose-to-nose with me, and my resolve wobbled a bit. "I have every right to be jealous. I was your first kiss, and I'll be your last," he growled.
"No. Erick was."
"No, I gave you your first kiss when you were five and I was seven. Shortly after we fell together, and you saved us both, I kissed you."
I blinked in surprise at this new information. This would mean that Dominic was actually my fourth kiss. I did not know so many had touched my lips. 
I shrugged. "Irrelevant. You had four years to come clean or make a move. You didn't."
"Then, the first thing I need to do is to come clean with you."
I shrugged again. "Yeah, that would be a start."
"I grew up in the underworld, raised by the king. I escaped when I was summoned to Earth and found others like me."
"How come you never told me about them?"
He sat down on the bed, and I sat beside him. "I wanted you to stay as innocent as I could keep you. The others are not like me." He looked guilty. "If it hadn't been for me...
"If it hadn't been for you... I might not have made it my first year." I finished for him. "Why would I think less of you? You'd think you'd know me by now. My lack of experience in the relationship area doesn't mean I can't figure out what's best for me. I'm an adult, Luis. "
"My plans hinge on your safety."
He was hiding things again, and my irritation rose. "I want safety too, but we're miles away from safe. I've had three assassination attempts. Someone doesn't like me very much, don't you think? I get that you've been my big brother all these years, and you think I'm being an idiot. But, I think I need to see all this through. "
"I don't see you as a little brother, Matt. No, I see you as mine. Haven't I told you that enough times?"
"You have, but I'm done with being your doll, Luis. You can't keep me on a shelf and live my life for me. It was fine while I was still a kid, but now I need more than that."
"You need all these other guys?" He arched a brow.
"No..." I punched him in the arm. "Well, yes... but not like that." 
I  breathed in as I considered my recent actions, exhaling slowly as I shook my head. Maybe that wasn't true. 
"Okay, fine. I have to admit that I'm not immune to it. But, I have a job, so I'm trying to keep things friendly and not go too deep. There's already the whole thing with Luke and Ciaran wanting to be my royal consort."
"The royal consort. You mean the king." His tone was flat.
"That's your take-away from what I said?" I waved my hands around in frustration. "Well, yeah. The official husband, I guess. But that's not even what I started this for. I want to win so I can make sure Earth and Aleria are safe and help affect change. I want justice and equality for everyone. The king gets a boost in power to help with that.  And I wanted to save you if you don't remember!"
"Then, I need to show I'm better than the rest of them and become your king."
"What? Are you even listening to me? No! That's not it at all! I need you to be my friend and help me!" I stomped my foot.