TBT: Clan and Crown

              Clajak cursed in his head to see the sharp-featured man standing over him. Where in the hell had his intended Imdiko come from? Where was the Isetacian with the wondrous voice? He jerked his arms and legs and discovered he had been tied securely. Fuck and damnation.

              Though his ever-present temper wanted to take hold, Clajak’s better sense prevailed. He unleashed his trademark smile on his captor. “Hello, Egilka.”

              Egilka scowled and crossed his arms over his chest. “Oh good. You do remember the man you were supposed to clan a week ago.”

              Clajak kept his charming smile in place, though something inside his gut withered at the Imdiko’s tone. Egilka sounded angry. Of course, he had every right to be upset. Clajak thought he also detected a thread of hurt, but that was probably wishful fancy. He was nothing but a child to his promised clanmate. Just a child who Egilka would never take seriously or waste a moment of desire on.

              Putting up the devil-may-care front he’d perfected, Clajak gave Egilka his most innocent expression. “Was that last week? I am so sorry.”

              “I’m sure you are.” The dry tone said Egilka didn’t buy it. When had Clajak ever been able to fool the man? For such an aloof person, the Imdiko missed nothing.

              Ah, you delicious, duty-driven creature. Just once I’d like to see you look at me the same way you do your chemistry set. Come down from your intellectual cloud and play in the dirt with me.

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