Soldier Mine by Amber Kell Read Free Book Online Page A

Now he was wondering what he’d got himself into…again.
     

Chapter Five
    Kres was told to stay away from the infirmary while the Thresl healed. Apparently alpha Thresls didn’t like their mates to see them injured. Something to do with wanting to always appear strong in front of their chosen ones or some such crap. Kres hadn’t really paid attention past the request for him not to go with the medics. He was more interested in hunting down his Thresl book. He didn’t bother to fight his banishment from the medic ward. An argument was certain to be in their near future, and he wanted to make sure he had all the facts before it began.
    As much as he cared how Vohne was doing, the man-cat looked more drugged than injured, and Kres had an objective to fulfil.
    “Where are you going?” Zander asked, bouncing down the hallway behind him. If there was one thing that screamed Zander wasn’t a soldier, it was the way he walked. Soldiers didn’t bounce. However, despite their differences, Kres still liked him. Zander was one of those people everyone liked. Kres thought he’d do very well in the diplomatic corps.
    “I’m going to find that damned book.”
    “Why?”
    “Didn’t you hear him? I’m supposed to rule by his side.”
    “Well, yeah.”
    Kres spun around, pinning Zander with his stare. “You knew about this?”
    Zander held up his hands in self-defence. “You really don’t know anything, do you?”
    “How many times do I have to tell everyone that I didn’t plan for a Thresl? I wasn’t supposed to get one. I didn’t do any planning or training or anything. All I did was stop him from killing an idiot, and we bonded.”
    A smile crossed Zander’s face. “You don’t even know what you have. Come back to my room. I can tell you everything you need to know. Besides, I’ve got the good brandy. It’s one advantage of growing up in a diplomatic family. You know where to procure the fine liquor.”
    “Deal.” It would probably be easier for Zander to explain it anyway. Kres wasn’t book smart. Give him a weapon and some action and he could take care of himself, but words always looked jumbled on a page when he tried to focus, and when he finally got them together to form a sentence, they inevitably didn’t make any sense. He’d barely scraped by his studies with the help of a good tutor. Luckily, his combat skills balanced it all out.
    Zander’s room was a far cry from the sterile cube that comprised Kres’ lodging. Thick rugs covered the floor, the walls were tinted a soft blue and the furnishings screamed money. It was also three times the size of Kres’ room. Zander gave a self-deprecating shrug. “Did I mention my father is best friends with the station master?”
    “It must be good to have connections,” Kres commented.
    Zander smiled. “That’s what the diplomatic corps is all about. Now, come sit down.” He pointed towards a well-padded chair by a table that looked like honest-to-god real wood.
    Ignoring Kres’ stare, Zander grabbed two crystal glasses and a full decanter. He filled one glass halfway and the other almost to the top. He slid the full one towards Kres.
    “You might need this while I describe how it is going to go with you and the Thresl who will be king.”
    Kres felt his heart stop.
    “What?”
    “When the commander told you your Thresl was an alpha, he didn’t tell you the entire story.” He motioned to the glass of brandy. “Drink up.”
    Kres took a tentative sip. The liquor burned all the way down to his toes, filling his body with warmth and a tingling sensation. “Wow.” A few sips later he decided he really liked the feeling. Halfway through the glass he set it down. “Now that you have me feeling good, what are you trying to not tell me?”
    Zander gave him a sheepish look. “Obviously I need to work on my poker face if I’m going to make it as a politician. Here’s the gist of it. True alpha Thresls are extremely rare. One hasn’t been born in