Lucian walked around the castle-polished shoes, clicked on polished marble tiles, without direction.
He was looking for a particular person but didn't know exactly where he was and he couldn't ask, to avoid suspicions.
The maid had said he was in the prince's office. He knew the prince had left long ago for the council meeting but his feet still brought to the hallway were the office was located. He stood there for a while staring at the door, before deciding to give up looking for now.
At first Lucian just wanted the boy gone because he thought the boy had been the one eavesdropping that day because of the way he had looked at them that day.
But now it was just plain curiosity that drove him to look for the boy. Especially now that it seemed the crown prince was most likely interested in him. Still staring at the door like he was expecting answers, he wondered why the boy could have been in the office and what the crown prince wanted from him.
Lucian turned to leave when the office door opened smoothly and the person he had been looking for came staggering out. He didn't look too good. The boy's breath heaved and his face glistened with sweat.
Kyle stood outside the door, with his hands on the frame, trying to steady his breathing. After Lyla had given him medicine and soup he had fallen asleep without knowing. He had woken up just now to an empty office and enough strength to manage back to his room. But he didn't expect to see the duke's son standing outside at the far end.
Their eyes met and held.
'What was he doing here? Was he here to raid to prince's study knowing he wasn't around?'
Kyle wanted to go back inside and shut the door. To lock himself inside from Lucian but he was currently too embarrassed to face the prince again after falling asleep on his couch. But then again shame was better than death at this point. He was probably here to kill him. He had grown suspicious of him because of the way Kyle had behaved towards his father.
Kyle lowered his eyes, straightened up and walked forward, cleaning his sweat. He would just pretend not was amiss. Just walk by like he didn't know the man in front of him-and his father-were both trying to kill the king.
Easy peasy lemon squeezy.
He remembered Sebastian saying that to him when he was younger when he struggled to do his homework's then. Maybe if Lucian killed hom he be reunited with Seb again.
He got to where Lucian was, bowed his head in greeting and walked by, his skirt going swish swish, as if trying to expose his nervousness.
Lucian watched the maid boy walked pass him trying to put on a brave face, this confirmed the boy indeed knew something.
"Wait."
Kyle's steps faltered for a brief moment before he immediately continued. He was almost at the end of the corridor. He could pretend he didn't hear and when he reached the corner he could make a run for it. Before he could take another step a firm cold hand held his wrists preventing him from moving further.
Kyle turned and sea green eyes met icy blue ones.
Lucian was immediately mesmerized by the Kyle's eyes. He stared straight into them noticing how they had flecks of gold that seemed to be alive on their own. He felt his pulse skip a beat.
"I'm sorry sire but I didn't mean any disrespect to your father earlier." Kyle immediately bowed his head thinking the duke's son was suspicious of him.
"Beautiful."
"What?" Kyle remove his hands from Lucian's hold, backing away.
Lucian immediately regained his senses. He hadn't realized he said that out loud but he had to admit the boy was beautiful. Beautiful enough to stair up something in him and make Lucian want to keep him to all to himself.
Lucian stalked after him. For every step Kyle took backwards, Lucian took one forward, till Kyle's back hit the wall. Kyle's eyes darted left and right in panic, praying for anybody to come to his aid. He was sure Lyla had work to do and that's why she left him. And she wouldn't be coming anytime soon.
Lucian watched the boy squirmed, loving it, he put his right hand on the wall behind Kyle and his left hand on the boy's waist. The boy's expression changed to shock then his face flushed red, making him even more alluring. Even his watery eyes became more watery. He didn't know why but he was definitely going to keep him now.
Kyle's face was flushed red. He had never experienced physical touch like this before. He was supposed to be a virgin if you forget the part where he was drunk in his previous life.
"Your name is Kyle right?" He continued without waiting for a response. This wasn't his plan from the beginning but he couldn't resist.
"Come with me to Malariee. I'll make sure you never lack anything and nobody would be able to touch you. You'll be safer than you are in this castle and I will give—"
*slap
Lucian and Kyle both froze.
Kyle held right hand in his left hand, looking up at Lucian. He didn't know when but he had slapped the duke's son, hard enough for his fingers to show. It was reflex.
Lucian's lips curved into a slow smile.
Most people would have jumped at the opportunity to get into his bed. But this boy… even Lucian himself hadn't paid much attention to his own gender before now. The fact that the boy didn't want it, made him want Kyle even more. And he was ready to use force to get whatever he wanted.
Lucian held both Kyle's wrists in one hand ready to drag him away from there. He wasn't the type to lust, he had had his own fair share of women after all. This instant obsession was a first for him.
He pulled Kyle from the wall leading him in the opposite direction from the study.
"Kyle."