~
Two hours later, they decided to part ways. Charles hugged Adrian one more time.
"Now that I know where you are, I'll visit you often," Adrian said, hugging him back.
Charles broke the hug slowly. He stared at Adrian. His face carried sadness… guilt.
Then, for a brief second, his gaze drifted to Idowu — and the sadness was replaced with fear.
He quickly looked back at Adrian.
"I… I don't think that'll be possible. I'll be leaving the country," he replied.
Adrian looked confused. "What? The country? What do you mean?"
The brother stepped forward and spoke smoothly.
"I'm not based here. I have a stable business running in our neighboring country. I only came back to take care of him. Now that he's better, I'm returning — and taking him with me. He could help with the business too."
Adrian stared at him, shocked.
"You're for real?"
Charles reached for Adrian's hand and squeezed it.
"I'm sorry. I'll miss you."
.
.
A few minutes later, Dada, Idowu, Adrian, and William were heading back to the inn where they had spent the night.
When no one was paying attention, William slipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out the piece of paper Charles had carefully and secretly dropped there.
William had noticed the moment Charles slid it into his pocket — but he had pretended not to.
If Charles had done it so discreetly, it meant he didn't want anyone else to know.
William unfolded the paper.
Two words.
"Save him. Please."
William stared at the message.
Then he slowly lifted his eyes to Adrian's back.
Save him.
Save Adrian?
From what?
From whom?
William's jaw tightened.
Was someone targeting Adrian?
Was there something they didn't know?
Or… was it someone among them?
"Hey, are you okay?" Adrian's voice pulled him out of his thoughts.
William quickly folded the paper and slipped it back into his pocket.
"Uh… why?"
"You have this strange look on your face."
William laughed lightly and threw an arm around Adrian's shoulder playfully.
"I'm fine. I'm fine."
Adrian nodded.
William waited for him to shove his hand away.
But Adrian didn't.
William smiled to himself.
.
.
.
Dinner was noisy, as always.
The men fought over the food.
William kept trying to steal from Adrian's plate just so he could feed him instead. Ayo kept stretching across the table, turning over dishes as he tried to reach the ones too far from him.
Idowu, who seemed to have gotten over whatever had happened that morning and was now back to his usual self, kept telling Dada random stories. And whenever Dada failed to react properly, Idowu would glare at him — offended — but instead of stopping, he only talked more.
The chaos felt normal.
Comforting.
Almost too normal.
Later that night, they returned to their room.
Ayo was fast asleep on the small bed arranged for him.
William sat on the edge of his bed, watching Adrian move around the room.
His mind drifted back.
Charles.
The fear.
The note.
Save him.
Adrian suddenly paused and looked at him.
"What?" he asked.
"I'm glad you're okay now," William replied.
"Of course I am. After seeing my friend… It's just sad he's leaving." He walked toward the pouch containing his medicine.
"Hmm," William responded quietly.
Silence settled between them.
William watched him take his pills. He coughed slightly.
"Adrian."
Adrian turned to him. It always felt strange whenever William said his name seriously.
"That's weird…" he muttered.
William chuckled softly. "Why? You've gotten used to me calling you Temi—?"
Adrian glared.
William ignored it deliberately.
"Temi," he called again.
Adrian rolled his eyes.
William burst into laughter — the kind that was contagious.
Seconds later, Adrian was smiling too.
"Oponu… fool," Adrian said, the smile still on his lips.
"At least I earned a smile," William replied.
Adrian sat beside him.
"What is it? You seemed serious when you called me."
The smile faded from William's face.
He hesitated.
"So…" he began.
Adrian waited patiently.
"Do you ever feel like you're in trouble?" William asked quietly.
Adrian frowned. "What?"
William sighed internally. Of course he wouldn't know. Nothing seemed suspicious. How could he know what he needed saving from?
"Can I ask something else?" William asked.
Adrian nodded.
William took Adrian's hands in his. His thumbs began tracing soft circles over the back of them.
Adrian looked down at their hands.
Something twisted in his stomach.
He looked up — and caught William staring at him intensely.
Adrian swallowed.
"Even after we find Ayo's father… and leave him there… can I still follow you?" William asked softly.
"I… I want to stay by your side. Protect you."
He meant every word.
Back at the palace, he had everything — men who were beautiful, charming, eager.
But none of them had touched his heart.
Until Adrian.
It had been nearly three months since he left for this mission. He was in his hometown now, yet he had not stepped foot near the palace.
Not until he was ready.
He didn't know Adrian's answer.
But one thing he knew —
He would win.
He would overthrow the other princes.
And he would bring Adrian home with him.
"Err…" Adrian struggled for words.
His heart was racing.
William had somehow, slowly, charmed his way into his heart.
And now he was asking to stay.
"I'll take that as a yes," William said softly.
He lifted a hand to Adrian's cheek.
Adrian shivered at the touch.
He found himself staring at William's lips.
And within him, he knew —
He wanted to know what they tasted like.
William noticed.
"Can I kiss you?" he asked gently.
Adrian could hear his own heartbeat.
He nodded.
William leaned forward — then paused midway.
Giving him time.
Giving him space to pull away.
Adrian didn't.
Their foreheads touched.
Their breaths mingled.
William closed the distance.
The kiss was slow.
Careful.
Exploratory.
Adrian gasped softly as William deepened it, pulling him closer. Adrian's fingers clutched at William's shirt.
The world narrowed.
To warmth
.
To breath.
To longing.
William slowly lowered Adrian onto the bed, hovering over him.
When they broke apart for air, Adrian looked up at him with flushed cheeks and dazed eyes.
He wanted more.
And William saw it.
William bent down again, but this time slower.
Reverent.
As though Adrian was something fragile and precious.
Their kisses softened, then deepened again — unhurried, intentional.
William's hands moved to Adrian's shoulders, sliding gently down his arms, as if memorizing him.
Adrian's fingers trembled slightly as they traced William's chest.
There was no rush.
No urgency.
Just two hearts learning each other.
William rested his forehead against Adrian's.
"Tell me to stop," he whispered.
Adrian shook his head.
William smiled faintly.
He helped Adrian sit up, and together — slowly — they loosened layers of clothing, not in hunger, but in trust.
Every brush of skin felt electric.
Every small gasp felt like a confession.
When William laid Adrian back down again, he didn't claim him.
He held him.
Kissed him softly.
Again.
And again.
Until the intensity softened into warmth.
Until the racing of hearts became steady.
Until the tension melted into something deeper than desire.
William pulled the blanket over them.
Adrian curled closer instinctively, resting his head against William's chest.
William wrapped his arms around him protectively.
For a long moment, neither spoke.
Then Adrian murmured softly, half-asleep,
"Don't leave."
William pressed a kiss into his hair.
"I won't."
Outside, the night was quiet.
But inside that small room, something had shifted.
Not just desire.
Commitment.
And William knew —
Whoever Adrian needed saving from…
He would face it.