~
The following morning, the third prince, Idowu woke up with some motivation. He had Dada by his side, still quiet, still present. Then he decided.
" Today.." he said in a low voice, steady. " .. today, I'll end everything. "
Dada mumbled softly behind him. He'd remembered the pain in his eyes when he had come home drunk and broken. He placed his hands softly on his cheeks, brushing them gently.
" I hope you don't leave me when you find out the truth about me. I wish to take you home with me. " His voice was low, almost fragile, yet there was an edge to it. He leaned forward and kissed Dada lightly, lingering on the lip.
He stood up from the bed and started moving around the room packing their bags. Dada's eyes opened slowly but he didn't turn, his eyes followed Idowu.
He pondered.
He had heard every word. He had never thought anyone could love him. He had been a tool of death, forged by the Emperor's hands.
" Does he love me enough to take me back with him?" Dada thought.
Dada thought something was off about the statement too. His instincts told him, Idowu was going to carry out his plans the very day. But if worse comes to worse, would he escape and follow Idowu blindly? Would he actually flee with him? Or would he stop his plans of taking out the other princes.
Dada's gaze shifted to Idowu, carefully folding their clothes, precise and deliberate. His instincts whispered warnings, but his heart ached with longing..
' He really wants me to go with him?'
Right now, he had no objective. He'd found out about his past, the truth about the emperor and he had no intention of killing the prince. But one thing he's sure of right now, he likes Idowu. A lot.
.
.
.
The next room, William was the first to wake up, His body pressed against someone warm. He opened his eyes. Adrian was lying next to him naked but his body was hot, heat radiating off him.
" Temi-" William held his arm softly to wake him.
Adrian mumble and then his body shivered. His lips were dry. A deep frown appeared on his face as his eyelashes shakes.
William heart almost stopped. He tried to wake him harder.
" Temi- temi, wake up, what's wrong?"
Adrian eyes opened, slowly weak. His lips were dry. " I...I"
" Hold on, I'll get you water. " William stood immediately and got him water. Adrian drank slowly, still trembling. While Adrian drank, he proceeded to put some clothes on him and Adrian.
" Thank you." Adrian said finally after he'd empty the cup. His voice was a bit more steady.
" Your body is hot. What's wrong?" William asked placing his hands all over Adrian's.
" I don't kn- it's nothing. I'll take some medicine and it'll be fine. " Adrian replied weakly, attempting to rise.
" Hey, no no, sit for a while" he grabbed him and sat him back on the bed.
" It's bright already. Idowu would have prepared breakfast. I'll bring them to you."
Adrian nodded and Before William could leave, a knock came at the door..
" Who's there?' Adrian asked, voice faint. William noticed his breath was slow.
" It's me master." Idowu said from outside the door. Adrian looked at William and nodded. " Come in" William said.
" Master, you're up. Here, have some food. "
William watched. Idowu entered, carrying breakfast on a small tray. He placed a stool near Adrian, setting the food carefully before him.
" Why bring breakfast here?" William asked.
" Uh? Master William, what do you mean?"
" You've never brought breakfast to him here before. Why today?"
Idowu stared at William. He had made sure no hatred was written in his face. He then smiled softly.
" Why? I've always brought master food in his room back at home. And the reason I'm doing that today is because I noticed he was feeling quite tired and weak, especially after everything that happened yesterday. Just because you're with my master mean I'll stop taking care of him. "
" You know -" William started.
" Drop it!" Adrian said in a sharp low voice.
Idowu looked at Adrian. It seemed the new drugs was actually quite effective. He noticed Adrian slow movement and shallow breathing. He tried to stop himself from smiling. He has to finish this now.
Idowu crouched slightly, concern etched across his face. He faked a gasp. " Master, what's wrong?" He asked
" Just headache." Adrian muttered, voice shallow.
" Here master, drink this. It's medicinal. It will help. The old man gave me when we were leaving his house. Dada and I have taken ours minutes ago, here's yours." He handed a cup to Adrian which he took.
He then took another cup and handed it over to William.
William received it and looked at it. He then turned to Idowu. " Was this what you and the old man was talking about?"
Idowu recalled the moment William was thinking about. The old man had called him aside after Dada had ran off. The man told him to be gentle with Dada as he'd noticed he was closest to him. The old man had told him nothing about any medicine.
He bit the smile that was about to cross his face. " Yes. He instructed me on how to make it. I took it and I felt alive immediately. "
" Uhmm." William nodded still holding the cup. " How's Dada"
" He's better. He's taking a stroll right now."
" Uh Idowu?" Adrian called staring at the food. " Could you get me pepper? You forgot it. "
" Ah right! Sorry master. I'll go get it right now." He said was a bow.
As he turned, he saw Adrian gulp down the entire cup.
' victory! Victory!!!' he yelled in his head.
As Idowu walked toward the door to fetch the forgotten pepper, he caught a glimpse of William lifting the cup. Victory. Finally! Fool! he thought, smirking internally.
He smiled and closed the door.
He didn't go to get pepper but instead went to his room. He found Dada awake and he instantly felt a change in him. His devilish smile changed to a genuine one and his gaze softened as he approached.
William was sitting on the bed. When he sighted Idowu, he smiled faintly. " Good morning."
Idowu moved closer. He planted his kneels on the bed , trapping William in-between them and sitting on his laps.
" Good morning to you too...love."
Dada's smile widened at that. He stared at the third prince and watched silently, heart thudding. He could hardly believe it: he had fallen for the man he had once planned to kill.
'Fate is funny,' he thought.
Dada's eyes traced Idowu's lips, then eyes, then lips again. He wrapped his hands around Idowu's waist, drawing him closer. He also brought his lips closer
Idowu's heart flattered and he smiled at the man.
Dada's face was already so close to him when he spoke.
" Dada" he called.
Dada pushed. He looked up and found Idowu looking at him like he was the world. Dada swollowed at the eyes staring at him. They made his heart he thought was dead pound.
Idowu rapped his hands around Dada's neck and said with upmost seriousness. " Be mine. "
Dada's lips parted. He was shocked and sincerely, happy at the same time. It was the first time he'll felt this was for anyone and the first time anyone has wanted him. It made him feel different. Idowu really had changed something about him. He doesn't know what it was, but he loved it.
" Uhm. I'm yours." He whispered, and without wasting a second, his hand landed softly at the back of Idowu's neck and he kissed him.
The kiss was soft, deep, lingering at the same time. Idowu moaned softly and Dada cherished that sound.
Their lips parted and Their eyes met again, unbroken.
" You're mine Dada." Idowu said , a tear threatening to escape. "Never letting you go."
. Dada was his and he was never letting him go. Never. He really really love the man .
" Yes, I'm yours" Dada responded, warmth spreading through him.
For a moment, Idowu hesitated, a shadow crossing his eyes.
Dada could see it in his eyes.
" What's wrong?" He asked.
" Come with me.... please."
" Wha-what? Where are you going?"
" Just - just promise me that no matter what happens, you'll come with me." Idowu said, voice serious, almost trembling
Dada stared at him. He knew deep within him, Idowu was going to carry out his plan today. But what it was, he didn't know. But he knew Idowu might go to the extent of killing them. Dada thought about what he should do if that was the case.
"Should i stop him?"
"What do the other princes mean to me?"
"Sincerely, Idowu is all that matters to me."
He knew Idowu trying to kill the princes was wrong but who was he to judge? He had also killed lots of people. So he was no one to condemn him. He himself is- or was an assassin.
Dada pecked his collar bones. " I promise."
Idowu's face softened into a smile so genuine. It was so bright it made Dada smiled too and Idowu hugged him.
After a few minutes he disengaged the hug. " I've packed our bags already. We're leaving soon."
" Uh? Just us? What about your master?" Dada asked intentionally. He wanted to know what he was up to.
The look on Idowu's face shifted and for seconds it seemed Dada was staring at someone else. The life in his eyes died. He got off from Dada's legs.
" What master?" He asked. Something different in his voice.
" Adrian of course." Dada pressed on.
The expression in his face changed again to something sweet as he reached for Dada's hand. " Love, right now, can you not ask any questions. I'll explain everything once this is done, and I take you with me. Just… don't leave me, no matter what you see."."
Dada stared. ' well I know most things you're hiding. I know you're the Third Prince and wants to end the others. I've had my own secrets too. The main reason I got close to you was to kill you. We both have what we're hiding.'
" Okay. I won't leave." He replied finally.
With that Idowu smiled and just before he closed the door, he turned to Dada. " Get the luggage ready please."
Dada exhaled after he'd left. 'What are you up to, Idowu?' he whispered to himself.
He rose quietly and followed him, heart racing, mind bracing for the storm to come.