F O R T Y-S E V E N

Kai brought Iris home after he realized he was over thinking the situation, secured him in bed, and waited for the King to arrive to inform him, before he snuck out after everyone was in bed and crept down the halls. There was a guest bedroom that owned a balcony, so he searched for it and once outside he sat on the railings with his legs dangling. The air was cold and felt soothing as it washed over his face.

He sighed through the quietness and closed his eyes. He listened to the crickets' reedy choir distantly and the wind pluck the rusty colored leaves off their branches. The village was asleep but even if noise was to be made it was too out of his hearing rang. He sighed again and listened to a leaf crunch.

Kai shot his eyes open and fling them down to where the crunch came from. He stared bellow him at the glowing eyes watching him back. Their dusty green color made Kai slump his shoulders.

"Kai?" Sage's voice was above a whisper and she squinted to see clearer.

From the balcony Kai waved to confirm it was him and watched Sage look around. She climbed up the nearest tree, which was a fairly close to the balcony, and jumped towards it as she stood on the highest branch. Kai got off the railing just in case she didn't jump far enough and missed, and he stopped her from falling when she jumped too far.

"Thanks," She chuckled and dusted her shoulders.

"Why are you outside?" Kai asked as they both leaned over the railing, not sitting on it this time, they just crossed their arms over it. Kai glanced behind him before gazing at Sage.

"Patrol," Sage answered with a shrug, "I usually don't do this, but I got bored and offered to take the other guard's spot for tonight."

"Oh."

"Yeah."

"Shouldn't you be doing it then?"

Sage nudged Kai with her elbow, "And missed catching up with you? No."

Kai shook his head and looked away towards the village. "There's not much to say but I'll tell you what you would like to know."

"Hmm, okay, let me think." Sage taps her chin in thought and narrows her eyes. "Just...how is it–for starters?"

Kai sighed, "Good, I guess. I do miss the other guards, but I...I like it. It's interesting being around the prince, observing what he does, and the other humans here, too. But I've been thinking that maybe I actually like the fact that I get to be around them. Around him. I don't know. Am I ranting?" Kai looked at Sage with a frown and she was smiling at him. Plain and knowing.

"Nope. Keep going. Actually, let me cut in–you like being around the prince?"

"I–" Kai inched his body away from her slightly, "–no. I like observing him...because it's my job. So, in a sense I like it because it's my job and I like my job. Whoa, I think I solved my own dilemma."

Sage shook her head and turned her body, now leaning on the railing with one arm. "Are you happy here?"

"Happy? Of course. Are you?"

"That question has been a solid yes for years. But this is different. Are you happy," She leaned closer to Kai, "here. With this job? With him?"

Kai stared at Sage for a long moment, unblinking and for a second, thoughtless. His fingers around the black rails curled and squeezed and as much as he wanted to lower his gaze, she reeled him in too close and every second she stared she nudged the answer out.

He opend his mouth, but the reply didn't come fast enough as the door to the guest bedroom began to open. They broke the ice off their expressions and widened their eyes before acting quickly.

Whoever entered the room witnessed the curtains swishing and waving to a calm until they were staring at the empty balcony. They muttered under their breath, wondering why the door was open, and closed it and locked it before leaving.

Kai let out a quick breath and grinned at Sage, who did the same thing.

"Close call."

"You're telling me." Kai got on his knees and peered over the edge of roof they swiftly retreated to. He shook his head and arched a brow at Sage. "You know how to get back inside right?"

"Yeah, I know how. What, you've never snuck out before?"

"I have," Kai gestured down towards the balcony, "that was the only route I used. Don't know any other door that isn't guarded."

Sage nodded and gestured for Kai to follow her. They exchanged a few words as they made their way to a back door and Sage didn't ask, she explicitly told Kai they needed to talk some more and he had no room to argue. They quickly parted ways through the dark corridor while bidding their farewells.

Kai ran a hand through his hair and sighed quietly. That bubbling feeling returned to his stomach, that anticipation and excitement roared inside him and he frowned. He thought he just understood why he felt this way when he returned to Iris, he thought he realized the reason. As Kai opened the door to the room, that understanding instantly vanished.

When Kai stepped inside the room he wasn't quite all there, so he didn't notice the light was on and that Iris was standing near the door. Iris gasped, and the noise was so sudden it made Kai flinch and press his back against the door, making it tightly click shut. He released his breath and dropped his shoulders.

"Sorry," They said at the same time.

Iris shook his head and Kai dropped his eyes to the prince's torso; bare, torso.

He knew he had muscle under all those fancy clothes he wore, but seeing it now, specifically for the first time, it made an eyebrow raise. Kai diverted his eyes after a second of staring.

"Sorry," He repeated. He didn't look away because it was weird to stare, he looked away because he wanted to keep gazing. Something must be really wrong with him.

"It's fine."

Kai glanced back as Iris when he realized he didn't look ready to put a shirt on, so he shouldn't make it awkward. He hated awkward.

"Um, what are you doing up, sir?" Kai slipped back into character and pealed himself off the door just as Iris stood in the doorway to the bathroom.

"I woke up and couldn't go back to sleep. I'm going to take a shower and hope that helps," Iris said with a shrug and crossed his arms over his chest. He could feel his heartbeat race but he was too hazy-minded to care about his bareness or who's in front of him at the moment. "Where were you?"

"Uh, I was just walking around. Saw Sage so I talked to her a bit. I don't do this every night, though, sir." Kai thought he should clarify that in case Iris was displeased with his disappearance. He didn't look upset, there was a small smile displayed on his face.

"I figured. I don't really mind, just don't get caught."

Kai nodded and a light chuckle expressed itself as he thought about how that almost just happened.

"Yeah, well, I didn't know whoever watches the halls checks inside vacant rooms."

"The secretaries do that, actually."

"Now I know."

Iris smiled at Kai longer before leaning off the doorframe. "Now you know. You should also know it's important to knock." He took hold of the bathroom door and smirked at Kai while he began shutting it.

"Noted." Kai watched the door shut and he sighed as he looked around the room. His smile dropped from his face but he could still sense its presence.

Was he happy?

He recalled Sage's question while he glanced at the bathroom door.

He didn't know. Or maybe he didn't want to admit that maybe he was, maybe he liked the situation he was in, liked who was involved.

But as of now that question would remained unanswered.

††

Like the doctor had said, Iris's pain and swelling in his wrist did mellow greatly. He annoyed both Kai and his dad when he told them he was ready to start training again and every time they'd decline his begs, to mainly ensure he didn't injure himself further.

Iris admitted he only wanted to train again because there was nothing else to do to pass the time. Things grew boring, and with little work to do, errands to run, Iris was conflicted with boredom. The weather was too cold to wander around outside, and he roamed his endless halls so many times it sickened him. Books were great friends, but his mind wasn't up for words or an adventure he could only experience in his head, in his imagination that laid currently dead with webs.

He complained a lot of this to Kai, who stayed silent while the prince talked his ears off. Kai didn't mind though, if anything he agreed with Iris's feelings.

Kai looked up from staring at the floor when Iris scooted off his bed with a heavy sigh.

The vampire was sitting on the floor with his back against the bed while Iris sprawled on top on the bed just feet away from Kai. He talked until they thirst for silence and after a few minutes of drinking it in Iris snapped his fingers when an idea came to his mind.

"They're baking treats for a festival, we should go test them," Iris suggested with hunger in his eyes. His mouth drooled for chocolate.

"You mean so you can, sir."

"No. I told the cooks and bakers that you're allowed to come in and try whatever they happened to be baking. If I'm with you or not."

"Why did you do that?"

Iris shrugged, "You deserve to be treated more than just a vampire. Might be a little unfair to the others but you should be respected here."

Kai didn't know what to say to that. He appreciated it probably more than he should and he could only mutter a thank you while he stood up and followed Iris out of the room.

When they got down the hall leading to the kitchen, a sweet aroma wafted in their noses. They were definitely baking in there.

Iris poked his head in the kitchen and sniffed the air. He sighed happily and stepped inside.

Most of the tables were already crowded with freshly baked goods. Cookies to muffins to miniature cakes, and pies, and so. Much. Chocolate. Iris's mouth was watering.

"Oh, see, I told you he'd be coming in here."

Iris and Kai glance towards the perky voice to see a female baker placing her hands on her hips, her grin cherry and pointing at Iris.

"Now now, prince, we'll make the mansion their own treats, but these batches are for the festival, so you can only pick one item."

"Out of all of these?"

The baker chuckled and nodded her head. "Sorry, those are the rules."

Iris pouted and his shoulders slumped, but he respected her rule and started the search.

Kai knew out of everything, even the beckoning apple pies, that Iris was going to straight to the basic chocolate cookies. They were the size of their hands.

Iris picked a cooled down one and watched Kai do the same. He smiled at his choice and raised his own cookie. Kai stared at it till a grin formed on his face and he bumped his with Iris's.

"Cheers to...something," Iris chuckled.

"To the bakers."

A gasp was heard behind him, and they both turn to see the female baker placing a hand over her chest.

"Just for that you can pick another item."

Kai was surprised at first, Iris obviously felt betrayed, but he smiled and his heart warmed. He felt welcomed, and that was the best feeling.

Kai grabbed another cookie and they made their way back outside in the hall.

"I told you, you deserve respect. They obviously saw that, too," Iris commented while they strolled down the hall.

Kai still didn't know to respond to that statement. He'll forever believe the humans will keep their dominance over the vampires, but he cherished the idea of equality, and he appreciated the welcoming atmosphere around the humans at the mansion.

He didn't know how to feel, in all honesty.

Kai handed his second treat to Iris and watched as a smile curled his lips.

He didn't know how to feel but he decided to settle on the contentment Iris's smile gave him for now.