S E V E N

"Finally finished," Iris sighed with joy as he leaned back in his chair and stretched his limbs. He let his pen drop on the desk while he stood up to get rid of the tired feeling his legs cramped with. Almost immediately after standing, his bones turned to jello and he tripped forward with a muffled gasp.

"-And you will be joining the meeting with your father after....Iris?" Kai, who had returned from getting their schedule from his room, looked around the prince's when Iris's chair was empty.

"Down here."

The vampire followed the strained mutter until he was staring at Iris's defeated form on the floor.

"What happened?"

"My legs fell asleep. What? Think I'd just willingly fall?"

"Clumsily yes, willingly no. Are you bleeding?"

"No."

"Injured?"

"Just my pride."

"Then get up, I'll have to tell you your schedule all over again."

Iris glared at Kai as he walked away on his high horse. "Gee, you're so helpful."

Kai sighed softly, "It's my job to protect you from harm, not your stupidity."

Iris slammed his hand on his desk and pulled himself up. "Oh, go to hell."

"Present. So, ready to listen?"

"I heard you the first time."

"Great, now ready to listen?"

"Fine," Iris sighed with defeat, "Yes tell me." He watched a devious smirk form on Kai's lips as he walked up to his desk.

"Actually you can read it. It's not like you've been straining those hazel eyes of yours all day, right? I'll be in the hall."

Iris was speechless in Kai's sight and until he left he sputtered with his words. When the door shut he gripped his schedule in his hand tight enough to crumble it.

"Kai, you ass!" he seethed through gritted teeth.

They had thirty minutes to eat breakfast before Iris had to go out and pick up another town's requests. His father wanted him to get out for once. Iris didn't complain.

"Hello, love bird-" Sage's enthusiasm was suddenly paused when she watched the prince and his guard try tripping each other while going down the stairs. Iris threw his scrunched up schedule at Kai's face and as soon as he covered his eye it hit, the scandalous teen ran down the stairs.

"Bad time?" Sage asked, holding in her laugh.

"No, perfect time! Block him! Thanks." Iris gave Sage a wide smile but didn't stop running as Kai began to.

Mind scrambled in confusion, Sage did what he said anyway and jumped in front of Kai before he stepped off the stairs.

"Hi."

"Move."

"For a kiss."

Kai stopped his glaring as his face turned in surprise. He stared down at Sage for a whooping three seconds before grabbing her hand and bringing it to his lips. He bolted past her before she could compliment him. She didn't favor male kisses, but Kai was always an exception.

"You can't outrun a vampire, Kai taunted Iris as he eventually caught up to him after turning down several hallways. The kitchen and their room were on opposite ends of the mansion, so it was quite the venture.

"You haven't caught me yet," Iris teased back while glancing over his shoulder.

"Yet."

"Never." Iris rushed on adrenaline but Kai's laughter behind him wanted to make him stop, but obviously he didn't and the thrill of escaping the vampire's merciless hands by a thread forced his legs to run.

"You know we've passed the kitchen right?" Kai informed as he watched the kitchen door grow further from his vision. He widened his eyes when he looked back and saw that Iris had stopped.

The prince braced for the impact and scrunched his eyes shut. He felt hands clutch his shoulders and he endured a light push but stayed on his feet. He opened one eye to see Kai huffing with relief.

"You can't just stop like that," He exhaled heavily and straightened his back.

"You said we passed the kitchen, I got worried." Iris, too, fixed his shirt and tie while watching Kai ruffle his hair back to normal. He liked it when he did that, it showed his hair wasn't black but very dark brown.

Or maybe it was. He didn't care to distinguish it.

"Worried about food, what's new?"

"I outran you," Iris sang in a childish voice as he poked Kai's cheek and trotted to the kitchen door.

"Child."

"Idiot."

"Immature brat–"

The two stared at the King's wide expression as they opened the kitchen door. He held a tray with fruits and chewed a few in his mouth before swallowing and smiling at them.

"Who is the immature brat?"

Kai felt like a Cobra was slithering around his body when Arlo connected their gazes.

"Not me," Iris chuckled nervously, "he wouldn't say anything like that about me."

"Oh." Arlo nodded as he tossed another grape in his mouth. "Well, he should because you are. Enjoy your breakfast."

Iris's jaw dropped to the floor and Kai bent his head further than needed only to hide a growing smirk when the King walked past them.

"Hey!" Iris yelped five seconds later after the realization froze him. He would've rushed after his father but Kai's laughter distracted him.

"It's not funny." Iris stared unamused as his guard slapped his shoulder with a quieter chuckle.

"You're right I'm sorry."

"Are you?"

"No."

Kai moved over to the table and sat down with a grin and a high held chin. As the table was a long rectangle, he sat at the edge on the sides while Iris took his place on the end close to Kai.

Minutes after sitting they were served their breakfast. In the grand dining room, faded, translucent curtains blocked the direct sunlight from entering the room, at Iris's request.

The room would pass as a sunroom when the long wide windows were curtain free, and the sunlight spewed in and gifted warmth and a beautiful hue in the four walls.

It wasn't dull in the room now but the yellow shades were definitely not at full power.

It was enough light to make the vampire's blue eyes glow with an upbeat mood, as Iris described while he watched him subtly.

No, Kai's hair wasn't black, because his eyebrows were a distinguishable brown. And only in the sun could the light make the brown within his hair shine.

Of course, Kai rarely stays in the sun long enough to show he has dark brown hair, which rested lazily but combed professionally to the side.

While Iris studied his occupied state, he let his eyes wander. Kai was a hard-faced person, sharp jawline and slim eyebrows, nose. His features were pale but all vampires' were.

Iris lowered his eyes to Kai's hands, which tried to straighten out the paper he crumbled while muttered who stupid he was. Iris chuckled.

Kai wore a plain silver ring on his index finger. He never explained where it came from but only that it was important to him. Iris put his elbow on the table and rested his cheek against his knuckles.

He noticed all the coats and shirts Kai wore couldn't contain his muscles as every outfit outlined his biceps perfectly. He noticed how he always crossed his right leg over his left when he sat down-he wasn't now-but he noticed. And he noticed how his blue eyes shaded to their navy color every time he read something with interest; like now as read their schedule over again.

When Iris brought his wandering eyes back up to Kai's face they stopped at his lips, and all thoughts evaporated from his mind. He stared emptily at them, thoughtless. He didn't have a note for them, besides well...ever so suddenly, but occasionally, they looked so kissa-

"Get your elbows off the table!"

Iris jumped out of his thoughts and away from the table when his mother's demand plunged into his ears.

He and Kai looked towards the door, surprised by the Queen's sudden arrival.

"Goodness, were you raised by animals?" Amelia sighed as she walked over and dusted the spot where Iris was leaning on. He frowned.

"Don't be dramatic, mom." The Queen gave him a stare. "Mother..sorry."

"There's no such thing as being dramatic, it's being logical."

Kai raised an eyebrow and glanced at Iris. He had to get some traits from his mother. Or at least obtained a few habits from her.

"Right. What are you doing here?" Iris rolled his eyes at Kai when Amilea turned her back to them.

"I heard from a maid they're baking cookies, so I came to try one."

Iris narrowed his eyes at her fidgeting hands. He looked away with a bitter expression."Or did you hear a general was coming over?"

Kai's head raised from the paper so fast he could've broken his neck, and the Queen's eyes widened past her sockets.

"Excuse me?"

"Nothing. We're leaving."

"No, you're going to apologize for accusing me."

"For what? Something you do but won't admit?"

"Sir," Kai seized Iris's wrist when he stood up hastily. He shook his head as a warning when Iris looked down.

"I'll admit I think it's sick what you think I'm doing."

"So do-" He stopped when Kai dug his fingers in his wrist. He turned his head while biting his tongue. "I'm sorry." His tone was far from believable, but Amelia nodded her head and fanned her face.

"Then you're excused." She stepped aside and pointed to the door. Iris jerked his hand away from Kai and marched past her, his guard quickly following.

"Why did you do that?" Iris stopped when they were down another hallway and pointed an accusing finger at Kai.

"Why, because it was a pointless argument that was going to backfire on both of us."

"How-"

"You know she won't admit to it," Kai sighed and ran a hand through his hair, "And I know it's hard for you to listen to her lie, but you have to control that anger."

Iris scoffed and crossed his arms. "I have my anger perfectly under control."

Kai didn't have to say anything but stare with dim eyes. Iris shrunk seconds later. "Okay, I'll work on it."

"Thank you."

"But I'm still mad at her."

"I know."

"And you."

"That's okay." Kai ruffled his hair, earning a deep frown from Iris, then places his hands on his shoulders. "But take that anger elsewhere, say, the second village?"

Iris stared at him with escalating thoughts. His face grew wide with realization. "Oh yeah! Oh God, I'm late aren't I?" Jerking from Kai's hands, Iris turned his body and sped walked down the hall with grumbles and mutters under his breath. It took the vampire no longer than five seconds to catch up with him in the foyer. How he could do that with ease now, was an unattainable answer.

"Um, I had something else I had to do as well right?" Iris questioned as he slipped on his gloves, standing next to a chaperone by the door. "Wait no-when am I supposed to be back anyways? Does it matter? Will my dad wait..no he won't wait."

Kai sighed. When the prince started answering his own questions stress after that was a killer. He held out his schedule to silence him.

"You'll be fine if you hurry. Your father will understand if you lack a little."

Iris was too hectic to care if that was an insult or a half cup of closure. He smiled anyway and waved at Kai with the paper between his fingers and his palm before they set out.