chapter 8

Elias stared at his breakfast, but he no longer had any appetite to eat, he pushed his chair back.

"I'm not hungry anymore."

Selene looked at him in surprise. "Elias—"

But he was already walking away. He didn't wait for anyone to say another word.

As soon as he stepped outside the palace, the cool morning air hit his face. He walked quickly across the courtyard, his expression dark.

Liana hurried after him. "Elias, wait!"

He slowed down but didn't turn around.

Liana finally caught up with him.

"You were supposed to show me around."

"I know."

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

His answer was short, almost cold.

Liana looked at his face, clearly unconvinced. Before she could say anything else, the sound of horses approaching came from the palace gates. The sound of horses approaching made Elias stop.

His eyes immediately found Kael. For a brief moment, their gazes met.

Elias waited. He expected Kael to smile at him, say something, or at least acknowledge his presence. Instead, Kael looked away immediately, pretending as though he didn't know Elias.

Elias's expression fell. His father noticed him standing there but didn't say a word. He simply rode his horse past Elias as though he wasn't there.

Kael followed behind him. He didn't look at Elias again.

Elias stood completely still, watching them disappear into the palace.

His chest tightened. "So that's how it is?"

After everything that had happened between them, Kael could stand in front of his father and pretend they were strangers.

Liana, who had been standing beside him, noticed the sudden change in his expression.

"Elias..."

He didn't answer.

He simply turned around and walked away.

Liana hurried after him.

"Wait. What about the tour?"

Elias kept walking.

"Next time."

"But—"

"Please, Liana. Not today."

There was something in his voice that made her stop questioning him. Elias walked away angrily, leaving Liana standing in the courtyard.

************

LATER THAT NIGHT

The palace had grown quiet, and the moon was already high in the sky when Elias quietly slipped out of his room. He made his way through the familiar path toward their secret hideout. He needed to see Kael.

Despite everything that had happened that morning, a part of him still hoped Kael would come and explain himself.

When Elias reached the hideout, he pushed the door open and stepped inside.

It was empty.

He sighed and sat down on the old wooden bed they often shared.

Minutes passed. Kael still hadn't arrived.

Elias glanced toward the door again.

"Where is he?"

He folded his arms and leaned back, trying to hide his frustration.

A few more minutes passed before he finally heard footsteps outside.

The door opened. Kael walked in.

The moment Elias saw him, the anger he'd been trying to suppress returned.

Kael noticed immediately.

“Babe…”

Elias remained quiet.

Kael walked toward him, before Elias could say anything, Kael gently pulled him closer and kissed him. he slowly reached for Elias's shirt buttons, undoing them one by one. For a moment, Elias forgot about the argument. The anger, the pain, and the questions he'd been carrying all day seemed to disappear.

kael leaned down and pressed a gentle soft kiss against the side of Elias's neck, his hand over his chest, tracing the firm muscle while the other hand reached his belt and open it then he unzipped his pants.

"Babe....." he whispered. " Let go harder this time". As he gently stroked his dicked

After spending the night together, Fucking and finding comfort in the closeness they had always shared.

Keal sat up and reached for his clothes. He dressed quietly, buttoning his shirt while the faint moonlight came through the window.

Elias remained on the bed, watching him. He had been waiting all night for Kael to explain why he did that the previous day, but Kael said nothing.

He slipped on his boots and adjusted his cloak before reaching for the door.

Elias's expression hardened. "You're leaving?"

Kael turned around.

"I have to get back before anyone notices I'm gone."

Elias stared at him, hurt and frustrated.

"That's all you have to say?"

Kael frowned.

"What do you mean?"

Elias sat up.

"You came here, we spent the night together, and now you're getting ready to leave without saying anything about what happened the other day."

Kael remained silent.

Elias's voice trembled.

"I've been waiting all night to hear your side of the story.". He continued "I know you want to keep us a secret, Kael! I understand that. But that doesn't mean you have to treat me like a stranger!"

Kael stood silently, listening.

"You could have talked to me this morning," Elias continued, his eyes filled with disappointment.

Kael opened his mouth, but Elias didn't give him a chance to speak.

"You could have told me that you were going hunting with my father. Why didn't you?"

His voice cracked.

"Do you really love me, Kael?"

Kael's expression changed immediately.

"Babe..."

"You say you love me, but sometimes your actions make me feel like I don't matter."

Elias wiped away the tears gathering in his eyes.

"If you had told me, I wouldn't have been angry. I would have understood. But you left while I was asleep, and then when you came back, you acted like you didn't even know me."

Kael took a step toward him.

"I was trying to protect—"

"Protect us?" Elias interrupted. "You could have protected us without hurting me."

The silence that followed was painful.

Elias looked down, his heart breaking as he forced the words out.

"I think we should end this now."

Kael froze.

For the first time that morning, the anger disappeared completely from his face.

"Babe... what did you just say?"

Elias couldn't bring himself to look at him.

"I said we should end this."