Blood Oath (O/O CLOSED)

I stirred in my sleep, hearing a soft voice calling out to me, but otherwise stayed still. I took deep breaths, finding it getting harder to breathe. Whether it was because I was sleeping, or because I was sick, I didn’t know.

I cracked an eye open and with a blurry vision, I looked at the one who woke me up and found a feminine face staring at me. Since when did we have girls in the dorm? What was going on?

When my vision cleared, I realized I was mistaken. It was Elliot.

“Hey,” I greeted, softening my voice. “Come on, sleepyhead,” Coaxing him softly into a sitting position, I pressed the teacup into his hand. “Drink up.”

I glared at him through sleepy eyes, taking the cup he’d pushed into my hand rather than offer it.

Sighing, I took a small sip, swallowing it and feeling the hot tea go down my throat. Being treated like this, I had to admit, was new to me. My parents were loving and tried their hardest, but with a country to rule, it was difficult taking care of children and managing court issues. I grew up with a caretaker until I was thirteen and began to display independence. From that age till now, this was the first time someone had willingly tried to take care of me.

“Thank you…” I finally grumbled out, holding the cup tightly so it wouldn’t slip.

I adjusted his blankets slightly, looking away for a moment. A hush had settled over the room, creating a sleepy, hazy atmosphere around us that was enhanced by the dim lighting. "You're welcome," I replied eventually, lifting my head and tilting it to the side a little before offering a small smile. "Once you're done that, I've got some turmeric and honey for you. Good for the throat. When was the last time you ate?"

I took another sip of tea, definitely not enjoying it, but not wanting to waste it.

“… don’t remember…” I sighed. “Yesterday’s lunch, perhaps. I got held up.”

"Colton…." Slightly exasperated, I lay a finger on the rim of the mug and pushed his hands gently down, lifting my spoonful of honey and holding it to his lips. "You of all people should know that not eating weakens you… and your immune system."

I quirked an eyebrow at Elliot’s behavior. Was he feeding me now? What in the world? Was he okay? I’m the one sick and he’s the one acting strange.

“What are you doing?” I questioned, ignoring his statement, my eyes on the spoonful of honey near my mouth.

"It's a spoonful of honey, Colton," I sighed, rolling my eyes a little to mask how incredibly flustered I was. But, in his teacup, the steeped water began to wobble, trembling as a result of my turbulent emotions. "Eat it. It'll make you feel better."

I sighed, using one hand to grab his to steady the spoonful for honey, opening my mouth and eating it, swallowing it before I licked my lips.

Sighing deeply, I looked back at him.

“Thanks. I feel much better,” I said that sarcastically, though I wouldn’t admit the fact that I loved honey out loud.

I stared down at his hand, still touching lightly upon mine. Slowly, my eyes lifted, trailing up his arm and throat until they landed on his lips. His tongue skimmed the length of them. The world around us seemed to slow. And suddenly, the liquid in his teacup began to violently swirl, a mini whirlpool of its own.

I let go of his hand the second my tea began to swish violently inside the cup.

“Elliot, would you stop that?” I sighed, thinking it was him being mischievous. “I’m really not in the mood for your mischief.”

"I'm not—" Swallowing, I closed my eyes, trying to push the water into submission. "I'm not doing it on purpose."

“Ah, I see,” I moved to set the cup aside when I heard loud knock from the dorm’s door, along with my name. Sighing again, I set my feet on the floor, pushing myself off of the bed. It seemed my father needed me again. The peace didn’t last for long.

"Sit," I told him, and before I could stop myself, I had placed both hands on his shoulders and was pushing him back down onto the bed. Then, rising to my own feet, I approached the exit and opened it a crack. "Hello?"

I, of course, didn’t listen to him. Following him out quietly, I saw him open the door.

And I was right. My father did need me.

“Is the Royal Highness present?” The soldier asked.

“What is it?” I responded before Elliot could. “Does my father call for me?”

“Yes, sir,” the soldier replied. “Immediately.”

I rubbed my forehead, biting back a groan.

“Understood. You’re dismissed,” I said, turning back to call for Key. My bondmate immediately shrunk himself, patting Scylla’s head before landing on mine. I turned towards Elliot.

“Thank you for the tea. And the honey,” I said to him, my hands moving up to fix my hair.

Realizing that there was nothing I could do, I let out a slow breath.

"You're welcome," I answered quietly, "I hope you feel better."

[TIME SKIP: MEETING WITH THE KING]

I made sure my appearance was all right, with no hints of sickness on my features when I walked into my father’s quarters.

“You called for me, Your Highness?” I questioned, raising an eyebrow. My father didn’t look up from the cup of tea he was sipping, but I could recognize the grim look on his face.

“I’m sorry, Son,” he sighed. “It seems I might have to send you in. We lost contact with Clover. Whoever it is, is being careful. I trust you to take care of it. I’ll fill in for your absence.”

I left immediately after the meeting without saying goodbye.

[TIME SKIP - Andreas’s POV, a few days later]

Colton had been absent for three days now. We were all confused, worried—but neither Kaden nor I were affected as much as Elliot. I didn’t know what had happened between them.. but after the Prince had hugged him, softened towards him? It only made sense that he would be staring at the closed bedroom door every second he was in our dormitory.

Now, however, Elliot was nowhere in sight. Instead, I sat at a desk in a large, well-lit classroom that smelled of dried herbs and elixirs. Beside me, Kaden was taking out his textbooks.

Kaden’s POV:

The Prince was like a ghost, by this time his absence hit us a bit more than usual. Ever since he softened towards Elliot, we saw him more often, but we never saw him again for three days in a row. He never came back to the dorm—we didn’t even see him practicing, Andreas and I checked in the armory several times.

I was getting worried about Elliot. It seemed the idiot had gotten himself a hopeless crush on the Prince—and don’t ask me how I know it. The way he acted around the prince proved it. Besides, you can call it a gay intuition.

Now, Andreas and I were sitting in our Healer class, ready to start on our lessons.

“Did you do the homework, Andreas?”

“Yeah, of course.” Chuckling lightly, I bumped my shoulder lightly against Kaden’s. “I don’t want Ms. Baye breathing down my neck…” My eyes twinkled mischievously as I leaned forward and blew a hot breath against his neck, pink seeping across my cheeks.

So—here’s the thing. Ever since Kaden had pressed that kiss to my forehead… well. One can imagine what that did to my poor heart.

I jumped lightly when Andreas blew on my neck, heat creeping up on my face. What was he doing? Did he want to kill me? Did he figure out that I had a huge crush on him?

“Andreas, that tickles!” I stammered, trying to make it seem like I was ticklish. I was, actually, but it was better that he knew that rather than realizing I liked him.

His adorable little stammer caused my heart to skip several beats, and before I knew it, my hands were smoking. Slowly, I pulled away, but not-so-subtly scooted my chair closer. “That’s the point, Kaden.”

“I hate you, you know that, right?” I furrowed my eyebrows. “Just because you know my secret doesn’t mean you have to exploit it!”

I let out a short laugh, nudging him lightly with the toe of my boot. “To be fair, you know my biggest weakness.”

I quirked an eyebrow.

“Which is what, a kiss to the forehead?” I teased. “C’mere, I’ll give another one!”

I stared at him in shock for a few seconds, my face growing redder and redder until I was practically a tomato, my heart pounding in my chest, my hands smouldering like hot coals.

“I—I was going to say caramels.”

I snorted, bursting out laughing at Andreas. God, he was just so adorable, it made me want to kiss him. And not on the forehead, mind you.

But I knew he thought of me as a friend, someone close. I didn’t want to lose him just because I had a hopeless crush on him.

“Well, that’s too bad,” I shrugged. “I was hoping to give you another kiss.”

My hands twitched in my lap, about to reach up and cover my hopelessly flushed face, but I managed to stop them in time. “You’re going to be the death of me…” I muttered under my breath, though my voice cracked a little.

“I’m kidding,” I lied through my teeth, laughing, poking Andreas’s cheek. Just then, our teacher came inside, and in a loud, bossy tone, told us to flip to page 29 and start brewing the potion.

Colton’s POV:

I carefully walked across the field, Key safety tucked in my pocket. If what I assumed was true, then Key couldn’t be out in the open. I couldn’t let him get hurt. It was okay if it was me, but I would rather die than let anyone hurt my partner.

When I came across another dead end inside of the maze I wandered in, I sighed. I was getting closer, and each time I did, I ended up losing sight of what I needed to find.

And that’s when the maze closed behind me.

(Wait, not done yet.)