[KAWAI]
The feast that the King had thrown for his people had gone by without any hitches, despite the lighting strikes earlier. It was almost like the universe had suddenly decided to be peaceful at a time when there wasn't anything pleasing.
Tamiko had noticed how tense the king and Lord Sadako were, and he could only hope that they didn't get on each other's throats, because truth be told, the Lycans would be the ones to pay the highest price of all.
"Tamiko—" the Lycan King called once everyone had dispersed.
Time had gone by so fast but to the King, it had dragged on. He had spent the entire feat looking at his brother and at the same time, stealing glances at the kid he had just been informed was his.
King Zaffuto had so many questions, but those answers were not as important as the kid before him. He would find the answers alright, but right now, with the kid and on their way back to the palace, he couldn't help but want the kid's attention.
'Oh, my Liana, our child lives,' the King said as he looked at Tamiko. He and his Liana's son. His Kaito. He loved the idea, perhaps that was also why he was desperate to make sure that this wasn't just the reality that he was being thrust into by his depression.
Granted, King Zaffuto was certain that Sadako would never lie to him, but staring at the kid, who was walking beside him, the King couldn't help but wonder what the hell had happened to him.
"Don't tell me you didn't like the food at the feast," Tamiko teased, even though he had also seen the change in atmosphere earlier.
There was something about the King that had changed. His aura had grown darker and at the same time, there was a beautiful brightness to it, one that hadn't been there originally.
Maybe Tamiko was hallucinating, but he had done his homework on the King and right now, he could swear on his life that there wasn't a page in the old books that mentioned the contracting bright aura that the Lycan King was having at the moment.
"Chief Konstantin," the king said and Tamiko looked at him with a raised brow.
He knew the king had no reason to distrust the Lycan chief, but at the same time, he knew this line could do anything he wanted and no one ever had the guts to stop him. There were some occasions when even Lord Sadako himself couldn't intervene.
Tamiko was hoping and praying that this wasn't one of those, especially with the King's mood that had changed so suddenly.
"What?" Tamiko asked when they came to a stop.
The king was currently standing in front of him, assessing him, like he was trying to gauge something about the kid. Sure, Tamiko had no clue of his parentage, but then the King was trying to figure out how his son had grown to be this frail and scarred.
He had heard the rumors about the Grealor outcast and he sure as hell hoped that his son wasn't the outcast. Because then, he would burn down Grealor and the entire werewolf race to the ground.
That much Zaffuto had promised himself for the past twenty-five years when he was hoping and waiting for his son to make a show. Perhaps fate wasn't that bad, right?
"I just noticed that you haven't seen the Chief since morning. So, I gave him the afternoon off. You both deserve it," the king said and Tamiko choked on air. When the fuck had the Lycan King decided to meddle in his people's personal lives and heartwarmingly?
"Are you bipolar by any chance?" Tamiko voiced out before realizing that he was wounded like a duck when the king had been nice to him the whole time.
"I'm sorry, I meant… are you all right in the head? Is it your stomach again? Should we get you some food? Are you sick? Should I call Sadako Uncle? Is the world coming to an end?" Tamiko rambled on and the King just stared at him softly.
He still couldn't believe that his heir, his child, was standing in the same space as him. Oh, how the king wanted to hold onto his kid forever, but then he knew Tamiko would grow suspicions and that didn't exactly scream trustworthiness.
He had to take it slow, but how was he supposed to do that when his heart was almost out of his chest from the excitement of seeing the kid that reminded him so much of his beautiful Liana?
"I hijacked your previous day and evening, Tamiko. I don't want your mate bond to be strained because of me. And I know Chief Konstantin won't say a word to me about it, So I figured I would let you kids have your fun.
"Besides, what's the point of having mates so close when you don't even see each other unless you're both fired to the core?" the King said, his explanation sounding more ridiculous and sensible at the same time.
Tamiko wasn't sure if this was a trap. Because he knew the dark King and that man was never kind. That Man was never the hopeful king and that man certainly knew nothing of humanity or even how to lead a healthy social life.
"I know it's not my place to say this, but you seriously need to look for Uncle Sadako. I think you're not well. Come, I'll find him," Tamiko said as he looked at the green amulet that Lord Sadako gave him weeks ago.
It was the reminder that he would never be alone and right now, he knew the King needed his brother so he wasn't going to take the King's time.
"Hold on. Where did you get that amulet?" the king asked, even though he already had a feeling that it was a gift from Lord Sadako. He just needed to hear the answer and remind himself that this wasn't a dream.
"Oh, this? Uncle gave me to use in case I needed him. I don't need him now, but you do, so I'll call him, okay?" Tamiko explained selflessly, and the king chuckled.
For a kid so broken, he sure did care about people and their feelings.
"Tamiko—"
"There's no shame in taking help."
"But—"
"He can fix you, since you need fixing," Tamiko insisted, making the King facepalm.
"Sire, you summoned me," Kosta suddenly said, reminding Tamiko that the King had relay meant what he said, but what was the catch to all of this? What was Tamiko to sacrifice for the free moments with his mate?
"Oh yeah. Please take him away before he gets me admitted into a mental asylum," King Zaffuto said with a laugh and Kosta stared at the King confused as fuck. He was wearing the same face as Tamiko.
"Sorry, what?" Kosta asked not sure if he heard the king well or even if he was seeing a happy King Zafuto. Whatever version of hell this was, Kosta was officially worried for his mate. So, he did what any mate would do.
"I'm sorry sir. I shall take on whatever punishment you see fit. Please don't punish him," Kosta pleaded, while the king just sighed.
"There is no punishment Chief. However, if you break Hinata's heart, the world will feel the pain I shall inflict on you," the King said and the two mates gulped. The warning was clear, almost like the King would release an army for Tamiko.
Oh he would. Especially now that he knew the kid was his.
"All right, that's my cue to disappear with my mate," Tamiko said, as he rushed to hold Kosta's hand.
"Get some rest, Your Highness; don't forget to eat too, we wouldn't want you fainting," Tamiko teased and this time the king let out a laugh, as he looked at his son.
Just the fact that Tamiko was his and alive made his day. He would do whatever the fates wanted if it meant showing them how happy he was today.
"I will," the King said to Tamiko who was still staring at him worriedly. The sincerity on the young Lycan's face tugged at the King's heartstrings that he could feel his whole world having some light in it.
"If we continue standing here Chief, this kid will make me question everything I live for. Please take him," King Zaffuto said and Kosta just bowed to the King, before he began walking away with a happy Tamiko who was shaking his head.
"Be well, my son," the King whispered in the distance.
And Kosta heard it, making the Lycan Chief even more scared for his life.
The King knew.