Chapter 6: Sugar and Curiosity
When morning broke, the dark mood that had hung over Kai like a storm cloud seemed to have lifted. He drifted down to breakfast with an air of sleepy contentment, his expression relaxed and soft. The coldness from the previous day was gone, replaced by a familiar warmth, as if winter had finally given way to spring.
Edward, Noah, and Charles exchanged glances of quiet relief. Their young lord was back, and this time, his mood seemed brighter than ever. They watched with cautious optimism as he took a seat at the table, looking for all the world like the lazy, curious noble they knew and adored.
Kai rubbed his eyes, blinking sleepily. "Good morning…" he murmured, reaching for the sugar bowl and adding three—no, four—heaping spoonfuls to his tea.
Edward raised a brow, ever the picture of poise and elegance, but he couldn't help but smile a little as Kai took an eager sip. "Good morning, my lord. You seem… especially bright today."
Kai gave a slight nod, too busy savoring his now-syrupy tea to fully respond. As he took another sip, his gaze drifted across the table to the assortment of pastries Edward had prepared. His eyes lit up, and he quickly snatched a piece of cake dusted with powdered sugar, munching away with an obvious delight.
"Sweet tooth today, young lord?" Noah asked, watching him with a soft smirk. His tentacles twitched, hidden but sensing Kai's every move with keen interest.
"Mmm," Kai mumbled through a mouthful of cake. "Couldn't sleep. I kept thinking of sweets…figured I might as well enjoy some now."
As he finished the pastry, Kai's gaze shifted to Noah. He tilted his head, his eyes fixed on the faint, dark lines of Noah's tentacles coiled beneath his sleeves. With the curiosity of a child discovering something new, Kai leaned closer. "Noah… those tentacles of yours…"
Noah tensed slightly, unsure of what to expect. "Yes, my lord?"
"Can I… see them?" Kai asked, his tone innocent, eyes sparkling with a fascination that sent a jolt through Noah's heart.
Without waiting for an answer, Kai reached out, fingers brushing one of the tentacles as it extended slightly from Noah's sleeve. The sensation of Kai's hand against the smooth, dark tendril sent a shiver down Noah's spine. He held his breath, watching as Kai's fingers traced along the texture, unafraid, simply curious.
"These are so… cool," Kai murmured. "You could pick things up with them, couldn't you?"
"Ah… yes, I can," Noah stammered, trying to keep his voice steady as his heart raced. Kai's casual touch, his lack of fear, his simple admiration—it all felt dangerously intoxicating.
Kai gave a small, satisfied nod, as if mentally filing away his discovery, before letting go of Noah's tentacle with a contented sigh. He looked over to Charles, who had been watching the scene unfold with a quiet intensity, his nine tails twitching slightly.
"Charles," Kai said, his gaze softening. "Come here."
Charles hesitated, his heart pounding as he stepped closer. Without any hesitation, Kai reached out, running his hand along the soft fur of one of Charles's tails. The touch was gentle, exploring, as if Kai were petting a treasured pet rather than another person. Charles could barely breathe, watching as Kai's fingers sank into the plush fur, stroking along the length of his tail.
"These are even softer than they look," Kai remarked with a faint smile, his expression one of pure wonder. "It must feel nice to have these. They're so… calming."
Charles's cheeks flushed, and he fought to keep his composure. "They… they are, my lord," he managed, his voice barely above a whisper. The gentle, absentminded touch had sent a thrill through him, one that he couldn't control. Kai's affection, innocent though it was, had ensnared him deeper than he ever thought possible.
Kai eventually withdrew his hand, unaware of the spell he had cast over his companions. He took another bite of his pastry, looking thoroughly content. "You're both amazing," he said absentmindedly, as if speaking to himself.
But his attention shifted again, this time toward Edward, who had been standing nearby with his usual attentive grace. Kai's gaze drifted to the sheathed dagger at Edward's waist, its gleaming hilt catching the morning light.
"Edward… may I see your dagger?" Kai asked, his eyes wide with fascination.
Edward's breath caught, but he complied immediately. Drawing the blade carefully, he presented it to Kai, the metal catching the light in a deadly shimmer. Kai's fingers traced the edge, his touch featherlight yet without a hint of fear.
"You keep it so clean and shiny…" Kai murmured, almost reverently. He tilted the dagger, admiring the way it reflected the light, his expression one of awe. "This must take a lot of care. I didn't know a weapon could be so… beautiful."
Edward felt his heart tighten, the praise striking him deeper than he would have thought possible. It was a strange and heady feeling to see his deadly weapon admired so openly, without judgment or fear. Kai's appreciation was genuine, and somehow, it meant everything to him.
As Kai handed the dagger back with a satisfied smile, each of the three felt their obsession deepen, that possessive need to be the one to hold Kai's attention, to bask in his warmth, to protect him and never let anyone else near. They had all experienced that craving before, but after this morning, it had transformed into something sharper, more consuming. This warmth, this acceptance—no one else could have it but them.
Kai, oblivious as ever, continued enjoying his pastries, the events of the morning nothing more than a curiosity satisfied. But for Edward, Noah, and Charles, it was something they would never forget, a moment that only tightened the invisible strings that bound them to their young lord.
In that quiet morning, each of them silently vowed to protect Kai, to be the ones who could give him everything he desired—even if he would never realize just how deep their devotion ran.