Theron had just started to settle, his mind finally quieting as he focused on counting the faint cracks in the ceiling. Maybe, just maybe, he'd drift off if he concentrated hard enough. But, of course, peace wasn't meant to last.
"Master," Rex's voice cut through the silence, calm and precise. "I must inform you of an unusual occurrence."
Theron groaned, pulling the blanket over his head. "Rex, unless the world is literally ending, it can wait until morning."
Rex's holographic form flickered to life on the nightstand, its glowing eyes fixed on him. "An intruder has been detected attempting to access our premises."
That got Theron's attention. He bolted upright, his heart pounding. "An intruder? What? Who? Where?"
Rex remained unflappable. "The individual appears to be Prince Kael. He is currently attempting to scale the exterior wall and is positioned outside your window."
Theron froze, his mouth falling open as he stared at Rex. "What?" he managed, his voice a mix of disbelief and irritation. "Kael? Are you sure?"
Rex blinked once, the light in its eyes pulsing faintly. "Facial recognition confirms a 99.9% match. The remaining 0.1% accounts for his current disheveled state."
Theron scrambled out of bed, his heart hammering in his chest as Rex's words echoed in his mind. An intruder. Kael. What in the world was that wolf up to now? He darted to the window, yanking the curtains aside with enough force to nearly tear them from the rod.
Sure enough, there was Kael, balanced precariously on the narrow ledge outside. His dark hair was windswept, his bare chest gleaming faintly under the moonlight, and his grin—wide, unrepentant, and utterly shameless—was the kind of expression only Kael could pull off in such a ridiculous situation.
"Hey, Theron!" Kael called out cheerfully, his voice muffled slightly by the glass. He raised a hand in a casual wave, as if this were a completely normal thing to do. "Mind letting me in?"
Theron froze, utterly dumbfounded. He blinked once, twice, trying to process the sheer absurdity of the scene before him. "What in the name of all things logical are you doing?!" he hissed, shoving the window open with more force than necessary. "It's the middle of the night! Are you insane?"
Kael didn't miss a beat. With the grace of someone who clearly did this sort of thing far too often, he swung one leg over the windowsill and climbed inside. He landed lightly on the floor, brushing imaginary dust off his chest with a nonchalance that made Theron's jaw tighten.
"Couldn't sleep," Kael said, his tone so casual it was maddening. "So I figured I'd come find the person responsible for my insomnia."
Theron stared at him, his arms crossing over his chest as his brain scrambled for words. "And that somehow led you to climb my wall like a deranged lunatic?"
Kael shrugged, his grin widening as if he found the entire situation amusing. "It's not lunacy—it's dedication. I could not stop thinking about you. You're my mate now, Theron. Practically married. And married couples sleep together, you know. I can't spend a moment apart from you anymore." He said it all with a straight face, his tone so serious it made the ridiculousness of his words even more infuriating.
Theron's face flushed, his ears burning with a heat he couldn't ignore. "What?! How is that logical? We're not married! And your grand solution to insomnia was to break into my room?"
Kael tilted his head, feigning innocence. "I wasn't breaking in. The window was unlocked."
Theron groaned, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "You're impossible, Kael. Utterly impossible." He turned on his heel, muttering under his breath as he headed back toward his bed. "You're sleeping on the floor, by the way. And don't you dare argue—"
Before he could finish, Kael's strong arms wrapped around him, lifting him clean off the ground as if he weighed nothing. Theron let out a startled yelp, his hands instinctively gripping Kael's shoulders. "Kael! Put me down! What are you doing?"
Kael didn't answer immediately. He held Theron effortlessly, his golden eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. Their faces were so close that Theron could feel Kael's warm breath against his skin. It sent an unbidden shiver down his spine.
"You're adorable when you're flustered," Kael murmured, his voice low and almost teasing. He leaned in slightly, his nose brushing against Theron's in a gesture so intimate it left the gnome speechless.
Theron's heart was racing now, his mind a chaotic mess. "Kael," he managed, his voice shaky, "this is ridiculous. Just—just put me down already!"
Kael smirked, his grip on Theron secure as he began walking toward the bed. "Married couples sleep on the same bed, Theron," he said softly, his tone carrying a strange mix of playfulness and something deeper, something raw. "You might as well get used to it."
Theron's blush deepened, his hands pushing weakly against Kael's chest. "We are not married, and this is not how normal people act!"
Kael paused, his expression softening as he looked down at Theron. For a moment, the teasing light in his eyes dimmed, replaced by an intensity that made Theron's breath hitch. "Normal?" Kael echoed, his voice quieter now. "There's nothing normal about us, Theron. We're mates. That bond means something, whether you want to admit it or not."
Theron opened his mouth to respond, but the words wouldn't come. He was too caught up in the way Kael was looking at him—like he was the center of Kael's entire world. It was overwhelming, infuriating, and strangely comforting all at once.
Kael gently set him down on the bed, his hands lingering for just a moment longer than necessary before he stepped back. "Relax, Theron," he said with a crooked grin. "I'll behave. For now."
Theron stared at him, his heart still pounding as he scrambled to pull the blanket over himself. "You're sleeping on the other side of the bed," he muttered, his voice muffled by the fabric.
Kael chuckled, stretching out on the bed with a contented sigh. "Sure, whatever you say, Theron."