Unsevered Ties

11. Pampered Pooches cont.

Chapter 11: Pampered Pooches cont.

Naki watched from the high balcony as his two good friends embraced each other and couldn't help the shocked look that passed over his face. He'd always suspected that Liathan had a thing for Cerise, but he'd never seen the two do such a thing. When had they grown up enough to know about that kind of thing? Kissing!

A spark of jealousy ran through him. Did Liathan know about Cerise then? Was Cerise willing to tell his secret to Liathan but not to his best friend? His feelings were hurt for more than one reason. He knew that he could only have a crush on his friend for so long before he hit adulthood. Men had to mate with women, and vice versa. That was the nature of things. 

The point of mating was to ensure their future generations. He knew he could admire the Prince's features while still young, but once he hit adulthood, he would be expected to leave his silly feelings behind and properly start a family.

Naki never thought Cerise might share his feelings. They were best of friends, and that's how Cerise saw it. Still, seeing the two of them making serious expressions toward each other and then kissing. Thistle pupils zoned in on the two of them before looking away. It'd only be cruel to himself to watch the feelings he wished he could have directed toward someone else.

"Liathan's tall and muscular. He's a great hunter and tracker. Of course Cerise likes him," Naki mumbled to himself as he leaned back against the rail. "What do you have to give anyone? Your weird eyes? Stupid hair?" He touched the back of his shoulder, not wanting to think of his most prominent flaw. "The heck does silver mixed with anything make...probably an ugly color?"

“Well, hello there."

Naki jumped at the sound of a low, deep voice, blinking as someone decked out in extravagantly royal clothing came his way. He immediately stiffened at the sight of the golden-haired man who approached. 

Not since the mountains had he had contact with the Mountain King, and he didn't know much of the man, but the King caused a lot of trouble amongst the people he cared for. That alone made Naki dislike the man. Still, he bowed curtly, averting his eyes as he mumbled a greeting.

"Ah, you don't have to be formal with me. It makes me uncomfortable, to be honest." Aiden scratched his head as he offered Naki a lopsided grin. He'd been standing down the hall for a while now, watching the young man who'd grown into a sight to see. 

He wasn't quite sure what to do or say to Naki, so he wondered if he should go a different way, but then he saw him looking out with such a longing look, and Aiden wondered what Naki looked at.

Gilded eyes shifted towards the ground, towards the spot he'd just left, and his thick brows instantly shot up. He did not expect to see the young Prince with some older boy locking lips amongst the well-groomed foliage of the garden. 

He was, for the second time today, floored. It seemed the young Prince wasn't as unattached as his family seemed to think. "My day just keeps getting better, doesn't it," he mumbled to himself.

"Are you sure?"

Aiden glanced up and back at Naki, who was met with an intense stare from truly unique eyes. The silvery pools that used to look almost awkward when he was a child had become an even blend of translucent colors and were mesmerizing to see now. Aiden wasn't sure what to feel right now, but a part of him marveled at the regal, soft, yet beautifully handsome features Naki had grown into.

Another part of Aiden wondered if Naki was a ghost, and this was all a really long, vivid, and detailed dream. The last part of him felt such a huge relief. The burden of taking a life had stayed with him for so long, and yet here Naki stood, very much alive.