When Worlds Collide (MxM)✔

Chapter 17 - Home Again

Returning to the Terran Kingdom was a much happier occasion than when he first left. For one thing, Kade didn't feel so bad about leaving Nyx and his consorts. Also, no one was acting like he was about to die.

Forgetting how secretive Toca was about him, Kade left the windows of his carriage open. So when they reached the capital, he had Terrans running alongside to catch a glimpse of him.

Not a single person here had a set of fangs, and very few had stripes. It was a subtle reminder that carnivores no longer surrounded him.

When disembarking, it was Tiner who was waited for him.

"What are you doing?" He asked as the servant circled him, scanning his body.

"Master Kade, I'm so happy you arrived in one piece! I was worried you might have been mistreated!" The girl looked genuinely relieved for him.

"The carnivores weren't too bad." 

"Would you ever wish to return?"

"Absolutely not."

She smiled at his immediate response and then escorted him back to the castle. They passed up his old room and he paused. "Where are we going?"

"Master Aino suggested getting you better accommodations to match your title. Unfortunately, you arrived during an important meeting, so no one could greet you today."

"That's alright." He kept walking. "How is Aino?"

"I can't say. Eira was the servant assigned to the lab. I only work in this wing while you're here."

"Oh...I'll have to ask him later then."

They arrived at Kade's new room, even closer to the lab and much more spacious than his closet-sized accommodations from before.

Here he had a proper bed, window, shelves, and a trunk to store his things in. But when he went to lay on the mattress, he was reminded of how different their idea of comfort was.

The bed was stuffed with something akin to hay, and small bits of it poked him. Kade would need to cover it in blankets before he could ever sleep on it.

"I'll be out here if you need me." Tiner waited by the door.

Kade started unpacking his things when a small parcel fell from his clothes. It had a note tied to it with a message.

'I hope this will tide you over. If you ever want more, you are welcome to return.

-Nyx'

Within the parcel was dried meat. Kade quickly hid the food and made sure Tiner didn't see.

The Terrans here were terrified of carnivores. If any of them found out he also ate meat, he worried how poorly that would affect his reputation. Even Aino seemed hesitant to trust the carnivores.

Then again, he wasn't looking forward to starving all the time. So having a little protein on hand would do wonders for his health.

Hiding the meat at the bottom of his trunk, he relaxed in his room until Eira made his appearance.

"You're back!" The servant unceremoniously barged in, and just like Tiner, inspected Kade's body for injuries. Except he was more intrusive about it as he grabbed Kade's hands and flipped them over. "And not a single bite was taken out of you. You must have run fast!"

"The carnivores didn't try to eat me!" Kade half laughed at the overreaction. "Anyway, I was hoping to talk to you. I won't see Aino till I get back to work. How...How is he doing?"

Eira's ears drooped. "He's been more reserved lately. And snapping at people a lot. Even the nobles haven't been spared from his wrath."

Kade sat with a heavy weight in his stomach. Aino must be angry.