Chill (Klance Warmth series Book 2 of +4)

20: Burning Ice

Keithek crouched by the Blue Lion's pilot seat watching Lance closely. The prince's chest rose and fell at a steady, even pace and his eye was open and responsive to changes in light. No matter what Keithek had tried, nothing seemed to pull Lance closer to the waking world. Coran said he had to just wait. It was maddening and frustrating.

There was no way it was healthy for Lance to be as cold as he was. Keithek had only ever touched dead bodies that had the same temperature as the prince's skin. It made no sense. Keithek was certain that a normal person would have begun to shiver by this point, but Lance remained still.

He stood from his crouch and placed a hand on Lance's unbandaged cheek- the skin under his palm was cold. Seeing Lance in this state bothered him. It just didn't fit with what he knew of the Altean. Ever since Keithek had first met Lance, the prince had been open with his emotions, never hiding what he was thinking or feeling. Keithek had begun to wonder if Lance was even capable of hiding things.

His thoughts were derailed when the chilled skin beneath his palm moved. He blinked and looked down at Lance's face. The prince's eye had closed and he'd turned his face into the red paladin's hand in a weak nuzzle.

Keithek immediately placed his other hand on the side of Lance's neck over his Mark and rested his forehead on his mate's. He wanted so badly so call Lance back from wherever his mind was but Coran had ordered him not to. Then Lance shivered and Keithek stopped resisting. He gathered Lance into his arms and slid into the pilot seat taking the prince's place. He settled his mate comfortably in his arms so Lance's head rested against his chest under his neck and began rubbing his mate's arms to warm him up.

After a few ticks, Lance's eyes fluttered open but he didn't pull away. Instead he cuddled closer into the red paladin's warmth and tilted his head back tickling Keithek's neck with his soft hair.

"Keith?" he called softly.

"I'm here," Keithek answered just as softly. "Are you okay?"

Lance hummed and shuddered. "Cold," he muttered, snuggling closer to Keithek. "What happened? Is Allura-"

"She's fine," Keithek said. "She's with the others."

He felt Lance nod slowly. "What about Rolo and Nyma?"

"Allura's putting them in the prison pods, last I checked," Keithek said. "Their ship is too badly damaged to leave them here alone."

Lance sighed. "Won't... forgive them," he murmured drowsily.

"Stay awake," Keithek said, nudging Lance gently. "I get the feeling Allura wants us to move the Lions back into the Castle as quickly as we can. We need to get to the Balmera."

Lance quickly roused himself and sat up, pulling away from Keithek's heat. "Right," he grumbled, rubbing circles gingerly over his temple.

"Headache?"

The prince shook his head and winced. "No, just a little foggy," he said. He turned in his seat and his eye widened when he realized he was sitting in the red paladin's lap. "Um, Keith?"

"You were cold," Keith said, a faint blush in his cheeks. "Coran said I should keep you warm if you started shivering."

"Oh," Lance said in a small voice.

His cheeks burned a brilliant crimson that the Red Lion would be proud of. His eye skipped away from where he was sitting in Keithek's lap to the red paladin's face, then his lips. His blush darkened and he looked away, moving to stand up. Keithek narrowed his eyes and tightened his grip preventing his mate from leaving.

"Wha- Keith?" Lance gasped, placing his hands on the red paladin's chest. "What are you doing? Let go."

"Not yet," Keithek said, never looking away from Lance's face.