𝐂𝐑𝐎𝐖𝐍𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐒// 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥𝐨 𝐑𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐲 𝐀𝐔

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟏𝟓// 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠

Will stirred, then opened his eyes, expecting a hard floor and chains on his wrists.

What he wasn't expecting was a soft bed, and strong arms wrapped around his waist.

He blinked, the previous night's memories flooding back. Slowly, he extracted himself from the assassin's embrace, careful not to disturb him, then slipped into the bathroom. He washed his face, then stared into the mirror's depths. He could barely recognize his own reflection. He was pale and gaunt, his eyes hollow and glassy.

Di Angelo appeared in the threshold, silent as a phantom. He raised a dark brow at the prince. "For a moment, I thought you tried to escape and managed to get out of here." His tone sounded... hopeful? Will nearly snorted at the idea. Why would di Angelo, of all people, want Will to escape?

Will said nothing, brushing past him to sit on the bed, staring at the wall. Di Angelo was to leave and attend his duties, and Will would stay here. There would be guards at every exit to prevent him from even trying to run, but this was a hell of a lot better than that gods-awful cell. He surpressed a shiver, shoving memories of the cell far into the back of his mind.

Di Angelo grabbed clothes and closed the bathroom door behind him. Will could hear the running water of the bath. He laid down and closed his eyes, allowing the sound to lull him to sleep.

☀️☀️☀️

Just because the prisoners were not to be interrogated didn't mean that Nico had no duties to attend to. He scouted a target that King Abaddon had commanded him to assasinate, a man that was rumored to be an ally with the Aureole kingdom. Nico spent nearly the entire day crouched on the rooftop across from the man's estate, studying every entrance and the shifts of the servants, until it was too cold to continue.

He entered the Shade palace through a servant's entrance and made his way to the throne room, nothing more than a shadow against the pale walls. He reported to King Abaddon, who ended up giving him an odd job: guard duty during the king's luncheon. Nico found it absurd; why so many guards at a luncheon? At least Reyna would have to suffer through it with him.

"How's the prince?" General Ramirez-Arellano asked, surveying the tittering nobility.

"Healing. He can walk with little difficulty now." Nico glared at the ceiling. "A bit of a pain, though. He keeps trying to snoop through my stuff. I have to lock my desk so he won't get his hands on my documents." He crossed his arms and shrugged. "Other than that and the fact I had to share my bed with him, things are okay."

Reyna guffawed. "You had to sleep together?"

"Trust me, I hated it. I would've slept on the floor if I wouldn't have frozen to death. I'm just glad he didn't try to kill me in my sleep." Reyna laughed again, and Nico gave a small smile. "Anyway, enough about that unfortunate event. How was the general? Please tell me he had a cot."

"He had a cot. Slept in the center of the room. I'm shocked he didn't freeze." Reyna tugged at her braid. "He's healing, too. I also had to lock my desk."

Nico nodded, then lowered his voice. "Where should we meet to keep planning the escape?"

Reyna frowned. "We can't exactly meet in our rooms, as the subjects of our plans are there. And we shouldn't put the prince and general together in one of our rooms; King Abaddon will be furious." She fidgeted with the sword at her hip. "I would suggest tomorrow in the gardens. If anything comes up, let me know."

Nico nodded, and neither of them spoke for the rest of the luncheon.

☀️☀️☀️

Nico had multiple expectations of what the prince would be up to: sleeping on his bed, pacing the room deep in thought, even taunting the guards outside his window. But he wasn't expecting to find Solace perched on the balcony railing with his legs dangling over the side, a cloak wrapped around him and a book in his gloved hands.

Nico opened the balcony door and took several steps towards Solace, crossing his arms and glaring at him. "You'll catch your death out here."

Prince William pretended he hadn't spoken. "This novel may be romantic, but it has a pretty good plot." He held it up for Nico to see; it was the one he had plucked off the bookshelf last night. "Worthless smut aside, the relationship is well-written. I'm actually impressed."

"How did you get out here?" Nico asked. "I locked the door."

A devious smirk. "I have my ways." The prince looked over his shoulder, surveying the world below. The wind caught his blonde hair, the strands shimmering in the winter sunshine. "Do you think the guards would catch me if I jumped?"

"They would."

Another devious smile. "Should we put that to the test?"

Though his smile was carefree, there was a hollowness to those ocean eyes that made Nico uneasy, enough that he said, "Get off. Now."

"Make me."

Nico grabbed Solace by the waist, threw him over his shoulder, and marched into the bedroom, tossing him onto the bed. The prince sat up with a scoff. "You honestly thought I would jump?"

"Yes."

Solace sobered at the serious gleam in Nico's eyes, saying nothing.

☀️☀️☀️

Darkness settled over the kingdom, and snow began to fall, dusting the windows and balcony with white. Will peered out of the window at the snowflakes waltzing in the torchlight. "First snow of the season, right?"

Di Angelo nodded, not looking up from his paperwork. Will turned to him with a frown, then asked, "Did you see if they could get me a cot?"

This time, di Angelo did look up, frowning to himself. "I forgot." He glanced at the door. "The servants have probably gone home, and I doubt the nobility will enjoy me barging into their chambers to see if there's a spare cot somewhere."

Will nodded. "It would probably be better if we shared body heat, anyway." He sat on the edge of di Angelo's desk, crossing his legs. The assassin didn't respond. Will took time to study him: the raven hair curling around his ears, matching onyx eyes ringed with black from lack of sleep, the way he bit his lip as he read a document. Realizing he was staring, Will blinked, then abruptly turned away, suddenly finding great interest in the wall. He pressed his cold hands to his burning face. "I...thank you, for everything."

Di Angelo looked up. "For what?" He sounded genuinely confused.

Will's bare feet drummed against the side of the desk. "Well, for starters, saving me from drowning. Then letting me stay in here. And caring for me." He tugged at his cloak. "For just... not treating me like I'm only good for intel."

The Shade was silent for several moments, then spoke, his voice barely above a whisper. "No one deserves to be treated the way you and General Yew have been. You may be an Aureole, but you're a human, and I wish I could stop them from abusing you."

Will opened his mouth in surprise, then closed it again, at a loss for words.

I wish I could stop them.

Di Angelo blinked at him, then scowled. "You're giving me a strange look."

"Sorry." Will laced his fingers together. "I just thought you were doing this because you had to."

Those dark eyes gleamed. "You're a pain, but I can tolerate your presence."

Will raised an eyebrow. "Really."

"Just not for too long."

Will laughed.

☀️☀️☀️

They both went to bed at midnight. Despite extra blankets, the cold had them yet again huddling for warmth. Though Will would have never admitted it, he was starved of human touch that didn't cause pain, and enjoyed di Angelo's arms around him, even if he was a Shade. Will fell asleep quickly, delving into the realm of dreams.