54.

“So I still can’t trust you..”
“Don’t say that- I just don’t know- I have- my family is-“
“Your father exiled you!”
“He said he’d take me back in!”
“What’s this then?!” Arlon points between the two of them, and they are once again where they’ve always been. Bickering, fighting, mumbling words they both do not mean. It is difficult to become one with an enemy, even when the both of them felt how special their connection was. How special it is, still.
“Should I have believed Connie? Did he warn me correctly?”
“It’s not that simple-“
“No It is.” Arlon sits up straight and moves closer to Elai, who gulps when he feels a hand around his wrist. “You either pledge to me or disappear from my kingdom.” He wanted to say that he’ll execute him, but somehow those words were unable to leave his mouth.
“That is your future now.” Arlon hisses at the boy as he stands up from his bed. He rushes over to his closet to get himself a different robe, so that he can at least cover himself up in this new argument he has found himself to be in.
“I won’t pledge to a king I do not serve- it’s-“ Did Elai just really say that?
“Wait- I didn’t mean-“
“Hm.” Arlon cuts Elai off with no emotion in his voice.
“Leave.”
“Arlon, no.” Elai stands up and rushes over to the man, who is trying his hardest to keep his emotions in check. He hates when his veins turn yellow in bad situations. It makes him appear vulnerable. He doesn’t want to be vulnerable. Eryx wouldn’t like it.
“I told you to leave.” Elai doesn’t notice the king’s swift movements as he gets close enough to touch his face. He never gets to, though. Arlon grabs the boy’s wrist and forces a dagger into his hand. He pushes Elai’s hand close with his own and pulls it up to his throat, blade now pressing into his skin.
“Stop!” Everything went by so quickly, and if it was in a different situation, Elai would’ve been impressed. He did everything so fast that Elai couldn’t stop him. The king of Turi is a dangerously skilled man.
“This’ what you want, then?” Arlon raises his eyebrows at him.
“No!”
“No?”
“Arlon, please-“
“You want to kill me, right?”
Arlon is strong enough to push the blade further into his skin. All Elai needs to do is slice his throat open. It will take just one simple move and it will be over. So why isn’t he moving?
“Just cut me open and you will get to go back home, prince Elai..” Arlon seems to know what he’s doing, but in reality, his heart is beating just as fast as Elai’s. The king is taken by surprise when he feels the boy’s lips press against his. His hand relaxes, making it easy for Elai to drop the dagger and press both his hands against Arlon’s cheeks. The kiss is another explosion, another piece of evidence that this is more than what Elai has been trying to believe. “I can’t do it..” Elai can’t stop himself from crying, tears streaming down his face as he kisses the king. Arlon’s eyes widen when he hears the pain in his voice, when he hears what it does to him.
“I can’t..”
“Hey..” Arlon pulls away from the kiss and frowns, eyes looking directly into Elai’s. “I’m so sorry-“ He didn’t know it would make the boy cry. He didn’t know he’d actually move him with this. Maybe the things he had learned from his past lover weren’t as helpful as he thought they were, because he surely wasn’t planning on making anyone cry. Let alone Elai.
“Don’t do that to me!” Elai pushes the man away.
“I could’ve fucking killed you, you bastard!” He pushes him a second time, shock falling onto Arlon’s face. “That was-“ “You selfish fucking asshole!” The third push is enough to make the king trip, hands catching him as he falls over.
Elai falls with him, knees and hands now both hitting the ground. He lets out another cry, one that has nothing to do with the sudden attack. His mind is with his father, and with the only chance he has on getting back home. He won’t be able to do it if he feels these things for Arlon. Does that mean that this is it? Is he turning his back on his father now? Is he going to leave it all behind?
“I will pledge..” The boy whispers, eyes looking down at the ground.
“I will pledge myself to you..” Elai looks up the second time he says it, eyes looking right into Arlon’s own. The words are terrifying to say, especially because he doesn’t know what the sun thinks of him now. But he can’t risk having to leave Turi. If he makes up his mind and goes for Lyle, he will have to be close to Arlon. If he makes up his mind and decides he wants Arlon then.. too. He has no choice but to work with the king. He has no choice but to do whatever the king wants.
He allows Arlon to kiss him, eyes closing and stomach turning. Every kiss is a reminder that he wants him, that it will never change. He can do whatever, can try to kill the man a thousand times yet he still wants him.
“This is ridiculous..” Elai whispers against Arlon’s lips.
Arlon hums back at him. “What is?”
Another kiss.
“How much I keep wanting you..”
Another kiss.
“You do things to me..”
Another kiss.
“I can’t explain it..”
Another kiss and a soft chuckle leaving Arlon’s lips.
“Hush now.. no time to speak..”
Another kiss. One that lasts.