The trek back from the Library Pavilion felt like walking through a minefield.
Zaliyah reached the outskirts of the Ruohan estate, his breath hitching as he eyed the stone walls of his quarters.
He couldn't risk the front doors not with the "Old Geezer" on the warpath and Karas likely patrolling the halls like a restless spirit.
He found a sturdy trellis and began the undignified climb toward his window.
His fingers curled into the stone, his red robe fluttering in the breeze.
He reached the sill, but as he shifted his weight to slide inside, his foot slipped on the damp masonry.
Zaliyah's heart plummeted. He squeezed his eyes shut, bracing for the bone-crushing impact of the courtyard floor.
The impact never came.
Instead, he felt a pair of familiar, powerful arms snap around him, catching him mid-air with effortless precision.
That familiar, comforting scent of sandalwood and home hit his nose instantly.
Zaliyah opened his eyes to see Karas looking down at him, his jaw set in a hard line.
Without a word, Karas walked towards the bed and gently placed Zaliyah on the edge of the bed.
He didn't yell. Instead, he began a silent, clinical inspection of Zaliyah's body, his hands moving with a frantic sort of care.
He took Zaliyah's hand the one Malachi had bruised examining it under the candlelight to ensure the skin was healing.
Finally, Karas looked up, his blue eyes searching Zaliyah's. "Do you mind explaining where you went to this morning?"
Zaliyah pulled his hand back, his defiance returning.
He rolled his eyes toward the ceiling. "I rather not."
A small, warm smile flickered on Karas's face, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Okay."
Karas dropped to his knees on the floor, reaching for the ties of Zaliyah's shoes.
Zaliyah stiffened, trying to kick his feet away.
"Karas, stop! You are the Young Lord of this house, not a servant. You shouldn't be doing this."
"It is not energy tasking" Karas replied in a low, soothing voice that brooked no argument.
He finished removing the shoes and stood up, sitting close enough to Zaliyah that their shoulders touched.
Suddenly, Karas leaned in, wrapping his arms around Zaliyah in a suffocating embrace.
He buried his face in the crook of Zaliyah's neck, sniffing his hair deeply.
"You smell different," Karas whispered, his voice vibrating against Zaliyah's skin.
Zaliyah felt a prickle of sweat. He went for his usual sass to cover the nerves. "Then stop inhaling if I smell bad."
"I don't like how you smell," Karas replied gently, though the grip on Zaliyah's waist tightened. "Let's get you a bath."
Zaliyah's mind began to race. Does he smell that tanned bum on me? Can he really perceive Malachi's scent after only a few minutes? The thought was terrifying. He was brought back to the present with a jolt as Karas began forcefully taking off his red robe.
"Why are you acting like this, Karas?"
Zaliyah demanded, grabbing at his slipping sleeves. "Is it because I refused to tell you why I went out?
Karas stopped. He looked at Zaliyah, his expression shifting into something dark, a mix of raw rage and a jealousy so potent it felt physical.
He muttered one word at a time, each one a carrying the weight of jealousy mixed with anger "You. Smell. Like. Him."
Zaliyah froze. Like who? Then, the realization hit him like a physical blow. The tanned bum!.
The tension snapped, and Zaliyah did the one thing Karas didn't expect , he burst out laughing.
"Are you jealous?" Zaliyah teased, a wicked glint in his purple eyes..
"Ouuuu, Karas is jealous!" He wriggled out of Karas's grasp, jumping around the room, dancing and shaking his shoulders in pure, childish joy. "Hehehehe Karas is actually jealous".
Outside the door, Aunt Mei was passing by. Hearing the commotion, she paused, her eyes narrowing as she ducked behind a decorative screen to eavesdrop.
"Zaliyah, stop playing around," Karas warned, his voice rising. "You might hurt yourself."
Karas lunged to grab him, but Zaliyah gave a playful shriek, escaping his arms and darting toward the bed.
Karas tackled him, and the two of them collided against the mattress.
Zaliyah ended up sprawled on top of Karas, his lips just inches away from the other man's face.
Karas arms wrapped around Zaliyah's bare, shirtless back, pulling him flush against his chest. He inhaled Zaliyah's hair again, his face twisted in annoyance.
Zaliyah didn't smell like the lilies and flowers he loved he smelled like the musk of another man.
Zaliyah's laughter died down. Looking into Karas's eyes, he felt a strange, heavy pull.
He rested his head on Karas's shoulder and muttered, "Let's stay like this for a while."
"No," Karas whispered.
Without another word, Karas lifted the shirtless Zaliyah into his arms and began walking toward the bathhouse. He was on a mission to cleanse every lingering trace of Malachi from Zaliyah's skin.
Aunt Mei watched them go from her hiding spot, her face distraught and etched with disgust. "Acting like lovers..." she whispered to herself.
"Aren't they cute?"
Aunt Mei nearly jumped out of her skin. Riru was standing there, a sweet, naive smile on her face as she watched her brothers disappear toward the baths.
"Aren't they cute aunt?" she repeated, before humming a tune and walking away.
To Aunt Mei, Riru was just a child who didn't understand the world. But as she watched the empty hallway, Mei's mind was a storm of conflict. Should I tell brother Caius? Or is this just... how they are?
She shaked her head in disgust and walked away.