N I N E T E E N

It would be wrongly assumed to think things between the prince and the vampire changed drastically after their confessions. If anything, they became too relaxed with each other, like all that overdosing in stress never happened.

But what was worse, maybe, is that they had even more tension than before.

Iris flipped through the pages in the blue, frayed edged, book he had brought with him from April's and Genevene's home while he sat at his desk. It wasn't much of a book with a story, but a list of 'supernatural' findings the world has discovered in paragraph form. The collections had locations, some more specific than others, so it was safe to assume all these objects were very much real.

Iris dragged his index finger down a certain page, his eyes peering astoundingly down at a picture of a dagger. Before he could read the description, his bedroom door shutting brought his attention up.

He kept his cheek connected to his knuckles as he closed the book and watched his guard walk in with papers in his grasp.

"Are those about the auction?"

"Not quite. It's a report of a mistress claiming she saw a vampire with not two fangs-"

"But four."

Kai placed the papers on Iris's desk and crossed his arms.

"The witness was in the four village."

That wasn't alarming at all.

Iris picked his head up and reached for the papers. "What did my dad say?"

"He agrees the characteristics of the vampire are abnormal, but he says without knowing their reason for their sudden appearance, we can't make any major actions."

Iris sighed and skimmed through the report. Everything has been so confusing lately. "I guess I can agree. We don't know anything besides they're freakishly strong. And weird."

"Yes but, they are being spotted here."

"It was one sighting. We can't run off of maybes or what ifs with this type of situation."

Kai backed away to take a seat on Iris's bed and as he did he sighed, his way of agreeing to prevent an unnecessary fuss. "Okay."

Iris scooted his chair out and stood up. "Okay? Forfeiting so easy?"

"Not a forfeit, s-Iris, just respect."

Iris paused to raise an eyebrow. "Respect," He scoffed humorously, "I think you do these things out of habit now, wouldn't you agree?" The prince flopped down next to Kai with a soft exhale, and glanced at him.

They created something unspoken between them contributing to the kiss. As they gazed at each other, it was clearly on their minds, and it quite easily posed as a distraction when they were around each other. Both Iris and Kai knew the kiss didn't 'just happen' or was forced by Sage's support. Influenced, yes, but she only cracked the walls they built around their emotions. Their actions were the spillage of what was kept so well hidden.

Kai cleared his throat and leaned back on his hands, "What? Follow your every command? Perhaps."

Iris shook his head with a small smile. "You know if I'm honest, I never figured you out despite knowing you for three years. I don't know if I ever will."

"You should elaborate."

"Okay...you have so many personalities it's hard to comprehend them all. You're so loyal and respecting. Then you're rebellious as hell and you have an annoyingly flirty side, yet, dashing. I want to believe just one conquers the rest but, then again they all make you..you."

Kai wasn't expecting that, but he didn't let his surprise surpass his cocky smirk as he leaned in closer to the prince. "Indeed they do, you have several as well I could list."

Iris challenged him. "Please do."

"Well for starters, you're awfully grumpy." Iris laughed at his bluntness, "You can be incredibly enthusiastic, but in secret, thoughtful and sympathetic..also in your own way. That's it, you have all the basic human emotions in you but it's always challenging to detect one as you portray every single one in you own little way. You're bipolar, but I admire that about you. You're mysterious yet in someways predictable."

Iris listened to him with dilated pupils and a smile on his face, like he was an ardent child listening to a bedtime story. "It seems we know a lot about what we don't understand about each other. Funny."

"I think you're trying to subtly say something here."

"Maybe.."

Kai leaned in more, "Well?" His eyes had a penetrated gaze that allured the prince into lessening the distance, but only until their shoulders squished against each other. Iris flicked his eyes onto Kai's lips, and the vampire fell victim to an incredibly fast heartbeat. Was he going to kiss him again?

Iris grinned and lifted a finger to his lips, demolishing his hope. "I think...we should talk to that mistress."

"Awe come on, we had something going there." Kai expressed his disappointment while Iris stood up with amusement curling his lips.

"Look on the bright side," Iris grabbed the report then walked towards his closet. "I'm considering this a date."

"Work as a date? However were you single?" He said with dead sarcasm.

"Shut up." Iris threw Kai's coat at him, which he caught, and huffed indistinct sentences as they exited his room.

Kai watched him with a small smile, his eyes filling up with undying admiration. "Have you ever been on a date, Iris?"

Iris looked up from the papers with surprise, but didn't look at his guard. "Why do you ask?"

"Let me rephrase: have you ever even been in a relationship?"

This time Iris looked at him but didn't answer. Kai smiled almost apologetically. "I wonder if I should be surprised."

"It's not that I couldn't hook anyone. I just never looked."

"I understand."

"Have you? I mean two hundred years ought to be lonely without anyone-romantically."

"Would you like me to be honest?"

The prince pushed away his surfacing downcast and smiled at Kai. "Please."

"Okay." Kai raised his hand and held up two fingers. "That's it." Iris stared at the plain ring on his index finger, a part of his mind thinking it played a part in one of the two relationships he confessed to having. He looked away with an 'o' shape mouth and slipping contentment.

"Not counting me?"

"Oh. You count as one."

Iris scoffed, "Only one then, huh."

"I'll be honest again. I searched. Then I stopped."

Iris glanced at his ring again then he shook his head. The idea was just ridiculous, he couldn't picture Kai making that type of commitment. But he'd be lying to himself if he said the reason wasn't because he didn't want to see him with someone else. Happy, yes, enjoying his life, of course; but with another person sharing his lips and dealing with his flirtatious character..it made him a little jealous. And he disliked being jealous, because like a nat, it was hard to rid himself of the feeling.

He took a deep breath and they stopped at the front door.

"Were you ever engaged?"

Kai about choked on his own breath. He covered his mouth with the back of his hand and coughed out a confused laugh. "What?"

Iris was unexpectedly blunt, and he blinked like he didn't realize he himself even asked. "I'm sorry."

"No, it's just I-I haven't even thought of marriage. I am only twenty in human years and though two centuries seem like a long time I was a nomad. I never stayed long enough to consider deep commitment."

"Oh..okay."

Kai chuckled again. "So, this is your version of chatting?"

Iris looked around their large foyer before reaching for the doorhandle. "It was a harmless question."

"Have I ever told you I like your curiosity?"

Iris shook his head.

"Well I do."

"Are we going to start saying what we like about each other now?"

"Ah, if I did I'd just be ranting endlessly."

"Alright, do you even own an off button?"

"Why would you want to turn this off?" Kai gestured up and down himself, making Iris check him out before rolling his eyes. He ran a hand through his light brown hair, in which in the sun glittered like gold.

"You make the temptation strong sometimes."

"I'll admit to a filter."

"And I'd support you."

Kai was going to combat his jest, but Iris placed a hand on his mouth and waved the papers.

"We need to focus." He said it while being pushed under the arching gate and next to one of the vine covered walls. Mainly to be out of the sun.

"I am perfectly focused."

"Good-"

"On your lips."

Iris widened his eyes and placed his hands on Kai's chest. "W-wait..we're in front of the house." His voice sounded small and startled. Though on the inside something was rousing him up. It had been a wish come true, hearing anything remotely close to those words come out of Kai's mouth. Now, it was hyping to know he was saying it willingly.

"I know. And?"

"A-and there are guards, Kai. Anyone could see and I told you not to make it obvious."

"I'm just talking to you," Kai placed his forearm above Iris's head and leaned in, not trapping the prince but persuading him to stay. Their faces became inches apart and Iris tried to gulped down his worry, but as it turns out he's the one more scared of being outed than Kai having more than a platonic relationship with him.

Still he did nothing when Kai began tilting his head.

He closed his eyes, giving up and embracing the newfound affection.

Except it wasn't given on the mouth.

Iris widened his eyes when he felt the vampire's lips on his forehead. Blood rushed quickly to his face, painting his cheeks and ears a dark red. He couldn't care less about stalking their surroundings with his eyes, he only wanted to stare into Kai's ocean blue eyes while they stayed vibrant for him. He loved both his shades of blue, but he had always favored them when they weren't thick navy.

"Was that okay?" Kai tilted his head when the prince looked planets past starstruck. But it confused him, because Iris froze and just stared when he was upset, too.

The truth is, Iris wasn't used to that type of gentle affection. And it coming from Kai, tranquilized him.

"Um, yeah." Iris tore his eyes away and smiled to himself. "Yes."

Kai sighed in a relieved way and retreated back. "Should we go now?"

Iris cleared his throat and stood up straight. He soothed out the report which he had clutched tightly, and looked for an address as they walked away from the gates undetected.

Once off the perimeter, they traveled to the kingdom's fourth village at Kai's speed, meeting their destination within five minutes.

The two walked down a path to the damsel's house, studying the off ambience of their surroundings and prepared, even when fate itself chose to give them a break.

Just for a little while.