What have I done? He's my child. This isn't right!

Misaki left Kio in the glass, and she wiped her bloodied hands on his shirt. Closing her eyes tight, she ran from the room, closing the door behind her.

No one must see him, she thought, jogging down the stairs. No one must see him like that.

Chapter 6: A Ring

"Jorele, quit hogging the blankets!" Kalel snapped. He seized the plain cloth from his partner, and he wrapped himself in the warmth. Jorele yawned loudly, scratching his head with his long, slender fingers.

"Are you really that cold?" he muttered. "Summer's nearly over, but it's still hot outside. Why are you cold?" He softly kissed Kalel's forehead, smiling at the faint blush in the boy's cheeks. "You don't have a fever, so you're not sick. Maybe it's from all that beer you drank, ne?" Kalel tightened his grip on the blanket and glared at his Sacrifice, who was smiling as though he was the innocent party.

"You were hogging the blankets," Kalel huffed. "That's why I'm cold." Jorele gently pried his partner's fingers off the blanket. He lifted him into his lap, blowing softly into Kalel's hair.

"Then, I'll warm you up," he whispered. He began to nibble Kalel's right ear, his breath tickling his cheek. Kalel giggled and squirmed in Jorele's arms.

"Jorele, stop!" he laughed. "That tickles. C'mon, stop!" Jorele licked Kalel's cheek.

"It does?" he asked, feigning ignorance. "I guess that I'll have to do it some more just to hear you laugh." Kalel pushed Jorele's face from his ear, laughing all the way and holding the prince's hand. Jorele smiled, and he kissed Kalel. "I don't hear you laugh often," he murmured, "or see you smile." Kalel's cheeks suddenly turned red. "I like to see you happy," the prince whispered. "It makes you look cute." He scooped Kalel into his arms, bringing him closer to his mouth. He planted a firm kiss on Kalel's lips. His eyes twinkled with delight as Kalel returned the gesture and his small hands clutched the prince's long black hair.

Kalel, he thought, just wait a little longer for Father to accept you. I promise that I will make you my bride.

Jorele pulled away from Kalel's lips. The boy stared at him with saddened eyes, wondering why he didn't want to kiss anymore. "I have to breathe," Jorele teased. "If I stayed any longer I might have suffocated." Kalel suddenly covered his mouth.

"I'm sorry!" he gasped. "You should have told me sooner!" Jorele smoothed Kalel's hair and kissed his forehead.

"I was just playing around," he smiled. "You've become more paranoid since we were separated." Kalel frowned, turning his gaze to his feet.

"I just," he muttered, "don't want to lose you again."

"Did you bleed while I was gone, Kalel?" Jorele ran his fingers along Kalel's neck. "I would have found you sooner if I had known that your neck would nearly explode from your blood." He softly blew into the teeth marks on Kalel's skin. "I love you, Kalel."

Kalel felt a chill run up his spine as Jorele spoke. His cheeks turned red, and he turned away from his Sacrifice to hide his embarrassment.

"I…love you, too," he murmured softly. "Hey, Jorele—" The prince turned his attention to Kalel. "—have we gotten any orders from the school?" Jorele wrapped his arms around Kalel's shoulders.

"No," he replied. "And, I'm glad for that."

"You are?!"

"Yes," Jorele smiled. "If the school was calling to give us orders, I wouldn't have been able to spend so much time with you."

Kalel scowled behind his bangs. He didn't want to be at Soubi's apartment anymore. He wanted to go back to Alluria, Jorele's home. He wanted his own bed, not Kio's worn-out mattress. He didn't care if Jorele's father disapproved of him. Jorele was nearly old enough to take the throne; he wouldn't have to listen to an old king's demands anymore, and he could at last be Jorele's bride.

"You keep saying that you're going to marry me," Kalel muttered. "So, when are you going to propose to me?" Jorele blushed.

"Kalel, are you saying that you want an engagement ring?" he asked. "You told me before that you didn't—"

"I want one now, okay!" Kalel interrupted, tearing away from his lover's arms. "I… I want one... like the one Lady Arete got from her husband." Jorele smiled.

"You want one because my mother received one from my father?" he asked. Kalel nodded slowly.

"I don't want to make it seem like I'm trying to ruin Alluria's customs," he replied. "I want a traditional marriage, rings and all. Eh-even though I'm a boy, I'll wear a long, white dress and a veil, just like the brides in Alluria." Jorele kissed Kalel and took him into his arms.

"You're thinking too far ahead," he soothed. "I can't marry until I take the throne, and that won't be for another two years." He smoothed Kalel's tangled hair. "Until then, relax. When this is all over," he whispered, "we'll go back to Alluria, and you can pick out the ring you want." Kalel nuzzled his head beneath Jorele's chin and sighed.

"Thank you."