Chapter 22

Dance of Circles

It's been a couple of days since Alfred and Arthur kissed under the tree and Alfred couldn't stop thinking about it ever since. He couldn't stop thinking about Arthur kissing him first and he couldn't stop thinking about Arthur's flirtatious gaze towards him. There were only two days left to tell Arthur the truth but he was too scared Arthur would hate him and regret giving him this kind of affection.

Alfred was so deep in his thoughts and jumped when Feliks slapped him against his arm. "I told you to hold the fabric," he complained and handed him a piece of fabric connected to another part of his new suit. "My omegas are sick and I can't do this all alone."

Toris stood by his side with fabrics in blue, brown and white over his shoulders and held a small pillow with needles.

"Why are you flying in the clouds, are you in love or som- oh," Feliks said and smirked. "Did something happen between you and the Prince?"

Alfred grinned and nodded. "Yes."

Feliks slapped against his arm again and smiled with his mouth open. "Shut up! Ohh, should I make the royal gowns ready?" he teased and looked over to Toris who stood seriously beside him. "You could be more happy for him."

"I am," Toris defended himself. "I'm just not as-"

"You could show it more," Feliks said and smiled back at Alfred. "Now it makes sense that you're in your heat."

"My heat? No, I was in heat four months ago, it's too early." Heats only came in a six months rhythm and his never changed before.

Feliks placed his hand on his forehead. "You're glowing. You have either fever or you're in your heat. Toris get him some tea!"

"I don't need any tea." He felt perfectly fine and was sure the heatwaves that crossed his body were nothing but nervous behavior and excitement he had when he thought of Arthur.

"Maybe your heat aligned with Prince Arthur's," Feliks teased and winked.

The thought of his heat aligning with Arthur's made Alfred giddy inside but he doubted it was the case.

Soon enough when his new suit was ready, he walked out of his room. Tonight was the King's birthday and tonight he wanted to dance with Arthur and have fun with him again. Even if he might not be able to be by his side the whole course of the evening, to see him and have one dance would be enough.

Upon coming to the corridor that led to the ballroom he ran into Arthur who also just turned from another corridor into the main one with Duchess Dylan. Both beamed when they saw each other and smiled widely.

"It's a pleasure to see you, Your Highness," Alfred said and bowed. "You too, Your Grace."

"You look handsome in that suit," Arthur commented and eyed him up and down.

The light blue suit hugged him at the right places and Arthur swung a fan in front of his face that matched his dark purple suit with even darker purple rose patterns.

"In the end all eyes are going to be on the prettiest omega in the whole palace," Alfred said and smiled at Arthur who hid his blush behind his fan.

They didn't notice Dylan side eyeing them both while Arthur put his fan down and came closer to Alfred to grab his tie. "You're always wearing your tie so loose."

A heat wave ran across Alfred, tickling him in his chest and gut, and the desire to embrace Arthur swept over him so strongly that he almost did it. But he still doubted that it was his heat and rather him being nervous when Arthur pulled on his tie to tighten it.

"Although... I think I like it when it's loose on you." He loosened the tie just a bit but lingered with his hands on it for a moment.

"Could you two please behave?"

Both jumped when Jack Yao stood right next to them. Arthur let go of Alfred's tie and stepped back.

"There are people walking by, and why didn't you stop them?" Yao said to Dylan.

"They just talked," Dylan said and waved with his fan in front of his face averting the Jack's eyes.

Yao turned his attention to Alfred with a serious gaze like he always did when he was disappointed. "I was able to convince the King not to give you any personal servant this time. I expect you to behave."

"I can behave myself," Alfred said and shrugged.

"That's something I have yet to see," Yao said, eyeing him. "Now, I need the Prince for a few words."

Alfred bowed to the three of them before walking towards the ballroom and turning one more time to give the Prince a smile. Arthur reciprocated the smile and Yao saw it.

"Your Highness, I don't mean to be blatant or inappropriate but are you in your heat?"

Arthur sighed and opened his fan to wave it at himself again. "Don't worry about it, I've drank my tea."

"This is about your own safety. I don't want you to be in the middle of a ball with all those alphas around."

"Oh please, it's unlikely that I'm going to jump on them or show them my butt. I'm not an animal."

"You're not but your flirting with sir Alan was very obvious and I don't need you to be reckless and show everyone." He adjusted his suit and huffed. "Duchess Dylan will take you to your room and you're going to stay there."

"I just want one dance," Arthur said. In his head he imagined just one dance with Alan, oh well, actually he just wanted to have some fun with Alan at the ball, not just one dance.

"You can dance with His Grace in your room."

Arthur pouted and walked away with Dylan but not quite into his room.

"What are you going to do, your plan is ruined," Dylan said.

"We'll sneak in later." Arthur grinned.

-

Alfred had been looking around the large ballroom for Arthur but couldn't spot him for a long time until he finally catched a glimpse of him on the other side of the room. He immediately walked towards him to ask him for a dance but Joao preempted Alfred, and he had to watch in disappointment how Joao took him to the dance floor.

"It's quite surprising to meet you here again."

He turned around when he heard a familiar voice and beside him stood the blond alpha he'd met at the masquerade. His hair was tied up and he wore an orange suit with white puffy sleeves.

"I thought you're not going to stay long after all the things they wrote about you."

"These were long ago. I've learned from them," Alfred said and kept on following Arthur with his eyes.

"I've also been watching Prince Arthur. He's really pretty tonight," he said with his smooth voice.

"He's always pretty," Alfred said thinking how strange this man was for watching him.

"Do you like the Prince?" he asked.

"Of course, everybody likes him." Alfred smiled as he watched Joao spin Arthur.

"That's not what I meant but it's fine, you don't have to tell me the truth. I know some candidates are here only to gain power and become King and I reckon you're not different from them."

Alfred turned his attention to him, mad at his assumption over him. "I'm not here for power. I'm here because of the Prince."

"I believe you but I doubt the Prince would, well, choose someone like you." The man quickly eyed him, indicating Alfred's status and probably his looks.

"Excuse me?"

"You don't look like the kind of alpha Arthur would be interested in."

"I doubt you know what the Prince is interested in," Alfred said more seriously with a spark of resentment when he heard the man referring to Arthur as 'Arthur' with no Prince at the front.

"I've known him long enough."

Alfred couldn't believe that some stranger implied to know which alphas the Prince was attracted to especially when Arthur had flirted with him just an hour ago.

That alpha angered him, who did he think he was?

The blond man smirked at him and walked across the dance floor, going around the dancers until he came up to Arthur. Joao and Arthur stopped dancing and Alfred watched Joao handing Arthur over to that man. That angered Alfred even more and he knew he did this on purpose when the alpha looked back and winked.

Arthur was surprised when Francis came to disturb the dance and furrowed his brows at him. "Why did you interrupt my dance?"

"Am I not allowed to dance with my mate?" Francis smiled at him.

"I've told you I'm not your mate anymore," he gritted through his teeth.

"We could change that again. I see your cheeks are a bit puffy. Are you in your heat?" He twirled them both around while dancing with the other dancers in a circle.

"I'm not."

"You don't have to lie to me, I know you well."

Arthur cursed in his head and wished to get away from him when Alfred stopped Francis at the shoulder. "Sorry to interrupt you but can I have this dance with Prince Arthur instead."

Francis had no time to say anything when Arthur let go of him and changed position to Alfred. The Prince quickly started to dance away with Alfred, leaving Francis behind.

"Thank you," he whispered and Alfred smiled, happy that he could finally have this dance with Arthur.

But Alfred was stopped, too, by Joao and disappointment crossed Alfred's face.

"This is actually my dance with the Prince," Joao said and Alfred had to let go of Arthur who was visibly disappointed as well.

He backed away into the crowd until he saw Francis coming up again to take Arthur on a dance. Alfred huffed when Joao gave Arthur to that man again but had the audacity to take the Prince away from him. Alfred wouldn't take it and walked towards them again when Francis twirled Arthur out, and they stood side by side with their arms outstretched.

Before Francis could spin Arthur back into his arms, Alfred took Arthur's other hand and pulled him to himself, spinning the Prince into his arms instead. Francis was left on the dance floor with a surprised expression when Alfred danced away with Arthur.

Arthur looked at him amused. "That was bold of you."

"Anything to get you back." Alfred grinned and spun the Prince in a pirouette but Joao took a hold of Arthur's hand and stepped between them, taking the lead in the dance with Arthur again.

"I'm taking from here," he said and led Arthur away in the waltz.

Arthur looked back at Alfred in shock who tried to hold his composure and not throw his hands at Joao.

Joao turned Arthur out and in, holding hands crisscrossed with Arthur's back to Joao's chest. Francis quickly took Arthur's hands and yanked him from Joao's grip, spinning him again.

Arthur's head started to get dizzy with all the alphas pulling him and spinning him around. But this time Francis refused to spin Arthur and Alfred noticed it. There was only one gap between Francis and Arthur's chest and Alfred took that to his advantage.

They didn't notice him coming and he duck under their arms to squeeze quickly between the two dancers. He pushed Francis away with his butt and took Arthur's hands again.

"Oops, sorry," he said and led Arthur across the dance floor with big footsteps, away from Joao and away from Francis.

They grinned at each other and in their moment of bliss they didn't notice a person coming their way and they bumped directly into him and stopped dancing when they saw the Jack's mad but composed face.

"I've told you to behave. Both of you," he whispered to them. "You'll go to Duchess Dylan and I meet you in the corridor to escort you personally." He glared at Arthur.

"You don't have to be so mean to Arthur. It was me who started this," Alfred defended Arthur, not liking the way Yao glared at him.

"And you sir, I'll have a word with you, too."

Arthur pressed his lips together and patted Alfred on his arm, feeling the glances from the other guests. "I'll go now, and thank you." With a quick smile towards Alfred he walked up to Dylan and up the stairs to the corridor.

"You wanted to dance with only one alpha but ended up dancing with three, I see it as a win," Dylan commented when they arrived at the top of the stairs and walked into the corridor.

Arthur had no time to respond when he heard his name being called and turned around only to see Francis. He had wished Alfred would come after him but his mood dropped when he saw his past lover instead. It was bad enough that his mother invited him to her birthday but even worse when Francis wanted to talk to him.

"Why are you following me?"

"I wanted to talk to you."

"We already had a lovely talk and I don't think there's anything else I have to say to you," Arthur said with a glare in his eyes.

"I want to apologize for the last fight and I hope we can talk normally with each other. I also wish you would reply to my letters." There was hope in Francis' eyes but Arthur was ready to crush it like he always had crushed his.

Arthur came closer with determination in his eyes. "Our only interaction will be political. Don't write to me and don't talk to me unless it's about work."

"I don't want that," Francis said. "I feel sorry for what happened between us and I want to make it right."

"Don't you get it? Nothing will be right between us ever again. I'll marry someone incredible, someone who's so much better than you. You'll have no other choice than to regret your actions for the rest of your miserable life." Arthur felt good saying this.

He understood it might have been a little too much and Dylan must have stood there in shock at Arthur's words but he couldn't care less. He wanted Francis to feel pain.

"Is there someone better than me in your life?" Francis asked, still hoping that Arthur would give in.

"There is. And, hah," Arthur breathed out a short laugh. "Thank you, Francis. If you never would've ignored me and threw me away, I would've never met him." Yao's words from his birthday streamed through his head and finally he understood what he meant. "I finally understand how it feels to be truly loved. That's the kind of love I never received from you and I'm grateful I can experience it now. But that doesn't mean I forgive you."

He couldn't forgive him just yet. He's not strong enough to let that hate and rage towards him go but he understood that their failed relationship led him towards meeting Alan.

Arthur looked over Francis' shoulder when he heard footsteps and beamed when it was Alan. He hurried towards him with a big smile and grabbed his jacket.

Alfred had seen Francis go up the stairs and didn't want that strange alpha to follow Arthur.

Arthur placed his hands over Alfred's waist and tugged on his belt. "Your dance skills got much better."

"I was surprised I didn't stumble over my feet." His hands touched Arthur's arms and he grinned.

Francis walked past them and eyed them for a moment to which Alfred pulled the Prince a little closer to himself.

"I'm happy for you, Arthur," he said but Arthur saw hurt and regret in his eyes. "Until we meet again. For work purposes, of course." He gave a quick bow to them and walked back into the ballroom.

"It was very bold of you to push him with your butt," Arthur said amused.

"That's my classic move," Alfred joked. "Who even is he?"

"He's the King."

"King of what?" Alfred asked, confused.

"The King of Diamonds." Arthur frowned and Alfred tore his eyes open in shock

"I didn't know that," he said and both were silent for a second and stared at another before breaking out in a fit of laughter.

"What are you laughing about?" Yao walked up to them and destroyed their mood once again. "Why are you clinging to sir Alan?"

Arthur sighed in annoyance and let go of Alfred.

-

Yao took Arthur and Dylan away but that didn't stop Alfred from following them in secret.

He catched up to them at a large spiral staircase with blue carpet and waved at Arthur when he noticed him standing at the bottom of the stairs. Arthur bit his lower lip and looked at Yao's back before he ran down the stairs, grabbed Alfred's hand and ran away with him.

They run through the corridors, away from the ball, away from all the places where guests and other people could be and run into a room out of breath and laughing. It was a simple small room with a fireplace, shelves with books, a table and two comfort sofas facing each other.

They were in such euphoria that neither of them knew who started to kiss the other first. They panted, still out of breath from the running while their hands roamed around their bodies, touching, feeling and pressing each other closer. Feeling the heat run rapidly and furiously in both of them across their body, tickling in their senses and making them desire for more.

It was sudden but not all too surprising for both of them to want more and for both of them to silently agree they wanted this to go further.

Arthur pulled him to the sofa that stood facing away from the door and pushed Alfred on it. Alfred scooted back and let Arthur sit on top of him. They held each other tight with Arthur grabbing into Alfred's hair and moving his hips against Alfred's. But that wasn't enough.

Their hands creeped along their clothes and Arthur started to unbutton Alfred's waistcoat and his shirt, exposing his skin. He brushed over his naked chest, feeling the heat coming from Alfred and his rapid heart. Alfred tried to undo Arthur's clothes as well but he seemed to have more difficulties with it and had to turn his attention to the clothes much to his disappointment.

"You have too many layers," Alfred complained while Arthur kissed his head.

Arthur chuckled and helped him to pull off his bow scarf and take off his jacket and unbutton his vest and shirt and anything else underneath it. Alfred immediately started to kiss his collar bones and his neck. Giving him kisses on the number 10 that was always covered and putting his hand on Arthur's exposed waist, feeling his skin on his own.

His mind was dizzy from all these kisses and touches and all he wanted was for Arthur to be his. To be his for now and for his entire life. No one should kiss him like he does and no one should even think about touching him. Arthur was his and only his.

"You're mine, all mine. Tell me you're mine," Alfred panted between the kisses, desperate to hear those words from Arthur.

Arthur pushed Alfred down on the sofa and hovered above him. His hand slid along his chest and downwards. "For tonight," Arthur said and chuckled.

That wasn't enough for Alfred but his mind went blank when Arthur started to kiss him again and touch him in places no one ever had.

He wanted this to continue so much but they stopped when Arthur suddenly sat up straight and Alfred, who was still laying down, saw a man standing behind the sofa.

"I'm so sorry Your Highness but the Jack is looking for you. I'm sorry did I came at the wrong time, should I come later?" Howard, the Prince's assistant stammered awkwardly.

"Yes, please," Alfred said panting.

"No!"

Arthur quickly climbed off Alfred when Yao stood in the doorway. Alfred hurried to stand up too and cover himself up just like the Prince.

"You will go to your room now!" Yao was completely furious with Arthur.

The Prince was about to walk away but he stopped and turned quickly to Alfred to give him a long kiss goodbye making Yao roll his eyes.

"Good night," he whispered to Alfred and turned only to be startled by Howard once more who stood too close to them.

Yao watched him and shook his head at Arthur when he walked past him. "Don't look at me like that," the Prince whispered.

Alfred fell back to the sofa with a grin on his face when they went out of the room. Still feeling his heart beat like crazy and the heat in him raging around like a storm.

-

Alfred was indeed in his heat. He'd noticed when he came back into his room, confused why he was still sweating so much and so absurdly horny when their make out session was over. It also confused him why his heat came so early but when he sat at the breakfast table, he noticed that Arthur was missing and he got suspicious.

He wanted to brush that thought away until Marion said the same thing he'd been thinking about.

"Do you guys think the Prince might be in his heat?" she asked.

"How did you come to that conclusion?" Martin asked her.

"He left early from the party and in the past months he was always at the breakfast table with us. It's logical that he might be in his heat."

"Maybe he's just sick," Martin said but Marion shook her head.

"They would've told us."

Alfred stirred with his spoon in his blueberry yogurt and remembered the way Arthur flirted with him and clinged on to him and was ready to go further with him than just the kisses. Alfred was sure now that the Prince was in his heat and that Feliks was right. His heat aligned with Arthur's and that meant they're compatible to be mates and if no one had stopped them they could've accidentally mated.

A grin spread across Alfred's face at the thought of being Arthur's mate. They fit each other. They could be mates.

"That's quite hilarious because I'm in my heat as well," Joao said and destroyed Alfred's mood with that one sentence but at least he was the one Arthur wanted to spend his night with.

Then Alfred's mood broke down to pieces when soldiers stormed through the door and grabbed Alfred, making him stand up and put chains around his wrists. With wide eyes and in pure shock he stared at them when they spoke.

"Mister Taylor, you're being arrested for treason against the crown."