Before dawn broke, K.J. stirred awake, feeling the stiffness in his limbs. He stretched his arms and legs, working out the tension from the journey. Rising from the bed, he looked over and noticed Oliver's bed was empty. Curious, he walked through the quiet house and found Crystal in the kitchen, her hands busy cleaning up from the night before.
"He's in the bathhouse if you want to take a bath before you head out," she said with a warm smile, nodding toward a door at the back of the house. "I left some fresh clothes for both of you. They should help you stay a bit more under the radar."
K.J. nodded his thanks and opened the door to the bathhouse, stepping into a room thick with steam. The heat hit him instantly, and he blinked as his eyes adjusted. Across the room, Oliver was in the large, steaming pool, water rising just below his chest, which gleamed with droplets.
"Hey, good morning!" Oliver greeted him with a cheerful grin, always lively in the mornings.
"Hey," K.J. mumbled, still shaking off the sleep as he sat down on a nearby bench, rubbing his eyes and trying to wake up fully.
Oliver tilted his head, amusement flashing in his eyes. "You gonna get in?"
"Uh..." K.J. hesitated, feeling a bit self-conscious at the thought of joining Oliver in the water. "Well..."
Oliver chuckled, picking up on his discomfort. "Not used to sharing a bath?" he asked with an understanding smile. "No worries—I've been here long enough anyway." He stretched his arms and stood, moving casually toward the edge of the pool.
K.J's eyes widened in awe and admiration as he watched Oliver's approach. Every step seemed to emphasize the sheer power and strength in his thick abdomen and bulging arm muscles, flexing and pulsing with each movement. K.J couldn't help but be entranced by the tightness of Oliver's perfectly sculpted buttocks, a testament to his dedication and hard work. Despite trying to maintain his composure, K.J's heart raced with desire as Oliver bent down to retrieve his new clothes, revealing a perfectly placed sack hanging between his legs like a provocative ornament, accentuating his raw masculinity.
"Take your time," he said warmly. "Fresh clothes are by the door."
With Oliver gone, K.J. felt more at ease. He slipped out of his clothes and eased into the hot water, letting its warmth surround him, relaxing his muscles and melting away the fatigue of travel. The steam and the quiet brought a sense of peace he hadn't felt in a while. As he leaned back, allowing the heat to soothe him, he prepared himself mentally for the journey that awaited them.
Once K.J. finished his bath, he pulled on the new clothes Crystal had left for him. The tunic was comfortable, made of soft silk that felt cool against his skin, and his vest, previously tattered and worn, had been skillfully mended. Even his pants, freshly laundered, gave him a sense of renewal. As he stepped into the kitchen, he found Oliver waiting, dressed in plain, well-fitted clothes that disguised his noble bearing. In these clothes, Oliver looked like any ordinary traveler, blending in seamlessly.
Crystal smiled as she placed two sturdy knapsacks on the table. "These are for you both," she said, patting the bags. "Ollie, yours has your royal clothes tucked away, just in case. And K.J., I packed your trench coat, along with fresh bread, tatoes, and a potion for your wound in case it reopens. When you reach the Magic Academy, seek out a healer to properly tend to it."
"Thank you, Crystal," Oliver said, his gratitude shining in his eyes.
"You're welcome." She smiled, glancing at K.J. "I hope those old clothes of Ryan's fit you well enough."
K.J. gave her a nod and hesitated for a moment. Trust didn't come easily to him, but something about Crystal's kindness, her gentle but unwavering support, pushed him to speak. "Thank you... for patching my vest."
Crystal's eyebrows rose in pleasant surprise. "Oh, you speak! So, you trust me, hmm?"
K.J. nodded slightly. "A little. I trust Ryan and... Oliver."
Crystal laughed softly. "Well, I'll take what I can get. Just promise me you'll both be careful, alright?" She handed them each a brown hooded robe, sturdy yet light, perfect for hiding their faces from any curious eyes as they traveled. "Wear these when you reach Westreach Port. You never know who might be looking for you."
K.J. slipped his quiver over his back, securing his bow alongside it, while Oliver shouldered his knapsack under the hooded robe. Crystal then handed K.J. a small sack of arrows, sliding them into his quiver with a look of maternal pride. "You're a talented archer, K.J.," she said, her hand resting gently on his shoulder. "Use those skills to protect yourself and those you care about. Look after each other, understand?"
K.J. nodded, and Crystal's eyes shifted to Oliver, catching the subtle warmth in his expression. She'd seen the way Oliver watched K.J. by the fire last night, a look she recognized all too well. Oliver nodded back, silently acknowledging her unspoken understanding.
"All right, boys," she said, giving them each a hug before stepping back. "The captain should be waiting for you at the port."
With a final wave, Oliver and K.J. left Crystal's house, heading toward the docks under the early morning light. As they approached, they saw a tall, broad-shouldered figure with a tri-cornered hat standing by the gangplank, his stance radiating authority. He looked every bit the seasoned captain, from his stern gaze to his short-cropped hair and neatly trimmed beard.
"You must be the two Crystal mentioned," the captain greeted them, his tone clipped and direct. "Ready to set sail?"
K.J. hesitated for a moment, his gaze flickering to the water, unease slipping into his posture. Oliver noticed but kept quiet, resting a hand on K.J.'s arm in silent reassurance. With a light tug, Oliver guided him forward, steady and reassuring, leading him up the gangplank and onto the ship.
As they boarded, K.J. took a deep breath, his nerves calming in the steady presence of Oliver beside him.
"Boys!" Captain Rek's booming voice carried across the deck, his tone filled with authority but softened by a grin. "Your cabin's near the storage room. Just call me Captain Rek," he added, giving them a wink.
Both Oliver and K.J. nodded, following the directions below deck as the ship's anchor lifted and they began to drift away from the port. The gentle rock of the ship increased as they left the safety of the dock, each dip and sway a reminder that they were truly setting out into the unknown.
Down a narrow hallway and a few creaking steps, they arrived at their cabin. It was small, cozy, with two beds set opposite each other and just enough space to tuck their bags and cloaks onto a single chair. The room smelled faintly of salt and wood, and the walls had the worn but sturdy look of a vessel well used and well traveled.
Oliver let out a long sigh of relief, flopping onto his bed and stretching out with a lazy grin. "Well," he began, staring at the low ceiling as if envisioning the journey ahead, "it'll be about a day and a half to reach Westreach Port. The Silvervein River can be rough, but we'll need to sail down it until it opens into the Arcadia Ocean. Westreach sits right where the river meets the sea."
K.J. listened quietly, the gentle swaying of the ship blending with Oliver's calm, steady voice. He allowed himself to relax, enjoying the rare peace and the sense of adventure stirring within him. There was something strangely comforting in knowing exactly where they were headed, even if what lay beyond was uncertain.
"By the way, are you alright?" Oliver asked, his gaze soft but probing.
K.J. shifted, sensing the question he knew would come. "Why do you ask?"
Oliver smiled, though his eyes held a hint of concern. "You hesitated before boarding. I just... wondered if something was on your mind."
K.J. took a deep breath, the words lingering on the tip of his tongue. He knew he could trust Oliver, and he was tired of holding back. "I'm terrified of water," he admitted, voice quiet.
Oliver's brows knit together slightly. "Because of the river? When I pulled you out?"
"No... well, maybe partly." K.J. looked down, a faint flush of embarrassment coloring his cheeks. "I can't swim. At all. I sink like a rock, every time I've tried."
Oliver let out a soft chuckle, his tone warm and reassuring. "Hey, no big deal. If you fall in, I'll just jump right in after you," he said with a grin, his light-hearted response breaking the tension. "I'll keep you afloat as many times as you need, K.J."
K.J. managed a smile, glancing back up at Oliver. For once, the idea of being around water didn't feel as daunting with Oliver beside him, ready to pull him back up if he ever found himself sinking.
As Oliver stretched, his toned abdomen was just inches from K.J.'s face, and the closeness sent a wave of warmth up K.J.'s neck, spreading to his cheeks. The faint scent of Oliver's skin, earthy and subtly sweet, seemed to linger in the air between them. K.J. felt his heart race unexpectedly, and he quickly turned away, fumbling with his bag to distract himself.
"Hey, Oliver," K.J. murmured, needing something to focus on.
"Hm?" Oliver responded, lowering himself back onto the bed, looking relaxed, his gaze lingering on K.J. They were only a foot apart, close enough that K.J. could feel the warmth of his presence.
K.J. cleared his throat, holding up the small jar of powder. "I wanted to try this... see if it works."
Oliver smiled softly, nodding. "Go ahead."
K.J. unscrewed the lid, and a gentle, floral scent filled the air as he dabbed a small amount of powder onto his fingertip. Moving a bit closer, he hesitated before gently tilting Oliver's chin, bringing his hand up to dab the powder over Oliver's first birthmark, the one above his left brow. As he worked, he tried to keep his focus steady, but the warmth of Oliver's skin beneath his touch was hard to ignore. The powder blended seamlessly, softening the mark to match Oliver's skin tone.
Oliver watched him with a quiet intensity, the hint of a smile pulling at his lips. He bit down lightly on his bottom lip, a subtle gesture that K.J. didn't notice as he concentrated. But Oliver could feel his own heartbeat quickening, his pulse stirring with every gentle touch of K.J.'s fingertips.
Oliver's breath hitched as he leaned in close to K.J, his lips hovering mere inches away from K.J's. With a fierce determination, he pressed his mouth against K.J's, claiming them in an electrifying kiss that sent shivers down their spines. Their lips melded together, the heat between them igniting into a fiery passion. Oliver's hands gripped K.J's neck possessively, his fingers digging into the skin as he deepened the kiss. A guttural moan escaped from Oliver's throat, his desire for K.J pouring out in every movement of his lips. And when they finally broke apart with a soft suction sound, the intensity in Oliver's gaze burned bright with unspoken emotions and a hunger that could not be quenched.
K.J. felt as though the world had tilted, leaving him adrift, trying to anchor himself in a torrent of emotions he barely understood. The feel of Oliver's kiss—so gentle, so unexpectedly warm—lingered like a ghostly imprint on his lips, stirring feelings he'd kept locked away, perhaps ones he hadn't even known were there. But he couldn't shake the single thought that overwhelmed him: Why?
A prince, destined for titles, power, a life scripted by his bloodline, and then there was K.J.—a commoner, a courier, a nobody by comparison. The kiss felt impossible, like something out of a dream. And yet it had been real, as real as the steady rise and fall of Oliver's chest just moments ago, as real as the sound of his heartbeat echoing in K.J.'s mind even now.
"Oh..." he stammered, the word barely escaping as he fumbled to put the jar of powder back into his knapsack. His hands shook slightly, the weight of a thousand unsaid things pressing down on him, stealing his words.
"K.J.?" Oliver's voice broke the silence, uncertain and vulnerable, tinged with worry. "Look, I... I'm sorry if that..." His voice trailed off, the apology hanging between them like a fragile thread. He looked at K.J., a flicker of something—hope, fear, maybe both—alive in his gaze.
But K.J. couldn't stay, not with the questions clawing at him and the weight of that kiss pulling him in all directions. Without a word, he turned and left the cabin, slipping through the door before Oliver could finish, needing space, needing air, needing something solid under his feet.
Out on deck, the cool breeze rushed over him, sharp and biting, grounding him against the chaos inside. He braced himself against the railing, the wood cool beneath his hands as he closed his eyes, trying to calm the storm within. Every breath seemed to bring back the feeling of Oliver's lips, the gentleness of his touch, and he found himself questioning everything—why he'd trusted Oliver, why he felt drawn to him, why that kiss had awakened something that felt both terrifying and undeniably real.
Back in the cabin, Oliver sat alone, staring at the door as the silence pressed in around him. His head fell into his hands, the weight of regret crashing down as he replayed the moment again and again, the moment he had let his heart speak before he'd even understood what it was saying.
"Damn it," he whispered to himself, voice thick with frustration and an ache he couldn't name. "Why did I do that?"
His mind was a tangle of emotions, guilt twisting with longing, the memory of K.J.'s surprised expression etched painfully in his mind. He could still feel the warmth of K.J.'s skin, the quiet vulnerability in his eyes just before he'd kissed him. He'd never wanted to push him away, never wanted to complicate what they had or make K.J. question his trust. But he'd acted impulsively, driven by feelings he hadn't fully acknowledged until now.
"Stupid fuck," he muttered, the words falling bitterly from his lips. He pressed his hands against his temples, the memory of K.J.'s retreat fresh and raw. He'd risked the delicate bond they'd built, a bond forged in trust, loyalty, and shared hardships. And now, that bond felt stretched, as if he'd been careless with something precious.
In that quiet cabin, alone with his regret, Oliver felt the sting of loneliness settle in, knowing he'd crossed a line he might not be able to step back from. All he wanted was a chance to explain, to somehow make K.J. see that the kiss had come from a place deeper than he knew, a place he hadn't realized existed until that moment. And now, all he could do was wait and hope that he hadn't lost K.J.'s trust forever.
