"My father keeps trying to choose people who will keep me in line." he said softly, "I keep ditching them, it's nothing personal, I just don't need a babysitter." he hummed quietly, wondering for a moment why he was being so open with Nik.
Nik nodded. "Mm. My father sent me to the front lines, so." He chuckled. Aron rolled his eyes. "He did not. You begged him to let you help." The male guard said. Nik sighed. "Yeah, and he let me."
Eclipse sighed softly at that one, the jealousy returning. He wanted that kind of relationship. Hell, the only reason he was here was because his father couldn't risk embarrassment. He was never trusted to do anything, even during the year where he didn't rebel at all. So really, the only reason he wasn't at home, was because the king couldn't leave him behind.
Nik glanced at him. "I'm…guessing your father doesn't let you do stuff like that." He said slowly. He looked at the cards again. "You don't have to tell me anything if you don't want to, though." He played another card, tossing out an acorn at the same time.
"Really no reason to hide it.." he said softly, "Never, ever lets me do anything, especially after mom." he sighed, "He doesn't care, never will." he made his play, sitting back, lost in thought. So… tell me again brain, why am I jealous of the prince of my kingdom's enemy??
Nik shrugged a little. "Mm. I'm sorry." he said softly. They kept playing the card game for a while, before Nik checked the time. "Oh, we gotta get back for the rest of the meeting." he realized as they finished the game. He sighed, and Aron put away the cards.
Eclipse sighed, giving Arron the cards, "Here's hoping my father doesn't literally murder me this time." he said softly, getting to his feet. "Do you need help getting up?" he asked Nik without thinking, before realizing what he'd done, silently questioning it, then adding it to the rest of the day's many questions.
Nik narrowed his eyes a little at the question. "I can get up fine, thank you." he said, his voice a touch cold. He grabbed his cane, and hauled himself to his feet. He took a deep breath. "We probably shouldn't arrive together, as I don't need your father pissed at me. Plus, I'm heading to my tent to change a bit."
Eclipse nodded, "Understandable." he said, surprised at the cold tone. "I'll see you at the meeting.. I guess." he said softly. Quickly he took himself off and left the tent, silently cursing himself for thinking even for a second that he had finally made friends. After all, why would a Kevran ever want to be friends with him??
Nik sighed softly as he headed to his tent. I didn't need to be so cold to him. He was only trying to help. But…I'm sick of people taking pity on me because I got hurt. He went into his tent and changed into a different shirt. He headed to the tent again, taking his time as he walked.
Eclipse made it to the meeting tent, keeping his eyes trained on the ground. he didn't realize that maybe he had offended Nik by asking, he figured the other had just come to his senses over the fact that he was still Tesh. He sighed, kicking a rock before fixing his posture, waiting for his father and the Kevran royals.
Nikolas arrived at about the same time as his father. Once Nightfang eventually arrived, glaring at the two princes, they all went inside. This time, they all simply sat without the theatrics of last time. Nik set his cane down, crossing his arms loosely.
Eclipse kept his eyes down, away from both Nik, and his father, feeling more confused than ever, which was combined with a unhealthy amount of fear of the man next to him, who was most definitely in an extremely foul mood.
The two king's began a discussion, though Nightfang was hostile and insulting the whole time. King Crowe did his best to keep his patience, but he began to lose it at the continued veiled insults, and soon began to return the insults. Nik narrowed his eyes a little as he watched the two kings, lips pressing into a thin line.
Eclipse kept his eyes trained on the ground, tensing more as the air in the tent became thick and hostile. He was firmly pressed against the edge of his set the furthest away from his father, not even bothering to hide it anymore. He knew a fight was bound to start, and there was no stopping it.
Nik tensed in his seat, ready to drag his father back if need be. King Crowe and King Nightfang were nearly shouting at each other at this point, both of them angry and pissed off. Nik reached over and ran a hand over the crow's head on his cane.
Eclipse was tense and very pale as he finally looked up to watch the fight, really hoping his father didn't make it physical. But since when was his luck ever on his side? Then again, maybe today it was….
Nik held onto the cane. The kings, both red-faced and spitting mad, lunged at each other. Nik leapt up, reaching to break up the fight before it could get too bad. Before the two kings could jeopardize this entire thing.
Eclipse saw it, and immediately reacted, grabbing his father's shirt, pulling him back. He moved to get in front of him, "Father stop this!" he yelled, reaching out a hand to keep the other king from getting to close, his hand instead coming in contact with Nik's shoulder.
Nik's eyes flickered at the touch. He had put on a short-sleeved shirt earlier, to combat the heat. He felt a shiver go through his whole body at the touch, and his eyes landed on Eclipse, round with surprise. He glanced at his shoulder, at the black stain that now glowed a nimbus of color. King Crowe stepped back, taking breaths to try and calm down. Nik reached out and grabbed Eclipse's wrist, looking at the other boy's hand.
Eclipse's hand was pulsing the same way, and he was staring at it in complete shock. He had felt the shiver that ran through him, but it didn't change the fact that this had to be impossible. Even his father was stunned by this, and was staring in shock at the pair. "Are we…?" he aimed the question at Nik, who was holding his glowing hand, his voice soft and disbelieving.
Nik stared at him. "I…I guess we are." he said slowly, his voice soft and careful. He glanced at the two kings, then at Eclipse. He didn't know what to feel. On the one hand, the other prince had been kind and seemed like a good guy. On the other hand…he was Tesh. And he was their prince. Nikolas knew, too, that he himself could never have that sort of relationship. Not sharing a bed, not sleeping together and whispering sweet words to each other. Not when he spent each night wrapped in chains to keep the monster from getting out.
Eclipse could barely comprehend what had just happened, he had known it was happen eventually, but the Kevran prince? The future leader of the kingdom who was responsible for his mother's death? The future leader of the kingdom his father despised? He had a million questions running through his head, foremost being, How the fuck is this gonna work? and the second being, Will he accept that I'm a wolf shifter?? he was both terrified and confused at the same time, not something that was not easy.
The two kings looked at each other, then at the two silent, staring princes. King Crowe was the first to speak. "Perhaps we should…take a break for the day." he said slowly, eyes going from Nikolas, to Eclipse, and back. Nik swallowed, and nodded. "Yeah. That's…probably a good idea." he had a death grip on his cane; not because he needed it at that moment, but because…because he needed something to hold onto. He was still holding onto Eclipse's arm with the other hand. His face was paler than normal. What would he do if he knew what I become some nights? What I've done?
Eclipse nodded, "That.. That's probably a good idea…" he said quietly, but Nightfang didn't agree. He grabbed Eclipse' shoulders and pulled him away, "No son of mine will ever be connected to Kevran Scum" he growled.
Eclipse stared in shock at his father, knowing full well the only reason he existed was because of a soulmate bond.