Page 30

I f I ever have to walk through snow again, it'll be too soon, Theo huffed as he stumbled through the castle doors. Two days had passed since his departure and the amount of snow that fell in his absence made his walk back take three times longer than it normally would. Clutching a heavy crate in his hands, he used his back to fight against the wind and shut the doors.

No guards were roaming the halls, and he figured they must still be tucked away in the lounge. Slowly, with aching legs, he made his way up the stairs to try and find Sebastian. Then he heard screams, shouts, and crashes up ahead.

"Sebastian?" he called in a desperate panic. He rushed toward the chaos. He slammed into Oliver. His clothes were tattered as if claws had raked through them. "Are you alright? Where's Sebastian? Is he okay?"

"You're still here?" he said in shock. "We thought you left."

"I did, but I'm here now," he said dismissively as another loud crash rang out. "What's going on?"

"Sebastian shifted and he's not himself. He's been lost since yesterday afternoon," Oliver explained. "You should wait downstairs so he can't accidentally hurt you. We're trying to capture and sedate him, but it hasn't been going well."

Theo ignored the suggestion and rushed up the hall. He found Lyle looking battered and bruised. The rest of the guards looked equally as roughed up as they clutched ropes.

"Every time we try to lasso him, he grows more agitated. I don't want him hurt so we'll have to sedate him from afar and—" Lyle stared dumbfounded at Theo. "What are you doing here?"

A low growl came rolling up the hall and Theo finally spotted Sebastian. His five tails were fanned out like a peacock and his antlers and claws were dripping blood. All his teeth were bared in an angry snarl.

"Sebastian!" Theo ignored Lyle, dropped his crate, and slowly approached. Sebastian growled loudly and stalked towards him. "It's me. I know you're upset, but you're hurting people."

With a loud hiss, Sebastian pounced and knocked Theo to the ground. His snout was wrinkled as he showed all his bloody teeth.

"Theo!" Jacques called. "We need help over here!"

"No. I'm fine," Theo said through clenched teeth as claws pressed into him. He gripped Sebastian's angry leopard face in his hands and fought the urge to cry out in pain. "Sebastian, look at me. It's me."

Sebastian tried to wrench out of his grip, but Theo only held tighter. He lowered his voice, speaking softly. "Kitten, I can't apologize if you eat me."

Sebastian lunged forward and Theo closed his eyes, expecting teeth. Instead, a damp nose moved over his cheek and forehead. Sebastian recoiled and shifted back to his naked nymph form. He looked down at Theo under him in disbelief.

"There you are," Theo said, sitting up. "Look at the trouble you get into when I'm away. I think it's best I stay here."

"I thought you left."

"I did."

"Then why are you here? Why aren't you home?"

"One, I don't walk that fast. And two, I never bothered heading home." He got up and took off his cloak, draping it around Sebastian for modesty. "Stay here." He rushed off, retrieved his crate, and set it in front of Sebastian. "I got you something."

Sebastian hesitated but lifted the lid and gasped. Pink flowers came spilling out onto the floor—roses, tulips, morning glories, snap dragons and countless glowing camellias. "You picked all of these for me?"

"I did. I couldn't come back during the storm, so I spent my time tracking down your favorite flower and some extra pink ones that made me think of you." He kneeled on the ground next to him. "I don't understand why you're pushing me away, but whatever the reason, I'm not giving upon us. I have never felt this way about anyone, and I think you care about me, too. So, please, let me stay."

Sebastian plucked a shining camellia out of the crate and stared at it in silence. He covered his face with his other hand, avoiding Theo's eyes.

"Sebastian?" To Theo's surprise, tears flowed down his cheeks in rivers. "Kitten, don't cry," he said with a laugh. He wrapped his arms around him and kissed his damp cheek. "Just say I can stay with you."

"You can stay," he croaked out. "I want you to stay."

"Come on then." Carefully he scooped up his tearful prince and carried him up the hall to his suite. "Let's get you cleaned up and in bed. I'll bring your flowers in later." The hall was quiet as the rest of the guards watched them pass by.

In the washroom, Theo ran a warm tub of hot water into a decadent clawfoot bathtub with golden spouts. He only left once to grab the flowers so he could add a few rose petals into the water. Sebastian quietly sat on a stool and watched him intently. "I can wait in bed while you wash up." He kissed his head and turned to the door, but Sebastian gripped his sleeve. "Yes?"

"I want you to stay in here with me," he said quietly.

"If that's what you want." He helped Sebastian out of his cloak and eased him into the water. "Can I wash you?"

Sebastian held his knees and kept an eye on a rose petal drifting across the water. "I suppose that's fine."

Theo dragged the stool over and took a seat at the side of the tub. Tenderly, he washed the blood from each long nail that glinted in the candlelight. He moved on to Sebastian’s large antlers. They weren't as large as when he was shifted but they hadn't fully shrunk either. They stood out from his head. One was nearly two feet long, and the other was about six inches shorter.

Gently and careful not to poke himself on their sharp edges, he began to wash them. "What happened to this antler?" Theo asked as he wiped it clean.

"I broke it off," Sebastian said quietly.

"Did you fall?"

"No. I was upset when they first showed up and snapped it off in anger. I wish I didn't."

Theo paused and his heart ached for his sweet prince. He leaned in and kissed the lopsided antler. "It's adorable to me. I hope you know that."

Sebastian looked up at him with tired eyes as if deciding whether or not to believe him.

Theo chuckled a little to himself, enjoying being under his piercing gaze again. Back to being a skeptical house cat, I see.

He grabbed a toothbrush and tapped a fang. "Open up."

"I can do that my—ah," he coughed as Theo ignored him, gripped his cheeks, and proceeded to brush gently. “What are you doing?” he slurred glaring at him.

"Behave yourself," Theo said in a teasing voice. "You can barely hold your eyes open." He smiled as he brushed off the dark blood stains. “You know, you act as if you’re so scary, but your fangs are a bit cute. They make your lips pout in this adorable way. I thought about that a lot while I was out in the wilds. I was excited to see your fangs again. I was daydreaming about the prick of your claws, and the way you hiss at me when I annoy you. I really missed you.”

A soft pink light filled the room and Sebastain stayed quiet, giving into to Theo’s invasive doting.

Once Theo also washed, the two of them lay side by side in Sebastian's bed.

"I heard you were shifted for a while. You must be exhausted." Theo rustled the hair between his leopard ears. "You should rest. I'll stay here with you."

"You won't leave?"

"I don't plan to," he said with a yawn.

He came closer and buried his face in his chest. His antlers poked Theo slightly, but he didn't mind. "Goodnight, Sebastian."