Chapter 224 - 223

There was something special about the world, or more accurately about the change that suddenly happened in it. Kai always hated BloodBound, not because it was his home, not because his mother was there but because of the corruption, the unfairness and finally the fact that it had been made that way to depict a vampire's dark and gruesome nature. The bloody rivers, the never ending red sky, the harsh and dry soil and the barren trees. The magic in this place had made it into a nightmare land, a place that you would visit only in your darkest dreams, in those moments when your mind was lost, devoured by horror. 

The moment Philip arrived though, everything changed. This place didn't seem as scary anymore and as his lover walked right next to him everything looked a lot more appealing. Maybe because he was in the frame, a perfect addition to a dramatic scene, a ray of light. As he walked between the cursed, with that lazy smile of his, his hair falling on his forehead while his hazel eyes looked around Kai just couldn't stop his heart from going insane. He brought the nightmare land to life and wherever he stood, the vampire prince could only see life. 

"Where do you want to go?" Philip asked him, holding his hand tightly, a bit afraid that he would lose him in the swarms of people that were rushing during the morning hours. 

"I don't know, we can go wherever you want. You're the guest." Kai answered him, shrugging his shoulders. It didn't matter where they went, who was around or what they did. Kai couldn't care less, he was here and that was the only thing that mattered. The prince squeezed his hand, drawing his wandering eyes to himself. "You're here so I can do anything." he told him romantically and Philip smiled brightly. He sounded cheesy, really out of character but he didn't care. 

"How about we get something to eat first? I am kind of  hungry. Are there any places with actual food?" Philip asked him. Almost every tavern in BloodBound served human food, it was another little facade, an attempt to not feel so left out. It wouldn't feel the same if families, friends, or lovers gathered outside just to drink a glass of blood. There were still human traits in them, even if they tried to deny it. 

"Pick any place you want, all of them have food." Kai explained and Philip nodded.

The werewolf chose the less occupied tavern he could see. Most of them were filled with people, even now but there was one close to the beginning of the Alleys that didn't seem so busy. It was an inn too,  rooms right above it. 

Kai entered first, looking at the man behind the reception whose eyes opened in disbelief. Who would have ever thought that the prince would come here. He didn't say anything though, just bowed, showing them a small table that was a bit further from the rest. Kai appreciated it, at least he wouldn't have to hear the whispers. Both of them sat down, choosing something simple to eat and waited. 

"How have you been?" Philip asked him. 

"Okay but not really okay?" The prince said with an awkward smile on his face. "I picked up an orphan from the street, keeps me busy, he is a nice kid. Then my mum and dad, they…I don't know, are they fighting? Sometimes they act like teenagers. My blood oath is broken."

"Your blood oath?"

"Yeah, now I can tell you that I never meant to hurt you. It was them, the Bloody People, the ones who cursed you, made you go insane. I…I had been captured and tortured so I wouldn't be with you. By the time I realized what they were planning to do it was already too late. I regret it, my ignorance, my arrogance, everything that didn't let me see what was happening, until it was too late. I am sorry Philip, I really am." Kai said, trying his best not to cry. The werewolf placed his arm on the table, taking his hand, entwining their fingers and gently smiling at him. 

"I know, I remember when they found me. When they gave me the crown. Everything that happened. I am sorry too Kai, because you had to go through all that. I am sorry that I got angry and didn't believe you or that I didn't have more faith in you." 

"I don't care about what happened in the past. I just care about the fact that you're here, with me." The prince told him and Philip raised his hand, bringing it close to his lips and kissing his pale skin. He didn't reply though, he was interrupted by the server who brought them two steaming bowls of meat soup. Placing the wooden bowls on the table together with two badly carved wooden spoons he bowed and left them alone, his eyes lingering on the couple for a few seconds, curious about what was happening before his boss yelled at him to get back to work. 

Philip blew on his soup, trying his first spoonful. It wasn't that bad, actually he expected it to be a lot worse. Kai tried it too, but it didn't really fit his tastes. Before he came to BloodBound he was used to eating anything but now, after he had a taste of the alace's food again, he had become a little picky once more. 

"Kai, what happened with the blood?" Philip asked him and the prince winked.

"The blood?" 

"With your feeding, how do you feed?" The werewolf  explained, his expression turning worried. He hadn't thought about it before, about the fact that Kai all this time wouldn't be able to feed from him, the pain and the disgust. 

"Oh, well my mother had fixed something like a potion for me when I was young. I take that now too. It's okay, tastes bad but it does the trick." he told him, spinning the spoon in the soup. He wasn't going to ask him to drink his blood. They had just met and for some reason it seemed extremely rude to him, what if Philip thought he viewed him as a meal. 

"Get us a room." Philip stated.

"What? Why?"

"You're drinking my blood."