Chapter 152 - A World With You

He had loved him. Philip had loved him so much from the very first moment. Bond or not, reason or not Kai was the only one. He existed in some way just to be by his side. That was how he felt sometimes. Standing next to him, hearing his words, listening to his laughter and seeing his eyes lit up, every single one of those little moments, every single one of those little joys made his heart flutter, try to jump out of his chest and meet with Kai's heart, become one with the undeniably beautiful prince.

Philip had loved him. Through the anger and the fists. He had loved him through the blood spilling on the floor and the restless nights as they tried to figure out what was wrong. When the red sun rose and when it set Philip loved him, his heart beating only for him. Kai's harsh words were like spikes, thorns of an ancient rose that pinched his skin as he tried to acquire it. He did not give up though, he kept pushing and pushing until he had managed to shorten the distance between them, until he could see Kai in the horizon, waiting for him, his hand stretched so he could take it.

The two men, always in need of help, had been searching for days with their friends for an answer while the young prince was trying to keep himself from exploding. So many pages written by dead people, so many words he had never read before and so much dust, showing him even though he was an immortal being in the past, it was something he didn't know of. 

They had reached a deadend when they finally decided to consult Octavius. Kai was reluctant at first, scared of what would happen, terrified that his family would hear of this research of his and turn against Philip. He had hurt him enough, he couldn't put a death penalty on his head too. After a lot of talking though he had been convinced and the kind Alpha, rather shocked was the one who provided the answer for them making Kai understand everything, hear things out he didn't even know, words Philip had kept secret from him. 

What was happening to them was extremely rare. It was almost an anomaly. It was rarely heard of a werewolf having a vampire as a mate. But these two were a true case. As it seemed, Kai had the urge to turn against Philip, he hated him not because it was what he felt but because his kind was made to hate werewolves. It was a reaction, a resistance to the feelings that were about to grow inside him. 

Kai had cried that night, confused and guilty he hadn't managed to stop his tears from staining his pale face. Philip had been there, like he always had. The werewolf was not as stunned as him, already knowing about their bond but still to hear that Kai's nature was going against him. Nonetheless he stood beside him, allowing him to free this sorrow from inside of him, hearing his cries into the silent night. He could stay there, on the floor in Kai's room, consulting him for centuries if he had to. 

Days passed and slowly Kai learned to battle himself. He read the signs and found limits. He could look at Philip, he could smile and call his name. He could feel the warmth in his heart as their eyes met and the hate inside of him seemed to subside bit by bit giving the werewolf the joy he wished to feel so much.

It was a first for Philip. Seeing Kai like this. In love, lost in a haze he himself had found himself wandering into. It was beautiful, almost magical as he stood close to him, heard him tell him he loved him. The raven haired man felt like his heart would explode, some days were even too much. Sometimes it scared him, the happiness he was experiencing, if he lost it he would cease to exist.

"How do you feel?" Philip whispered, facing another morning next to Kai, wrapped in the prince's expensive sheets, locked inside his room, hidden from the world, from the ones that would hate them.

"Hungry." The vampire groaned and Philip frowned. Kai had told him about it. About the problem he had with drinking blood. He always seemed to be a little more tired than normal, a little hungrier than he should and now it made sense. He hadn't had any real blood, he hadn't found anyone he wished to share this immortality with.

"Don't you think that it would be good if you found a hu…"

"No. I don't want to talk about it" Kai answered. He sat up, the back of his hair a mess and the sheets slipped from his half naked body. Philip stared at his back, white slashes everywhere, as if a crazy artist had made him his canvas. It wasn't a beautiful painting though, one infused with romanticism and happiness. It was the depiction of tragedy, the awareness of what could come if they were not careful. Philip traced the lines with his fingertips, he had a habit of doing that and Kai would shiver.

"Why don't you want a human?" The werewolf asked him, knowing Kai always tried to avoid the conversation.

"Because having a human is something you can't take back. The person has to be special. You have to at least like them and then to like you back. It's complicated and also…"

"Also?" Philip repeated, realizing that the prince was trying to stop the conversation. Kai looked at him, his blue eyes asking if he really wanted to know and he nodded, letting him continue.

"It is a very intimate process. It...it can cause things to happen and I, I didn't used to care about but now that I have you it feels like I would be betraying you."

"Can't you just restrain yourself, you know…" Philip asked and Kai scoffed, a smile on his face as he turned to look at Philip. He cupped his face, kissing gently his nose.

"No, it doesn't work like that. It's the venom in our teeth." He explained and Kai popped his fangs showing them to the werewolf. "That's why I choose not to have a human." He told him.

"Yes but you will never be at your full potential like that. One reason your wounds didn't heal fully was because of it. It's as if you're holding yourself back." 

"I am not." Kai giggled. "I am pretty strong. Even now, you know that. I have a really good punch, even though I think that kicking is more my thing." The prince told him while punching the air.

He looked as if he wasn't really concerned about it. Philip knew better though, the struggle Kai had to face. When he had first met him the werewolf had believed that Kai's life was perfect. He had it all, a title, gold, a palace, authority. He always smiled and moved around, hyper, showing no signs of weakness. In his mind the prince was living into his own little bubble, shielded by the troubles of the real world. 

The truth was though that it wasn't like that. Kai was constantly struggling. He was struggling to keep his title and his beliefs in balance, he was struggling to not disappoint his family regardless of his rebellious character. He was struggling with eating, always exhausted and starving. He was in a constant battle, now the werewolf had been added to his worries. Their secret was a chain around his thin ankles that was slowing him down. Philip sighed, drawing his attention.

"What's wrong? Are you worried about me, wolf warrior? I am perfectly fine. I promise." He said, a carefree smile on his face. Philip was scared, he believed he couldn't recognize if this smile was genuine or not, he didn't know if there was pain and anxiety hiding behind it. A gorgeous exterior, charming with the appearance of an angel while behind it a monster was destroying his soul ripping it apart. Philip grabbed Kai's pale hand and kissed it, then he intertwined their fingers.

"I want to tell you something." The werewolf announced. 

"Oh, you've suddenly turned so serious. What could it be?" The prince joked but his lover did not share his smile. Kai stood silent, feeling his skin touch Philip's as he waited.

"I love you. I had never imagined that loving someone so much was possible. It is like a drug, the way I feel for you. I want you to be happy, I want you to always be safe. I don't want anything or anyone to harm you. I look at you and all I could think is that the gods had blessed me with being able to see, touch and name perfection. You, Kai. You are perfection for me. That's why I want you to promise me something. I want you to promise me that you will out yourself first. You will always try to survive and be happy. You will never deny who you are and if one day I am an obstacle. If one day I turn out to be the one that could hurt you, kill me." Philip said and Kai's eyes widened, shock painted in that icy blue.

"How could you say that? I would never hurt you. I know we didn't start well but even the thought of you getting hurt is torturing to me. I would prefer to die that to…"

"Don't say it." Philip interrupted him and kissed his forehead. Warmth traveling all over Kai's body. "Don't say that you would prefer to die than to hurt me. All I want is for you to be happy. No matter the cost."

"What about your happiness then?" The prince asked him and Philip smiled.

"My happiness. Well, that depends on you...will you listen to me?"

"Definitely not. I do not listen to anyone." The prince said, a cocky expression on his face that made the werewolf laugh. He grabbed him, making the vampire fall on top of him and raised his head, kissing him gently. Kai closed his eyes, allowing himself to get lost in this precious moment and smiled into their kiss.

"I love you."

"I love you too"

"That's why, I want you to drink my blood. Let me be the one you're bound to forever. I will be your life source. I will give you everything, not only my heart and my body, my blood too." Philip told him, making Kai gasp, dumbfounded by what he had just said. 

"Have you gone mad?" The prince exclaimed.

"Everything belongs to you." Philip said. His eyes showing very clearly that he meant it.

Such love, such selfless adoration. Every day that passed it grew, it grew so much that made them both blind, reckless. 

Soon, soon enough they would make a mistake and that was when the end would come.