65 Chapter 65 - cheese cake melancholy

Faun absently went through the motions of picking out the ingredients and preparing them for a cheesecake. It helped ground him, the familiar scents doing a perfect job of distracting him.

Outside the door of the cozy kitchen, Ash and Cade stood guard' Declan had asked that they do so and they agreed without hesitation. Ash wore his thoughts on his face so it wasn't difficult to see that he noticed the mood Faun was in, not like that was necessary as he always blurted his thoughts out.

"Think something is wrong?" He tossed at Cade when the door of the kitchen quietly closed.

Cade would be more surprised if something wasn't but he understood what Ash meant, the hybrid seemed to be in a really dark mood. "Maybe but I think we should give him some space." He quickly added when it looked like Ash wanted to kick down the door and go right in.

The door swung open at that moment though, both of them whipping around to see the hybrid in question staring at them with wide eyes.

Faun hadn't been expecting anyone to be outside the door, he had hoped to sneak around the palace to get some idea of how to escape. At the sight of them, he immediately slammed the door, making a soft sound of frustration as he went back to baking.

So now, in addition to baking, he had to find a way to distract the two of them. But they weren't at the door last time, what changed this time?

The door opened shortly after to reveal Cade putting Ash in a headlock as he tried to stop the other from opening the door. They all froze at this once again, all of them staring at each other with wide eyes.

Faun had been about to crack open an egg but he paused, looking at them expectantly, curly hair swept away from his face.

Ash closed the door this time, slowly with a straight expression on his face. Faun found himself smiling softly after the door clicked shut, an expression he immediately wiped off his face, cracking the egg with more strength that was needed.

Outside the door, Cade flicked Ash's forehead, "I told you to leave him alone." He whispered.

Ash scowled, rubbing his stinging forehead. "Shut up."

They quietly remained outside, talking little as the time went by and the delicious scent of baking filled the hallway they were standing in. They would never be sure what brought Prince Allan, the scent of baking or the fact that he was already on the search for the hybrid.

Both bodyguards stiffened up, their gaze narrowing at the sight of him. They bowed anyway, required to show respect.

"Who's behind that door?" Allan asked, although he knew well enough.

Ash's expression soured, his gaze fixed on the frilly sleeves of the second prince dress shirt to hide his glare. "Prince Declan's property."

"Sure," Allan said dryly, taking a step forward. "I want to see him."

They both stepped in the way at the same time, the two of them sharing the same thoughts. 

"I'm sorry but we can't allow that." Cade spoke up, his tone measured.

"Prince Declan's orders," Ash was all too happy to add.

Allan already knew that this would be the outcome when he saw them, his affable smile didn't leave his face, "Of course," He said flippantly, turning around to walk off without a protest.

"What did he want from Faun?" Ash asked darkly as he glared at the retreating form of the werewolf Prince.

"I don't want to know," Cade muttered, relieved that the Crown Prince had made them stand guard.

Faun remained oblivious to this exchange inside of the kitchen, he sat at the island, flour stained apron on as he stared into space. He could have probably found a way to distract Declan's bodyguards but he wasn't in the right state of mind for it.

He stayed in the kitchen until the cake was baked, his appetite deserting him although the cake was perfectly fine. He went to the door, tired out now. He just wanted to return to his room and sleep to avoid his turbulent thoughts.

"I made cheesecake if you want," He mumbled to them when he opened the door to find them still standing there. "I want to go back to my room."

Ash and Cade shared a look, Cade immediately taking the lead. "Sure, I'll take you back." He offered because he didn't trust Ash to not be an idiot and pry.

Which was wise because Ash had been about to open his mouth and say something stupid, Cade nipping that in the bud by jabbing him with an elbow before leading the hybrid away.

Ash watched them leave with a frown on his face, very worried about the fox hybrid. He had been the type to 'live and let live' when it came to hybrids and the controversy surrounding their existence but now that he had gotten the chance to be in the same space as another hybrid, they were literally just slightly different werewolves

He hoped that the hybrid would turn out alright. The one thing he was sure of was that Declan would make sure of that. Maybe today was just a bad day for Faun, there was no reason to be so gloomy and dark…

And also, the cheesecake he baked smelled heavenly… Ash walked into the kitchen like he was physically drawn in by the scent, rubbing his hands together. If Cade didn't come back fast enough, he just might come back to find an empty pan. 

He cut out a large slice for himself and settled down to dig into it like it was a slice of pizza. A slap on his head stopped his plans so fast.

"Cade, what the fuck?" He cursed, displeased at the interruption.

"Not even going to wait for me?" Cade scolded lightly, an almost smile on his usually blank face.

Ash sucked on his teeth in irritation, "You don't even like cake-"

"Move over," Cade shoved him before taking his seat although there were empty chairs on either side of him.

Ash just quietly watched him take the slice he already cut for himself and take a big bite, a comically surprised expression on his face. Like he had done that to piss off Ash and was actually surprised to find that it tasted good.

Ash didn't even protest, he just stood up, reached for the pan of cake, snatched it up, and dashed out of the kitchen.

"That little shit," Cade cursed, shoving the rest of the cake in his mouth before chasing after Ash.

At the next turn, Ash ran into Gigi who took one look at what he was holding and grabbed it from him, changing the chase to the two bodyguards going after her while she giggled happily, her mouth full of cake.