117 How Come He Don’t Want Me?

[KAWAI]

The mating festival came to an end sooner than anyone had ever wished for. Everything was solely going back to normal and the Kawai citizens were slowly coming to terms with the reality that they had their king back.

"I have to go back home, Kosta. That is my home," Tamiko said to his erasthai for the hundredth time. He truly wanted to stay in Kauai and be next to his father but then he had some other things to worry about.

There was more about his life and the pain he had tried to hide one too many times that he wasn't just about to pretend that that shit didn't hurt. Seeing his father standing up for him at the ball had been the last straw for Tamiko's sanity.

Sure, everyone was glad that the king had humanity and could actually joke around, but Tamiko was hurting desperately it was breaking him on the inside. He had gotten a taste of what it meant to age a father that actually cared and he loved it.

He wanted more from the man everyone was scared shitless about yet smiled so heartily whenever he was around him. He wanted to be selfish and choose the King. He wanted to go to King Zaffuto and tell him that he was the man's son and embrace their truth.

However, he couldn't even do that anymore even if he wanted to so badly. No one had seen the mad king since that night at the ball or even heard of what he was doing, not to mention the sad reality that the doors to his chambers had remained closed.

Tamiko had known that he was dreaming and begging the universe for too much, but surely five days without seeing his father was bound to drive the father's son insane, seeing how terrible the King's detachment habits were.

Tamiko was already thinking of worst-case scenarios and frankly, it wasn't helping him one bit. The prince wanted to be everywhere but this Lycan palace or kingdom. Hell, Grealor was suddenly easier than staying in Kawai for him.

"Your home is here with me. Everyone knows I marked you, my beautiful. Please stay," Kosta pleaded with his erasthai for the hundredth time, even though a part of him knew Tamiko had made up his mind.

The Lycan chief was against Tamiko going back to Grealor like that, but then there wasn't much he could do, especially seeing the sad eyes that his erasthai was wearing. Perhaps he would be able to make Tamiko stay for him, right?

The Lycan prince could make his choice but damn, Kosta was simply hoping that his Erasthai didn't map the choice that would break both their hearts. Kosta had known that Tamiko would choose vengeance over love any time but he had hoped for more.

The barbaric Lycan chief had hoped that maybe, just maybe, they would do this together. But then again, Kosta had responsibilities, and bounties to attain. He had a kingdom to run and a king to serve. He had a people that depended on him so he had to stay in Kawai for a while.

Tamiko knew that too, because he didn't try to make Kosta choose between him and Kawai. He couldn't do that to the man who loved him. Perhaps they would have better times ahead, right? Maybe it would get worse before it all got better?

"I'm sorry, Kosta. I really am. But I have to go this time. If it helps, you can always join me in Grealor while I fix loose ends. I love being beside you, I love having you as my Erasthai, and I love the fact that I will always belong to you, trust me on that.

"But this is also something that I have to do. I have suffered way too much in their hands that someone has to pay the price for that. I know I won't be the erasthai you have known to thi–'' Tamiko began and Kosta stepped closer to his beautiful erasthai.

"There is no but, Tamiko. You don't have to explain, my soul. I know and understand you, more than anyone. All I ask is for just one more day. Just one extra day to tie up the loose ends here and then come with you, my soul.

"King Zaffuto will understand," Kosta said and Tamiko scoffed sadly.

"He doesn't even want to see me. I keep knocking on his door and he never opens them. I bet the past three weeks were just in my head, and that's alright. I can only hope he is okay," Tamiko said and Kosta stared at him incredulously.

"What do you mean by that?" Kosta asked and Tamiko stayed at him like he was handing the man right.

"But then he doesn't want to see me," Tamiko said and Kosta let out a light laugh.

"My beautiful soul… you're everything the mad king talks about, and everyone is starting to suspect that he likes you a little too much. You're his link to his sanity and the only reason there isn't war, yet," Kosta said and Tamiko sighed.

Of course, he wanted to believe that, but at the end of the day, he was just a son who missed his father so much that it broke his own heart. He needed to know where the king was, but he couldn't ask without sounding whiny.

Igor Konstantin already knew that Tamiko was the crown prince but that didn't make it any easier for them to deal with the possible chaos they would embrace. Well, it was a good thing Kosta didn't mind going after the king himself if it was for his erasthai.

Perhaps that was a hint at treason and something that king Zaffuto would bring him for, but then maybe the truth was a little too bent for them at the moment, right? Perhaps they could use that to make the king understand, no?

"If he cares so much then where is he? I haven't seen him for a week. I know I can't exactly walk up to the king and tell him that he is my father, but fuck, I just want to know if he is okay or if he needs a friend.

"And you know what's even worse, Sadako uncle is avoiding me. I want to think that it's because of the Gabriel Grealor situation, but even an idiot like me knows uncle wouldn't leave me for just that.

"Something is going on, something that he is protecting me from and I don't know how to go about it. Maybe I'm just overthinking, or maybe this is how fathers are with their sons? Fuck, I should have just come clean to him," Tamiko rambled hopelessly.

Kosta pulled his erasthai into a warm hug, one that was meant to reassure Tamiko that everything was okay, but then Kosta felt the pain his erasthai was feeling. He knew it wasn't going to be busy, but King Zaffuto was in charge of Kawai.

If the king wasn't here and Sadako was busy with other things, Kosta had to explain that to his erasthai. Then again, this was a title that would be a little too hard to explain because at the end of the day, that duo would always want what was best for Tamiko.

"Don't think too much, my soul. They care about you, more than anyone ever would. Besides, the king likes you and the mad king never likes anyone beyond Lord Sadako. Just be patient and everything will be alright," Kosta reassured softly.

"But he's my father… how am I even supposed to tell him that without freaking him out? What if he gets disappointed in the kind of son I am? What if I am only good for being his friend and not his son?

"What if they don't want to see me because I didn't something I don't know about?" Tamiko rambled and this time, Kosta pulled him from the hug, before capturing his lips in a soft searing kiss.

Chief Konstantin understood Tamiko, which was also how he knew Tamiko would lose his mind if he truly learned of what the king and the Lycan Lord were up to. But then compared to the chaos here, maybe Kosta could just tell Tamiko the truth, right?

"Oh, my soul, I'll tell you this… but you didn't hear it for me, my beautiful, alright?" Kosta asked when they pulled apart and Tamiko nodded eagerly.

"King Zaffuto kidnapped Alpha Ashton. They're in the hidden bunkers under Kawai, probably torturing the man," Kosta said with a casual smile.

"What?"

"The King knows you're his son, my soul."