“Three months from now,” Lady Drusus repeated with a slight frown. Realization soon overtook her features. “Albimbert will celebrate his 249th year of rule!”

Kian smiled. “We should take advantage of the situation and present him with a suitable gift.”

“The security will be tight. How…”

Seeing Kian raise his hand, Lady Drusus stopped speaking. “Let’s take care of the rats first.”

The lady nodded. “Meanwhile, let me show you your rooms. You can rest assured that they have been cleaned thoroughly.”

On cue, a maid knocked on the door before opening it. The couple and Ezrel followed her to their private quarters. Their rooms were next to each other. To avoid suspicions, Lady Drusus arranged three separate bedrooms. Kian didn’t bother to hide his displeasure. Malak smiled at his husband’s childishness with a mask covering his face.

Each to their own bedrooms, Malak took off his mask. He sighed in relief. It was too stuffy. Pouring himself a glass of water, he gulped it down.

“I’ll miss you in my bed tonight,” a male voice startled Malak. He let go of the glass in his hand as it shattered on the floor.

“How did you get in?” he asked while glancing at the locked door behind him.

“Courtesy of your admirer,” Kian wrapped his arms around him before kissing his cheek.

Malak pouted. “She’s your subject, and a loyal one at that. But isn’t it risky with the… rats here?”

“It’s a test,” Kian answered more seriously. “No one can be trusted,” he added harshly, before softening his tone. “You’re the only one…”

Malak turned around to face his husband. “It must be hard on you.”

Sadness filled his smile. Kian's normally bright red eyes had turned a coppery colour. “I’m used to it.”

“You shouldn’t be,” Malak whispered sadly.

Kian placed his hand on top of Malak’s. Bringing it to the side of his cheeks, he leaned into it. “I only need you.”

Malak didn’t doubt his sincerity. Kian had given and done everything for him. From the moment Malak met him, he was always kind and considerate. However, being the only trustworthy person in his entourage must be hard and lonely.

“What about Ezrel?”

“I trust him too… But it’s complicated…”

“I see,” Malak hummed. “Two isn’t so bad. It’s a good start.”

A small smile appeared on Kian’s lips. “Yes, it is. But I didn’t come here to talk about my trust issues,” his voice lowered a few octaves and his eyes glowed mischievously.

Malak felt goosebumps on his skin. Intimidated by Kian’s intense stare, he took a step back. Malak tripped as his legs struck the bed. A surprised yelp escaped his lips as he fell onto the fluffy bed. As he straddled the younger demon, Kian never looked away. His eyes burned carnally. Malak felt like he was being eaten alive.

“W-wait,” Malak stopped Kian by pushing him to a stop.

The older demon tilted his head to the side.

“The rooms are too close. What if-”

Their bodies pressed together heatedly against the bed, breathing heavily as their lips pressed together. Malak’s worry melted into his embrace, while his body shuddered in pleasure and warmth. Once they parted, Malak’s eyes shined with love. Kian was the centre of his attention.

“What were you saying?” Kian asked teasingly.

Malak pinched his nose. “Don’t be so mean.”

Kian pushed Malak’s hand away before scrunching his nose up and down. A mischievous smile returned to his face as he picked up Malak. With him in his arms, Kian pushed his back against the wall. The pink-eyed demon wrapped his arms and legs around his lover like a koala would around a tree. They tasted their shared breath and felt the thud of their combined heartbeat as they fumbled to take off each other’s clothes.

Warmth blossomed into Malak’s chest. The smell of Kian’s woody scented body soap, of the softly scented aftershave, was intoxicating. The more he smelled it, the more he craved it.

Malak’s hands wandered from Kian’s neck to his chest. A shudder ran down Kian's spine when he felt the soft touch of the pink-eyed demon. While he had always been proud of his body, at times like this, all those hours of training paid off. He enjoyed watching, feeling his love explore his torso like a temple. Of course, Kian loved to replicate the gesture. They’ll never get enough of each other.

As the bedsheets and clothes tangled around their feet, their bodies fused together and moved as one. As the bed creaked in the background, both men, overwhelmed with pleasure, moaned. Their skin started to glisten with sweat as their movement intensified. They reached the peak of their pleasure together.

Gradually, they slowly parted their bodies. Kian gently put down Malak on the bed. The latter was exhausted and unable to move. The two of them could only smile at each other tiredly. With one another's arms and a thin, damp bedsheet covering their bodies, they fell asleep.