CHAPTER 409: CONFUSION

"What—what are you doing?" Elais demanded, breath uneven, eyes wide as he stared at him.

Cadence stopped, blinking at him in confusion. "I was kissing you," he said slowly, as if the answer was obvious. "I thought it was clear..."

Elais stared at him, his mind running in circles. If Cadence had not been looking so genuinely puzzled, he would have thought the man was joking or being sarcastic. But Cadence’s eyes showed no hint of teasing. He really didn’t understand why Elais was reacting like this.

Elais drew in a deep breath, trying to calm himself. Almost without thinking, his hand went up to Cadence’s face, holding it for a moment. Cadence stilled under his touch, then leaned his cheek lightly into his palm like it was the most natural thing to do.

Elais’s chest tightened. He quickly pulled his hand back and gave Cadence a small, awkward pat on the head instead.

"I meant," Elais said, forcing his voice steady, "why are you doing this, Cadence? Didn’t I make it clear this morning that there is nothing like this between us?"

Cadence looked at him for a long moment. "Why not?" he asked quietly.

The question came out softly, but it wasn’t the words that made Elais freeze. He had a thousand reasons he could come up with that they should no kiss. But, it was the expression on Cadence’s face that caught him off guard. That same lost look-confusion clouding his eyes like he didn’t fully understand what was happening.

Elais knew that look. He had seen it before, years ago. The last time Cadence had worn that same expression, he had been so far gone he hadn’t even known his own surroundings. He had wandered the hospital halls like someone in a dream, staring at walls and faces without recognition. For days he hadn’t spoken clearly, hadn’t eaten properly, hadn’t reacted to anyone. Like he was there but not really there.

The memory came back sharp and unwelcome. That was the time he had decided to isolate him from the others and bring him to the island.

And now here he was, sitting in front of him, with that same lost look in his eyes, and Elais felt something twist painfully in his chest. What was he even doing? Thinking he could let this go any further just because Cadence had seemed fine these past years? Because he had been stable, calmer, easier to talk to? Elais cursed himself silently, his throat tight. He should have known better.

He was still caught in that thought when something tugged at his wrist. He looked down. Cadence was shaking it lightly, his grip not tight, but insistent enough to pull him back from his own head.

"Why aren’t you answering?" Cadence asked, his voice carrying the same puzzled tone. His brows were drawn, his mouth set like he was trying to work something out and failing.

Elais let out a slow breath and held Cadence’s shoulders to keep him from moving around too much.

"It’s because you’re Melody’s boyfriend," Elais said finally, voice low but firm. "That’s why you shouldn’t kiss anyone else."

Cadence went still at his words. His eyes dropped to the floor, and he seemed to think about it for a long moment, the silence stretching between them. Elais waited, his hand still on Cadence’s arm, and sighed. Even though he had intended for Cadence and Melody break up, at this moment, he had no qualms about using her name. After all, she was the one responsible for the current mess.

As he was thinking of ways to teach Melanie a lesson, Cadence spoke slowly, as if working it out in his head. "But I don’t like kissing her," he said.

Elais felt his stomach twist. When did he kiss Melody? It had barely been a peck at the island. And then his mind stilled. Max had said something about Melanie having prepared a surprise for Cadence when he returned. Had they kissed? Before he could respond or question him, Cadence continued, voice steady now. "Then I will go and break up with Melody. Then I can kiss you, right?"

Before Elais could even process what he was hearing, Cadence stood up, determination flashing across his face in that simple, straightforward way that made Elais feel ten steps behind. He was actually ready to go right then.

Elais rose quickly, catching his wrist before he could leave. "Sit," he said sharply.

Cadence shook his head, his eyes firm. "No. I want to go and break up. Then I will come back and kiss you."

He tried to pull his wrist free, but Elais’s grip only tightened.

"Cadence. Sit," Elais said again, but Cadence wasn’t listening. He was already trying to push his arm away so he could leave.

In one quick movement, Elais yanked him back harder than he intended. Cadence lost his balance and fell onto the bed with a soft thud, surprise flashing across his face.

Before he could recover, Elais turned him over, moving fast so Cadence ended up on top of him, Elais pinned beneath.

Cadence froze, breath caught, his hands braced on either side of Elais as if unsure what had just happened. Elais stared up at him, his heart pounding, the closeness sudden and overwhelming.

"Stay," Elais said finally, his grip still firm on Cadence’s arm as he tried to get away.

Cadence looked down at him, still processing everything, his expression caught somewhere between confusion and the same stubborn resolve from before.

Elais narrowed his eyes," Did you take your medicine today?"

Cadence pouted," I want to kiss you and you want to talk about medicine. Let go, Elais. I won’t talk to you."

Elais stared at him, his expression slowly changing as he took in Cadence’s words. The man was actually pouting, lower lip pushed out like a sulking child, eyes slightly narrowed, refusing to look at him properly.

"Fine," Elais said at last, his tone flat but steady. "I’ll kiss you. Close your eyes and give me a minute."

The effect was immediate. Cadence’s whole face brightened, the stubbornness vanishing in a second. A small, eager smile spread across his lips as he nodded quickly.

"Okay," he said softly. Then, without hesitation, he closed his eyes, shoulders relaxing as though he completely trusted Elais to do exactly what he had promised.

Elais swallowed hard, his hand still resting on Cadence’s arm. He watched the man sitting there, eyes closed, waiting so patiently for a kiss that was never going to come. Something heavy settled in Elais’s chest, but he pushed it aside.

Moving slowly so as not to alarm him, Elais slid out from under him, keeping one hand on Cadence’s shoulder so he wouldn’t think he was leaving.

"Just a minute," Elais murmured, his voice low.

Cadence only smiled faintly, eyes still shut, as though he thought Elais was preparing for some special moment.

Elais crossed the room to the small table near the wall where the emergency medical kit was kept. His fingers closed around a pre-filled sedative syringe, the kind kept ready for when Cadence had any sort of an episode. He had hoped he would never need it again.

Turning back, Elais approached the bed quietly. Cadence sat there without moving, eyes still closed, a faint, expectant smile on his lips.

Elais knelt beside him. "It will only take a second," he said softly.

Cadence gave the smallest nod, still waiting for his kiss.

Elais exhaled slowly, then pressed the needle into Cadence’s arm in one quick motion before the man could react.

Cadence’s eyes flew open for a second, confusion flashing across his face, but no words came out. Within moments, the sedative began to take effect, his body swaying as the strength left him.

"Elais..." he murmured faintly, eyes blinking slowly, before they fluttered shut altogether and he lost consciousness.