CHAPTER 350: MY HEART CAN’T TAKE IT

[KAWAI]

Tamiko couldn’t remember how long he had slept, but when he woke up to an empty bed, his senses were on high alert.

He had been left in bed, once, by Kosta, years ago, and it wasn’t the most pleasant of experiences. If Kosta left him again, here in his house, it would be the biggest fuck-you to the Lycan prince and all that he meant to the Lycan Chief.

For a moment, Tamiko was scared of that being the truth, and he wondered if there was something he had done wrong.

For starters, his clothes had been changed, and he was in Kosta’s warm clothes. The nest that had once reeked of sex was just filled with Tamiko and Kosta’s scents. Of course, Kosta’s scent was faint, but it was there, however distant.

’Please don’t let it be true again,’ Tamiko prayed silently as he got out of Kosta’s nest and headed for the exit. He didn’t care that he was currently in the Lycan chief’s clothes. If he didn’t find the man, he would go nuts.

’Uncle...’ Tamiko sought out Lord Sadako in the mind links.

’Tamiko? Damn kid, you’ve been gone for a while. Please don’t tell me where you went or what you have been doing with your Erasthai,’ Lord Sadako teased in response, but Tamiko didn’t laugh like he always did, making Sadako worry.

’Uncle... Did... did you call Kosta to the palace?’ Tamiko asked shakily. He didn’t want to admit that he was scared of being abandoned, or that his issues always got triggered by Kosta on most occasions.

He didn’t have the strength to deal with another loss or another rejection. His heart couldn’t handle it. He didn’t know how to deal with such shit and if there came a time that this kind of thing was not needed, then it was now.

’No, he didn’t even report from the battlefield. Did something happen, kid?’ Lord Sadako asked, and Tamiko sighed. He didn’t want to worry them, but he was scared, and he had no one to reach out to.

He could have checked in with his father, but the king was always so protective that he would have sought out the Lycan Chief and summoned him to the palace without caring about what happened or what was going on at the moment.

’Do you... Do you feel his energy in Kawai?’ Tamiko asked, and that had Lord Sadako’s attention even more. He never expected such from his nephew, and this certainly wasn’t comforting for the kid either.

’Tamiko... did you fight with Konstantin?’

’No... but... we went to bed together, and when I woke up, I couldn’t feel him. Everywhere is surrounded by his scent, making it harder for me to track him. I don’t want to bring attention to him in case he needs space.

’I just need to know if he’s okay, or if I did something wrong,’ Tamiko mumbled, and Lord Sadako sighed. He knew this couldn’t have been easy for the kid, and honestly, he hoped for everyone’s sake that Kosta hadn’t made a run for it.

’Are you in Konstantin’s nest, by any chance?’

’Doesn’t matter... He left me here.’

Lord Sadako chuckled.

’Have you tried looking around the house? Maybe he is there and you’re overthinking it all?’ Sadako prompted, and Tamiko got up to look around. He wasn’t sure where to start from, and he didn’t want to invade his Erasthai’s privacy.

’That would be rude.’

’Unless you really want me to ask Zaffuto to track him...’

’No. Not papa. I’ll look around for him. Please don’t leave me alone,’ Tamiko pleaded, and the Lycan Lord just laughed amusedly. The mate bond was confusing for Tamiko, and he couldn’t blame the kid.

’Where am I even supposed to start from?’

’You really want me to answer that, kid?’

’Yes... and no... I’m really terrible at this, aren’t I?’

’If he didn’t want you, or if he intended to abandon you, he wouldn’t have let you into his nest, kid. Stop overthinking and look for your Erasthai,’ Lord Sadako pushed, making Tamiko let out an exaggerated sigh.

Each step out of the bedchamber was something that made Tamiko feel like shit a part of him wondered if snooping around was a good thing. He wanted to call out to Kosta, but he wasn’t sure the Chief would even like that.

It was so confusing that Tamiko wasn’t sure if his Erasthai was a morning person or he liked to sleep in, which was even worse, seeing how Tamiko had woken up to an empty space beside him. But maybe it couldn’t be that bad, no?

’I hear things moving in the kitchen,’ Tamiko said as he steadied himself and wielded his weapons, ready to rip through anyone who didn’t smell like his Kosta, in a space that was filled with the Lycan chief’s caramel scent.

’Don’t tell me you have your swords ready,’ Lord Sadako said exaggeratedly.

’It could be an intruder, uncle,’ Tamiko said sincerely.

’Keep them away, you little shit. You will scar your Erasthai, who is probably making breakfast for you,’ Lord Sadako sighed, and Tamiko stilled. He hadn’t been expecting that, and honestly, he didn’t know what to do about it.

’What if he is... what do I do now?’ Tamiko asked honestly.

’You’ll figure it out. There are some things you must do on your own, son. I love you, but I have to go. If it is an intruder, don’t forget you’re the Lycan prince. If it’s your Erasthai, don’t think too much about it and let yourself be loved.’

’But uncle—’

’Figure it out, kid. You got this.’

’Okay,’ Tamiko said, hoping for the best as he shut the mind links. He wasn’t sure if his uncle was right about this or if someone had truly invaded Kosta’s space. If that was so, then Tamiko had to be ready.

But perhaps he didn’t have to have weapons for this, right?

"Turn around, really slow if you don’t want blood to be spilled," Tamiko said when he reached the kitchen. The room was dark, and he couldn’t see well, but the silhouette there was unnerving. It wasn’t familiar, but at the same time, it was familiar.

"Krushka?" Kosta’s voice broke through the darkness, and Tamiko let out a sigh of relief.

"Baby? I thought... I thought you left me... again," Tamiko said, adding the last bit ever so slowly as he walked into the kitchen, careful not to screw up, and Kosta lit up the candles in there with his magic.

"Oh... There was something I had to do before you woke up," Kosta said sheepishly as he stared into the eyes of the most beautiful man he had ever seen. He looked flushed, and that got Tamiko wondering what he had interrupted here.

"But—"

"I didn’t want to wake you up. You looked so good sleeping, and I wanted to surprise you," Kosta mused as he set down the bowl he was holding on the kitchen table, and walked over to where Tamiko was standing, his confusion still obvious.

"I ruined it, didn’t I?" Tamiko voiced slowly.

"Not really, you came at the perfect time... of course I’d have preferred it when you were in bed, but the way you sounded earlier was hot as fuck, so you get a pass," Kosta said puling Tamiko into an embrace.

"Gods, you’re so beautiful," Tamiko whispered against Kosta’s hair.

"Good morning, moya dusha," Kosta greeted heartily.

"A good morning indeed, my precious."