Kaelith wasn't quite himself, even though he pretended to be. It wasn't just that he had shouted at Elion. It was that he had used his royal authority against him. That thought weighed heavily on his mind. His chest felt tight, uneasy. He didn't know how Elion would feel in the morning… and that uncertainty gnawed at him.
When he finally lay down, he turned his back on Hale.
Hale watched him in silence for a while. He knew Kaelith's heart better than anyone. He knew how kind he truly was. And right now, Kaelith was likely consumed with guilt, not just for raising his voice, but for lashing out at someone he considered a brother.
Hale pulled a little tease to get Kaelith to speak…
"I feel so lonely," he said with a soft, playful sigh, facing the opposite direction. "Sleeping beside my man… but he feels so distant."
Kaelith heard it. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth before he turned to face Hale.
"Hale," he said gently, voice warm. "Come. Rest on my chest."
