“I told you I would.” Matthias smiled.
“What about your father? Will you being here again make your life even more complicated?”
Shaking his head, Matthias rolled onto his back. “I don’t have answers for that right now. I know what I want to do, but I don’t know how to do it in a way that keeps us both alive.”
“Are you worried that if you stay here, we can never step foot in The Grey again?”
Matthias nodded. “There is a very high chance you will have to resign from the King’s Army. I know how much that means to you, but my father will never stop chasing you, and I don’t know how to keep you safe from him.”
“Let’s not think about it. We can just be here together. Is that okay?”
The prince pretended to think for a moment. “Only if you make me breakfast.”
Adalia playfully swatted Matthias on his bare chest in protest and the sound of his laugh rang through the bedroom.
“Hush!” she scolded him as she grinned. “Do you want Nik barging in here and dragging you from the room?”
“I would like to see him try,” Matthias teased.
“Nik is massive and would definitely take his chances with you. I definitely don’t need a display of that much masculinity at this time of the morning . . . so I’ll pass. Thanks.”
The prince grinned at Adalia and pulled her in, silencing her further with a kiss.
A few minutes later, they parted, both with staggered breath and sparkling eyes.
Adalia rolled off Matthias and moved to the side of the bed. “I’m going to change and then we can talk about that breakfast.”
It was a slow morning of stolen kisses and longing stares as both tried to dress for the morning meal, but Adalia would simply glance at Matthias, and it was enough for him to take her in his arms, push her up against a wall and kiss her passionately.
The meal preparation for breakfast had been much the same.
At one point, Matthias lifted Adalia up and placed her on the edge of the countertop and stood between her legs as he showered her face with kisses.
“These pancakes will not make themselves, you know,” she giggled as she braced her hands on the counter and leaned back.
Matthias took the invitation and nipped at her chin in response.
A male cleared his throat and both Adalia and Matthias turned to face a very surprised-looking Nikolas standing in the living room—arms folded across his bare chest. “Do they not have pancakes in Oscuro?”
Adalia covered her mouth to stifle a giggle.
“Not ones that taste this good.” Matthias grinned as he pointed to the golden circles stacked on a plate beside the frying pan.
Nikolas snorted and moved towards the cupboard that held the mugs. “When did you get here?”
“Last night.”
Colour crept into Adalia’s cheeks under her brother’s questioning gaze as she hopped off the counter—quickly busying herself to avoid it.
“Are you planning on staying long?” Nik asked.
“I’ll stay as long as Adalia will have me.”
Adalia offered Matthias a smile and went back to flipping the pancakes. “You boys should hangout and get to know each othera little better. Nik, I’m sure Matthias would love to see your fly-fishing lure collection.”
Nikolas hummed, clinking the metal spoon on the side of his mug as he stirred milk into his coffee.
“What’s fly-fishing?” the prince asked.
