Adrian POV:
Adrian hadn't slept in forty-eight hours.
He lay in his bed staring at the ceiling of his chambers, listening for sounds from the adjoining door. Kael's chambers. The Royal Champion's quarters. Positioned exactly where tradition dictated it should be. Close enough for protection. Always available. Always within walking distance.
Always close enough to drive Adrian completely insane.
The protocol was perfect. Nobody questioned it. The Royal Champion had always lived near the prince's suite. It was standard. Historical. Necessary. Adrian had simply ensured the apartments were prepared immediately after Kael's formal appointment. Had ensured his own advisors oversaw the placement. Had used every bit of his authority to make it official and unquestionable.
Nobody suspected that protocol was just an excuse.
The real reason was simpler and more dangerous. Adrian wanted Kael here. Wanted to see him every day. Wanted to slowly lose his mind knowing that his champion was sleeping behind a wall that separated them by maybe twenty feet.
By the time dawn came, Adrian gave up on sleep and dressed.
He moved through the palace corridors like he had somewhere important to be. Like he wasn't about to see Kael for the first time since that kiss that had broken something inside him. Like his heart wasn't hammering so hard he thought his ribs might crack.
The training yard was already busy when he arrived.
Kael was there with the weapons master, being fitted for new armor. Not the simple commoner gear anymore. Royal armor. The kind that marked him as belonging to the crown. The metal was polished and perfect, and it caught the morning light as the master adjusted the plates.
When Kael saw Adrian, something flashed across his face. Recognition. Hunger. Panic. All mixed together.
Adrian nodded once, like he was just a prince checking on his champion's progress. Like he wasn't thinking about kissing Kael again. Like he could stand in the same yard with him and not feel like the world was tilting sideways.
"The Royal Champion is coming along well," the weapons master said respectfully. "Strong foundation. Quick learner. By next month, he'll be ready for advanced combat training."
"Good," Adrian managed. "I'd like to oversee his instruction in strategy and court politics. That starts today."
The master bowed, understanding that this was not a request.
Over the next week, Adrian created a schedule that kept him and Kael together for hours.
Court politics in the morning. Strategy in the afternoon. History lessons that stretched late into the evening. All perfectly justified. A Royal Champion needed to understand the kingdom. Needed to know policy and tradition and the complex relationships that held the throne together.
It was also torture.
The first lesson, Adrian sat across from Kael at a table covered with maps and documents. The afternoon sun came through the windows. Servants had poured wine and left food, then disappeared at Adrian's signal.
It was just the two of them.
"These are the trade routes," Adrian said, pointing at the map. His voice was steady. Professional. "The kingdom's wealth depends on maintaining relationships with these regions."
Kael leaned forward to look at the map, and Adrian caught the scent of him. Something like sweat and soap and the metal of his armor. Adrian's hands clenched under the table.
"Why does the northern region get special consideration?" Kael asked. His finger moved toward the map, and Adrian's entire body went rigid as Kael's hand came close to his own.
They didn't touch. But barely.
Adrian could feel the heat radiating from Kael's skin. Could feel how close they were. Could feel how much he wanted to reach over and pull Kael toward him right there on top of the maps and policies and everything that was supposed to be professional and distant.
"Because they control the mountain passes," Adrian said, and he was proud that his voice didn't shake. "If they choose to close trade, it destabilizes the entire southern economy."
Kael nodded and pulled his hand back. Adrian felt the loss like a physical thing.
They continued the lesson. Adrian talking about economics and trade while his mind was screaming. While his body was vibrating with the need to touch Kael. While he was sitting inches away from someone he wanted with a desperation that was becoming harder to hide.
Every day was the same torture.
Maps and strategy and history lessons that all required them to sit close. Required Adrian to point at documents and sometimes their shoulders would brush. Required Kael to ask questions while leaning closer to hear Adrian's voice over the afternoon noise of the palace.
Every brush of contact sent electricity through Adrian's blood.
He knew Kael felt it too. Could see it in the way the commoner's breath caught. In the way his eyes would darken when their hands came close. In the way he'd pull back just before touching, like he was terrified of what would happen if they actually gave in.
By the fourth day, Adrian was considering just locking the door and ending this charade.
By the fifth day, he realized people were watching.
Cassandra came to observe one of his lessons with Kael. She sat quietly in the corner, supposedly just checking on the Royal Champion's education. But her eyes were sharp. She was watching how Adrian looked at Kael. Watching how Kael moved around the prince. Watching for any sign that what everyone suspected was actually true.
Adrian maintained perfect distance that day. Didn't lean close. Didn't look at Kael longer than necessary. Didn't let any emotion show on his face.
It was harder than fighting in a tournament.
When Cassandra left, Adrian felt like he could finally breathe again.
By the seventh day, the waiting had become truly unbearable.
Adrian was teaching Kael about diplomatic protocols. About how to speak to foreign royalty. About how to maintain composure in difficult situations. The irony wasn't lost on him. He was teaching Kael how to maintain composure while Adrian himself was completely losing his mind.
"When negotiating trade agreements," Adrian said, trying to focus on the document in front of him, "you must always appear strong but willing to compromise. It's a dance. You need to understand your partner's position while protecting your own."
Kael was sitting beside him, close enough that Adrian could feel his warmth. Close enough that Adrian could count the scars on his hands. Close enough that one wrong movement would have them touching.
"Is that what this is?" Kael asked quietly. "A dance?"
Adrian's hands went very still.
"What do you mean?" he asked, though he knew exactly what Kael meant.
"This," Kael said, and his voice was low enough that nobody could hear over the palace noise outside. "These lessons. You teaching me strategy while sitting close enough that I can barely think. You looking at me like you're about to lose control. You maintaining perfect distance like you're terrified of what happens if you don't."
Adrian's heart stopped.
He couldn't respond. Couldn't risk words. Couldn't risk looking at Kael because if he did, he knew he wouldn't be able to stop himself. Knew he'd reach across this table and pull Kael toward him and damn the consequences.
"It's a dance," Kael continued softly. "And I'm losing my mind waiting for the music to stop."
A knock at the door made them both jump.
Adrian straightened immediately, putting distance between himself and Kael. His voice came out sharp and controlled. "Come in."
A servant entered, bowing. "Your Highness, the king requests the presence of Royal Champion Thorne. Immediately. In the throne room."
Kael's face went pale.
Adrian's blood turned to ice.
The king. Wanting to see Kael alone. Which meant Aldric was probably hearing reports about their time together. Probably putting pieces together. Probably preparing to do something that would separate them permanently.
"Tell the king the champion will be there shortly," Adrian said, keeping his voice level even though panic was flooding through his entire system.
The servant bowed and left.
Kael stood slowly, and Adrian could see him trying to master his own fear. Trying to be the strong warrior instead of the commoner terrified of the king's judgment.
"Whatever he says," Adrian whispered urgently, "don't admit anything. Don't confirm any suspicions. Just be professional. Just be his Royal Champion."
"And if he asks directly?" Kael said. "If he asks me straight out what's happening between us?"
Adrian had no answer for that.
Because the truth was that he didn't know anymore. Didn't know how to hide this. Didn't know how to maintain distance when every part of him was screaming to claim Kael completely. Didn't know how to be a prince and feel this way simultaneously.
Didn't know what the king would do if he learned the truth.
"Then we're finished," Adrian said, and the words felt like they were killing him. "If he asks and you admit it, they'll execute you. There's no negotiation with treason."
Kael reached out and touched Adrian's face. Just briefly. Just enough for Adrian to feel it. Just enough to break his heart completely.
"Then I'll lie," Kael said. "I'll lie and keep you safe."
He turned and walked toward the door.
Adrian wanted to call him back. Wanted to tell him that lying wouldn't be enough. Wanted to confess everything to the king and burn the kingdom down if it meant keeping Kael alive.
Instead, he watched his champion walk toward what might be a death sentence, and he couldn't do anything to stop it.