-Adam's POV-
Zach and Cameron slid back into their seats looking somewhat relieved, while my pack and I waited in anticipation as Uncle Tom pulled on the blind cord, and the outside world came into view once again.
It was still rather dark outside, but as I peered out the window from where my seat sat next to it, I didn't see anything out of the ordinary, I couldn't even sense anything, which was definitely weird.
They were acting like there was something out there they didn't want us to see, if that wasn't the case, why were they so shifty, so on edge?
"What was that all about?" Luke asked through the packs mind-link.
"I'm telling you, man. There's something suspicious about these guys," Michael commented with a frown, his gaze still burning out the window.
I didn't like how he talked about my mate, but I couldn't help but think he was right.
-Kaden's POV-
We didn't return to detention after that, instead I made my way back to Galtolga, while Adrian and Cameron met up with Zach and Gabriel outside school.
They would be joining me soon, but I had to file the reports, and prepare to send notices out to find the people who attacked us, the problem would be doing this without bringing fear, and worries to my people.
This was a very worrying matter, that some of our own people would be brave enough to pull such a stunt while in the human world, and we had to prepare for the fact that this may not be the last time they do so, we would have to put a stop to it as soon as possible.
It wasn't long before Adrian was knocking on my door, Cameron hovering behind him looking sheepish.
"Come in," I welcomed them into my office, Gabe and Zach were sitting in the waiting room, but I gestured for them to follow too.
We all entered my office, gathering around the desk, as I pulled out one of the files to hand to Adrian, and another one for Cameron, which they simply took with a nod of their head.
Zach and Gabriel explained everything that happened in the classroom, which Adrian found more amusing than he should have.
"Baby...you told them I have a small bladder?" Adrian looked like he didn't know whether to laugh or cry, clearly dreading his next visit with the teacher.
"I'm so sorry, I panicked." Zach seemed just as mortified as he continued to apologize, but Adrian just chuckled, pulling his keeper closer to him, as he hooked an arm around his waist from behind.
"I am sorry I had to put you two in that situation," I apologised to Gabriel and Zach, "but we are really grateful for your help, as you know this kind of situation does not happen, and we will do everything in our power to try and prevent this from happening again in the future, but I would like to thank you personally for your help today."
Zach shook his head as Gabriel frowned.
"You don't need to thank us, we're just happy to have been able to help," Zach smiled, rubbing at the back of his neck.
"What Zach said, anyway, we just did what we had to," Gabriel shrugged.
"And I appreciate that," I smiled.
After that Gabe and Zach left, and I was left alone with Adrian and Cameron, I sighed, falling down into my seat as they sat on the other side, looking down at the sheets in front of them.
For a moment, I thought Adrian was going to moan about how much he hated paperwork, but instead he looked worried, and I couldn't help but wish he would complain, even if just to ease the mood a little, but I think we were all a little lost in our own thoughts.
"Adrian, did you recognise any of the people we fought today?" I asked.
Adrian was the friendly sort, and honoured himself by getting to know everybody's names, he liked to know people, and what they were about, it was just a little quirk of his that came in handy more times than not.
It was something that never seemed important to most people, but sometimes I wondered if Adrian did it on purpose.
"I recognised a couple of people from the back of the field, they used to hang around the burnout a lot, but I haven't been there in a while," Adrian frowned.
The burnout was a name given to one of the skateparks dotted around the area, that particular park was more secluded than the rest, and was soon taken over by a band of delinquents, the walls quickly grew with graffiti, and people started avoiding that one not long after that.
Many residents wanted me to act on it in some way, even suggesting having the skatepark closed off, but if I did that, they would just find somewhere else instead.
I actually looked into it myself, the group were mostly kids, not quite feeling like they fit in amongst the other, and simply trying to find their way in life, I couldn't take that away from them, kids needed a place to be kids, and that's simply what I told everyone, with the promise that if things did get violent, then I would take further actions.
This was so long ago now, I had completely forgotten about it, they never did cause any real trouble, I was glad for that.
"Do you know their names?" I asked, watching him nod as he scribbled down their names for me.
"Um, Sir?" Cameron asked, hesitantly.
"Yes, Cameron?" I brought my attention over to him, and smiled reassuringly when I saw him frown.
"I recognised one of them too, they were near the portal but ran as soon as she saw you approaching," his eyebrows furrowed, as if he was trying to remember what happened.
"Do you know who it was?" I asked calmly, watching Cameron nod his head.
"Amelia," he simply said.
"Oh shit," Adrian stared at Cameron with wide eyes, who looked back with the same expression.
Amelia? I had heard that name before, but when? I wracked my brain for a bit, trying to find where the name fit, when it hit me.
Back when Cameron was just learning about our world, he was thrown into things before he was ready, forced into our world without a word of warning, a portal had been created in front of him by a girl he met on the forest trail out the back of school, a girl named Amelia.
"That is a problem," I frowned, we never could find the girl, there was no records of her, not under that name anyway, and we never saw here again after that, until now.
"What does she want?" Adrian asked aloud, though it seemed he was more asking himself than us.
"That's twice that she's broken our rules, and risked our exposure to the humans, that we know of anyway, whoever she is, we have to find her, and stop her," I sighed.
"We'll bring these two in for questioning," I decided, gesturing to the two names Adrian had scribbled down.
I sent message out to the guards, but neither of the two suspects could be found, it was understandable they would be laying low after what they did, they both had fled the scene pretty early by the sound of it, and were probably hiding in the human world somewhere.
I broadened my message out to all of the guards to keep an eye out for the two, as well as Amelia, and if any of them were found, they were to immediately be detained and taken to our prison, and to inform me as soon as possible.
After that, I finished filing the reports, before getting to work on my other duties, when night finally came, and I was able to rest, I was exhausted, as I lay on my bed.
I hadn't quite figured out what I was going to say to Tom, and Adam and his friends, but that seemed to be the least of my problems right now, even so, I found myself worrying about it.
I didn't want them getting too suspicious just yet, not when I still had so much to work out.
A sigh left my lips as I rolled over in bed, tomorrow I would tell Adrian about Adam, but I didn't allow myself to worry about it, as I willed my eyes to close, and forced myself to get some sleep.
~
The next day I was crammed with work, even though it was a Saturday, it felt like I couldn't catch a break.
Everyone needed something, and the paperwork had only grown since the events of yesterday, I tried to keep the word from spreading around about us getting attacked while at school, and since it was only my close friends and the guards that were on the scene, it was easy enough to do.
However, it decreased our chances of finding the attackers, it would have to remain that way for now though.
Around dinner time everything calmed down a little, so I took the time to get some lunch and reached out to Adrian, asking if he would have time for a more personal conversation, later today.
He immediately confirmed that he would come see me some time around five o'clock, and I could tell he was trying to hide the curiosity in his voice.
I got back to work shortly after, using my time to complete as many of my jobs as I could, I was so busy I didn't have the time to think, until five o'clock rolled around and I didn't even realise.
A knock sounded on my office door, but my head was buried in paperwork, I simply called for them to come in, and in strolled Adrian, smiling from ear to ear.
"Hey, boss! Busy day?" He smirked, eyeing the paperwork in front of me, my attention flew onto the clock, surprised to see just how quickly time had gone.
"You have no idea," I sighed, forcing the paperwork to one side before gesturing for Adrian to take a seat.
"Can I get you anything, coffee, water?" I asked, trying to rearrange my thoughts, now that I actually had time to do so.
"Nah, I'm good thanks, man. Are you okay?" He looked worried now, but I simply smiled.
"I am fine, it has been a long day, but I was hoping to talk to you about something...as a friend." Confining in my friends was something I didn't do as much as I should, most of the time I got so caught up in work, I forget that's something that I can actually do.
I may be King, but I have personal issues just as much as anyone else, and those I don't have to keep to myself.
"Of course, you can talk to me about anything," he smiled, relaxing into his seat.
I took a deep breath, mentally preparing myself for the confession I was about to make.
"I think I have found my keeper," I let the words fill the air before I could stop myself, I couldn't back out of this.
Silently I watched for Adrian's reaction, first he was silent, a blank expression on his face as he let my words sink in, you could see the moment they did, when understanding showed clearly on his face.
It was amusing to watch his eyes widen, as his mouth drop open and closed a few times, his eyebrows furrows before relaxing and he spluttered openly, before finally a wide grin stood proudly on his face, his eyes smiling with him.
He jumped forward in his seat, moving so he was sitting on the edge of it, his hands coming to rest on the desk in front of him.
"Kaden! Holy shit, man. I mean, that's great! That's fantastic! I don't know...how did...you've been wai-what do you mean, you think?" He fumbled over his words, not knowing what to say first, everything just kind of coming out as one, until he settled on a final question, looking at me in confusion.
"They're human," I confessed with a sigh, "and obviously I haven't taken my guard down, but I've been noticing the signs." I couldn't help but think that I could still be wrong about this, but it didn't feel like it, not one bit.
"May I ask who it is?" He looked concerned, I thought it was because my keeper was human, but of course, Adrian always surprises me.
"Adam." I was very consciously aware of how my heartbeat increased from speaking his name.
"Ohhh that makes sense." The concern cleared from his face, replaced with one of understanding, as if everything finally made sense again.
"What do you mean?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Well, you've taken your guard down before at school and felt nothing, however you haven't taken it down since those new guys joined us. Oh, and Adam is constantly staring at you by the way, and I mean like constantly, I didn't want to say anything because I know you'd only ever have eyes for your keeper, but since he probably is now, you'd probably be happy to know that," he finished with a cocky smirk, making me roll my eyes.
"I just don't know what to do now," I sighed, rubbing at my forehead.
"Isn't it obvious?" he asked, stunned. "You need to take your guard down," he said, as if the answer was staring at me in the face this whole time.
"Adrian...in case you've forgotten, we were attacked at school the other day, the last thing I want to do is take my guard down at a time like this."
Adrian frowned, not liking what he was hearing, but he knew I was right, we couldn't risk something like this right now.
"You could just ask him on a date..."
"Adrian!"
"Right...sorry." He sighed, leaning back in his seat as he thought to himself in silence.
"Y'know, I hate to be that person, but you don't seem too happy about Adam being your keeper," he noted.
"It's not that, it's just...he's human, Adrian," I stressed.
"So?"
"So-" I hesitated.
"Let it out, Kaden!" He demanded.
"I'm the King, my job isn't easy, in fact it's incredibly stressful and dangerous, my keeper is expected to work beside me, to rule with me, being human is way too dangerous, I'm constantly going to be on edge, to worry that they're going to get hurt, it also makes them one hell of a target, especially to our enemies."
I breathed.
"And the residents of Galtolga are not going to be happy about this, I know they don't say it, but you can tell some people are not willing to bow down to a human, and it's so stupid that they feel that way, most of us literally live among the humans, we're no greater than them and we are not superior, we should be seen as equal! And they're definitely not going to trust him to be able to protect them."
I stood from my seat, pacing around the room as Adrian listened.
"There's also the fact that I'd have to trust him with the secret of our world and our people, and that's dangerous enough on itself, and he wouldn't feel the same connection I do, what if he doesn't want me? What if he doesn't want this life? I could lose him so easily before I even have him, and I get overwhelmed with all these emotions and worries, and then he touches me, and it's like nothing evens matter anymore."
I could feel my eyes change, but I didn't force them back, I was finally letting myself feel the emotions I had pushed back for so long.
"This feeling of calmness just washes over me, and all my worries disappear, the overwhelming emotions fade like they were never even there, and I feel like I can finally breathe again, and I crave it, and it scares the shit out of me. I am terrified at just the thought of removing my guard, because I have no idea what will happen if I do, and because of those idiots, I won't be finding out anytime soon."
With a final sigh, I fell back into my seat, my head falling back to stare at the ceiling.
"Wow, that felt good," I confessed, breathing heavily.
"I knew it would," Adrian grinned. "Okay, now maybe I can ease your mind a little bit."
I looked at him in question, but didn't speak as I was still calming down from my rant, I just waited for him to continue.
"Fuck what people think about your keeper being human, they know damn well you can't pick and choose, so it would be selfish of them to complain about it, what do they want you to do, go out and find another keeper?"
I chuckled at his words.
"We all know that's not how it works; you get one keeper, and you can't swap and choose, that's what makes them so special. My keeper isn't a fighter either, but you know what he is? A Soul Waker, he is one of us, and imma tell you right now, Kaden, I worry about him too, and he's not human, you're going to worry about him either way, he's your keeper, it's part of the job title."
"I think you also forget how powerful you are, and how much more powerful you will be with your keeper, and trust me, that protectiveness really kicks in hard, you won't let anyone even risk the safety of your keeper."
"Also, Adam seems like a really cool guy, I really think you'll be able to trust him, but there's really no rush, you don't have to tell anyone just yet, and take your time to get closer to him, get to know him more."
"Oh, and Kaden?" He had a serious expression on his face as he addressed me.
"Yeah?" I asked, suspiciously.
"Congrats on finding your keeper," he smiled brightly.
"And seriously, don't worry about what anyone thinks, I've got your back through this, and I can help with everything when the time finally comes to tell everyone." Adrian patted me on the back with a reassuring smile, and I found myself smiling back.
"Thank you, Adrian."