When Worlds Collide (MxM)?

Chapter 15 - Curious

Listening in, Kade got the impression that there was a more intricate hierarchy in the Consort Hall. And it involved more than getting the best room.

"Why does everyone want to talk to me today?" He interrupted the women's conversation. "Just yesterday you would cover your noses like I was some gross animal."

The three exchanged looks before Sep took the lead. "It's your accent. You sound...Uneducated."

"I'm Toca's Royal Inventor!"

"People here don't hold much regard to whom King Toca promotes in his castle. We were under the impression that you were just an unusual pet of his that he gave a fake title to."

"But we know better now!" Oyu was quick to defend them. "That time when you explained the train made it obvious that you were smarter than we realized. I could barely follow along."

"I came here with the worst first impression, huh?" Kade sighed.

"Oh, it's not like that anymore." Sep clarified. "This morning, even Pelo admitted you weren't what we expected. You act nothing like the other envoys, and don't take advantage of the king's kindness."

Kade wouldn't call Nyx's manipulation a kindness. The only reason he was working so hard was to get back to Aino. But at least it had helped him garner a positive reputation with the carnivores.

"That's good to know."

"So we were wondering if maybe we could start over?" Sep smiled pleadingly at him.

"Uh, sure. I don't see why not." 

"Great!" Sep clapped her hands enthusiastically.

"Thank you for not holding it against us," Lat added.

"Anytime. But, I have to get back to work now, so we can talk more later."

He bid them farewell and returned to the station to oversee the train's development. But for the remainder of the project, he'd return to the consort hall and be greeted by one of the three women.

The others had stopped teasing but were still not bold enough to approach him on their own. Whenever Kade saw them out with Nyx, he resisted the urge to greet them by name, because they had brought up a very good point.

Kade didn't want Nyx to make him a consort. And if the king learned he was getting so friendly with the others, the man might start to get ideas.

Running his fingers over where Aino's mark used to be, he reminded himself that he'd be free to return soon. Unfortunately, the mark had faded after a few weeks, so he could no longer get away with saying he was claimed.

Just a little longer...

Now and then he'd manage to get some proper rest. And whenever he wasn't exhausted, he'd go to bed wondering about Aino and how he'd greet the man.

"You seem distracted." Sep caught Kade off guard one evening while he was sitting outside.

The lab had started feeling stuffy and the workers at the station were ahead of schedule, so he had returned to the castle for some quiet.

"I'm not." He stared blankly at the paper.

"You've been reading that same page for a while."

"Have I?" He'd lost track of time. Sep took the opportunity to sit beside him and peek at the scribbling.

"Looks important." She remarked.

"It is. I need to double-check the assembly of each part as soon as the metal smiths are done with them. We've already had to rework so many pieces, and I don't want to risk the train not working. The regulator needs to be exact, and that means the cylinders can't have room for steam to escape, and the boiler needs to be..." he glanced at the woman, whose eyes had glazed over. "Uh, sorry. I can get carried away."