Mrs. Vesper was in the kitchen when Caspian slid down from the couch and walked outside the palace into the garden. He saw Darius talking to the guards, so he ran faster across the huge garden on bare feet, because he knew Zayden was there at any time.

He spotted a bench at the corner and sat there, lonely.

"Huhh… it's too fresh here," he whispered, spreading his hands out.

Then he walked farther from the palace, into the vast garden. He just wanted to touch the wall at the end.

"It will be quite fun," he murmured, breaking into a run. Suddenly, his stomach started to hurt.

"Ahh!" He bent over and crouched down. His pheromones spread everywhere — sweet honey-milk.

"Oh no." Horror filled his eyes as he looked around.

"It's my heat… what should I do?" He looked around, but there was no one to listen to him.

---

Zayden came out of the study room and found no one on the couch, though Caspian's shoes were still there.

"Hufff! He's getting stubborn day by day," he muttered. He turned and called for Mrs. Vesper.

"Where is Caspian?" Zayden asked.

Mrs. Vesper looked at the couch in confusion.

"He was here a moment ago! I don't know. I left him here."

Zayden nodded in understanding and went to check Caspian's room, but he wasn't there. Then he walked out of the palace casually.

"Darius!" Zayden called. Darius was talking to the guards about something. He quickly walked over and bowed slightly in respect.

"What is it, boss?" he asked, confused.

"Did you see Caspian?" Zayden asked anxiously, looking around the garden.

"No, boss. I'm busy, so I didn't see him." Darius answered flatly.

"Hmm. Where should he go?" Zayden lost himself in thought, looking around for any trace of him, when suddenly a palace guard interrupted.

"Boss, I saw the young master."

"You saw him? Where?" Darius inspected him like he was some kind of criminal. Zayden just waited for the answer he wanted.

"Ah… he went toward this direction." The guard pointed toward the garden in one direction. Darius and Zayden followed his gesture. Zayden sighed at the distance.

"Thanks." Zayden thanked him, but the guard only bowed his head slightly in acceptance. Zayden walked toward the direction he mentioned, and Darius got back to work.

He walked, looking here and there, when he smelled it — pheromones with a milky honey taste. He could never forget whose pheromones those were. His eyes turned sharp with possessiveness as he called out.

"Love! Are you here?" But no one answered. He increased his pace and literally ran toward where the pheromones were coming from.

"Love! Are you listening to me? Answer me." Then he saw him. Caspian was curled on the grass at the base of the garden wall, arms wrapped around himself. His bare feet were scratched, his shirt clung to his back with sweat. His whole body trembled.

"Love," Zayden's voice dropped low.

Caspian's head jerked up. His eyes were glassy and unfocused. Horror and shame flooded his face when he saw who it was.

"No—" He tried to scramble back against the stone wall. "Don't. Don't come closer."

Zayden crouched down toward him.

"Don't be afraid. I won't hurt you. Look here, in my eyes." Zayden lightly grabbed him by the arms. Caspian didn't say anything and let him.

"Good boy" Zayden whispered to him.

But Caspian can't control anymore.

Caspian's nails dug into his own arm, sharp and desperate. His teeth followed next, sinking into the skin above his wrist like he could punish the heat out of himself.

Zayden caught his wrist mid-bite, wrenching it away before blood could rise. His grip was firm but careful, eyes dark with panic.

"Stop," he ordered, voice rough. He pressed Caspian's hand in his own hands. "If you need to bite, bite me. But don't you dare hurt yourself. Not while I'm here."

Caspian looked at him with shocked expressions.

Zayden suddenly hugged him tightly. Caspian's head pressed against Zayden's chest, his breath staggered.

"Breathe, love. Breathe slowly," Zayden patted him lightly on the back.

Caspian followed his advice and breathed lightly against his chest.

"It's hot," he struggled in Zayden's arms.

"Zay, it's too hot, I ca— hmmmmm…" Zayden captured his mouth in a deep kiss. Caspian tried to speak, but his voice was swallowed by the kiss. Then Zayden let him go, and they both took deep breaths to calm themselves.

"Let's go to the room," Zayden whispered to Caspian, who just nodded. God knows how hard it was for Zayden to control himself right now. He carried Caspian and walked toward the room. Darius and the other guards smelled the pheromones and turned toward the source, but they bowed their heads when they saw Zayden was carrying Caspian.

Zayden didn't look back. He entered the palace. Mrs. Vesper was there. She didn't smell the pheromones because she was a beta, so she stood there in respect.

"Mrs. Vesper, don't let anyone enter the second building," Zayden instructed her while walking toward his room. She just nodded and watched them suspiciously as they disappeared into the palace.

Zayden locked the door.

"Hsssss," Caspian bit him on the nape, then licked his nape as if trying to apologize.

Zayden laid him quietly on the bed. He was about to leave when Caspian grabbed his arm.

"Zay! It's too hot. Don't leave me." Zayden wanted to go because he didn't want to hurt him. He knew he would lose control at any moment, so he tried to persuade him.

"Love, look, I don't control myself anymore. Let me go. I'll come back after taking a cold shower."

"No! Don't leave it's too uncomfortable.I can't" Caspian hugged his arm and pressed his whole weight to stop him. Zayden could still leave him, but Caspian's tears were his biggest weakness.

"Don't blame me then," Zayden cupped his cheeks. While moving his thumb over his Pink lips.

"I won't," Caspian looked at him with teary eyes. There was no hesitation in those eyes.

"Just… just end this. It's too hot," Caspian pleaded like a child asking for candy.

Zayden gulped hard.

"Think again. You won't regret it, right?" Zayden tried his last bit of patience.

"I won't," Caspian wiped his tears, still holding Zayden like he was his everything.

"Fine," Zayden leaned toward him.

"Let's do this."

---