Note: (4/8) of mass release. 

March 25, 1096

"If I asked for your real name, would you kill me?" Prince Nabu asked, running his hand down Ghost's skin. 

Ghost shivered, not stopping his body from leaning closer this time. "How do you know that Ghost is not my real name?" 

Prince Nabu chuckled as he kissed another spot on Ghost's neck. "You are an assassin; why would you ever use your real name?" 

As he pushed his head back, Ghost's lips touched against Prince Nabu's as both their eyes almost fluttered closed from the electric shock going through them both. "Listen closely," Ghost whispered, no longer caring for the rules engraved in him. 

Prince Nabu made sure he listened closely. 

"Call me," Ghost pressed their lips together, finally kissing the prince. Their lips moved against each other like a slow dance that took people's breath away. They connected like no other, slightly opening their mouths from the sheer pleasure. Tongues touched against each other, steadily but surely. 

Pulling back from the third touch, Ghost finished his sentence. 

"River." 

River awoke, staring at his ceiling as he clicked his tongue. Lately, memories of his and Prince Nabu's first meeting kept running through his mind. 

He sat up, sighing as he ran his hand through his hair, trying to calm himself. After Prince Nabu left, he tried going back to sleep but guessed it wouldn't happen. 

River thought he might as well get ready to leave. 

Getting out of bed, River got ready for today. When he walked out of his room half an hour later, he smelled food filling the air. Mrs. Adair smiled as she set a cup of tea on the table, "River, how was your sleep?" 

"Fine," River came over, picking up the tea as he took a sip. He knew the cup of tea was for him; Mrs. Adair always made him one. "How are you?" 

He stood by his son, who was happily chewing away. Running his hand through Kiyt's hair, River gave most of his attention to Mrs. Adair. 

"I am good, my dear. Are you leaving for work?" She asked, feeling the chair near her before sitting down. 

"I am," River nodded, "sorry for having you take care of Kiyt every time I leave." 

Mrs. Adair waved her hand, dismissing River's troubles, "I do not mind. I love watching Kiyt. He is such a bright boy." She smiled at Kiyt, although she was off by an inch on where the boy sat. 

Kiyt returned the smile, swallowing his food, "I love granny too!" 

River and Mrs. Adair both chuckled. "Thank you, still," River commented, "I will return tonight." 

He kissed Kiyt's forehead. "I love you." He loves his son more than anything. And sometimes, he could not leave without telling Kiyt that. Because what if he never returned home? He wanted his last words to be "I love you" to Kiyt. 

"I love you too!" Kiyt happily shouted, kissing his dad on the cheek. River ruffled his son's soft locks one last time before pulling his hand away. "See you soon." He slightly bowed towards Mrs. Adair, even though she couldn't see it. 

"See you soon." She replied as River walked out of the house, putting his mask on. Now, he was Ghost. 

Ghost entered the palace through his secret passage, making his way towards Prince Cyn's room to speak with him. But, he did not have to go far when he saw the prince walking down the hall, leaving his father's office. 

"Prince Cyn." He spoke once he reached him. 

Prince Cyn turned around, facing Ghost with a hum. "How did it go with finding King Regin an omega?" 

"Successful. King Regin would soon find himself bewitched by the beauty of the omega soon." Ghost responded. 

"Good," Prince Cyn turned back around, "Silently follow me back to my room; I don't need my brothers seeing you." He started walking away without checking if Ghost followed him. 

Prince Cyn did not have to as Ghost followed, sticking to the shadows so no one could see him. When they entered Prince Cyn's room, Ghost paused when he saw a slave sitting on Prince Cyn's bed, eating food off the tray. 

The slave looked back at him with a glare before it (the glare) slipped towards Prince Cyn. Ghost could see a fresh bruise of a hand mark on the slave's neck. 

"This is 49. And 49, this is Ghost." Prince Cyn nonchalantly introduced before getting to the point. "We are going to hold off on sabotaging the trade between my father and King Galot." 

Ghost ignored the way his heart jumped at the mention of King Galot because of Prince Nabu. Every time Prince Nabu appears before him, he begins remembering more and more why they could never be together. 

"In three days, King Galot is holding his annual event to show how 'great' and 'powerful' he is. His events always went smoothly, but what if this year it does not? What can a man, who relies on his vast army, do when he is humiliated in front of royals and nobles?" Prince Cyn rhetorically questioned, hinting at what he wanted. 

Silence rang louder than any answer as anybody could understand what Prince Cyn wanted to do. Reputation is more important to a royal than how many people they have under them. 

Once that reputation is damaged, it makes it harder to strike deals, and the person's prospering territory would turn into nothing but dust. 

"But," Prince Cyn started once more, kicking Ghost from his thoughts, "wouldn't it be fun to build doubt into the citizens' minds first? Ah, I wonder which is better—a ruined reputation or an uprising?" 

During Prince Cyn's speech, Ghost could not help but think about what would happen if Espal fell. Wouldn't that mean that Prince Nabu would no longer be a royal? Even then, he could still not be with the man. But that meant Kiyt would no longer cry for a father who always comes and goes because he could never stay. 

At the same time, it takes a while for a kingdom to fall, and even then, how would he know that Prince Cyn would let him hold onto Prince Nabu. Wouldn't he question why he would want a man he supposedly never met? 

Prince Cyn had never questioned anything when it came to Ghost. He knew how loyal to Prince Cyn he was. But loyalty could get you so far when you have a child with the enemy and want to save him. 

"Do you want me to go with you?" Ghost finally spoke as his mind went through every scenario. He would find a way to keep Prince Nabu to himself for Kiyt. Deep down, he would never admit that it was for him too. 

"Who else would I ask for, Ghost? No one is as good as you." Prince Cyn responded. 

In three days, he would sneak into the palace in Espal to see Prince Nabu. He would find a way to keep Prince Nabu away from the chaos that is to come because he needed—wanted—Prince Nabu to stay alive for their son. He is starting to sound like a broken record with how he tried justifying his reasons. 

Prince Cyn walked over to his nightstand, pulling out a folded piece of paper. He made his way over to Ghost, handing out the note, "I need you to get everything on this list." Prince Cyn told him. 

Ghost grabbed the note, nodding his head. "You are dismissed." Prince Cyn no longer paid attention to him as he went back to watching the slave. 

Taking one last glance at the slave, who remained silent and still, Ghost left the room. As he sneaked away, he thought about what to tell Kiyt. It has been three years since he left the territory, not wanting to be far from his son. 

It will be hard.