Why does my forehead feel so cold?

Cobalt slowly opened his eyes. The dim light of the room was replaced by a warm golden glow.

I fell asleep with my lamp on?

I... don't even remember turning it on.

His eyes blinked slowly, barely open, as they started to focus on his room. He noticed a weight on the bed by his knees first. Then as his eyes moved down to see, he saw a shadowy figure.

Someone?

He felt his heart start to race nervously.

Who – what – how?!

His eyes slowly focused on the shape.

It was the king, sitting with his knees crossed on the edge of the bed, reading one of Cobalt's books.

Just as the king turned the page, Cobalt squeaked and started to get up.

“My-my-my-my My King? How-how did you get in here? Wha-What are you doing in my house?!” He blabbered out, trying to sit up.

The king jolted when suddenly Cobalt started talking. He turned and moved to keep Cobalt laying down. “Calm down. Mrs. Kowalski let me in – after signing a bunch of documents promising that I wouldn't hurt you or do anything.”

“But- But – But wait.” Cobalt felt the cold towel slide off his forehead. He reached up to catch it. He looked at it and then at the king. “But... why are you here?”

“You were sick. I wanted to make sure you were all right.” The king stated easily as he closed the book. Then he reached over and took the towel from Cobalt. “It's okay. You can rest.”

“But... what..? Huh? I just.. Why...?”

The king chuckled a bit as he eased the alpha to lay back down. Nervously, Cobalt rested his head back onto his pillow.

“If you're feeling up to talking, I would like to ask you a few more questions in regards to the negotiations.” The king said after a moment. He dropped the towel from Cobalt's hand into the bowl of cool water and took out one that'd been soaking in there. Evidently he'd worked out a little system. He then rung the new one out, folded it, and placed it gingerly on Cobalt's brow.

“But... I thought... We'd finished the negotiations?”

“Not quite.” the king stated easily.

Cobalt sighed a bit, feeling his chest grow tight. “What... is it you want to ask, my King?”

“Well, first,” the king eased back to the middle of the bedside so Cobalt had some space from him. “Is this a Heat-like fever event? Because you're lacking pheromone glands?”

“How did...?”

“The doctor brought it up as a possibility when he came to see you earlier.”

“A doctor?!” Cobalt squeaked.

“She didn't do anything to you. She just listened to your heart and gave me instructions.” The king clarified. Cobalt relaxed a bit.

Cobalt shut his eyes and inhaled slowly. Then he looked down to the king with a glare. “Look. My King, I do appreciate your concern for my well-being, but it's not needed. I'm an adult and I've been dealing with my own medical issues just fine without you up til now. You can go.”

The king's brow twisted in confusion. “I just wanted to help you.”

“I know, my King. But really. I am fine. You can go back to the palace.”

The king looked away, quietly in thought.

Cobalt held his breath stubbornly waiting to see if the king'd get up. He felt his body starting to grow stiff with the stress of waiting.

The king returned his gaze back to the alpha. “Please answer my questions first.”

The air left Cobalt's lungs and he sighed. “You don't need to know, my King. It's my own business.”

“Would I not need to know if you were my mate?”

“You still wouldn't need to know.”

“But would you tell me?”

Cobalt sighed. “My King. I don't know how to convey it to you clear enough. I am fine without you.”

“I know that.” The king nodded.

The easy response made Cobalt's stiffness and stress in his body relax.

“I simply would like to know. As I wanted to know your name.” The king clarified. “Whether or not you are my mate, but I am hoping you will be, I am concerned. I would like to be allowed to help you.”

Cobalt shut his eyes. “You can't. No one can.” He sighed. “Yes. I suffer from intermittent fevers caused by a lack of pheromone glands. The more you're missing, the worse the fevers, and the more random.” He sighed again. “That doctor probably read the case study that was put out five years ago about me.”

“I see.” The king quietly spoke. “I do have another question, if I may.”

“What's that, my King?” the alpha asked, looking back down to him.

“Cobalt... You said that the doctor did surgery on you suddenly.” The king spoke with a careful, but soothing voice. “Your parents didn't question where you had surgery?”

“No.” Cobalt shook his head a bit. “There was a lot of blood, and they couldn't tell exactly where I was injured. They just knew it was my collar and neck area.”

“For all they knew, any scars you had after the hospital stay, were in relation to the injury...”

“Yeah.”

“I see.” The king leaned back a bit to think.

Cobalt spoke to interrupt his thoughts. “My King. I have nothing to give you. There are better alphas out there for you. Please. I just ask that you go find one of them.”

“I still disagree.” The king shook his head. He gave Cobalt a comically pained look. “I'd throw up on them all. They stink so horribly.”

The reaction caused Cobalt to giggle.

“I do have another question though.”

“Yes?”

The king shifted a bit closer and asked in a quieter voice. “Does this mean, you don't get a normal Heat?”

Cobalt yanked the blankets up over his head. “I – I – I am not comfortable answering that, my King!”

“If you do, then I see no reason to put off the negotiations, Cobalt.”

“I – I – I might... Perhaps... Maybe... But, my King, the fevers are far more frequent!”

“I see.” The king nodded. “I'll be right back. I need to let the doctor know you woke up.”

“What?” Cobalt threw down the blanket to look at the king. “But I don't need--”

“No. You cannot argue this.” The king smiled at him. “Just think of it as an order from your king out of concern for his citizen.”

Cobalt made an uneasy noise. “Ooookay... My King.”