At the door, Liam reluctantly set Cailan on his feet, keeping one arm firmly around his waist for support. Cailan swayed slightly, his legs trembling with the effort of standing. The lock clicked, and soon Cailan felt the softness of a bed beneath him. But as Liam's warmth retreated, panic clawed at Cailan's chest.

With a desperate whimper, Cailan dragged himself towards the edge of the bed. His weakened limbs betrayed him, and he tumbled to the floor in an ungraceful heap. The rough carpet scraped against his skin as he squirmed across the floor.

The door shut with a soft thud, and suddenly Liam was there again. Strong arms encircled Cailan, lifting him effortlessly back onto the bed.

"I'm here," Liam's voice was a soothing murmur, his hand warm and gentle against Cailan's cheek. "You're safe. Settle down."

Cailan buried his face against the warm fabric of Liam's trousers. "Sorry.”

Liam leaned down, his fingers gently combing through Cailan's hair, tucking a loose strand behind his ear. "Not your fault."

"I didn't think you were going to come back for me," Cailan whispered in a voice that wavered with every word.

"I was always coming back for you," Liam said, his voice low and intense. "I will always come back for you. You're mine, understand? My boy, my responsibility."

"Yours," Cailan echoed, the word a promise and a plea all at once.

There was a moment of hesitation before Liam spoke again. "Do you hate me for it? For owning you?"

Cailan lifted his gaze, his peridot eyes wide and earnest as they met Liam's. "I love you more than anyone."

For a moment Liam just stared down at him, a furrow in his brow and his lips slightly parted, but then a smile overtook his face. He stroked a hand around Cailan's jaw. How could Cailan ever have doubted Liam would return for him when Liam looked at him with such complete adoration?

A sharp knock at the door shattered the moment. He patted Cailan's cheek reassuringly as he instructed, "Stay here."

As Liam rose to answer the door, Cailan fidgeted on the bed. His skin prickled with an almost physical ache for Liam's touch, but he obeyed, remaining in place. The minute of separation felt interminable, but soon Liam returned, balancing a tray of food.

Liam settled them both on the bed, manoeuvring Cailan until he was nestled securely against his chest. The warmth of Liam's body seeped through Cailan's robe, soothing his frayed nerves. Liam lifted a fork to Cailan's lips, offering a delicate slice of roasted rabbit. The rich aroma made Cailan's mouth water, and he accepted the morsel gratefully.

They fell into a rhythm, Liam alternating between feeding Cailan and taking bites for himself. As his hunger abated, replaced by a comfortable fullness, Cailan turned his face into the crook of Liam's shoulder, shaking his head at the next offered bite. Liam finished the rest of the food on his own and set the tray aside.

In the cramped bathroom, they washed up together, Liam's fingers tender as he helped Cailan into his night robe. As they settled into bed, Liam's arm draped over Cailan's waist, pulling him close until Cailan's back was flush against Liam's chest.

Exhaustion tugged at Cailan's consciousness, the edges of his vision already blurring with sleep. But behind him, Liam remained restless. His body shifted minutely, muscles tense, and a soft sigh escaped his lips. 

Cailan fought against the pull of sleep, forcing his eyes open. He reached back, his hand finding Liam's and intertwining their fingers. "You're fine," he murmured, his voice thick with drowsiness. The words, so often spoken by Liam to comfort him, now flowed from Cailan's lips. "And I'm fine. We're fine."

Liam's arm tightened around Cailan's waist, pulling him impossibly closer. His breath tickled the nape of Cailan's neck as he spoke, his voice a low, tender rumble. "Yes sweetheart, we are."

Liam's body slowly relaxed against Cailan's, the tension melting away with each shared breath. In this cocoon of warmth and safety, the challenges they'd faced and those yet to come seemed distant. For now, in the sanctuary of each other's arms, they were more than fine—they were home.

#

Consciousness returned to Cailan slowly, like the gradual brightening of a room as dawn light filtered through a window. Gentle fingers threaded through his hair, lifting the golden strands and letting them cascade back down in a soothing rhythm. Despite the night's rest, Cailan's body felt leaden, as if gravity had doubled its hold on him overnight. He burrowed his face into the crook of Liam's neck, exhaling a soft sigh against the warm skin.

"Good morning," Liam's voice rumbled through his chest, vibrating against Cailan's cheek. "Feeling better?"

Cailan managed a tiny nod. In the past, he would have pushed himself to offer a proper response, but he knew now that Liam would forgive a little hard-earned vulnerability.

"Good," Liam murmured. "You can rest. I have the whole weekend off, and I intend to spend every moment with you."

Cailan shifted, pulling back just enough to meet Liam's gaze. “And then you’ll go back?”

Liam's lips curved into a reassuring smile. "Only during the day. I'll be here with you every night. It won't be so different from when I was in school."

A knot of fear tightened in Cailan's chest. "But it's the military," he protested, unable to keep the tremor from his voice. "Won't it be dangerous?"

"I'll be fine," Liam said, his smile not quite reaching his eyes. The bravado in his voice didn't fully mask the underlying uncertainty. Cailan felt Liam's arms tighten around him, as if seeking reassurance as much as offering it.

"For now, it's just training," Liam continued. "The real dangers come later. But Cailan, I need you to understand—this isn't just about me. It's about us. About your future. Anyone can die, even living the safest life imaginable. I need to build connections, make friends I can truly trust with your care if something were to happen to me. I couldn't find that in the world I grew up in."

Cailan pressed closer, burying his face in Liam's chest. "I don't want to think about that. About you… dying."

Liam's hand stilled in Cailan's hair, then moved to cup his cheek. "You don't have to, love. But I do," he said gently. "I don't plan on it, but I have to plan for it."

"Thank you," Cailan breathed. He swallowed hard, trying to push past the lump in his throat. "So, um, after your training. What will you be doing? What sort of work is there in the military?"

Liam seemed to relax slightly, grateful for the shift in conversation. "Oh, it's quite varied," he explained, his fingers resuming their gentle caress of Cailan's hair. "Anything too much for local law enforcement, really. Dealing with bandit camps, for one. Those skilled enough might even tackle vampire nests. There are even stories of strange creatures that cross the border sometimes, though I'm never quite sure which tales to believe."

“It’s rare, isn’t it?” Cailan asked. "Back in the nursery, I used to have terrible nightmares. We weren't far from the border, and I'd imagine... things... coming across. But the matron always said it was a silly fear, that nothing ever crosses over."

"'Never' might be too strong a word," Liam said carefully. "But yes, it is quite rare."

Cailan bit his lower lip, hesitating. His gaze dropped, focusing on a loose thread on Liam's shirt. "Can I ask you a question?"

Liam's fingertips found Cailan's chin, gently tilting his face upward. “Always.”

Cailan tried to follow the guidance, but the words that burned on his tongue made it hard to hold eye contact. “One of my teachers told me this was a stupid question when I asked it of her, so—be warned. But she didn’t tell me why it was stupid, and it bothers me. Would you... would you indulge me?"

“Of course. Curiosity should never be stifled. Ask me anything."

Cailan wasn’t sure most people would apply such a concept to a slave, but that was a whole different conversation, so he answered the statement with nothing more than an agreeable nod.