[Bonus chapter] His body is the vessel

King Javier, Soren, and Adnan stood at the top of the highest mountain in Arendar, Mount Sisioli.

The dragonling insisted only the three of them take the trip. He was a one-man army and didn't require the troops tugging along. They would attract unwanted attention and alert his enemies of their intention.

The King stood back with Adnan and let him take the lead. Adnan hugged himself, no one warned him that it would be so cold. It was freezing.

Yet, he seemed to be the only one with that problem. The King and his lover weren't a bit bothered by the cold weather or the ice. They stood without warm clothes but we were warm.

He rubbed his hands up and down his arms to generate heat.

"I don't know what pain you are going through but don't do anything that would put you in harm's way," Javier pleaded with Soren. As the male refused to enlighten him on what the problem was. He figured he might as well try to warn him against hurting himself.

Soren pressed his lips shut. He was in pain and needed a release.

"It's so cold," Adnan cried out. Javier turned around in his direction. Watching Adnan struggle to keep warm he sighed. With a friendly smile, he approached Adnan.

"You should have worn warmer clothes, little one," he let out. Javier opened his arms and ushered the boy to come to him.

Adnan hesitated.

He didn't wish to be the reason Soren misunderstands the king again. His eyes trailed over to the dragonling. Soren was busy looking down from the edge of the mountain to notice him.

"Come here before you freeze to death," Javier demanded. Adnan obeyed. He inched closer to the king and accepted the offer. Adnan was hugged by the king. It felt like he was near a fireplace. The King was warm and fuzzy.

For a moment Adnan forgot his place. He leaned further into the king's arms, taking in Javier's rich smokey scent that captivated his nostrils.

"Feeling better?" the king inquired.

"Yes!"

"No!"

Adnan and Soren responded in unison respectively. Javier forced his eyes up to Soren. His dragonling was watching the skies but Javier knew all his attention was on them.

'He has no name, no need to concern yourself with him,' Javier tried to assure Soren.

'Nevertheless, he finds a place in your arms,' Soren replied.

Javier lowered his eyes at Adnan. The poor boy was innocent however his innocence was creating a lot of problems. He had a feeling that it was his sympathy for Adnan that would cause the chaos Soren feared would come their way.

"You should get started soon. The sooner you vent out your frustration the faster I can get you back," the king urged.

Soren stretched his hands to his sides. Holding them in the air before concentrating his energy and power on his hands.

Adnan opened his eyes and watched. To see the magic that Soren was about to perform. He was able to concentrate on the warmth he received from the king.

Bright white light emits from his hands into the world. Adnan narrowed his eyes at the brightness of the light.

The light wasn't blinding, it was drawing.

Adnan started to feel dizzy. Like something was draining all his energy. The stronger the light emitted from Soren the weaker he felt.

Soren drew a deep breath and continued to concentrate. What he was attempting wasn't something new to him. It was just hard as he was bound to the king. He wasn't himself fully. Some of his strength was tied to the king.

It was draining him.

Javier lowered his gaze at Adnan noting something off about the little one. "Are you okay, Ady?" he called out affectionately. The affection in his voice and the nickname confused him.

It came naturally as though it was something he had done before. It made no sense to him.

Adnan reached out and wrapped his hand around the king's neck to keep himself on the ground. His touch made Javier gasp for breath. Soren's concentration wavered in that second.

Javier grabbed Adnan's hand and froze. The slave was touching him, yet his touch felt so much like Soren's. The parts of their skins touching sent electric shivers to his nerve endings thus sending so many feelings to the king.

The King looked back and forth from Adnan to Soren. He could sense from their connection that Soren was growing weaker with each passing second. Same as Adnan which made no sense.

Javier closed his and tried to link with Adnan. To see if the boy was the same as his dragonling. To his surprise, he was able to connect to Adnan, body, soul, and mind.

He was able to see into Adnan's mind, feel every inch of his body, and glance at his desires and lusts. Just as he was able to do with Soren at times. Javier's jaw dropped.

"You didn't find anything in the box did you?" he asked Soren understanding why the male was so upset and on edge. "The cargo was empty like every other box we've found," he added.

Soren blinked for getting himself. The light from his hands dimmed out. His hands trembled at the bitter truth. Once more he had hit a dead end with his search.

"Destiny has a way of bringing what we are searching right to us. We only need to have eyes to spot it when it arrives," the king uttered. Soren turned around, his face wet from tears.

"What are you going on about?"

Javier pointed at Adnan. "What you seek so desperately resides in him. His body is the vessel and his blood the key," the king informed Soren. Soren took another glance at Adnan. Gazing at him with deep red eyes, scanning the male's soul for any imprint of himself. To his shock, Adnan had Soren's birthmark embedded in his heart.

"Looks like your little slave will be of use after all," Soren let out. Javier blinked and Soren was standing an inch away from them. "For me to live, he has to die. Sad," Sored reached his hand into Adnan's chest and grabbed hold of his heart.

Javier panicked.

"Don't you dare?" he let out in a commanding voice. "I order you to stop," he summed up.