I poked the arm wrapped tightly around me from behind. Only then did he stop smothering my face with kisses. I turned my head to look at him. His face was so sickeningly sweet, it was like honey dripping from his chin. This is bad. He must think I’m all his now, just because we kissed. This was getting complicated. I needed to set things straight—now.
“Hey. Listen—”
I steeled myself to speak, but the patron suddenly covered my lips with his. My already sore lips stung as his tongue gently traced them. The tingling sensation, which had just settled, shot back to my fingertips and toes. I clenched his arm and closed my eyes. His tongue slithered in like a snake, teasing mine. My body twisted on its own.
When I thought about it, I had kissed him back—bit and sucked and everything. Backtracking now would be pretty low. I, the cold city cat, never went back on my word. Even if I’d agreed to it drunk, I had to take responsibility like a man. Not because the kissing felt good. Absolutely not.
After what felt like forever, he finally pulled away. The moment our lips parted, I felt a strange chill. I pressed myself against his chest. Still warm, as expected.
“…Hey. Say something.”
It was getting awkward just clinging to him, so I poked him again. He chuckled low, then pressed his lips to the top of my head and whispered, “I wish we could stay like this until morning.”
I snorted at the sickening sweetness—like he was about to slather me in butter. But… I did kind of want to stay like this until morning. It was freezing, and his body was the best damn heater around.
…Morning?
A sudden thought jolted me upright.
“Hey! What time is it?!”
I grabbed his shoulders and shook him, peering through the draped fabric. The sky was already lightening to a pale blue. Shit. The sun was rising. I’d lost track of time, completely sucked into that damn kiss. I pushed his hands away and bolted.
“Hey. I’m out.”
I flung the fabric aside and sprinted. If the sun came up, I’d turn back into a cat. I must’ve been out of my mind. I rounded a corner, putting as much distance between us as possible.
Just a little farther. Just hold on—
“K!”
I heard him call after me, but I didn’t dare look back. I ran like hell.
Then, suddenly, a hand grabbed my wrist.
“K. Wait.”
The patron gripped me tightly. I knew it was shitty to just bail after everything we’d done, but I didn’t have time for apologies. I yanked my hand free and turned to run again—
“K?!”
The world went dark.
I blinked frantically, my body strangely heavy. When I finally got my bearings, my vision cleared. I looked down. Black, fluffy paws. I looked up. The sky was already bright.
I stared at the patron. His face was stiff.
Just moments ago, he’d been grinning like an idiot. Now, his eyes were fixed on me, hard and unreadable. He’d seen it all—me turning into a cat.
“…K.”
He called my name. I wriggled out of the pile of clothes and turned away. Glancing back once, I dashed toward a shadowy corner of the garden.
“K!”
His voice faded as my small black body melted into the dim morning light.
***
Calyx stood still, watching the spot where K had vanished. A knight approached.
“Your Highness.”
Calyx lifted his head to the brightening sky. K’s black eyes, just before he’d run, had looked like they were about to spill over with tears.
Maybe I should’ve just let him go.
He thought to himself.
He’d kissed K when he was drunk, and again when he sobered up. He’d been startled at first, but then kissed him back—accepted him. That’s why he’d grabbed K when he tried to run at dawn. He’d wanted to say, I already know. Stay with me. But before he could, K had changed.
Even if K hid it well, shifting between human and cat every night had to be a burden. Getting caught like this must’ve been terrifying. Calyx picked up the discarded clothes and handed them to the knight.
“Find him.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The knight sprinted in the direction K had gone. Calyx turned back to the pavilion, still holding the clothes. The servants had spent half a day preparing this place for K. Just moments ago, he’d held K in his arms, feeling like he had the whole world. And K? Calyx was sure he’d felt the same.
Frustration and worry tightened his chest. He sighed.
This was bound to happen sooner or later.
Every night, K snuck into his room for stolen kisses, then slipped back before he woke. He’d been shouldering that secret alone. Calyx didn’t know what had been going through his mind, but the truth was out now.
K was proud. Getting caught like this must’ve stung. And he’d been terrified—those black eyes, right before he ran, had been on the verge of tears.
He could’ve stopped him. But he hadn’t. Maybe that was for the best. K needed time to process. Still, he worried—what if he got the wrong idea?
“We found him, Your Highness.”
The knight returned. Calyx passed the clothes to an attendant and followed. They arrived at the laundry area—a place Calyx had never been. The knight pointed to a secluded corner where a lone basket sat, as if someone had left it mid-chore.
Calyx approached silently. The basket was full of laundry, but beneath the fabric, he heard shallow breathing.
K was curled up deep inside, motionless.
Calyx fought the urge to yank the fabric away and pull him into his arms. He didn’t know if the time apart had been enough. What was he thinking, huddled in there? He couldn’t tell. All he knew was that he was scared.
He reached for the fabric, then hesitated. If he startled him, would he think he saw him as some kind of monster?
Slowly, he peeled back the layers. K tensed at the rustling sound. One layer, then another—finally, a small black furball appeared. K lifted his head, eyes locking onto Calyx.
Hsss!
K bared his teeth, ears flattened, hissing fiercely. His tiny fangs were sharper than he expected. For such a small creature, the defiance was almost feral.
“K.”
At the sound of his name, K flinched, then hissed again. Calyx reached out slowly. K swiped at him, claws leaving marks on his hand. Blood welled, but Calyx didn’t pull back. When K sank his teeth into his finger, he only stroked his back with his other hand.
Yowl!
K thrashed, but Calyx kept his hand steady. The tension in K’s body slowly eased as he stroked his fur. His wild eyes softened, filled with a mix of emotions. He wasn’t crying, but he looked like he might at any second.
He was afraid.
Of being found out. Of how he’d react. No matter how carefree K seemed, he wasn’t fully grown. Living alone, hiding this secret—how lonely and scared must he have been?
“Let’s go home.”
Calyx didn’t say it out loud, but he understood. He carefully lifted K into his arms. Even as a cat, K refused to let go of his finger. That was fine. If he wouldn’t release him, he’d hold on forever.
As they neared the palace, K’s grip loosened. His body sagged against him, exhaustion finally taking over. The alcohol, the shock, the tension—it had all caught up.
Calyx quickened his pace. He wanted to tuck K into bed, hold him close, and sleep. K would want the same.
