The Substitute Healer (BL)-Chapter 75: “Hmmm…”

After cleaning up the mess and taking justice in his own way, Cael stayed inside Soren’s tent as they decided to return completely to the main encampment since their goal was accomplished either way.

As days passed, Soren’s condition wasn’t getting better, and his complexion wasn’t returning to its original state. Caelius also noticed how Soren’s temperature never returned to normal, which was confusing.

"What do you mean? Didn’t you healers apply your healing ability to him? Why isn’t he waking up? It’s already been five days, and that’s longer than his usual slumber!" Cael exclaimed while completely ignoring the fact that he was basically throwing a tantrum beside Soren’s unconscious body.

"That’s right, Your Highness, but his temperature really isn’t returning to normal."

"How useless can you be? There are three of you, for God’s sake?" Cael sighed again while leaving Caelius thinking and confused about whether what the prince was showing was real or not.

As far as Caelius knew, the prince had never liked Soren.

On the contrary, Cael only saw Soren as a form of entertainment and someone who gave him amusement and nothing more. But seeing how worried Cael was, the prince looked truly sincere, and when Caelius sneakily looked into Cael’s eyes, his own eyes widened.

’Ah... I wonder if His Highness knows his true feelings toward Soren. Or will everything be too late?’

"Either way, Your Highness, there is something we can probably try."

Cael, who had been pacing restlessly at the side of the tent, stopped mid-step as his sharp gaze snapped toward Caelius. "Go on," he said curtly. "Speak."

Caelius hesitated for a fraction of a second before continuing. "If Soren’s temperature continues to drop, it could put him in serious danger. At this point, healing spells alone aren’t enough. We... we need to share our body heat with him to stabilize his condition."

The words hung heavy in the air making Cael’s throat tightened.

He then swallowed hard and glanced toward the bed where Soren lay motionless beneath the blankets, with his face pale and lips faintly tinged with blue, breaths shallow and uneven.

For a brief moment, something unreadable flickered across Cael’s expression with his clenched jaw.

"So," Cael said slowly, voice edged with frost, "who do you suggest will do that?" His eyes narrowed as they returned to Caelius. "Do you possibly want me to share my body heat with a mere commoner? Someone like him?"

Caelius flinched at the venom in the prince’s tone with his fingers curled into his sleeves as he bowed deeply, heart pounding in his chest.

"I...I can do it myself, Your Highness," Caelius offered while forcing the words out despite the fear crawling up his spine. He knew full well how dangerous that suggestion was. One wrong interpretation, one hint of impropriety, and his life could end on the spot.

Then, silence followed. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Cael stared at him with a deep frown, eyes sharp and assessing, as if weighing something far heavier than the suggestion itself making the tension suffocating.

Finally, Cael scoffed. "Forget it." He turned away abruptly. "It’s just sharing body heat. Do you really think I’m that petty?" His voice rose as he snapped, "Get out. And never let anyone in!"

Hearing that, Caelius didn’t argue. He then bowed once more, relieved to still be breathing, and quietly exited the tent while pulling the flap shut behind him.

Left alone, the air inside grew still.

Cael stood there for a long moment, unmoving.

Then, slowly, he approached the bedside.

His gaze lingered on Soren’s sleeping face while staring coldly at someone who should have woken days ago. His expression then hardened, but his eyes betrayed a flicker of concern.

Coldly, Cael continued to stare at Soren, as if daring him to wake up or accusing him for not doing so.

As the night deepened and the camp fell into uneasy silence, Cael finally made his decision.

He moved toward the bed and climbed onto it with measured care, careful not to wake Soren. The warmth beneath the blankets was faint. With a clenched jaw, Cael reached down and slowly pulled the blanket away, exposing Soren’s pale, unnaturally cold skin.

For a moment, he hesitated.

Then Cael leaned closer with voice dropping to a whisper meant only for the unconscious man beneath him. "Don’t misunderstand," he murmured quietly. "I’m doing this to keep you alive. Not to take advantage of you."

His breath even brushed against Soren’s neck, warm in contrast to the chill of his skin.

"I don’t even want this..." Cael continued, his voice low and strained. "You’re nothing but entertainment to me. Nothing more."

He shut his eyes, as if the words tasted bitter in his mouth. Even he could feel how hollow they sounded. His pride refused to let him admit the truth, that the sight of Soren lying like this unsettled him and how the worries gnawed at his chest.

Then, his heart thudded faster than it should have.

With a sharp inhale, Cael licked his lips and let out a slow breath. "Damn it... you’re really a handful. Annoying," he muttered. "I despise people like you. People who surrender so easily. I hate that part of you."

His hand trembled slightly before stilling.

"But..." His voice softened despite himself. "I’ll keep you alive. I’ll make sure you see another day but don’t you dare get the wrong idea." He scoffed quietly. "I don’t like you."

The lie lingered in the air.

"You can’t stop being entertaining yet," he added under his breath, as if convincing himself.

Then, afterwards, Cael leaned back slightly while swallowing hard and reached for Soren’s robe. He loosened it carefully while pushing the fabric aside to expose his chest, then touch him hesitantly.

His palm rested there, warm against Soren’s cold skin while lingering longer than necessary making Cael froze at the contact.

His jaw tightened as he forced himself to focus while thinking that this was just a necessity and nothing more.

At least, that was what he told himself.

Soon after, Cael undressed himself as well and lay down while pulling Soren’s body close under the blanket. Cuddling Soren’s completely bare form felt strange to him as this was never something Cael cared for.

He had always thought closeness was unnecessary especially when it came to other people. Yet now, his heart was beating so fast that it frightened him for a moment along with a thought that crossed his mind.

’What if Soren woke up in the middle of this and thought he was some kind of pervert or worse?’

Normally, Cael wouldn’t care about such things but even knowing how much he insisted he didn’t like Soren, the idea of what Soren might think of him made his chest tighten with irritation.

"Haaa... whatever. I’m only doing this because it’s necessary," Cael muttered with scowling expression.

But the moment he looked down at Soren’s face resting against his shoulder, he flinched. At that instant, Cael felt his heart skip a beat.

Soren’s scattered red hair along with his long lashes, his fine nose, and softly shaped lips, his beauty was almost unreal. Cael had seen countless beautiful people in his life, yet even he had to admit it, though he would never say it out loud.

As if drawn in despite himself, Cael leaned closer.

His fingers brushed Soren’s lips, and before he could stop himself, he moved nearer until their lips touched. It wasn’t even the first time Cael had stolen a kiss from him but this time, something twisted uncomfortably in his stomach but it wasn’t a disgusting feeling.

Contrary to his intention, Cael couldn’t bring himself to pull away.

The moment he tried to shift back, Soren’s eyes fluttered open as his consciousness slowly returned.

In that hazy, unguarded state, Soren lifted a hand, fingers brushing along Cael’s jaw before settling against his cheek while guiding him closer.

Then, without hesitation, Soren initiated the kiss himself.

The soft press of lips startled Cael so completely that for a heartbeat he froze while catching a breath. When their tongues met, heat surged through Cael like wildfire letting a low curse emerged in his mind, snapping his restraint.

’Damn it, damn it!’

He pressed forward with hands sliding to cage Soren’s shoulders as he pinned him gently but firmly against the mattress. The kiss deepened and grew hungrier until both of them were breathing hard.

When Cael finally tore his mouth away, he rested his forehead against Soren’s with both their chests heaving in tandem.

"Don’t provoke me," he whispered while trembling with the effort of holding back. "Don’t provoke me, Soren. You don’t know what you’re doing..."

He knew Soren wasn’t fully awake and knew that he was still dazed and unguarded, but the knowledge did nothing to cool the blood roaring in his ears.

Worse, Cael became acutely aware of the insistent ache between his legs, the hard evidence of how thoroughly that single kiss had undone him. Heat flooded his face as his gaze dropped involuntarily, taking in the unmistakable bulge straining against his pants.

"Damn it..." The curse slipped out again, low and frustrated.

He then squeezed his eyes shut with his palms braced on the bed on either side of Soren’s shoulders while trying to summon some shred of control.

Before he could retreat, slender hands slid up to clasp the back of his neck.

Soren leaned up while chasing his mouth again.

The second kiss was softer at first, almost tentative, but it lit the same fire. Then, Cael pulled back just far enough to meet those half-opened eyes.

"Don’t blame me for this," he warned while threaded with both apology and promise.

"Hmmm..." Soren just made a small, affirmative sound and that was all it took.

Cael surrendered.

He lowered himself slowly, careful not to crush the smaller body beneath him, and kissed Soren again.

Not aggressive, just gentle, deliberate strokes of lips and tongue while savoring every quiet gasp and every shiver that ran through Soren’s frame.

One hand also slipped into his soft hair while cradling the back of Soren’s head and the other traced down a slim arm, fingers threading with Soren’s as he pressed closer.

The room was quiet except for their breathing and the faint rustle of sheets.

Outside, night pressed against the tent, but inside there was only warmth, only the slow, inevitable slide toward something neither of them would regret in the morning.