Pretennon's eyes slowly blinked open in the darkness of his room. His body was still forcing itself to breathe, he noticed, as his chest expanded on a comfortable inhale. He also noticed that the giant wolf that had been pinning him down for part of the night had returned to its human form and was now practically glued to him. 

This man...

His right eyebrow twitched when he realized that he was still holding onto one of Kandza's wolf ears. Forcing himself to finally release the man's poor ear, Preto took stock of his situation as he listened to something going on far down the hallway. 

It sounds like Sebastian is... angry? 

Livid, in fact. Interested, but still unable to move well, Preto settled himself and listened as he slowly allowed his free arm to trace little circled along Kandza's bare back as the man continued to sleep peacefully against his side. 

He couldn't quite make out everything he was saying, but he had no doubt that the situation had started with Ruoka's distress call earlier in the evening. Ruoka seemed to be trying to get a word in here and there, but Sebastian was clearly to be inconsolable. Preto felt his lips tilt up slightly as things got more heated, but then, abruptly, everything stopped. 

Hmm, what happened? 

He could hear some sort of muffled sound here and there, but nothing was loud enough to distinguish words any longer. If they were even still talking...

"Elder Pretennon..." 

The sleepy, grumbled words drew his attention down and to the side, allowing his eyes to meet Kandza's half-lidded ones. He looked like he might just fall right back to sleep if he wasn't acknowledged. He had taken quite a bit of his blood earlier, so it wouldn't be surprising if he did slip off to sleep again. 

"What do you want, you stubborn wolf?" he grumbled, still not willing to forgive him for forcing him to rest, even though he knew that he would have been useless with whatever situation had previously occurred. 

Kandza's sleepy eyes cleared surprisingly-quickly as he slowly pushed himself up onto his right elbow but didn't bother moving his left arm or leg from overtop Preto's body. He opened his mouth to speak, but when he simply closed it and pushed himself up the rest of the way, finally removing his limbs from around his body, Preto tilted his head against his pillow, curious. 

That was, until the guy grabbed his bandaged ankle and made him hiss abruptly, baring his fangs as pain surged up his leg!

"I-I apologize, elder Pretennon. I need to check your wound," Kandza said quietly as he began to gently undo the bandage. 

Every single inch the dressing was unwound was torture! He hadn't expected it to still be healing after he'd fed from Kandza so much earlier, but as the bandage finally fell away, it was clear that he'd underestimated the injury. Squeezing his eyes closed, he was just about to lift his fingers to his brow to massage the growing headache there when he felt himself suddenly being lifted!

When the man began heading straight for his bedroom door with him completely naked in his arms, Preto gave off a warning growl and snarled "stop!" immediately. 

The man slowed, but didn't stop until he was at the door. That's when he looked down at him, his normally-soft caramel eyes dark in the dim room. 

"Why are you trying to carry me out of my room? I'm naked, Kandza," he said, then added, "and so are you." 

The guy didn't seem the least bit worried about their lack of clothing, but that made sense since he was a werewolf and had likely shifted plenty of times in front of other wolves. 

Still, walking around in my house naked in front of my servants... and my heir and his wolf. 

He didn't like it. 

"Elder Pretennon needs his injury treated with clean, warm water," Kandza replied, making Preto frown. 

He really didn't want the guy touching his injury again, considering how badly it hurt, but he wouldn't argue. At least, not about that. 

"Fine, but I'm not okay with you just carrying me out of my room naked. Both of us need to put something on first," he said, hoping that the man would listen to him. 

He didn't seem like he wanted to, but after a few moments Kandza sighed and returned Preto to his bed, then went and retrieved a pair of short undergarment pants that would settle a few inches above his injury. 

Preto reached out to take them, but Kandza ignored his outstretched arm and, instead, knelt before him and gently worked the clothing up his legs as he sat on the edge of the bed. He was extremely careful not to touch his injury, but his fingers were less hesitant to touch his backside as he slid the clothing beneath it to finally settle upon his hips. 

 He looked like he was about to pick him back up already when Preto swatted his hands away, earning a confused look. 

"You're still naked," he stated, as if it should have been obvious. 

Kandza looked down at himself, then back up at Preto, who simply pointed toward his closet. 

"Find something or shift, since it doesn't seem like you brought anything with you this time. I don't need you flashing my workers," he said sternly, not willing to budge on the subject. 

Kandza pursed his lips but bit his tongue on a retort as he turned and walked over to the massive closet. It took him a moment, but he soon found something to pull on. It was a bit tight, and when he turned Preto couldn't help but avert his eyes. The man looked damn good in his pants, although they definitely wouldn't be something he could wear outside unless he got it in a few sizes larger because of a certain area...

"I have dressed," Kandza stated with indifference as he walked back over and promptly lifted Preto back up into his arms. 

Such a stubborn wolf. 

"Has Silas never scolded you for anything?" he asked, honestly curious considering the guy's frustratingly-stubborn personality. 

"Never," came Kandza's response not a moment later. 

That guy... let his love interest get away with everything! 

He didn't argue with him anymore. Mainly because he at least had put something on. So, Preto remained silent as he was carried out the door and down the stairs. He was then deposited onto the counter in the smaller front kitchen before Kandza disappeared back out the door. 

Preto watched and waited for nearly ten minutes before the man returned with a large bowl of warm water. 

"That was fast... it normally takes longer to boil water," he noted, earning a quick glance from Kandza as the man sat the bowl on the counter next to him. 

"They were about to make tea with it. I needed it more and they can just reheat more," he said nonchalantly as he got Preto's leg settled up on the counter beneath a small stack of towels, then got busy dipping a clean cloth into the bowl he set beside his ankle. 

You... took their tea water. 

Sighing, Preto silently apologized to his servants and would do so face to face later. He needed to teach his wolf some manners, it would seem. Quite a few of them, to be frank. 

Walking around naked in the house. 

Disregard for servants. 

Refusing to listen to the master of the house. 

He could go on, but he was jerked away from his thoughts as Kandza began gently wiping at some of the flesh that had been destroyed by the holy water. It had looked pretty good last night, but he'd known that it was likely to worsen... and it had. He was just about to bite himself to keep his mind on something else besides the pain when he suddenly felt warm fingers slip between his lips before the palm portion of the hand brushed up against his fangs. 

I can't drink more from you already...

His fangs weren't listening to his thoughts, however, as they itched to extend farther and gently kneaded themselves against the man's soft skin. 

"Drink. I will eat as soon as I am done taking care of you," Kandza said, his words sounding more like an order than a simple statement. 

Annoyed, but too hungry to chastise the man, again, Preto let his fangs extend and began taking careful sips of his hot blood as he somehow worked on his ankle with one hand. The blood was a wonderful distraction and took the edge off the pain of having his skin literally carved from his ankle. 

"I am finished, elder Pretennon," Kandza said after a short while, making Preto blink out of his daze and quickly retract his fangs. 

I lost my focus...

Looking up as the other man straightened and went to dispose of what he'd carved, along with the dirty water, he noticed that Kandza was swaying slightly with every other step. 

I think I took too much. 

He quickly summoned his servants, who arrived after only two minutes. Swinging his leg down from the counter, he carefully lowered himself to the floor but didn't put any weight on his freshly-wrapped ankle. 

"I apologize that my friend took your water earlier, but could you please get him something to drink and as much food as he'd like," he said as one of the men hurried over to help Kandza stay upright as he walked back in while two of the women darted away toward the larger kitchen at the back of the house. 

Preto watched his servant guide Kandza over toward their larger sitting room and tried to follow by hopping, but another servant ran into the little kitchen a moment later and produced a wooden crutch. 

"Ah, thank you, Lilibell," he said, grateful that he wouldn't have to hop about. 

He carefully made his way into the room and took the seat beside the werewolf. His servants ran about beyond the room, getting things together, but as they began to come back into the room with food, Preto reached over and grabbed a nearby blanket, then tossed it over Kandza's lap. 

Right as the blanket settled a young female servant walked over and set a large tray of both raw and cooked meat on the little side table between them. 

"I apologize that it is leftover, but master seemed like he wanted to feed him as soon as possible..." she said, then quickly added, "but we are cooking some things right now, too." 

Nodding his thanks, Preto dismissed her and scooted his chair closer, then reached forward and took the fork settled on the platter. He wasn't sure what Kandza preferred, but his stomach was likely to be uneasy so he decided to try the cooked meat first and see how well it settled. 

After cutting a small piece off of a pork cutlet, he lifted it up to Kandza's mouth... only for the man to give a tired grumble and turn his head away. 

You're really going to be stubborn right now? 

Sighing after trying again and getting the same response, Preto set the fork down and moved to sit upon the arm of the chair Kandza was settled in. He then reached for the glass of water on the tray and gently lifted it to the man's lips. 

At first, it was clear that he didn't want it, either, but Preto wasn't going to let him get sick because of him. He had only just recently recovered from a bad cold. 

"You're going to drink it or I'm going to force it down your throat," he warned, his tone finally making Kandza blink open one sleepy eye. 

What is with that look? 

Did he think that he wouldn't force feed him? 

"You are frustratingly stubborn," Preto grumbled as he took a big gulp from the cup, then leaned over. 

It wasn't surprising, in the least, when Kandza's lips suddenly parted to allow the water into his mouth, but it was a surprise when his hand was suddenly pressing against the back of Preto's head, keeping him there long after the water he'd offered had been swallowed down. 

Let go, Preto warned with a quiet growl. 

Kandza immediately lowered his hand and let his head fall back against the chair. His eyes were half-lidded and his breathing was shallow. He truly did look like he was about to pass out. 

"At least finish this cup of water," Preto mumbled as he lifted it to the man's lips... only to be declined again!

Why are you so stubborn! 

Clenching his teeth in frustration, Preto filled his own mouth with water and leaned down again. He was nearly to his target when he felt an arm wrap around his waist and tug him down into Kandza's lap, nearly making him spit out the water in the process!

I can't with this man...

"My Pretennon, I am thirsty..." Kandza rasped as he slowly leaned forward and pressed his lips to Preto's gently. 

Preto's eyes widened as he lifted his free hand, intent on shoving the other man away, but before he could even begin the gesture Kandza leaned away with a tired moan, his wolf ears dropping to either side of his head as he fought with himself to keep his eyes open the slightest amount. 

You really are about to fall asleep again. 

Nudging aside his frustration at being moved and kissed without permission, Preto took another sip from the glass of water and carefully moved until he was straddling the guy's lap, allowing him to more-comfortably lean forward and press his lips against Kandza's. 

Drink. 

The thought was clearly understood, even though he hadn't sent it to the man's mind, because Kandza parted his lips the slightest amount and allowed the water to flow between them, then swallowed after a few moments. They repeated that sequence of events for nearly two minutes, until the glass was completely empty and Kandza was just-about asleep. 

Finally removing his lips from the man's for the last time, Preto leaned away and settled down into Kandza's lap. He was considering getting off of him so that he could get some rest when he heard one of his servants stop by the door. 

Looking over, he felt his face warm with Kandza's blood as he gestured her away. She had brought the cooked food, but there was no way his wolf was going to be able to eat right then, so they would just heat it up later. The young woman quickly bowed and hurried away, but not before gently pressing the door closed... evidently assuming that her master wanted privacy. 

I... give up. 

Still injured, himself, Preto decided not to bother with anything anymore, and simply got himself comfortable against Kandza. If the guy wanted him there when he woke up, then he'd be there... and his legs were going to be asleep from his weight, and his muscles would be stiff from not being able to move around at all, and he better not wake him up or he was going to get bitten for a third time. 

Scowling, Preto made sure that his injured leg was comfortable after moving himself so that he was leaning against the man's warm chest. He laid there, expecting to not fall asleep for a good while, but it couldn't have been more than five minutes later when he felt his head beginning to nod forward as his eyes began to close. 

He shook himself awake abruptly, but he was drifting off again less than ten minutes later. 

So be it... 

Snuggling in a bit more, he finally allowed his eyes to close and his body to relax. He was asleep two minutes later, his quiet breaths mingling with Kandza's warm ones as his head rested comfortably against the man's shoulder.  

(Edited)