Kissing The Stars

𝐒𝐘𝐋𝐔𝐒

𝐑𝐀𝐅𝐀𝐘𝐄𝐋

𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐁

𝐙𝐀𝐘𝐍𝐄

Your mother and father died when you were sixteen, and they left no money or directions, only a home that wasn't your own. An opera house. Asko Opera House, the most renowned in all of Linkon. It was here that artistic legends were made and where failures burned. Madam Talia had welcomed you with open arms, and you'd been there ever since.

You'd done ballet throughout childhood, so it was easy to find your quiet spot among the colourful choreography of a world that constantly swapped its scenes. 

"Did you hear that the new owners have invited the Lord, who's decided to become Asko's patron in today?" Tara hummed from beside you, legs split beneath her as she stretched.

You raised a brow, "I had no idea. Do you know what he's like?"

"I know he's handsome," She answered.

You snorted, "Is that all you care about? If our new patron will be nice to look at?"

Tara winked at you. Simone laughed as she appeared from the corner, eyes glimmering with familar mischief. She gently hooked her arm around Tara's shoulders as she spoke, "Hey, T's got the right idea. If he's gonna be here more often than not, I want a man pleasing to my eyes, not a rotting cockroach."

"Exactly!" Tara agreed.

You shook your head, amusement filling you as you searched through your little bag, gently pulling a small vial from it. Inside glistened a golden liquid. You let out a breath and downed it one. Not bad.

"What was that?" Simone asked, ensuring her shoes were perfectly tightened. Falling was like being shot to her, to you and to everyone in this Opera house. Inperfections could hardly be afforded in practices beforehand when the new owners took over, but now there was a shiny, rich man with heavy pockets; he didn't need to be given a reason to back out.

You smiled, "A tonic for sore throats."

   It had appeared by your bedside table with a black ribbon tied around it. But you couldn't tell your friends that. Especially not about the black ribbon.

"I didn't know you had a sore throat," Tara furrowed her brows.

"That's because I've been taking this," You said, shaking the bottle with a friendly smile. 

"Fair enough," Simone shrugged, "As long as you're not spluttering everywhere, I don't really care what you take."

"Thank you for your genuine concern," You scoffed, though you couldn't stop your grin.

Simone laughed and jumped, pulling you and Tara along with her, "You know I love you, really."

"Until one of us steals your blush," Tara snickered.

"Hey!" Simone exclaimed.

A loud clap suddenly echoed. All three of you jumped and turned to face the culprit. Jenna leaned against the wall, arms crossed, as she shook her head fondly. Talia and she worked in tandem, the former taking the singers and actors while the latter looked after the dancers. 

"Hello, Madame!" Tara squealed.

"Girls," The woman hummed, brown hair falling from her bun, "I do believe the three of you should be on stage, no?"

"We'll be right there!" You exclaimed sheepishly, pulling your friends with you. The three of you ran through the winding hallways, quietly slipping into the crowds of your fellow ballerinas. You waved at Andrew and Nero.

And then, you're in that familar flurry of movement.

Your body knew what it was doing before your mind did; it knew the way to move, where to tense and where to loosen, the moments of slow and steps of fast, it knew everything, the intoxicating kisses of practice and performance filling your being as it danced to the music.

Occasionally, you picked out your friends amongst the blurred figures. Andrew passed by you once or twice, gently gliding his hand against your back with an innocent smile. You mouthed that you liked what the costuming team had done with his outfit.

"How dare you?!" 

The music stuttered, and the dancers stumbled.

"Miss, please!"

Stomping echoed throughout the stage as a woman came charging onto it. Carmilla, your most famous soprano. All of you, more than familar with her temper, stepped backwards, crowding against the wings and backdrop.

She looked furious.

Three men followed. Two, you knew. Lucius and Dimitri. They'd taken over only just a few months ago, and they'd already sunk their claws deep into the functions of the theatre. You grimaced at the sight of them.

But your heart dropped when you looked at the third man. He was tall and blond, with glasses gently perched on his nose. He looked so familar. He looked like...no. It couldn't be possible. Could it?

Disbelief coursed through you.

Talia sighed loudly, "What on Earth is the matter?"

Carmilla glared, "They want me to change my image!"

Murmurs arose in the crowds. No one who valued their lives spoke about Carmilla's appearance. 

Lucius shook his head, "We merely suggested an update."

"An update? An update?! I don't need a damn update!" She hissed, spitting on the men's shoes. You winced, but your eyes kept travelling to the man standing behind them. He was straightening his cuffs when his gaze lifted to meet yours. You looked away instantly.

"No, of course not!" Dimitri murmured, "We simply thought to inform you of the new fashion trends arising so you could be on top of them!"

Carmilla scoffed. It was a sharp and rueful sound. 

"Carmilla. They had no ill intent, I assure you," Talia hummed, trying to smooth the woman's outrage as best she could.

But she wasn't having it. Oh, she wasn't having it in the slightest. Carmilla turned once again to the trio of men and sneered, all of her resentment dragging in her face, "I don't care! They want an update─they can find a new soprano! See how much they want someone new then─"

"I've got a letter─" Nero screamed, skidding towards Talia, "─It's from him!"

Gasps ripped through the room. Nerous glances were shared. Like frightened sheep, you huddled closer to one another, looking to Talia with wide eyes. She gently took the scroll from Nero's hands as Jenna walked onto the stage, guiding the boy back into the throng. Andrew immediately pulled the man into his side.

The two women shared a look.

Lucius stepped forward, "Who is this 'he' you speak of? And why is he so important?"

Jenna sighed, "He is our eternal patron."

Finally, the younger man spoke up, furrowing his brows, "Gentlemen, I believe I was told that I was the only patron, no?"

"You are!" Dimitri rushed, "We have no idea who she's talking about."

"Well, allow me to read," Talia hummed, unfurling the black ribbon tied around the scroll, clearing her throat as she read its contents aloud, "Good day, gentlemen. I sincerely hope these past few months have been enough to get you settled into my theatre. Now that you appear to be making some more productive steps, I thought it was time to make my expectations clear. Firstly, I expect my wage, equal to the madams of dance and song, every month. Secondly, I want Box Three to always be reserved for my person and my person alone. Thirdly and finally, all commands I give should be obeyed without question. Thank you for this compliance, and I know that I look forward to the future of Asko. Sincerely, O.G"

You clutched Simone and Tara tightly as you stared at the scroll, fixated on the silky black ribbon clasped next to it. You wondered where he got all of his fabric from. 

Lucius and Dimitri shared a look of disgruntlement. For the first ever since they had arrived, they had finally come into contact with the shadow that lorded above you all. The murmurs crackled like the edges of fire creeping in. Your owners may have been naive, but you were not. Every single one of you knew of the power of the phantom.

"What is this?" Lucicus grunted, "Someone's attempt at a joke?"

Jenna shook her head, "No, sirs, this is the will of our unseen master. The Opera Ghost. You should heed his words and follow his orders, lest you incur his ire."

A chuckle left Dimitri, "Do you hear this, my friend?" Lucius nodded, a mocking grin stretching his lips as the former continued, "This 'Opera Ghost', as you say, had no authority over us. This is our theatre. And we will run it and remodel it in our design!"

"No respect!" Carmilla shouted, glowering hatefully, "You have no respect for talent or tradition! I won't be a part of that! I quit!"

And before anyone else could argue, she had stormed out of the theatre, screaming insults the entire way she went. You weren't sad to see her go, but you understood why she was leaving.

The silence that followed was suffocating.

"Oh! What will we do, Dimitri? We have a show next week!" Lucius exclaimed, clasping his cane tightly.

"We need a singer or we'll have to refund all the tickets," Dimitri muttered, and already you could see a hint of sweat on his skin.

Talia glanced at you. You met her gaze. She raised a brow, observing you intently. You shook your head. Not yet. You couldn't. But to Talia couldn't and wouldn't were the same, and if she forced you to do it, you had to. That woman made you face your fears no matter what.

She turned to the owners, smiling brightly, "Y/N L/N can do it."

You felt yourself die inside.

Simone and Tara clutched you tightly. You felt their nails dig into your skin as they shot nervous glances at you. They both knew you could sing and that your tutor was top secret. They also knew you'd never performed on stage before and that you were terrified of it.

"Y/N?" Dimitri tilted his head.

Talia nodded, "Come, my dear."

You hesitated. Simone nudged you forward, forcing you through and out of the crowd and into the spotlight. You internally recoiled at the attention and scuttled towards Talia. The woman smiled at you and wrapped an arm around your shoulders.

"This is her?" Lucius muttered, looking you up and down, "Very...understated, no?"

"Yes. And how do we know she's good enough?" Dimitri hummed. 

The scrutiny in their eyes made you want to cry.

"She is," The other man spoke now, stepping forward. You hadn't seen him in years, and yet still you recognised his regal visage. He was staring at you, hazel eyes glistening in the golden light.

Lucius furrowed his brows, "How could you know that?"

"Because I've been to hundreds of shows, gentlemen, and the best voice I have ever heard belongs to her. The girl from my childhood and adolescence, my little songbird," He answered.

It was him.

You flushed, "It's wonderful to see you again, Benedict."

A smile spread across his lips, "Indeed it is, Y/N. I look forward to seeing you on stage next week."

And just like that, all complaints that filled the heads of the owners died. If their Lord and all his glittering gold wanted you to perform, then you would, even if you croaked like a toad. You just hoped he thought you were ready.

He hadn't sent you any messages. His voice hadn't called to you through the walls. His presence was a shade, practically nonexistent. You hated it. You couldn't tell if he was acceptant or resentful. You couldn't tell, and you didn't have a choice but to follow the will of your superiors.

You stood in the wings, awaiting your moment to shine. You felt faint somehow, like you weren't yourself. You certainly didn't look like yourself. Hair pinned, face and skin bedazzled, dress long and silky in its alluring design. Your stomach churned uncomfortably.

In just a few moments, you'd be centre stage, singing for your life.

Talia stepped up behind you, gently placing her hands on your shoulders as she gave some final words of comfort, "You'll be amazing. The stage is your sword, wield it like you're going to win a war."

"What if I can't?" You whispered.

Talia only shrugged, smiling, "You're about to find out."

And then, she softly pushed forward. You stumbled, once, twice, and then you were walking onto the stage, willing your shaking legs to harden. It took ten steps to get to the centre of the stage; it was the perfect point of performance.

Every seat was full.

You felt sick. Your throat was dry. 

But you opened your mouth and let your vocal cords do what they'd been training for. Some notes were shaky and uncomfortable, jutting out awkwardly among soft sounds and wistful calls. 

Your eyes darted around the crowd, looking for something, anything to look at. They all looked so bored. You felt like you were going to die.

You looked up at the boxes. 

Benedict was sitting there. He nodded at you, smiling. That made it worse. He was looking at and you knew he was expecting a grand performance, a testament to all the years you'd spent separated from him, honing your craft. A songbird who'd make even grown men weep with her voice.

The heavy necklace around your throat felt like an iron noose, burning with the heat of failure. Your hands trembled. You were too still. Frozen. Not right.

You tore your eyes away from Benedict, hoping the next box up would be empty.

It wasn't.

He was there.

You could barely see him against the shadows, but you knew it was him; you knew it without a doubt in your mind. You saw the faint moonlight glint of his mask and felt his heavy eyes on your body like a layer of warm frost.

His gaze made you feel hot all over.

You stared at him as you sang softly, voice foreign and wrong even to your own ears.

Slowly, as if a puppeteer testing the strings of his toys, he lifted his hands to the tip of his sternum, pressing his fingers there for one heated moment before he guided his hands forward, fingers spread wide, in an arching movement.

Louder, his silent command.

You obeyed without hesitation, entirely fixated on him. You let your voice bolden, just like he taught you. The sound of your song came out stronger, more powerful, the control in your tones emphasised by your volume.

He moved his hands again. Sweeping silently through the air, like a bird's wing, better than the conductor of he orchestra.

Use your body.

You unclasped your hands and spread them out before you. You placed one over your heart, making the action as tender and heartfelt as you could─ a woman singing for her lost love to come home. The other drifted through the air by your side, flowing with the rise and fall of your pitch.

Talila may have told your song was a sword, but he was the one you taught how to use it.

With a wild heart, you awaited his next instruction.

He merely motioned to the crowd, and then he was placing his elbows on the edge of his box, and letting his chin rest upon his conjoined hands.

Look upon your audience and enjoy it.

You felt an instinct compel you to nod. Instead, you let your eyes dance across the crowds. Their expressions had changed, softening with intrigue. You felt yourself blossom, petals unfurling as you continued to sing.

You commanded all of their attention with every sound and movement. Like a siren drawing in sailors, you called to your audience, connecting to the deep, twisting emotions of human existence.

You sang so sweetly, a blessed angel come to enchant the masses with a beautiful voice kissed by the Lord himself. Your angel was still sitting on his box; you could see from the corner of your eyes. He was watching you with rapt attention, by far the most entranced by your song.

You felt yourself heat, body tingling with the electricity of pride.

You loved this. The way your heart fluttered, the way your lungs expanded, the pulse of life that ran through you. The spotlight shimmered down like a halo, and you held it reverently in your hands.

The orchestra was perfect, each note scintillating in its sound, a mesmerising combination with your voice that was over far, far too soon. You found yourself surprised when you heard the final notes and the long cry of your song. You were at your performance's end, and you found yourself saddened by that knowledge.

In an instant, the rows and rows of seats jumped up, like a thousand moths erupting from the shadows of night. A cacophony of clapping echoed in your ears, an occasional whistle spiralling through the air like a bullet of delight.

You flushed and bowed over and over. But it was only when you turned to box three that you bent so low, your head almost brushed against the floor. If there was anyone on this earth that deserved your unwaithering respect and loyalty, it was him, irrefutably.

And then, you were back in the wings and being hounded by a flurry of compliments and congratulations. Simone and Tara cheered with you, giggling loudly as they gushed over your applause.

"You were brilliant!" Tara gasped.

"Yes! Amazing!" Simone rushed to agree, holding you tightly as she hugged you with all her strength. You felt her and Tara's love in that embrace.

"Indeed you were," A familar voice hummed.

You lifted your head to see Benedict walking towards you. There was a large bouquet in his hands. Roses. You flushed in surprise. When you were younger,  he was the first boy who ever caught your attention. Your childhood crush. Such an innocent and sweet thing.

"Thank you," You smiled, "Thank you, all."

Tara and Simone grinned and wiggled their eyebrows at you, stepping just a few steps away. Far enough to be polite, close enough to still hear everything.

Benedict hummed, "These are for you. To celebrate a marvellous performance."

You took the roses from his hands, "Thank you, again. I truly appreciate it."

His eyes glistened in the warm candlelight. He was handsome, even now, the youthful shapes of childhood had been chiselled by the firmness of adulthood, sharp and refined. He looked so different and yet so similar.

"I know talent when I see it. And while it's certainly been a long time, your talent left a mark on me," Responded the man, running a gloved hand through dirty-blond hair, "I want to take you out, dinner. Tonight. I want to know how you've been and introduce you to my friends, who heard you sing tonight."

You blinked in surprise. He was asking you to go out with him?

"I...I couldn't possibly go tonight," You scrambled, "Perhaps another night?"

"Why not today?" Benedicy inquired, stepping closer.

"Uh─"

"Because she needs rest after her performance," Talia slid towards you, a soft hand on your arm, "Go on, my dear. Some refreshments have already been brought to your room."

You smiled thankfully and scuttled away without another glance back. Why couldn't you go out today? It's not like you had anything to do now. No. You could go if you wished, but some part of you craved the quiet solitude away from the heights of the theatre and the soft lullabies of a man you'd only ever seen from far away, always draped in silky shadow.

You were drowsy by the time you managed to untangle yourself from your costume. The small snacks on the tray had long since grown cold, not that you particularly wanted any of them. Jewellery sat in a pile on your vanity, and you scrubbed away the remnants of your makeup.

You sighed in relief.

"Angel," You whispered into the quiet, "I'm sorry for not telling you I was performing, I couldn't find you. I hope I made you proud."

And from the bottom of your heart, you did. You lived for your angel, for your dutiful Overseer; he was the solace to your loneliness, the soothing to your grief, the relief of your burdens. 

You didn't expect him to respond; he hardly ever did. He was a man of few words, aside from when he sang in that sweet, blissful hum. Was he an angel or a god with his voice, silky and sensual? It didn't matter; you were devoted to him.

In your nightgown, you shivered.

"You did."

You gasped and whirled around, jumping to your feet in an instant. In the dark, it was hard to pinpoint that voice, that man. Your heart fluttered as you searched for him. And there he was, sitting in the shadowed corner, next to your bed.

You had locked the door. He shouldn't have been able to get in. And yet, he had.

Like strands of midnight, he was pulled together, beautiful and daunting in his stillness. Even when sitting down, you knew him to be tall and slender, a figure made of glistening ice. Your eyes danced across his face, still concealed by that deathly coloured mask. His gaze slid across you like the serpent that curled around Eve's hand.

"I─" You rasped, "T-Thank you."

He hummed, "Come."

A simple command. One you followed without hesitation.

Your feet tremored as they came to stand just inches away from his own. His suit was gilded with dark obsidian. There were gloves on his hands. Most of him was concealed from your view. You waited silently for your next instruction.

"Sit," He demanded, motioning to your bed in a smooth, hypnotising movement.

You did. You felt like your head was in the clouds, vision misty, blurred with the presence of him and only him. Never before had he been so close, not like this. The closest he'd gotten was when he swept his hand over your sleeping face, and even then, you couldn't be sure that wasn't a dream.

"Thank you," You murmured

He tilted his head, "For what?"

"For helping me during my performance, I owe its success to you," You responded quietly. 

It was so quiet. The room was full of objects an yet it somehow felt empty. You didn't know what to do with yourself. You wondered what was beneath his mask.

Your angel's lips briefly lifted, "Such a sweet girl."

You flushed and looked away.

But his gloved hand hooked around your chin instantly. His grip was hard and demanding but not cruel. It was the hand of a being far beyond pitiful human struggle. He was confounded in his enamour.

He lifted your chin, and all your breath was stolen from you when your eyes fluttered upwards, directly clashing with his. He was so close. He smelled like Jasmine. His eyes were a hypnotic shade of green and gold, a glimmering ichor.

"Your performance was your success, dear heart. I merely helped ensure the swine opened their eyes enough to see it," Said the phantom, fingers gently gliding across your jaw.

"Swine?" You murmured.

"Yes. Swine. They claim they enjoy art, but only care for it when it's sensational, never when raw and rough. Swine led to their troughs by the farmers of talent," He muttered, tone sharpening with contempt.

You shuddered softly, goosebumps rising over your skin. Your eyes traced over what flesh you could see. You knew he was kissed by the hands of god, exhausted after creating his greatest perfection.

"I suppose," You whispered, "You were right about my fear being needless, after all."

"Of course I was. A woman like you? The stage was made to bow to you," Your angel hummed, thumb lifting to brush over your lips like they belonged to him. "My perfect protege. My masterpiece."

With trembling fingers, you wrapped your palm around the phantom's wrist. You didn't move his hand from your chin, no, you wouldn't dare. Your body flushed with unfamiliar heat at his touch. 

"Master," You began, hesitantly, "Would...would it be too much to ask for your na─"

"You haven't eaten," He cut you off, "You must eat."

"There's food over there," You said.

"Not that swill. No," He shook his head, "I shall take care of your needs myself. My star cannot be put in the hands of those who can't look past her light."

There was something in his tone you couldn't understand. Some phantom edge you brushed past. It didn't hurt, but it felt dangerous. It coiled in the darkness of his eyes, waiting like a python.

"I understand," You submitted. You always did.

"Good. Open," He tapped your lips with his thumb as he twisted his body to reach towards a plate you hadn't even realised was on your bedside table. 

You expected his thumb to slip away from your lips when you parted them. It didn't. It stayed faithfully on your lower lip, like an arrow lodged into a target.  Your finger curled around his wrist tighter, brushing against the faint pulse of his heart. You wanted to drift your fingers beneath his cuff to find the bare skin buried beneath clothing.

You stayed silent as he turned back to you, a small pink item between his fingers. With a slow, certain movement, he reached forward and placed the food onto your lips, using his thumb to gently push it into your mouth.

Your body tingled with fire at the expectant glimmer in his ae. Slolwy you began to ew, surprised by the soft strawberry flavour that welcomed you. It was a macrone, you believed, fluffy and light on your tongue.

"It's delicious," You said once you finished.

You could see that pleased him. Feel it in the way he cradled your chin, squeeing softly for a moment. 

"Try the other flavours," He murmured, reaching for another. This time it was green.

And just like before, he himself slotted it against your lips and tenderly pushed it into your mouth. His attention never betrayed you, dedicated to your figure and yours alone. There was something in his eyes that felt different from all the others. When he looked at you, he saw you.

You didn't know how to describe it.

All you knew was that you let him keep his thumb on your lip while yours stayed pressed against the pulse in his wrist.

You hadn't caught a break since. 

Your performance had been a colossal hit, a gladiatorial victory and Lucius and Dimitri wanted to show off their pretty soldier as much as they could. You were performing almost every night, and in the mornings, you were taken to teas and horse races and other such events. You felt like a doll, wrapped in ribbons not meant for you.

The world was too bright.

Benedict had caught you a few times. Pleasantries were exchanged often, and conversations were occasional. He was well, he had taken to running his businesses easily, and now was in the mind to finally stabilise his empire by making an heir. As such, he was looking for a wife. 

You didn't know how to feel about that. You didn't really have time to.

Your throat was burning, and you rubbed it uncomfortably. Lucius insisted you have a glass of wine at afternoon tea, but you'd felt wrong before that. You thanked the gods you had no performance tonight.

"Are you practising?" Benedict called from behind you

You sighed, eyes fluttering closed as you willed the courage to talk to him. You just wanted some peace.

"No," You answered.

He hummed, stepping closer, "Wonderful! My friend and his wife are hosting a small party tonight. They'd be so excited to see you. They were at your performance on Thursday. She's wonderful at piano, so she can play while you sing!"

You furrowed your brows, "What?"

Benedict smiled, "If you'd rather go acepella, I wouldn't stop you. Your voice is beautiful. The whole of Linkon knows that. After you're done, we can properly catch up. It'll be just like old times."

Your head swam with his words. You tried to unpick and make sense of them, and yet your mind struggled. 

"Benedict, I don't understand," You breathed, headache forming.

"Don't you remember all those times when we were younger? We used to spend hours sitting together on your mother's piano, talking the day away," Came his answer, his gloved hand came to hold yours. You blinked in surprise. His hand felt odd, so unlike the one of your angel.

"Of course I remember," You responded. You had a happy childhood together. Innocent and naive as all youth are.

"And do you remember the last Christmas we spent together?" Benedict questioned.

You flushed instantly at the memory. You were at that awkward stage in adolescence, finding your feet against the waves of new emotions and wants. Your family was staying over at Benedict's house for a week during the winter season, and the two of you couldn't help but see that boy from your childhood as the man he was becoming.

He had smiled at you one evening when he walked you to your room. And then, while snow fell against the windows, he kissed you. And you kissed him back. What would have become of it then, if your parents hadn't gotten into that awful carriage accident?

You softened, "Yes, I remember."

"Good, now let's go," Benedict tugged you forward, "We need to leave now or we'll be late."

And suddenly you were back in the quiet room above the theatre and confused about what exactly he was dragging you to and when he thought you had agreed to it. You didn't want to spend any more time suffering beneath society's gaze.

You dug your heels into the wood beneath you, "I'm not going anywhere."

Benedict raised a brow as he looked at you, "Well, why not? My friends are excited to see you."

You sighed heavily, "I don't even know who you're talking about. I don't know what you're talking about. A party? Where I'm expected to sing? You can't just spring that on me."

He clicked his tongue, "Don't worry, you look lovely and you'll do lovely when performing, now we really must be off."

And he was pulling you forward again. 

"I'm not going," You scoffed, yanking your hand from his sharply.

A hissed sound left Benedict's lips, "Y/N. Come on."

Perhaps on another day, you would've taken the time to explain your reasons and emotions more clearly, but you were drained of all patience and compassion. You glowered at Benedict and snapped, "No!"

Your throat screeched in pain.

You brushed past Benedict without another thought, darting towards the wooden stairs and directly towards your room. You were going to lock yourself in there so long, the entire world would forget you existed.

The slam of the door ripped through your body as your chest heaved, knuckles clenched, bunching up the itchy fabric of your gloves. You hissed to yourself and ripped them off. Who did he think he was to tell you what to do? What gave him that right? 

You tugged at the pins in your hair, tearing strands away from the glistening headpieces jammed into your skull. You were like a Christmas tree, stuffed to the brim with tacky decorations. You just wanted it all off.

Every time you swallowed, barbs in your throat clawed against your flesh, dragging down the muscle of your throat. It hurt. 

You felt like you couldn't breathe. Your entire world felt blurry, distorted and twisted. You didn't like it.  It was too bright. You wanted it to be dark. You wanted to hide in the shadows. You wanted to go home.

You stumbled back helplessly, tears suddenly sparking in your eyes.

You felt like you were burning.

And then a chilling embrace was curling around you. You gasped as serpentine arms wrapped around your waist. They were firm and unmoving, like an insurmountable fortress. The soft scent of vanilla entered your nose.

A sound left your lips, cracked and feeble. You didn't know what you were trying to say. It didn't matter. Your angel did.

"Hush," He whispered, breath dancing across your ear, "Hush, my heart."

You shook your head, "I─"

His hands rubbed soothingly over your corsetted waist. His chest pressed against your back, his face just inches behind your lips, lips hovering over your ear. Slowly but surely, his entire being was invading your body, sweet poison dulling all your senses.

"Shh," Your angel murmured, "The swine aren't here to bother you anymore."

 You felt his face press against the side of your head, his nose brushing along the strands of your silky hair. His porcelain mask felt cold. You couldn't help but lean against him, hands tentatively slipping lower to rest above his own. His fingers flexed as they curled into your own.

"They're not swine..." You protested quietly.

"No? Have they not been squealing at you, demanding you like pigs?" Questioned your companion, voice soft and smooth. He was like a ghost, dragging you further into his haunting calm.

You shuddered, "I just want them to be quiet."

"I know. I can take you away from them," He murmured.

"How?" You whispered.

"I can show you," Your angel hummed. He detached from you then, unhooking his arms from around your waist as he stepped towards the large mirror embedded in the wall of your room. You gasped when he twisted one of the wall lights, and the mirror cracked open like a door.

With glittering eyes of obsidian, he stared at you, stepping into the shadowy passage with a beckoning hand. 

You hesitated. But then you heard steps outside of your room and took his head without a second thought.

His gloved hand was icy as he led you further into the labyrinth hidden in the hollow bones of the theatre. Your steps echoed against the cobbled floor, shrouded in the dark. Your angel guided you with ease, walking through his kingdom of secrets.

You followed him blindly, content to entrust your heart and soul to this mysterious man.

Eventually, you came to a small crevice among rock and stone that was covered with a crimson sheet of cloth. You blinked in confusion as your angel's hand brushed the sheet away and urged you forward.

A gasp left your lips as you stepped into the cavern. Like a dream it sat, humming quietly as you observed its magnificence. Shining jewels and silks, and trinkets were scattered in the area. Hundreds of books and papers were layered like towers. Musical instruments sat proudly in the very empty spots. It was beautiful, a hoard a Magpie could only fantasise about.

It felt magical, a tiny piece of mysticism that escaped the land of the Fae, still sprinkled with the dust of wonder.

"Is this where you live?" You whispered, surprised by the way your voice echoed.

"Yes," The man answered, hand slipping to cup your lower back, "No one will bother you in my kingdom."

You smiled softly as he guided you to a small area more hidden than the rest, a bedroom. There was a large circular bed with pearl white sheets and layers and layers of canopy, a princess's resting place.

Your fingers gently brushed against the silk sheets. "It's beautiful. More than beautiful."

"You must thank my inspiration for that," Said the Phantom, gently guiding you to sit on the glorious bed.

"Where is it so that I might?" You inquired, tilting your head to look up at his still-standing form.

The candlelight made his dark features glitter like cursed idols. His eyes were molten, burning with icy reverence, "Look to your right."

You followed his command without hesitation and found yourself staring at yourself. A mirror, you realised. It was sat on the right wall directly opposite his luxurious bed. Your cheeks were flushed, eyes wide and curious and confused.

"Your mirror is your inspiration?" You murmured.

"You silly girl," A salacious chuckle left his lips, "My inspiration is you."

You watched as he settled onto the bed behind you. His hand gently brushed your hair away from your shoulder. His fingertips sent tingles dancing across your skin. His pale skin gleamed like moonlight, gentle and ethereal.

"I see," You whispered, unable to think of anything else to say.

He hummed quietly, a soft tune leaving his berry-pink lips as his hands rose to your bedazzled hair. Slowly, he began tugging away strands wrapped around pins and jewels. His touch was indescribably gentle as he released your hair from its constraints.  You were unable to get yourself free, and yet he did it with ease.

You watched him with rapt attention in the mirror. Felt his chest press against your back and his legs cage in your own. You were consumed by this man, a glistening gem cared for only in his hands.

You liked the way you looked with him in the mirror.

"Angel," You murmured, mournful to break his humming, "Do you have any tonic?"

His entire being stilled, "Your throat hurts?"

"Yes, it started when Lucius dragged me to an event earlier," You explained softly.

"Pigs," Your angel scoffed, but still he rose from his position to dig through one of his drawers before lifting a familar vial and returning to his position.

You expected him to hand you the tonic. He didn't. His hand curved under your chin, and his thumb found your lower lip. And just like when he fed you the little desserts, you let him open your mouth and pour the liquid onto your tongue.

"Thank you," You whispered, helpless, beneath his alluring gaze. He was like a storm cloud, rolling over the sky with ominous authority.

His thumb swiped at your lower lip tenderly, "Does it taste good?"

"Sweet," You responded. His presence was domineering.

A quiet hum left his lips, and his gaze flickered downward, "Would you mind terribly if I tried for myself?"

You knew this feeling. The first time you'd felt it was during Christmas when you were walked to your room by Benedict. Your angel sat just inches away from you, thumb running over your lips. You'd felt this before, but never quite so strongly.

The air felt electric, heavy with possibility.

"I wouldn't mind," You murmured after what felt like an eternity.

The Phantom's hand slipped down to your jaw. His eyes searched yours. He drew closer. You could feel his breath fanning your face. His smell invaded your nose. You let your eyes flutter closed.

And then his lips were on yours.

They were soft and slow, as tender as the petals of flowers. You sighed into his mouth, though your body pulsed with new, electric life. He was addictive in the way his lips slotted against yours, dominating your kiss with feverish control. 

You coiled your arms around his neck to pull him closer. You felt his ghostly smile as he pressed his lips harder into yours. He tasted as good as he smelled, sweet and sensual. His other hand threaded through your free strands of hair.

 You pulled away only to gasp in a sharp intake of air. Your angel barely let you, consuming your lips again, taking them over and over, staking his rightful claim. You melted beneath his touch, the skill of his mouth hypnotic to all your senses.

And when his tongue slid over your lower lip, you let him explore further into your mouth. His tongue ran over yours softly, and he groaned quietly as he pulled away.

"You're right. It does taste sweet," He murmured, eyes glimmering with carnal restraint. 

Your chest heaved. Heart pattering wildly in your chest, a storm of emotion hammering down upon your body. The way his fingers slowly caressed your body was indescribable. You were his clay, and he could shape you however he desired.

"I'm glad it satisfied you," You responded quietly. You wondered how beautiful he looked beneath his white mask.

A breathy hum came from the man, "I'm not sure it was the taste of the tonic that satisfied me, heart of mine."

You flushed.

His wicked lips curved upwards into a faint smirk. He leaned down to capture your lips again. You relished the feeling of him against you. His body was cold, but his affection was hot, burning in its passion. You could feel it in the way he held you and devoured your lips like a starved man.

Soft sighs and breaths left you, as sweet as a song, as your conductor pulled sound after sound from your mouth.

Your hands reached up to tangle in his hair, catching on thin bands. His mask, you realised, tracing along the unfamiliar fabric in search of a weak point to pull.

Instantly, the Phatom ripped his hands from your body, instead clasping your wrists with an iron grip. You yelped in surprise. You snapped open your eyes to see what had happened.

Dark eyes glittered ominiously from behind the pure white mask.  His grip on your wrist was tight and harsh. His jaw was tightened, and his lips were pursed. He was angry, you knew that.

"What do you think you're doing?" He questioned, all amusment gone.

"I─" You couldn't find the words, pinned against his hold like a butterfly.

"Why did you try to remove my mask?" The suspicion in his tone bordered on frightening, as if your answer would determine your very fate.

"I wanted to know you," You murmured, words falling from your tongue like petals in the wind.

He scoffed, "Know my face, you mean?"

"No," You protested, "I want to know you. Your desires. Your wants. Your hatred. Your dreams and nightmares. That's all I want. I thought seeing your face would help. But if that's something you don't want, I shall never again touch your mask."

Your angel tilted his head, studying you, "Do you truly mean that?"

You nodded, gently twisting your hands from his loosened grip so you could grasp his own wrists and guide them to your face. You cradled them against your cheeks, begging him to feel your earnestness, "Yes."

He was silent for a moment, gilded eyes dancing across your features. You never broke away from his gaze. He could peel off every layer of flesh and muscle until he could observe your unguarded soul if that's what he wished.

The Phantom hummed quietly, gloved thumbs running over the warmth of your cheeks, "My sweet girl."

You flushed but reinforced your words, "I swear it, angel."

"I know. I can see it in your eyes," He murmured, leaning close, "Look at you."

"I─" You began.

He cut you off by slipping a hand beneath your chin and jerking it to the side, back to the mirror once more. Your eyes locked onto your figure immediately, eyes wide, skin hot, hair fuzzy. You'd never seen yourself like that before.

The Phantom moved behind you,  slotting himself perfectly against you once more. His thumb traced your lips. 

"Such a beautiful thing you are," He mumbled, head slipping lower.

You gasped quietly as his lips kissed your neck. He was so tender, sucking and toying with your flesh like a ghost. You were helpless to do anything but lean against him, giving him more of your neck to explore.

The sound of his lips dancing across your throat was the sweetest melody you'd ever heard. Over your corsetted stomach, his hand intertwined with yours, binding you in his hold.

"Angel," You whispered.

Everywhere his kisses landed, sparks followed. You felt more alive than you ever had. This was the man who had found in you the depths of grief and guided you out of it from behind walls and vents, and now he was here, finally real and touchable.

"Zayne," He muttered between hot kisses, mouthing at your skin with controlled need.

For a moment, the hazy cloud dissapeared.

You blinked away the droplets of delight and furrowed your brows, "Zayne?"

"You said you wanted to know me," The Phantom responded, tongue gliding over the flushed marks he'd made on your skin, "My name should suffice, no?"

Surprise ripped through you.

Your angel was called Zayne. That name settled into your heart's empty throne.

"Thank you," You murmured, breaking off into a sudden gasp as Zayne's lips pressed into he area just beneath your ear. You felt him smirk against your skin as he attacked the area more fiercely.

Your spare hand snapped upwards to intertwine with his hair, careful not to brush against the strings of his mask.

He grunted, teeth playing gently with your flesh. 

"Zayne, please," You murmured, body set alight with desire that needed to be tamed. 

"My name sounds so sweet on your lips, treasure," The Phantom muttered, "But my answer is no."

And yet he continued to glide his lips across your neck. You furrowed your brows in confusion, "W...Why?"

"Because your throat is in pain," He answered as if it were obvious.

"I don't understand..." You said softly.

Zayne chuckled, finally resting his chin on your shoulder so he could look at you through the mirror. His lips were demonic, designed to tempt you away from sancity, and yet his eyes glistened angelically.

"I want to make you sing until your throat runs raw, dearest," Zayne mused, "And I can't do that if your throat is already hurt, can I?"

You flushed with pusling heat as you responded, "No."

He hummed approvingly, "And you don't want to disappoint me, do you?"

"Never," You swore.

"That's my girl," Zayne smiled, eyes darkening with restraint, "Now, let me taste your lips again."

Furious. That's how you felt. You stared at yourself in the mirror of the bathroom of one of Benedict's friends' homes. Tight corset, Benedict's signature red, spiky feather in your hair.  You didn't look like yourself.  Hot bitterness flooded through your veins.

He'd come to you and apologised. He was just excited to introduce his new friends to his old ones, he said; he hadn't considered how tired you might feel. He'd tried to hold your hands while he spoke, but you pulled them away. He continued without noticing. He was sorry, he said, and that he would ask the next time he had an event he wanted to bring you to.

You said okay. 

Benedict had kept to his word and asked if you wanted to attend a small gathering with friends at one of his acquaintances' homes. You said yes. It would just be a friendly gathering. Just like childhood, innocent.

You were an idiot.

You'd gone to the bathroom briefly earlier, and when you were about to reenter the parlour, you heard them talking about you. Such miserable comments, most of which you were happy to ignore. That was until the topic of marriage came up.

"I say, Benedict, you can't possibly mean to marry that woman," One voice muttered.

"Yes. Making a working woman your wife is most ridiculous," Another one chuckled.

Benedict laughed, "She won't be working once we're married. Asko Opera was merely a way to sustain herself. She won't be allowed to continue singing once we're wed, no, she'll be in my country estate, looking after our children."

You went back to the bathroom after that. And now, you were leaving. You wouldn't cause a commotion or fight, no, you'd just leave and never look back. He didn't deserve any of your emotions. Benedict was nothing more than a memory that would collect dust now.

The sun had already set by the time you got home to the Opera house. You didn't hesitate to lock your door behind you, immediately tugging off jewerly and adornments with venomous hatred. You tore off your dress with claw-like hands, snarling when it got caught around your body. Eventually, you remained only in your corset and stockings.

Had you ever felt this anger before? No. You knew you hadn't.

What right did he have to decide that you were going to marry him, have his child, move to his estate and abandon your career and passion?

You caught sight of the rose bouquet Benedict had given you, roses beginning to wilt. You shrieked and batted them off the table. Your chest heaved uncomfortably.

"Darling?" Came the soft voice that blessed your waking hours and sleeping nights, "What's the matter?"

You huffed, lungs constricted by your corset, "You were right. They are all swine."

You heard his footsteps draw closer and shivered in delight as his hands wrapped around your waist, "This wouldn't have anything to do with the childhood companion, would it?"

He'd read the note you'd left on your dressing table, then. Since that magical night in his dark world, he'd come to you more often. In the dark hours of the day, you'd be in his arms, wrapped in his bliss.

You sighed and let your head slump against his chest, turning it so you could press your ear against the familar beat of his heart, "He's gotten it into his head that I'm going to marry him. That I'm going to abandon my life's passion at his whim."

Zayne's gentle hands caressed your sides, "How arrogant. What a pathetic excuse of a man, a mongrel really."

You giggled quietly, "He certainly is a mutt."

"He also has atrocious fashion taste,"  Your Phantom hummed, voice low and rumbling, "You look much better in black."

You raised a brow, " Black is your colour, no?"

"Precisely my point," Zayne muttered, one of his hands slipped down to caress your white stockings, "Though I am partial to the way you look in white."

The tips of fingers brushed against your bare thigh. You shivered in delight. His touch was feather-light, teasing and careful. You felt like you were being toyed with, to see how tight that coil of want in your chest could become.

"Zayne," You murmured, "My throat doesn't hurt anymore."

"No?" He questioned softly, but his grip on you tightened. His touch was chilling, and yet it ignited flames in all of your senses.

"No," You said firmly. Repeated nights of kissing had left you desperate for something more, for the next delectable taste of what your angel could do to you.

Zayne gently nudged your face away from his chest so he could find your neck again. He hadn't let any of his initial marks fade, every one of them as dark as the night he'd first made them. You sighed contentedly.

"Then, I suppose we'll take this off of you," Your angel whispered, fingers trailing along your corset in search of the ribbons that kept it tight around your body. 

The feeling of his touch was indescribable, as sharp and hot as icy wind. You gave him some semblance of a nod, "Please."

His lips curved into a smile against your neck as his fingers threaded through your ribbons, gently tugging and loosening. He was featherlight in all of his movements, his lips caressing your flesh like it was made of violin strings that required the utmost care.

It was quiet, blissfully so. The soft candlelight flickered, flames dancing against one another wth delectable passion. You felt weightless against him, hands twisting up and around your neck to hold his head and hair. 

Zayne grunted quietly. His teeth teased your skin, painting it in dark, pulsing bruises. His mask gently bumped against your jaw, the cold material a delightful contrast to the heat he was making you feel.

Your corset grew looser and looser with his expert hands, fingers trailing down your spine with curious need. You gasped quietly, finally able to breathe freely. 

Zayne rested his chin on your shoulder, pressing one final kiss there  before he said, "Look at the mirror."

And just like always, you followed his command without hesitation. Your mirror was much larger than his, and in its reflection, you could see all of you. Zayne's hands had returned to your sides, his pale face pressed against yours, raven tresses spilling over his forehead and alabaster mask. 

You were flushed, chest heaving against a loose corset, eyes hazy with the anticipation of what you desperately wanted. Your hands were twisted to cradle your Phantom's face. You looked like the ballerina in a music box. 

"Keep looking," Zayne demanded. His voice left no argument.

You kept watching yourself. You could recognise her. Was she truly you? 

Even in reflection, you could see Zayne's glistening gaze. His eyes were always so watchful, intense in the way only darkness was. You felt like, at any second, he could submerge you beneath the icy lake of his control. You felt like you'd let him.

Slowly but surely, he undid the final strings of your corset, completely freeing it from your body. It was only his hands that held it against you. In your haste to get dressed, you'd neglected to wear an undergarment beneath your restraint.

Zayne's dark lips curved upwards as he gently dragged the tight fabric away from your body. You held in your breath. The second it was fully off, Zayne disregarded it, throwing it onto the ground without another thought.

You gasped at the sight of yourself. 

In only your stockings and undergarments, you were more exposed than you had ever been in front of someone else, and yet you felt no vulnerability. Your eyes danced across the slopes and ridges of your form, the soft flesh, the thickness of some areas, the thinness of others. 

With each heavy thump of your heart, your chest rose and fell, breasts moving with each beat. The cold air of the night caressed your nipples, hardening them. You looked like an artist's masterpiece, a little bit of divinity in your creation.

"Do you like it?" You whispered.

"Yes," Your angel answered immediately, though his eyes remained transfixed on yours through the mirror, "Do you?"

"Yes," You murmured in response.

"Good. A body this magnificent should always be treasured," Zayne murmured, hands tracing up and down your sides. You shivered in delight. You wanted his hands to roam across your entire body.

"Could you take your gloves off?" You requested sweetly, "I want to feel your flesh while you feel mine."

Zayne kissed your cheek, "Take them off for me."

He kept one hand on your waist and lifted the other one to your mouth, the tip of his index finger pressed against your lips. The silky white fabric smelled of him. You watched yourself as you bit onto the tip of his glove carefully, slowly tugging it away from his hand. Zayne watched you as well. His lips parted softly as you took off the glove of his other hand.

"So obedient for me," He murmured, his voice almost cracking with the restraint of a man who wanted to tear you apart and rebuild you over and over again until your veins pulsed with nothing but his desire for you.

You whined quietly, gently grasping his hands. They were cool to the touch, as luxurious as frost. His bare fingers against yours were a wonderful sensation, and you needed to spread it across your entire body.

You tilted your head to kiss his jaw and guided his hands to your body. He might have been slow with his exploration, but you weren't a patient woman, and you demanded his affection now. You began on your stomach, dragging his fingers and palm higher and higher up your body.

"Touch me," You murmured, half demanding, half desperate.

"As you wish," Zayne whispered, taking control as he slid his hands up to your chest, fingers running over your tits softly. 

His movements were calculated, his fingers slid across your body, massaging and squeezing like a pianist playing his favourite chords. You bit your lip, eye fixated on your reflection. Zayne's hands roved over the plains of your body, his ghostly touch igniting unfamiliar emotions that bubbled with delicate heat.

If this were temptation, you understood why Eve fell for it. To taste the apple of desire and have its juices spill down your chin was the greatest and most gluttonous of experiences. And you had it right now, encased in the serpentine hold of Zayne and all his devilish powers.

"Kiss me," You asked, "Please."

Zayne smiled at you, lips a dark crimson. His mouth was hot against yours, burning with icy affection as his tongue slid against yours, claiming all that belonged to him. You groaned into his kiss as his fingers toyed with your sensitive nipples. 

He chuckled quietly, stealing all your breath as the fire in your body grew hotter and hotter. This man made you feel delirious.

Your kisses were sloppy and feverish, teeth catching lip, tongues gliding over one another. It made you feel breathless. Made you want to draw Zayne closer and closer until nothing separated you.

"I need more," Zayne grunted against your lips, his hands abruptly clasping your waist as he forced you backwards.

If not for his hold on you, you would've stumbled. You yelped in surprise when your back collided with your wall. It was freezing against your bare skin, and you couldn't help but arch into Zayne.

His dark eyes glistened with mirth as he lowered his head, capturing your lips once again. You whined quietly, fingers clasping the buttons of his dress shirt, desperate to unclasp them. Zayne groaned as you did so, the tips of your fingers ghosting against his pure flesh.

He pulled his hands away from your body for only a moment, just to yank his unbuttoned shirt off, and once it was thrown into some dark corner, he was on you again. His fingertips traced lower this time, dancing along the edges of your undergarments.

In between salacious kisses, you gasped, "You're so beautiful, you know that?"

And he was. Dark hair, mysterious eyes, soft lips, marble body. You hungrily explored his chest, all his muscles and ridges, fingers dancing over barely visible scars, staking your claim over his body and heart with ravenous intent. You wanted to cover his entire body in marks like yours.

Zayne groaned softly, "You think?"

"I know," You answered, gently tugging his lip with your teeth, dragging your nails down his skin, up and down, down and up, everywhere.

"My perfect girl. Let me see more of you," Your angel whispered, reverence in his tone as he hastily pulled your undergarments down. You sucked in a harsh, excited breath as you stepped out of them, leaving you in just your stockings. You were bare for him to explore.

With a hot kiss to your lips and many more down your body, Zayne slid onto his knees. And God, did he look good down there. His midnight hair was dishevelled, his green eyes hazy with lust, his lips swollen, his chest heaving with need. His legs parted slightly, and you could see the bulge in his dark trousers.

You caressed his cheek with your hand, and he nuzzled into your warmth. It was like you were a goddess, and he your devoted priest, willing to give you whatever you wanted.

"I need you," You murmured, the knot in your core tightening at the broken sight of him.

"And I need you," He muttered, kissing your wrist tenderly as his hands slipped up the inside of your legs, gently parting them.

You shivered as the cold touched your core. You knew your arousal had coated your cunt and felt your heart leap in your chest at the realisation Zayne would find out just how badly you wanted him.

With slow, enrapt attention, the Phantom leaned forward and pressed his lips to your inner thighs. Just like he had done, he took his time ensuring his lips would leave behind marks that would blossom into magnificent purples and reds as rich as your blood.

"Zayne, please," You whined.

He looked up at you, "Can I?"

"Yes," You gasped, desperation edging into your tone as you threaded your fingers into his hair.

Your permission was all your dark angel needed to complete his journey to your pulsing core. Your legs twitched when he blew hot air onto your bud. He sighed contentedly at the sight and then, ever so slowly, his tongue slid across your folds.

You cried out softly, hands cupping his head. His gaze flickered to yours briefly, and his confidence seemed to come to him all at once. He moved his tongue over your cunt, lapping at your desire with earnest need.

You sighed and whimpered at the sensation. He mouthed at your pussy with feverish want. His tongue lapped over your clit, caressing it with gentle but desperate reverence. His mouth felt so good as he licked your cunt over and over, coating his lips with your wetness.

"Y/N?"

 A knock on your door.

Both you and Zayne went rigid. His dark viridian eyes shimmered as he stared up at you, lips glistening. You could all but see the hearts in his gaze.

"Y/N? Are you in there?"

Benedict. 

You stared at Zayne helplessly, suddenly shivering. You thanked the stars you'd locked that door. You dreaded to think about what would happen if Benedict came in now. Irritation brewed in your stomach at the sound of his voice, mingling oddly with the desire that was already pooled there.

"Y/N?"

If you just stayed quiet, he'd leave.

Zayne had other plans, however. He caressed your thighs with his fingers, drawing your attention to him. There was no hesitation in his words as he said, "Answer him."

You almost questioned his sanity, but you swore loyalty to him and followed his order despite your reluctance, "Yes?"

The feeling of his hands against your skin was a heavenly sensation, luring your thoughts and mind.

You heard Benedict sigh, "Thank God. I couldn't find you at the party. Why did you leave so suddenly? And without any word?"

Your irritation flared.

"I left because─"

Zayne's tongue danced against your cunt, circling your clit and slipping through your folds. Your entire body tensed with surprise and pleasure. You snapped your head down to look at him, hand clasped to your mouth to stop your whimpers. His eyes glittered with mirth.

"Because what?"

"What are you doing?" You whispered harshly.

"Do you want me to stop?" Zayne questioned, pulling away only briefly.

"I..." You murmured, biting your lip as your angel kissed your cunt again and again, lavishing it.

Zayne hummed, the vibrations shooting straight through your body, "I didn't think so."

And like a man dining on the finest dessert he'd ever come across, he delved back into your pussy, intent on devouring you. The hand you still had on his hand clutched his hair, pulling him closer.

He was a fiend. A deity that demanded his sacrifice without any care for the rules and regulations of mortals.

"Y/N? Because of what?" Benedict called, an edge of confusion digging its way into his worry.

What could you do? He already knew you were inside your room, and if you stayed silent, he might get overly concerned and break in. But if you spoke to him, you ran the risk of Benedict finding out what was happening.

All you knew was that you didn't want Zayne to stop.

You clenched your jaw, "Because I felt sick."

True in some sense of the word, you suppose. 

"Sick?" Benedict tried to open the door. The handle jiggled against its lock.

You sent a wide-eyed look to Zayne, but he was in his own world. In the moments you'd been looking away, he closed his eyes and let his tongue run faster against your cunt. His mouth was hot against your pussy as he shoved his tongue deeper inside of it.

Your chest tightened at th sight and feel of him. It was taking everything in you not to moan. Your body felt electric, senses burning with intensity as your eyes locked onto Zayne's form. 

"Yes," You gasped, "I'm fine. I just need rest."

"Are you sure? Do you need anything?" He inquired.

You half wanted to scream at him, just so he would leave. You glowered at the door. Zayne's hands slid up and down your thighs, consoling you as he chuckled. You huffed and tugged him closer to your cunt.

You felt his smirk. The tip of his mask-covered nose nudged against your clit. You gasped in surprise, jutting your hips to chase the new friction.

"No─" The added sensations made the desire in the body tighten, "I just need quiet."

You were desperate to reach the peak of your orgasm, knowing it would rush through you and consume you in pleasure. You also eagerly anticipated what would come after, Zayne between your legs, his cock pumping in and out of your cunt.

"Really? Let me in so I can check," Benedict demanded.

Zayne pulled away to mutter, "He's awfully insistent, isn't he?"

"What do I do?" You questioned as Zayne's right hand slipped in between your thighs, "Tell me what to do─"

In the absence of his tongue, Zayne had decided to use his fingers. You whined quietly, lip clenched between your teeth to keep yourself from crying out as your phantom burrowed one of his fingers into your sopping cunt.

"Just let yourself feel," He murmured, kissing your thigh.

You furrowed your brows, "I can't. He'll hear."

Zayne tilted his head, "Isn't that what you want?"

What? No. Surely not. The idea of Benedict realising you were being fingered only meters away from you wasn't something you wanted. No. You didn't want him to know how good you were feeling without him.

"N-no," You whimpered.

"No?" Zayne hummed, pushing another finger into your cunt, "So why are you clenching around my fingers?"

"Y/N? Y/N?!"

"You'll like the idea of him finding out, don't you? You like the idea that he'll realise you're being fucked by someone who isn't him." The mirth in your angel's eyes grew brighter with each word he spoke. You were so close, his fingers beckoning you closer to the edge of desire.

"Y/N?!"

"I'm fine─Mmph!" You couldn't stop that noise, not when Zayne's fingers curled against a specific spot in your cunt. You clenched his hair between your fingers as you ground your hips into his palm, desperately chasing your release.

"What was that??" Benedict questioned.

"It was noth...nothing!" You cried out as Zayne pressed against that spit over and over again, smiling up at you like he was studying the most magnificent piece of art he'd ever seen.

You were so fucking close, entire body tightening with barely restrained need. You could feel the threads of your control fraying against the onslaught of Zayne's affection.

"Nothing?" Zayne laughed, loud and free. He sounded so beautiful when he laughed.

"Y/N?! Is someone else in there? I'm going to find a way, don't worry!" Bendiect called out, jerking the door handle again. You barely noticed it moving this time around.

Your angel chuckled and called out, "Unfortunately for you, sir, the position of her lover has already been occupied. And I'm about to make her cum, so I'd appreciate it if you stopped your squealing."

"Zayne!" You gasped, eyes wide with shock.

With a heated look, he dove back to your pussy like a starved man, mouth lapping at your core with a frantic urgency. You moaned helplessly, hands gripping his head as you rolled your hips, chasing your release.

You didn't hear Benedict leave. You didn't care.

You were rapidly tumbling towards your orgasm, entire body tremoring with the eight of it as it built across your body. Your chest heaved as gasps and whimpers left your lips.

"That's it," Zayne grunted against your pussy, "Cum for me."

His tongue and fingers flicked in tandem, driving you fully over the edge, gravity pulling a shooting star into a planet's atmosphere. A cry left your lips as you threw your head back, eyes screwing shut as your vision went white with the intensity of your orgasm.

Your entire body seized with the shocks of your release, your cunt soaking Zayne's fingers and face. He moaned quietly, tongue lapping at your cum with feverish need. He guided you through your orgasm, pulling you deeper into the throes of pleasure as the aftershocks pulsed through you.

You sucked in greedy breaths as Zayne slowly pulled away from your cunt, almost mournful to be leaving it so soon. Your entire body felt heavy as you stared down at him with lidded eyes. Your legs trembled beneath your weight.

Zayne stood, wrapping an arm around your waist as he cradled you against him, "Magnificent."

You flushed and connected your lips to yours, tasting yourself on his tongue. Your kiss was sloppy and hot, your wild breaths mingling in the air. Your entire body pulsed as you clung onto him, feeling his heart flutter beneath your palm in an irregular but beautiful rhythm.

You wanted more.

"Zayne," You whispered, looking up at him.

"Yes?" He murmured, eyes glittering like frost on a winter's sunrise.

You let your hand slip lower down his body, "I want you to make me sing."

Zayne groaned, from your words or your hand over his bulge, you didn't know.  In the quiet of your bedroom, all you could hear was him, all you could focus on was him, like snow, he had invaded all your senses and made his home in the plains of your heart.

"You know just what to say," He murmured, heat on his words as he dragged you backwards.

You expected him to guide you towards your luxurious bed, but instead, he turned towards your crimson, velvet chaise. You blinked in confusion, but let him lead you closer to it. Silently, he settled you there, positioning you like a doll so you were leaning against your armrest, staring at him.

You tilted your head curiously, "Why not the bed?"

Zaye smiled and kissed you again, "You'll see, heart of mine."

And then he rose to his full, imposing height and began to unbuckle his belt. You shivered in anticipation, watching with rapt attention as he began to free himself from his confines. Your mouth watered the second he stepped out of his trousers and underwear.

His cock was already leaking, fully hard and blushing a vibrant, peachy pink. Veins ran down his cock, hidden beneath the small bush of hair at his thick base. With slow, enamoured movements, you leaned forward and extended your hand.

"Can I?" You murmured.

"Please," Zayne sighed.

Gently, you wrapped your hand around his cock, swiping your thumb over his tip. A soft, quiet groan left Zayne's lips as he watched your hand leisurely work up and down his dick. With his precum, it was easy to slide your palm against the ridges of his length, even as it twitched against your touch.

"Mmm," Zayne cradled your face in his hands, slowly rolling his hips into your grasp, "You're so good at this, my love. Perfect in every way, aren't you?"

"Just for you," You nuzzled into his hold, slowly increasing your pace.

"All for me. My girl," Your angel whispered breathily, a sharp edge of possession in his words. A warm shiver ran down your spine as you met his adorning eyes.

"Yes," You swore.

Zayne smiled endearingly, "And I can show my girl how much I want her, can't I?"

"Yes," You repeated, jerking Zayne faster.

He stroked your cheek, leaning down to kiss you, murmuring against your lips, "Lean back."

You did so, pressing back against the delicate velvet as your head settled against the armrest. Your body was bare beneath Zayne, tremoring with anticipation. Your angel would finally be yours, completely and wholly yours.

His cold hands trailed across your body as he settled himself between your legs. He looked perfect, framed between your legs, a deity partaking in his offering. Your heart fluttered as his eyes met ours, burning with need.

Zayne gripped his cock with his other hand and brought it to your cunt, gently teasing his tip through your folds. You sighed, muscles tensing as you waited for him to push inside.

And he did, slow and certain, he held your waist with one hand to leverage himself as he drove himself forward. You whined as his cock intruded through your ring of muscle and into your cunt.

"Zayne," You gasped.

Your hands flew to clutch at his arms as he went deeper and deeper past your entrance. The feeling of his length inside you was indescribable. You hissed quietly at the stretch, rolling your hips to accommodate the sharp but delicious sensation.

"You feel so good," He murmured, still pushing deeper.

He gently thrust his hips back and forth, slowly soaking his entire cock in your cunt. Among the pain, pleasure began to blossom, flowering as he buried himself to the hilt with a sharp groan.

You felt like you could pass out. You felt weightless in his hold, encased in his embrace like the most precious of jewels. You watched as Zayne's chest rose and fell, restraint coiling in his eyes as his gaze locked onto where his dick dissapeared into your cunt.

"Move," You whined, rolling your hips into his, "Make me feel good."

Zayne captured your lips in a fierce kiss and did as you demanded, languidly thrusting his hips in and out of your pussy. His tongue collided with yours as he dominated your mouth, taking all the control for himself as fucked into you.

You clutched at any part of your body you could, clutching at his biceps, clawing at his shoulders, clinging to his back. His cokc felt so good as it brushed against your walls over and over again.

"Take me so well," Zayne groaned into your lips as he pulled out to his tip and thrust all the way back in, "Oh, you take my cock so good, treasure."

You frantically kissed his jaw and neck as you rolled your hips to match his thrusts.  His pace had increased, methodic in its pattern, each slam of his cock against your cunt perfectly designed to bring the most pleasure possible.

"You're so big," You whined, bundle of nerves pulsing with the build of desire.

"Mm," Zayne moaned, "Fits so perfectly inside of you. My cock fits so perfectly."

"It does. Made for me," You groaned, chest tightening with lack of breath as Zayne ground you into the chaise, his thrusts making it creak quietly. The candlelight made his ghostly features glow, kissed by icy moonlight.

"Yeah, I am. Made to pleasure you. Made to worship you. My muse," Your angel swore, pressing his head into the hollow of your neck as he consumed it with kisses.

A cry left your lips at his words. Your devotion to this man was as great as the Oracle's of old, praying in their temples. You'd do anything for him, let him use you in any way, kneel and obey his every command. And he'd do the same for you. 

Hissing, a smirk stretched across Zayne's lips as he pulled away slightly, "You're clenching around me, dearest. You like knowing my heart is in your hands, don't you?"

You went to respond. And then a cold material hit your shoulder. 

His mask.

"Zayne!" You gasped, struggling to get the words out as his hips pistoned into you, making pleasure spread throughout your body.

"Yes?" He lifted his head, fully in view now. He hadn't expected that.

You knew his hair and his eyes and lips, but never what they looked like all together, framed by silvery skin. It was now that you could see his eyes had flecks of brown in them, a shimmering bronze. His nose cloped down, carved and fine, the right side of his face was picturequie, a statue. The left was scared, the skin was blotchy and uneven, pink in some spots, ghostly in others. Burnt.

He was beautiful.

His thrusts slowed as he observed you, trying to understand your silence. You could see worry flickering in his gaze.

"You are the most astonishing man I have ever seen,"  You rasped as you reached up to cradle his face, fingers brushing against his cheeks and nose, learning the new skin with enthralled devotion.

Zayne went rigid, "...What?"

His eyes flickered to where his mask must've fallen. Then back to you.

"So beautiful," You complimented, amazed by the sight of him..

He didn't say anything. No. Instead, after a moment of frightening stillness, one of his hands slipped around your neck and jerked your head back against the armrest. You yelped in surprise, eyes darting to accommodate your new angel.

You almost came on the spot.

Now you understood. Now you knew why he'd chosen the chaise. The mirror.

Your reflection dripped with sin. You splayed across your chaise, Zayne between your legs, both of your chests heaving, the point of your connection in full view of the mirror's seat. Your eyes were wide, your body flushed, your throat decorated by Zayne's hand like a necklace.

Zayne's eyes locked with yours through the mirror. They burned.

You squirmed against his hold, trying to alleviate the simmering want that had ripped across your body at the sight of you together. Your stomach fluttered as your eyes danced across the small red marks on your angel's body.

"You think this is beautiful?" Zayne hissed.

"Yes," You rasped, throat tightened by the hand against it. It shouldn't have made me as excited as it did.

"Don't lie," Your angel snarled in a low tone. His cock twitched inside of you.

"'M not," You whined, rolling your hips to emphasise your point. The friction made you moan, but it wasn't enough, "Zayne, please. I need you so bad."

You could see the want flicker in his eyes like lightning as you struggled to make your own pleasure. You felt the hesitation in his head.

"Please, Angel," You whispered, your hands coming to cradle his wrist. You didn't pull it from your neck, no, you just caressed his skin, feeling his fingers tighten slightly.

"You know just what to fucking say," Zayne hissed.

And then he was moving again. But this time, he was thrusting into you as fast as he could. You shrieked as he forced pleasure to rip across your body all at once. He smacked his cock into your cunt over and over again.

You watched as your entire body rocked with the strength of his thrusts, mouth open as you moaned helplessly, coil in your body tightening.

"Fuckkk─" You whined, wrapping your legs around Zayne's waist, "Harder!"

Zayne grunted as the new angle let him plunge his dick further into your cunt. You wailed as he gripped the fabric by your head, using it to leverage himself so he could hammer into you harder.

The sound of your cunt would have been humiliating if not for the wet plap, plap, plap of Zayne's cock bullying your tight pussy. It was so loud, louder than the loud groaning of the chaise and almost louder than your moans.

"Squeezing me so tight," Zayne hissed, breaking off into a breathy moan as he stared at you through your reflection, "Singing me such a sweet song."

You mewled as you locked your legs tighter around him, desperately chasing the pleasure that was building like storm clouds on the horizon. With Zayne against you, the rest of the world dripped away, a distant thought.

"Please─" You whimpered, watching as you arched your back, as Zayne smiled at the sight, cheeks flushed a light pink as he pummeled into your sobbing cunt.

"I know, I know," He mumbled, slurring his words, "It feels too good, right?"

You nodded frantically, unable to speak as your orgasm raced towards you with each ruthless thrust of Zayne's hips. 

"You can't hold it in, can you, treasure?" He questioned, biting his lip.

You shook your head, "N-no─"

"Neither can I," He groaned, "Cum with me, darling. Cum all over my cock."

A shrill cry left your lips as Zayne positioned himself into you, hammering his cock into your cunt desperately. His rhythm cracked beneath his frantic desire, but he thrust as hard and fast as he could.

You could barely breathe between your release, hurtling towards you, and Zayne's hand squeezing your neck deliciously tight. The threads of your restraint snapped all at once, your eyes rolling backwards.

"Zayne─" You wailed as your orgasm ripped through you.

You shrieked as Zayne continued thrusting, soaking his dick with your cum as he groaned loudly. He looked feverish, the look in his eyes hazy and carnal as he chanted, "Yesyesyes─"

Without hesitation, Zayne slammed his lips against yours as his cock pulsed inside of you, coating your walls in his cum. Your kiss was sloppy and messy as your chest heaved, rapidly, uneven breaths mingling.

You felt weightless as the aftershocks of your pleasure waved over you. Your entire body tingled with delight as Zayne rested his forehead against yours, pressing chaste kisses to your lips.

You smiled and caressed his face affectionately. Zayne leaned his left cheek against your hand.

The candles flickered.

"You really are beautiful," You murmured.

Zayne sighed contentedly, "Thank you."

"I don't know how I'm going to walk out of this bedroom, though," You giggled.

A soft chuckle left your angel's lips, "Who said you had to leave? I said I'd make you sing until your throat ran raw, no?"

And he kissed you again.

You glowered at the man who sat opposite you. He shrank beneath your rueful gaze, scratching his neck awkwardly. His black hair was ruffled, and you could see a light sheen appear on his olive skin.

You sipped your coffee, "Gideon."

He flinched at your tone, instinct compelling him to meet your gaze for a fraction of a second. You saw in his hazel eyes that he knew what you didn't. Anger coiled in your stomach, simmering as you stared at him. The sounds of the cafe were dim around you, a faint buzzing in your ears. 

You tapped your foot impatiently against the wooden floor. Your coffee burned your hands.

"Y/N..." Gideon murmured, voice cracking slightly.

You sighed deeply, "Where is he?"

Gideon winced, "Wh...Who?"

"Don't play dumb with me," You said, sharper than you'd meant to, "I know he told you where he was going."

He hadn't given you that courtesy, the damn bastard. You were going to smack him up the backside of his head when you finally found him.  

You could see Gideon hesitate, the twist of his features as he tapped nervously against the ceramic mug in his hands. You hummed, leaning forward, putting the pressure on. Gideon never did well when he was cornered; you knew that well.

He looked down, "He told me not to tell you..."

"I know," You answered, "But he should've known that there was no way I was gonna stay in the dark. So tell me where he is because I'm not going to take no for an answer."

A deep, exhausted sigh left Gideon, "You have a point. It's just..."

"What?" You furrowed your brows.

"He was so serious about it when he told me not to tell you. I don't want to go behind his back, y'know?" Gideon explained, wringing his hands nervously.

"I get that," You softened slightly, "But I'm worried about him, Gideon. I mean, have you ever known Caleb to just leave like that?"

"No. You're right. He was so off when he came to tell me he was leaving that day. He was jittery and unfocused. It was like he had to leave, like he couldn't stand being here another second," Murmured the man, features contorting into the ghost of a concerning memory.

Some about that filled you with a dark, sinking feeling.

"Exactly," You breathed, "So tell me where he is."

Gideon closed his eyes briefly, "Skyhaven Retreat. It's up in Linkon's mountain range"

"Thank you," You said reverently, yanking your coat on and pulling your bag onto your shoulder. You weren't going to wait another second.

Catching your arm as you brushed past, Gideon halted you, a worried glimmer in his gaze, "Just be careful, yeah? Caleb hasn't been the same since the camping trip a few months ago."

"I will," You nodded at him, "And I'll bring him back home."

And that was a promise you intended to keep. Your life in Linkon was incomplete without Caleb Xia's presence. He needed to come back to where he belonged, by your side.

When you got to the reception building of Skyhaven retreat, you were met with a woman called Yvette. And she knew who you were the second she saw you. Caleb was here, certainly. She couldn't tell you that, but he was definitely here.

And then, the door opened and in came a tall man," You need to be more careful, kid─"

It was then you saw him. Just a few steps behind the man.

Brown hair. Purple eyes.

He went rigid the second he saw you.

"Pipsqueak?" He whispered.

What did you say you were going to do? Hit him?

"Caleb..." You murmured.

He took one step forward. And then another. And another. And before you knew it, you were in his wild embrace. You gapsed as his arms coiled around your waist, yanking you close to him. He was so warm.

Your entire being softened with relief at the feeling of Caleb's body against yours. You threw your arms around his shoulders, burying your face into his neck. His hair smelled like that strawberry shampoo you let him borrow and that he'd never returned.

Caleb was here, and he was in your arms.

Your entire being was swarmed by him. You were the dark side of his moon, and you were finally at peace in his shadowy embrace once more. You held him as tight as you could, and he responded in the same way.

You could feel his hands clutching at your waist as he cradled you against him. You felt tears spark in your eyes and clenched them closed tighter so they wouldn't fall.

"I missed you," Caleb whispered in your ear. He sounded just like he always did, soft and sweet. He used to be insecure about his voice because it was too high-pitched. You disagreed; to you, his voice sounded like summer.

You sniffled, "I missed you too."

His fingers ran soothingly up and down your waist, "I'm so glad you're here."

So why did you leave in the first place? The words died on your tongue before you could dare think to say them. You didn't want to upset him, not when you'd only just gotten him back.

A quiet cough echoed.

The two of you jumped out of your embrace, half sheepish, half shocked. Caleb kept you tucked into his side with his arm thrown around your shoulders. Both of you turned to look at the pair standing by the reception desk.

Yvette's hand was intertwined with the man's. They had matching rings.

Yvette smiled at the two of you and gently placed a key onto the wooden desk, "Here's another key to Caleb's cabin because I have a feeling you'll be staying overnight."

You laughed softly.

The man chuckled, "Longer than that. This is the infamous Y/N L/N, after all."

"Huh?" You blinked in confusion.

"Hey!" Caleb huffed, looking away from you.

With a snicker, the man shrugged, "You're the one who always talks about her."

"Liam!" Yvette exclaimed, lightly batting his chest.

Caleb's ears were turning red.

"Well, we'd better be off!" Liam laughed, tugging Yvette away into the room behind the reception desk, the latter giggling the whole way.

Caleb shook his head fondly as he walked over to the desk, picking up the keys with a familar grin, "Come on, Pips, let's go get your stuff."

Your breathing was laboured and uneven by the time you reached Caleb's cabin. It was decently sized, and part of one of the walls was purely glass, just like those ads that popped up on TV. The wood that made the frame was a deep, rich colour, and the stones that built its bottom were smoothed down and shining.

It looked beautiful, nestled amongst towering trees and thriving wildlife.

Caleb grinned at your expression; there wasn't a hint of exhaustion in any of his features. He seemed just as energised as he was earlier, even when he'd spent an hour hiking with your heavy bag in his hand.

"You like it?" He questioned.

"It's stunning," You responded as Caleb led you to the front porch. You hesitated on the red welcome mat and the oak door. 

"You okay?" Caleb murmured after a moment. His shadow encompassed yours completely.

You hummed softly, "Are you sure it's okay for me to stay with you?"

He'd left for a reason, after all.

Caleb furrowed his brows. His face looked so innocent when he was worried. He gently placed your suitcase on the floor, lifting the back of his hand to your forehead. It burned there. You almost closed your eyes to bask in his warmth.

"You sick or something, Y/N?" He questioned softly, "Why wouldn't I want you to stay with me?"

Because you didn't bring me with you, you wanted to say to him. You buried the words like you did with all the others, locking them in that ancient chest in your heart.

"Just making sure," You muttered.

He smiled that summer smile at you, and he shifted to flick your forehead, "You dummy."

"Ow!" You exclaimed, cradling your stinging forehead with a glare.

Caleb laughed loudly as wind whistled past, caressing your skin. You glowered at him, but that only made him laugh harder as he reached for the door to his new home. He pushed inside easily, bringing your suitcase without a word.

A small flip-flop keychain dangled from the handle. Caleb had won it for you in an arcade game from one of your childhood beach holidays. Gran had shaken her head fondly when you both emptied your piggy banks full of pennies specifically for it.

The inside of the cabin was homely. The sofas were plush, the TV was big, the kitchen was well stocked, the bathroom was well decorated, and the bedrooms were cosy. Caleb showed you his first; his items were scattered across the room, and you felt a rush of nostalgia at the sight of it. You suddenly longed for those teenage years when you could walk down the hallway and knock on Caleb's door.

Then, he took you to your room. This one was less welcoming, though no less beautiful. It simply lacked personality, lacked the presence of life. You'd fix that soon enough, you supposed. But you still liked Caleb's room more.

"Do you like it?" He asked as he walked into your room, gently placing your suitcase by your bed. He looked so big in the tiny room; sunlight spilt out of the windows, embracing him in beautiful light.

Your breath caught in your throat.

"Pipsqueak?" Caleb murmured, tilting his head like a curious dog.

You smiled at him, "Yeah, I do. I can see why you've been staying here for so long."

Something flickered across his expression, but it was gone before you could discern it. He let his lips lift into a faint grin as he stepped towards you. His size would have been intimidating if you didn't know him like you knew yourself.

"The cabin isn't even the best part. There's a lake about an hour and a half up the mountain," He told you gently, "We can go there once you're settled in. The day after tomorrow, maybe?"

You nodded, "Sounds like a plan!"

"Good," Caleb smiled, "Now why don't you have a shower while I make dinner?"

You hesitated, "Are you sure? Don't you wanna shower first?"

"Nah. I've gotta look after you first," Hummed the man.

You shook your head, "You don't have to do that, y'know?"

Caleb scoffed and shook his head, "Of course I do," He brought a hand up to ruffle your hair, "Now go on, I'll be in the kitchen when you're done."

And he walked out without another word. You watched as he went, your heart overflowing with emotions. Finally, you had Caleb close again, and you were going to find out why he tried to pull away.

Today was the day Caleb was taking you to the lake. Yesterday had been the happiest time you'd experienced in the months Caleb had left. You spent the whole day together, wrapped up in one another, sitting on the sofa and watching show after show. There was hardly a moment you weren't in his arms.

And yet, there had been no conversation about why he'd gone across the country without a word. You hadn't brought it up, and neither had he.  

You hissed as your hair fell out of your hands. You couldn't get it into a ponytail, and it was driving you insane. The feeling of knowing your hair would cling to your face during the hike to the lake filled you with dread.

"You ready yet, pips?" Caleb huffed playfully as he approached your room, leaning against the doorframe.

"No!" You huffed, your struggling reflection staring at you.

"Always so impatient," Your childhood friend told you as he strode towards you, gently taking your hairband from your wrist. He hummed quietly as he skillfully twisted your hair into his hold, carefully pulling your hair into its desired style.

You expected him to pull away when he finished. He didn't.

Your eyes met through the mirror. Something about the sight of him behind you made you burn. He looked so good there, the warmth of his chest pressed against your back. He planted his hands on the wooden vanity, caging you in. You shivered at his heat, like he was a star ready to burst.

Caleb rested his chin on your shoulder, violet eyes shimmering. His lips were carmine in their colour, cured like a bow. It was easy to lean back into him. Easy to rest your head against his. Caleb was the weight that kept you from toppling over.

"You look pretty with your hair up," He murmured, breath fluttering against your skin.

You smiled softly, "Thank you."

He looked like he could've stayed there forever. Was this an embrace? You weren't sure. Did you want him further away or so close you couldn't breathe? You didn't know.

Caleb sighed softly, "You ready to go now?"

"Yeah," You nodded, cheeks redder than you recalled, "Take me to this lake of yours."

"You got it!" He laughed and pulled you away from the mirror, down the hallway and out into the green-stained world around you.

Nonsense left your lips as you hiked higher into the mountain range. Rocks and moss dissapeared beneath your feet as you walked by Caleb, who spoke about anything and everything. You'd forgotten how much you loved his voice. 

He'd been insecure about it when he was younger. When puberty had hit and all the boys his age started getting lower voices, his remained high in comparison. You'd told him it had gotten deeper, and he had told you it wasn't enough. You told him you loved it, that there was an indescribable charm in his tone that drew everyone towards him: the sun and his solar system.

Sunlight trickled through the trees as we went higher and higher into the thick forests. You talked about childhood, high school, spaceships, Zayne's overwhelming sweet tooth, summer, Christmas, Gideon, Tara, and Simone —everything. 

It made the entire hour-and-a-half hike feel like nothing.

"Why'd you stop for?" You huffed as you bumped into Caleb's back.

He turned and smiled at you, "We're here."

With soft hands, Caleb came to clutch your shoulders. He manoeuvred you forward, so you could see the lake of his recent memory. 

You gasped at the sight of it. Scintillating water swayed gently with the wind, rippling over the large lake. It was almost circular and bordered by plants and bushes, and flowers of all kinds. Some low-hanging branches brushed against the water's edge like ballerinas aking their final bows.

"Caleb..." You whispered, slowly stepping forward into the tiny clearing at the side of the lake.

You could hear the birds humming their soft songs. The ground was firm against your feet, millions of years of dirt solidified in its serene spot. A soft breath left your lips as you sighed, Caleb coming up behind you.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Caleb murmured.

You nodded, "You'd never find anything like this in Linkon."

Caleb laughed softly, "Definitely not. It's a nice change of pace."

"I bet," You hummed, "The water must feel so nice."

You heard him put his bag down and turned to see him pulling off his jacket and kicking off his shoes. You furrowed your brows and took a tentative step back. He lifted his head. His eyes glinted with that familar way. You shook your head silently.

He took a step forward, "Come on, Pipsqueak."

"Caleb, no," You said firmly, "I don't even have a swimsuit."

"So? You can just change into dry clothes when we get back," He took another step, slowly reaching out like he was trying to catch a scared cat.

You stumbled over the dirt. "What if the water's dirty?"

"It gets checked every three months to ensure it's safe," Caleb said, a grin beginning to appear on his berry lips.

"Caleb..." You warned. You were preparing to run.

"You might wanna take your shoes off now, shortstack," He teased, "'cause when I catch you, I'm not gonna give you the chance."

"If you catch me," You said, but still kicked off your shoes, struggling to do so as you kept treading backwards.

Caleb shook his head, "No, when I catch you."

Then he lunged forward. You squealed, jerking backwards into a full sprint. You heard him laugh behind you as he gave chase. You bolted across the dirt, socks pressing into the ground as you ran from your dearest friend.

You heard his feet thundering behind you.

Your heart hammered in your chest as you darted in between bushes and rocks. You rounded one, hoping to get Caleb stuck around it like you did when he tried to chase you around the kitchen table of your childhood.

He only grinned at you and leapt onto it.

A shout of surprise left your lips as you shot backwards, desperate to regain your distance.

"Come back here!" Caleb laughed.

"Not a fucking chance!" You cackled as you continued to run.

You ran and ran, lungs squeezing with delight as you move, taking in greedy gulps of air. You'd always been fast. If Caleb were a wolf, then you were a rabbit, quick and light-footed.

Though apparently, not quick enough.

All the air was ripped from your chest as firm arms coiled around your waist. A scream of shock left your lips as you were hoisted into the air. You struggled against Caleb's firm hold as you twisted over his shoulder.

"Caleb!" You squealed, hitting his back.

He only laughed and patted the back of your thighs, treacherously high up, before he charged towards the water. You screamed as loudly as you could as you were thrown into the air, bumping against Caleb's shoulder, water rushing towards you.

A frantic chreech left your lips as water submerged you. You gurgled, thrashing against Caleb as his grip on you slipped. Crystaline water surrounded you as you flailed, kicking your feet to rise upwards towards the fractured surface.

A greedy gasp escaped from you as soon as you broke the surface of the water. You blinked rapidly to clear your vision, looking around blindly. Your ears buzzed with remnants of water, your shirt and shorts billowing around you, drenched. 

"Caleb!" You shouted again, looking for him

He burst out from the water only a few inches from you, spraying you with even more water. You yelped, using one hand to block the bullets of water from hitting you.

Caleb laughed loudly, and the sound was like an aeroplane landing.

You huffed, "You are such a dick!"

A chuckle left the man as he swam the final few inches towards you. Water droplets slipped down his face, clinging to strands of milky brown hair. His white shirt has been soaked, now see-through. You refused to let your eyes slip down any further than that.

"She says even though she's smiling,"  Came his response. You could feel his legs brushing against yours beneath the water.

You shook your head. The water was cold, a wonderful change from the sweat that stuck to your skin during the hike to the lake. Caleb smiled softly at you. He was like summer. Like the early sun and the late moon, those long, perfect days with a nostalgic haze all over them.

He reached forward

You stayed still as his large hand came to cup your cheek. Your breath caught in your throat as his thumb ran across your face. Caleb was strong, you knew that well, but he held you with such gentleness. Like the moon dancing with the tides.

His gaze flickered to yours, two distant stars shining, "You have water running down your face."

"No? Really? I couldn't imagine why," You exclaimed in mock surprise. The warmth from his palm was intoxicating. The heat from his body was your greatest source of comfort. Without it, frostbite invaded.

Caleb smiled, "Neither could I. I mean, I have no idea how we got into this lake."

You rolled your eyes, snorting, "Please. I bet you do this to all your girlfriends."

Something in his expression cracked. Sunlight caught his body, a beautiful shine against his flesh. You knew his body well; you'd been there for all forms of it. You just wished you knew his mind like that, too. No matter how close you got, there was always something kept away from you. It was a chasm, and it had only gotten larger with age.

"You're the only girl I care about," He swore.

You swallowed. He was doing it again. Saying things he didn't mean.

"Caleb," You sighed.

He pushed himself closer, so close you could smell his natural musk. Your heart fluttered at the sudden closeness. His hand kept firm on your cheek, caressing your skin like he was trying to burn his mark there.

"Am I the only boy you care about, pipsqueak?" Caleb questioned, voice dripping into a murmur as he stared at you with those unyielding Wolfsbane eyes.

Your words caught in your throat. You searched his features. He was always so good at reading what he was thinking. He had a mask permanently plastered to his face. Finally, you spoke, a precious confession leaving your tongue, "Yeah. You are."

He smiled at you. The wind tussled through you. You couldn't breathe.

"I'm glad," Caleb hummed.

 The way he was looking at you was too much. You hated it when he looked at you like that. Hated that you loved it so much. Hated that it didn't mean what you wanted it to. His fingers were too tender on your cheek.

You scrambled to find your way back to the other side of the line.

"Gideon's creeping his way up there, though," You mused.

You'd said it as a joke. You'd meant it as one before. It wasn't the first time you'd made a joke along those lines. Even Gran had thrown in a couple of raised brows and laughs. It was a joke. Just an innocent joke to break the tension.

So why did Caleb's eyes darken like that?

Why did he clasp your knee with his hand, and why did he wrap your leg around his waist? You gasped quietly as he slid closer to you. Even in the water, he was taller than you. Your chest brushed against his. You could see his body through his shirt, the imprint of his nipples.

His jaw was clenched. His purple eyes blackened, narrowed with cold anger. You felt frozen against him, a doe caught in a hunter's eyeline. You shivered when his calloused hand found your thigh, rough fingers brushing your bare skin.

"Gideon's creeping his way up there?" Caleb inquired. You'd never heard that kind of bite in his tone before.

You struggled to respond, "I─"

"What does that mean?" He questioned again.

Your tongue swiped out to wet your suddenly dry lips, "It was a joke, 'leb."

"No," He shook his head, "What does it mean? Where'd it come from?"

You stared at him, bewildered, "Caleb─"

"Answer me," He demanded.

The reaction of your body was instant. Your entire body flushed with heat. You wrapped your other leg around his waist, body pressing closer to his and your hands slipped onto his arms, cltching his biceps. You felt his muscles flex beneath your grip. The hand on your thigh tightened. The hand on your face is pausing.

You took in a deep breath. Caleb wasn't the type to give up until he was satisfied. 

"He's been really good since you left," You said softly, "We got close because he helped me in your place."

Caleb stared at you for a moment. Then he scoffed. It was a sharp, rueful sound. He'd never been like this before. Never so distant but so close. You felt like you were looking at him through a magnifying glass. You hated it.

"He's been helping you in my place," Caleb muttered.

A nodded, "Yeah. You left. You left, and I didn't know what to do with myself, but Gideon helped me."

"He took the opportunity to get close to you, y'mean?" Caleb responded.

You blinked in surprise. Never before had you heard him sound so bitter. The depths of his soul were rotting with his sudden resentment. He and Gideon were friends. They hardly ever argued.

"No─" You started.

"Yes," He cut you off harshly, "I left, and the fucker decided to worm his way closer to you."

You shook your head, "Gideon isn't like that! He's your friend."

"No, he's not," Caleb spat. His eyes were filled with oblivion, darkened by quiet fury. Caleb never got loud when he got angry. His rage rumbled in the quiet, sharpened in its silence until it was so vicious it could tear anyone apart.

You scoffed in disbelief, "Caleb. You can't be serious!"

"I am. He's gone behind my back," He muttered meanly.

You raised a brow, anger boiling just beneath the surface, "By supporting me?"

"By taking my role!" He hissed through gritted teeth. You saw something flicker in his gaze. You furrowed your brows in confusion, searching for what you'd seen and trying to understand what you'd heard.

You gripped his arms tighter, "What are you talking about?"

His skin burned beneath your touch, kissed by the Devi's quiet rage.

"It's my job to support you. To keep you happy. To keep you safe," Caleb lowered his head, "It's my job, and he's taken it from me."

He looked utterly defeated. His head hung so low you could no longer see his face. The hand on your thigh gripped you with the strength of someone desperately trying to hold back tears. You went silent. You stared at him in bewilderment. His job. He was right. It was always Caleb you looked for; it was his bones that acted as the crutch for all your pains. It was Caleb who kept you safe in the dark and happy in the light.

Why did he have to leave?

You felt like he was shredding, like the layers of him were being stripped from you.

"Caleb, look at me," You whispered after a moment

You heard his breathing. It was uneven and erratic. Worry blossomed in your chest like nightshade.

Your hand slid up to his neck, tracing the sharp line of his jaw, "Caleb. Please."

A deep, harrowed sigh left his lips. 

And all at once, he let go.

The water was cold as your legs slid downwards. Caleb's warmth faded away, snatched from your hands.  You never had a baby blanket or a toy, your Gran had told you; it was always Caleb you clung to.

And now he was pulling away. 

You tried to reach out.

"Let's just go back to the cabin," He said suddenly. When he lifted his head, his eyes were empty and dark. They were dying from behind a screen, one he wouldn't let you get past. You wanted to say something, anything. 

Instead, you just watched as he waded out of the water and away from you.

You'd spent the next few hours in your room trying to figure out what had happened. You paced back and forth, knawed on your lip, and clutched your pillows. You couldn't understand, no matter how desperately you tried to.

You'd been so happy.

It had been so perfect. Caleb's body against yours. That familar line is being blurred just a little bit further. That sacred line. It had been fine, he'd been smiling, and then he wasn't. His face was flipped, a tarot in reverse.

You replayed the events in your mind again. He'd been happy until the joke about Gideon. A joke that should've been slotted in with a hundred others. It was harmless. Unserious. Innocent. And yet it had struck Caleb in a way you could've never foreseen. You didn't think your joke would be the discus that killed Hyacinthus.

It shouldn't have been.

How were you meant to know that would piss him off? How were you meant to know what he was thinking? He never told you anything.

Anger burned. 

And it demanded retribution.

You stomped downstairs. Caleb was in the kitchen. On another occasion, you would've wrapped your arms around his waist and demanded a taste from the spoon he was using to stir the pot. 

He lifted his head and smiled at you.

You glowered, "What the fuck is your problem?"

Caleb went still, "Huh...? What are you talking about?"

"The lake!" You hissed.

He sighed, as if the entire concept of your argument was exasperating, "Don't worry about it, Pips─"

"No!" You shouted, "I'm not going to ignore this! I want answers!"

A scoff left his lips as he slammed his spoon down on the table, "Answers to what?"

"To the lake! To this! Why you left!" You rasped, words scratching your throat, "I want to know everything!"

Caleb shook his head, violent eyes a sinful colour under the golden glow of sunset, "You're being ridiculous. It's just a trip."

A laugh left your lips. It sounded wrong. Nothing like the joy that haunted you. You took a step towards Caleb. You wouldn't let him get out of this. You refused to. 

"Don't lie to me! There's something wrong with you. I know it. Is it something to do with the animal attack that happened when you went on that camping trip?" You said, voice cutting and harsh, desperation clawing its way into your tone. 

Caleb stared at you with burning eyes. His face was cold, jaw clenched, nostrils flared. His hands clenched, fingers flexing sharply.  You were pushing him, you knew, but you couldn't stop. You needed answers.

"There's nothing wrong!" Caleb said firmly. You used to leave him alone when he got like this in your rare childhood arguments, but you wouldn't let go, not now.

"Then why did you leave me?!" You demanded. You stepped closer. He was imposing even now, a dark knight come to keep the princess locked in her tower.

Caleb shook his head, as if that would magically disperse your fury. He also stepped forward. His step was hot and heavy and then hesitant. It was like he was fixated on his spot, unwilling to get closer to you.

He stared at you, "It was just a trip!"

"Then why didn't you tell me!" You screamed, lurching towards him now, clutching his shirt in your hands. Your fingers felt like claws, unfamiliar and dangerous. He was the only one who made you feel like this, the only one who could unearth this snarling part of you.

Caleb glowered now, lip curling over bared teeth, "Because I didn't think I needed to!"

You shook your head.

"Why didn't you bring me with you?!"

"Because I don't want you here!"

Oh.

Oh.

You let go of him.

"I see," You breathed. Your voice wasn't your own. 

Caleb's breath hitched. 

The sound wasn't right in your ears. Buried beneath the ringing.

Your body felt wrong as you stepped backwards.

"Pips─" Caleb rasped.

"I'll go pack my suitcase," You murmured. You hadn't realised the floor had cracks until now.

Caleb Xia stepped forward. He took one shaking step and said three trembling words, "I didn't mean─"

You shoulder bumped against the doorway to the kitchen. The stairs were right down the hall. You stared at it, at the shadows that were crawling up it.

"I'll leave in the morning," You whispered.

"You don't have to─"

You were already moving.

"Pipsqueak─"

Your hand latched onto the stairs' wooden railing.

"Y/N─"

Your feet were thundering across the second floor, bolting towards your room. You didn't hear the door slam.

"Fuck!"

He sounded wounded. Vicious in his howl of rage. You heard his footsteps slam against the ground, heard the door being yanked open and slammed. It shook the very foundations of the house.

And it was then, and only then, that you let yourself cry.

You were gone. You were completely gone. Your heart was hollowed, carved up. You were limp on your bed. Had been for hours. You never realised that crying stopped making sounds after a while. Caleb had always saved you before that. 

Caleb.

Your body ached with emptiness. The very marrow in your bones had gone rotten. Tears slipped down your cheeks, dragging burning trails of agony down with them. Your mind wasn't your own. It was haunted by memories. The only thing in you that would never rust. You wouldn't let them.

Gran had been so worried about your attachment to Caleb when you were younger, she moved you into separate rooms as soon as you could. You cried constantly. It was for your good, she'd told you. Caleb said she wasn't being fair, and every night, he'd sneak into your room and stay until you fell asleep.

You wished he had never had.

Maybe then this wouldn't hurt so bad.

From treasured princess to cast-out witch. What a terrible fall from grace, you thought bitterly, clenching your pillow. Your fingers groaned in protest. Your entire being pulsed with faint agony, a blunt axe slolwy carving its way through your body and soul. 

Caleb didn't want you here. And he didn't show any sign of wanting to return. Your heart was running away from you, and you didn't realise how badly you needed it until now. He had always been there, by your side, and now he wouldn't be.

The silent tears fell harder. They burned against your cheeks. Your last memory of Caleb would be of his fury. The stinging pain of his snarled admission. Caleb didn't want you.

A creak echoed from the front door of the cabin, loud in the dark.

He'd come back. At least he'd come back, just one last time. You curled into a tighter ball, trying to consume yourself as you listened to his quiet steps echo up the wooden stairs. You wanted the shadows to shred you into tiny slithers.

The sound of your doorknob turning made your heart throb.

The way it creaked open filled you with an indescribable hollowness. If you turned around, you'd be able to see him, his body shaped by the dark, closer to him than you. But could you face him? Could you face him knowing it would be the last time you would?

He stood for an agonisingly long few minutes.

The tears continued to slide down your cheeks.

A soft sigh left his lips. Then he moved, you heard him shift, his body making the floorboards groan beneath his weight. He was going to leave. He was going to leave, and he wasn't going to take you with him. Your sun was abandoning you.

It was that realisation that made your body betray you. A pitiful noise left your cracked lips. You could still taste the blood from where you'd bitten them.

Caleb stilled.

You clutched at your heart with claw-like fingers, digging your nails into the flesh that barricaded it inside of you like a coffin housing a rotting corpse.

"...Pipsqueak?"

You didn't answer.

His voice sounded so soft. Gentle in every way imaginable. Just like it did when he cradled you in his arms, and that polite border that separated you dropped just a little bit. The darkness danced before your eyes.

"Y/N?" He whispered.

A sniffle was his only response.

You heard his breath hitch. It was a wild, uncontrolled sound, almost strangled in its violent suddenness. The floorboards bent beneath Caleb's footsteps as he drew closer. You felt his presence against yours, perched on the edge of the bed as he reached towards you, hand rustling against the sheets.

You stayed rigid. 

His fingers brushed against the quilt bunched around your face.

Caleb flinched back all at once, as if he'd been scolded.

"Please─" He choked, "Please don't tell me you're crying."

"Go away," your lip quivered. You desperately tried to mute the fractured breaths that left you, broken and brittle. You cradled your pain to your chest, searing it into your flesh. Caleb was right there.

"Fuck, Pips," Caleb gasped, a man frantically recovering the shattered pieces of his soul, "I'm so sorry."

"It's okay..." You whispered.

"No, it's not," He said firmly, "I made you cry. I'm so fucking sorry. So fucking sorry."

Salt sat heavy on your tongue as you murmured, "It's okay. You don't want me anymore."

You felt him go rigid behind you. 

"No! Oh, my fucking god, no!" Caleb exclaimed, horror thick in his cracking voice, "I want you. I always want you. You're my other half, Y/N. My core. The only thing that keeps me going."

Oh, how you wished he meant what you wanted him to.

"Then why'd you leave!" You cried.

"Because I wanted to protect you!" Caleb's voice inched toward a shout before plummeting back into a broken whisper, "I've always wanted to protect you."

What?

"Protect me from what?" You questioned.

He didn't answer you for a moment. You half expected him to just leave and abandon you again. The darkness sparked with something hot and heavy. It demanded complete submission or omission. Caleb would either stay or go, and he wouldn't be able to go back.

You heard him breathing.

"Let me hold you," He requested, "I need to feel you in my arms, please."

And you wanted to feel him in yours, too. Your entire body craved Caleb's closeness, his unyielding comfort. It was the only thing that could heal you, the only thing that could soothe the cracks in your armour.

You shifted.

"No," He rasped, abruptly, "I...I don't want to see the face you'll make when I tell you he truth."

"It's dark," You said.

"I'll still be able to see it," He responded.

You sat silently for a moment. 

Then finally, you whispered, "Hold me, Caleb."

Caleb didn't need to be told twice. He was moving without a second to spare. In the dark, you heard him move, the soft clatter of his shoes hitting the wooden floor, the sheets being lifted, his body slipping into the bed.

The shadows had deprived your eyesight, but kissed all your other senses. You felt Caleb's warmth draw close, the expanse of his chest brushing against your back. He was so hot, a small fragment of Prometheus' fire in his heart.

You shivered against him. 

"You're so cold," He whispered, breath brushing against your ear as his head rested behind your own. His forehead gently pressed into the back of your head.

"Then warm me up," You murmured.

Caleb hummed softly, hands sliding across your body, softly brushing upwards. One hand gently caressed your thigh, tracing your waist, while the other slid beneath your body and around you. He tugged you to him, his gravity locking you in place.

You sighed in relief, one of your hands resting on top of his while the other one intertwined with his, pulling it upwards towards your chest, resting just beneath your mouth. If you leaned down just a little bit, you'd be able to kiss his flesh.

"Missed you so bad," Caleb confessed. The strain in his voice was heavy.

"I missed you too," You whispered, "But I also need an explanation."

A sigh left his lips, as if he was being dragged towards the chopping block, "I need you to know that nothing I'm about to tell you is a lie. I need you to know that I am being completely serious and that this is the only reason I would leave you for so long."

The firmness in its words hit you like a train. You knew from his tone and tenseness that he meant what he was saying and that finally, finally, you'd have the answers you desperately craved.

You nodded, "Tell me."

"During the camping trip I went on with Gideon and some other college friends, I was attacked by a wolf," He said. Your breath hitched. You held his hand tighter. He gripped your entire body, his only source of grounding.

"Only it wasn't a wolf," Caleb whispered, haunting horror in his tone, "He wasn't a wolf. He wasn't a wolf, and he bit me. Infected me. Made me wrong."

"Wrong?" You murmured.

You felt Caleb tense as he admitted all his darkness, "I feel like I'm out of control. I'm always jittery. I can't sleep. I get angry. I get so angry that I feel like I could kill someone. I started blacking out every month. I'd wake up with ripped clothes and then meat, and then blood. Then animals. I killed animals. That's how Liam found me. Panicking over what I'd done."

"Liam?" You muttered. The man married to Yvette. The one Caleb had come in with.

"Yeah. He knew what was wrong with me. He knew how to help. He'd gotten bitten, too," Caleb murmured, exhaustion thick in his tone, "He took me here so there'd be less chance of me killing someone. Of me killing you."

Your breath hitched. Your mind swam with his words. You had just one question left for tonight.

"Caleb..." You began, "What are you?"

"Your classical fucking werewolf," Caleb spat bitterly. You could feel his resentment burn across his body. 

You clutched him as tightly as you could, silently trying to convey all of your devotion through touch. This was your childhood friend. Your knight. The only man who'd keep you safe even if it meant hurting you.

You sniffled, "Caleb...you must have struggled so much."

A soft noise left his lips, "Thinking of you kept me strong. Knowing you were waiting for me kept me sane during full moons. The fact that you'll be here tomorrow night is more important to me than you'll ever know."

You paused, "Tomorrow night?"

"It's a full moon," Came his response, "I'll be locking myself in the basement of the cabin. I'll come out in the morning, I promise. I'll come out and we can get back to this."

His hand slipped beneath your shirt, resting against your bare skin. You shivered but curled closer all the same. His touch was soothing. The fire in your body simmering warmly in your chest, covering the line between you with smoke. It would be so easy to step over it.

"Go to sleep. You must be exhausted," Caleb murmured, lips brushing against the skin of your shoulder.

"What about you?" You questioned softly, unwilling to let go.

A small hum left the man, "I'm stayin' right here. For as long as you want me."

Forever, you wanted to tell him.

Caleb had gone into the basement a few hours ago. The sun had already set, and you were sitting anxiously in the living room. Your eyes kept straying to the door that led into Caleb's presence. He was right there. 

The only sound you'd heard was the dragging of chains. 

You trapped your fingers against your knee.

He was so close. You finally knew what was wrong with and you'd gone right back to where you were before he'd left. Caleb had explained more to you in the morning hours, and to say you were astonished would be an understatement. He was a werewolf. He was a monster. But he was yours.

Caleb was still the boy who held you close and fought all your demons for you. He was the one who let you bite him when you were sick so you wouldn't hurt yourself. He'd hurt himself for you. Kept his pain to himself for you. Left you to protect you. There wasn't a part of you that Caleb wasn't devoted to.

That's why you loved him.  

You went rigid. You loved him. Of course you did. How could you not?

Caleb was yours. He always had been. And you were his. At no point in your life had any other man ever mattered more than him. At no point had anyone mattered more than him.

There wasn't a part of Caleb that you weren't devoted to, and you needed him to know that.

You shot towards the basement door without a second thought. You ran down the stone steps as quickly as you could. The lights were dim and golden. You heard chains rattling against the stone floors and the hitch of breath that followed.

"Pipsqueak?" Caleb questioned, purple eyes glittering with confusion.

He had one chain around his right leg, another one on his right hand, and there was another on the ground. He sat against the wall, his clothes in a little pile in the corner, leaving him only in his boxers. His chest was heaving, a thin sheen of sweat on his chest. 

"Caleb," you murmured, shocked by the heat that pulsed through you. He looked beautiful sitting there, gilded from the stars and all their love.

"What are you doing down here?" He asked softly. He looked so adorable when he was confused.

You took a sharp breath, "Crossing the line."

And then you shot towards him before you could second-guess yourself. This was it. There would be no going back anymore. 

You didn't hesitate to clasp Caleb's face in your hands. You didn't wait to see his expression. You just moved forward, moved forward until your lips were slotted against his. The reaction was instantaneous. Like a bomb exploding.

Caleb's lips were soft against your own, but his movements were sudden and harsh. His hand coiled into your hair, fingers slipping between the strands as he shoved your face closer to his. You gasped and met his fierce lips with your own desperation. 

The heat of him consumed you, demanded your devotion.

Your lips clashed dangerously. You tugged Caleb's face as close to yours as you could. There was no distance between the two of you, and yet it wasn't enough. You wanted to be consumed by him. You wanted to consume him.

Caleb groaned a deep, rumbling sound as he caught your lip with his teeth, tongue sliding into your mouth to claim what had always belonged to him. The rightness of his lips on yours was earth-shattering. Your heart thundered in your chest as you felt his chest rise and fall beneath yours.

You had endured years and years of almosts, secret wants, and jealousy. All those girls who went after Caleb in a way you never could. All those boys you couldn't help but sneer at because they weren't him.

Your body felt like it was on fire.

You heard Caleb's chains clank, buried beneath the sound of his delicious pants and groans. You wanted more of him. You slammed your lips against his as you slid properly onto his lap, situating yourself on your throne.

The noise that left him was sinful. You felt his hand flex against your head. 

He looked beautiful when you pulled away, cheeks flushed, lips swollen, pupils dilated. He looked dishevelled, and you had the sudden desire to see how wrecked you could make him look.

His chest heaved as he stared at you with a molten gaze, "Fuck, Pipsqueak."

You giggled, "Yes, Caleb?"

"You can't just do that," He groaned, "I won't be able to hold back anymore."

You raised a brow, "Anymore?"

"Yeah," Caleb rasped, hand slipped down to caress your cheek, "Been holding back all my life. Spent every second wanting you. It's been driving me crazy. I can't tell you how many times I've almost kissed you."

That confession hit something deep in you.

"So why didn't you?" You whispered.

Yes, why didn't you?

His face softened, gentle in its vulnerability, "Because I never knew if you wanted me back. I didn't know where the line was for you. If staying the childhood best friend meant I could be by your side, I'd take it. I'd take it all, just to stay in your life."

"Oh, Caleb," You murmured, letting your forehead fall against his, "You're it for me. You always have been."

"Don't say that if you don't mean it," Caleb warned, suddenly harsh in his words, "Because my restraint is hanging on by a fucking thread. I think I'll die if you leave me now."

You hushed him softly.

"I mean it. I'm never leaving you," You murmured, "In fact, I wanna get as close as I can."

To make your point, you slowly rolled your hips against Caleb's, grounding down against his firm body. You shivered in delight; the heat of his bare skin against yours was intoxicating. You thanked your earlier self for packing a skirt. Caleb's breath hitched.

"Fuck," He hissed quietly, "I want you close too. Get as close as you can. Please."

"Yeah?" You grinded your hips again and again, slow and devastating, "Gonna let me take care of you?"

"No. I'm the one who's gotta take care of you," Caleb whispered, his body reacting to your own. Your hands slid down to his chest, splayed against his flesh. His only free hand clutched your waist, softly guiding you into him. Your core brushed against the rising imprint in his boxers, and the friction was delicious, even through the underwear.

"You always take care of me," You kissed his jaw, rising to toy with the shell of his ear, "Let me take care of you for once. You deserve it. Let me show you how much you mean to me. Let me show you how thankful I am." 

"Shit. Your breath is so warm. You sound so sweet when you talk like that," Caleb groaned as you quickened your pace, eager to feel more of him beneath you. You rubbed over his clothed cock, feeling it twitch against you.

His skin tasted salty against your tongue as you sucked mark after mark against his neck. You wanted everyone to know that he belonged to you and nobody else.

"Can't believe I spent so long holding myself back from this," He breathed, his chest rising and falling erratically against your hands, his body jolting when your fingers caressed his nipples. A soft, high-pitched sigh left his lips as his hand clutched your waist tighter.

"You keep talking about restraint, Caleb." You grabbed the chain and its clasp from the ground. "I'm beginning to think you like it."

And without warning, you grabbed his wrist and shoved it inside the manacle, locking it shut. Caleb's eyes widened as he jerked his hand against the constraint. His nails had grown sharper, curled like claws.

He glowered at you, "Y/N. Don't start something you can't finish."

You giggled and walked your fingers up his chest and neck, until they clasped his chin, "Big words coming from a man who can't use his hands."

Caleb thrashed against his chains. His eyes were starting to flicker gold. You smiled at his little display and kept grinding down on his dick, feeling its hardness against your aching cunt. You felt feverish with desire.

"I'm going to get out of these chains," He warned you.

You sincerely doubted that.

"Maybe you won't, maybe you will," You responded teasingly, one of your hands slipping down his muscled body, "But until then, I'm gonna keep playing with you."

Maybe Caleb would've responded with a challenge of his own, but all his words died when your hand went under his waistband and caressed his cock. A loud hiss left his lips as he jerked into your touch. 

You grinned smugly, running your hand up and down his length. He was big, you were sure of that. You slowly released it from Caleb's boxers, and heat pulsed through you at the sight of his blushing tip and veiny base. A pathetic groan left Caleb's bruised lips as you swiped your thumb on the top of his dick, gliding your hand up and down it at an agonisingly slow pace.

"Fuck, Pips," Caleb rasped, "You don't know what this does to me."

"Tell me then," You hummed, "Tell me how good this feels."

"So good. So, so good," He responded immediately, completely pliant to all of your whims, "Better than I ever imagined."

His cock pulsated against your grasp as you stroked him, the precum leaking from his tip serving as the perfect impromptu lubricant. He slowly rolled his hips upwards, meeting your movements with desperate need.

"You've imagined me?" You questioned.

"Yeah. Thought so many times about what you'd look like stroking my cock. About how you'd feel wrapped around me. Even used your panties," Caleb confessed, delirious in his chase for release.

He looked so fucking hot. Helpless beneath your command. Your loyal knight, powerless before you. You were soaked, cunt wet at the sight of him, breathless, all because of your touch.

"Used my panties?" Feral curiosity curled within you at his words.

As if awoken from your lustful spell, Caleb blinked rapidly. He strained against his chains again. He was looking anywhere but at you. He captured his lip between his teeth, quickly muttering a dismissive, "Don't worry about it."

"Nuh uh," you said firmly, catching his chin again, "Tell me or I'll stop."

He scoffed, "Seriously?"

You gave his cock a few final tugs and lifted your hand off of him entirely. You shrugged, reaching under your skirt, "Yeah. I can take care of myself perfectly fine."

Your cunt had soaked your underwear with your lust. You kept your eyes trained on Caleb's as you softly touched yourself through the lacey fabric, sighing as you rubbed circles on your tender clit.

"Pips..." Caleb groaned, his entire body straining against his restraints. His claw nails scratched against the metal clasps holding his wrists. You smiled at him, pushing your panties to the side so you could touch yourself better.

"Mm," You sighed, "All you have to do is keep talking, Caleb and I'll jerk you off while I finger myself."

A savage hiss left his lips. His eyes lowered down to where your hand dissapeared beneath your skirt. You were rolling your hips into your palm, now rutting against yourself to reach the peak you had only dreamed of with Caleb.

Sinful was the only word you could describe him with. His hands were tethered to iron chains, his neck marred with your devotion, his chest heaving with want and his cock twitching with carnal need.

"I...I used to steal 'em," Caleb finally submitted, "I needed you. I needed you so fucking bad it hurt. I couldn't get off unless it was to you. Then I saw the panties you accidentally left on the floor, the lacy pink pair. I took 'em."

Your hand slid onto his dick. A shattered groan left his lips as his chest heaved. 

"What did you do with it?" You inuired softly, slipping two fingers into your cunt, pushing them in and out to the same pace you jerked Caleb's length.

"I stroked my cock with it, fuckkk that feels so good, wrapped it around my cock and used it to fuck myself until I came. Keep going, then I started taking others, mmm," He was whining now, biting his lip as he looked at you with hazy eyes, "Sometimes I stuffed my nose against them. Just like that. Your smell turns me on so badly, Pipsqueak. I know it's wrong, but it feels so good."

And well, if you weren't already wet, that would've done it.

"My poor baby. You've been so desperate for me," You teased a mocking pout of sympathy on your lips.

"Yeah. Yeah, I have," Caleb groaned, eyes going that glittering gold again. His voice was rougher, ragged with both his desire and the changing of his new nature.

You gently kissed his lips, "Don't worry. I'll give you what you want."

You gently pulled your fingers out of your sopping cunt and removed your hand from Caleb's weeping cock. He cried out in despair, his hips jerking, his only way to chase the release he so desperately craved.

You smiled at him and rose, slowly tugging down your damp underwear. They were red and lacey. You're favourite pair.

"Oh, fuck," Caleb rasped, eyes wide, "Oh, fuck yes"

You giggled as you slumped back to your rightful place on his lap. Your hand curled around his cock again, immediately setting off on a brutal pace. A savage sound tore from his lips, years of holding finally erupting.

"Open your mouth," You demanded.

Caleb furrowed his brows but obeyed nonetheless. He always did when it came to you. You were the only person in the world that held his leash and if you tugged it he'd follow without hesitation.

Without pause, you stuffed your panties into his mouth.

Instantly, his pupils blew, eyes glistening a golden hue as his tongue pressed against the wet spot you'd left behind. A feral noise left his lips, something entirely inhuman. With both your fingers, you returned to pleasuring yourself alongside Caleb.

A moan escaped you as you matched the pace you set with him with two fingers, jerking them in and out of your cunt rapidly, desperate to hunt down the orgasm you so desperately craved.

Caleb's cries were muffled by your panties, but you understood all the same. He was close. You could feel it in the way his cock pulsed and his chest rose and fell. His eyes glittered with frantic desire.

You whined, "You wanna cum with me, baby?"

Caleb moaned loudly.

"Go on, then," You breathed, tumbling unstoppably towards your release, "Cum, Caleb."

His hands curled around the chains that kept him from touching you. His hips frantically bucked into your hand. His jaw was clamped against your panties. They looked so pretty in his mouth, red lips on crimson fabric. You wished you had your phone. This image was too beautiful to let fade away.

The pace you set was brutal, and it made your orgasm collide into you with fierce power. A shout of ecstasy left your lips as you came, drenching your fingers in your release. Caleb followed soon after, screaming against your panties as ropes of cum burst from his cock, painting your hand white.

You slowly moved your hands to Caleb's face, gently cradling his jaw as your chest heaved. You felt delirious, on a cloud so high no earthly issue could reach you. Caleb's skin burned against yours, like a supernova searing across space.

He looked beautiful. He looked like a sunrise so vibrant it forced everyone to stop and admire. 

Heaving breaths escaped his nose.

You gently tugged your panties from his mouth. Immediately, pants escaped his lips, his tongue sticking out slightly. He looked so out of it, and yet his eyes were locked onto yours.

"Shit..."He sighed, head falling forward to meet yours, "Are...Are you okay?"

A short, breathless laugh left your lips, "I'm not doubting this, if that's what you mean. I'm not doubting us."

"I like that. Us," Caleb whispered.

You smiled and pressed a soft, slow kiss to his lips. This is what you always imagined your first to be like: quiet and tender, full of confession and adoration. Your heart fluttered as you registered that you crossed the line. 

Caleb wanted you.

He wanted you like you wanted him.

"I love you," You murmured, "I know that might be a bit intense to say, but it's true. For as long as the universe exists, my heart is yours."

"You have no badly how much I've wanted to hear you say that, Y/N," A sniffle came from the man before you, "My entire being calls to you. You're my lighthouse, your heart is my only home. I love you so much it fucking terrifies me."

"Then let's be scared together," A whisper escaped your lips as you gently guided your lips to his again. He sighed softly into your lips, and you felt the slat of his emotion meld into yours as they met against your kisses.

Finally, after years of treading a line both of you detested and respected all the same, you were where you were meant to be. In Caleb's arms, you find your perfect peace.

You carefully caressed his body, running your smoothing hands across the expanse of his being, memorising all the new planes you'd never allowed yourself to explore before. Caleb did the same, gently cradling your body as his fingers traced the new territory of your skin.

Wait. His hands.

You drew back from him instantly, eyes drifting downwards to where his hands sat comfortably on your waist. On either side of his legs were broken chains, manacles cracked beneath the force of hands desperate to touch their treasure.

Slolwy, you raised your gaze to meet Caleb's. He was already looking at him, his eyes glistened with mirth as he rose and brow and tilted his head. You opened your mouth, but no words came out.

 A soft chuckle left his lips, "I did tell you I would get out, didn't I?"

"I─" You choked.

Caleb was manhandling you. You squeaked in surprise as the cold floor met your back. He was, above you now, a dark angel beneath the warm light of the basement. His hands slid down to your thighs, holding them the way a king would hold the armrest of his throne.

You shivered.

"I think it's my turn to play with you, yeah?" Caleb murmured, leaning down briefly to kiss your knee with all the reverence of a courtly lover. The devotion in his gaze was enough to make all the poets and painters of the world cry.

"Please", you whispered, he looked perfect between your legs.

A groan left his lips, "I love when you go from bratty to polite. Always turns me on. My sweet girl."

His hands soothed up and down your skin; his flesh against yours was hot and feverish. Your entire body pulsed with your need for him. Your hands slid over to the buttons on your shirt, your shaking fingers struggling to unpluck them.

"Take off my skirt, Caleb. Want you to fuck me," You rasped, throwing your shirt somewhere into the room.

Caleb chuckled, rolling his hips slowly into yours, "Oh, 'm gonna fuck you, Pipsqueak. But the skirt stays on. You look way, way too good in it. The bra, on the other hand? That can go."

With a wolfish grin, he clasped the fabric of your bra that sat between the valley of your tights nd used two of his sharp nails to cut through it. You gasped in shock as he moved you, tearing the bra away from you. 

"Caleb!" You exclaimed in shock.

"Sounds so good when you say my name, gonna make sure it's the only one you remember," Caleb trailed off in a hiss, his tip coming to rub over your folds and clit as he ground into you. Your body tensed with anticipation.

Something in his tone made you pause, "What, don't tell me you're still jealous of Gideon?"

"Don't say his name," Caleb ground his hips into you, eyes narrowing into a glare. The shade of them glimmered like gold and amethyst, twin jewels shining with lust. Such beautiful eyes.

You couldn't help but laugh, "You are─Oh fuckkk!"

The feeling of Caleb's tip bulling its way into your tight cunt was indescribable. You felt every ridge and vein of his thick cock as he slowly pushed into you. His hands were hooked around your knees, his eyes fixated on where his dick was slowly disappearing into your hole.

"Caleb!" You whined, all the breath knocked out of you.

He groaned, eyes dark and lascivious, "Shit. You're so fucking tight."

He buried himself to the hilt, his cock dragged against your walls as he slowly rolled his hips, getting you used to the feeling of him. You breathed wildly, you'd never felt so full before. Your fingers and toys had never been good enough, not when you finally knew how good Cakebs cock was.

"Move," You gasped, reaching to play with your nipples, "Please.  I need you to fuck me, Caleb. Needed it for too long. Please."

"Shh," Caleb murmured, "Don't cry yet, honey. You gotta save it for when I wreck this pretty pussy."

"Ruin it now! Ruin me now! I don't wanna wait anymore!" You cried out, huffing as you glared up at him.

His brown hair fell over his eyes, but you saw the tightening of his jaw just fine as he firmly patted your thigh, "Don't go getting all bratty again."

"Then stop being a coward," You challenged without hesitation. Caleb always did what you wanted; you just had to do a little bit of prodding.

"Coward?" His eyes were dangerous in that ominous quiet way. His tongue darted over his lower lip as he stared at you, daring you to say something more.

You nodded, "Yeah. Coward."

A scoff left Caleb's mouth, "You asked for it."

And then he was pounding into you with the power of a man determined to prove a point. One. Thrust. At a time.

A shrieked cry left your mouth as Caleb slammed his cock into your cunt over and over again. His pace wasn't kind or comforting; it was fierce and desperate. Your body rocked with the force of his thrusts, with each devilish smack of his hips against yours.

 You yelped, choking on your pleasure as Caleb shoved himself into you. Pulling out, slamming back in. He was burrowing himself into your cunt, imprinting his dick into your walls, stretching them to fit around him.

His chest was heaving, glistening with sweat. His fingers traced your skin, his grip tight but his nails never cutting. 

"Yes, Caleb!" You whined, "Just like that, baby!"

A wrecked noise left his lips, "Fuckin' love it when you call me that. Your pussy feels sooo good. 'M already addicted to it."

You bit your lip, desperate to feel more of him, "Kiss me─"

You didn't have to tell him twice. Caleb dove down and smashed his lips against yours. He was savage, claiming you in ways you could never comprehend. His tongue bullied its way into your mouth, sloppy and frantic, tasting as much of you as he could

Your hands scrambled to clutch his face, chaining him to you. You wanted to devour him. Wanted to devour you.  Pleasure burned in your core, your cunt soaked with your need for Caleb, sobbing at the way his dick drilled into you.

He cried into your lips as your legs hooked around his waist. His hands latched onto your hips, dragging them upwards so he could hammer into you better. A muffled shriek left you at the new angle.

"Right there─!" You gasped, "Mhm─Caleb! Right there! Feels so good!"

Caleb's frantic breaths mingled with yours as he groaned helplessly, a man possessed by the feeling of your cunt, "Yeah? Right here?"

Oh, and the way he pummeled into that spot over and over again was sinful. Sparks were flying across your vision, and you held onto the man you'd always loved for dear life. In the whole wide universe, Caleb had managed to find you. 

You kissed him again, desperately conveying your undying love and devotion. 

"Your cock is so big! Fills my cunt up so good!" You rambled, slurring your words as your peak charged towards you.

"Made for your pussy," Caleb repeated, delirious from pleasure, "Made for your pussy and made for you. Don't need anyone else. Only me."

"Yeah, baby. Only you. Always you," You pressed sloppy kisses to his neck, toying with his flesh between your teeth. Your tongue ran over his skin, the taste of his sweat hypnotic to all of your senses. You were drunk off of him.

An animalistic cry tore from Caleb's lips as he hammered his cock into you, "Tell me to pull out, Pips."

You barely understood, so close to the greatest orgasm of your life, "...Huh?"

A broken groan, "I need you to tell me to pull out. Fuckkk. Need you to tell me because I won't if you don't. And I'm so close. So fucking closeee!"

He was carnal in his thrusts, predatory in the way he consumed your entire being with his own, debilitating you with the power of his thrusts. You whined against him, erratically rolling your hips to meet him halfway.

You gripped his face tightly and spoke with all the conviction you could muster, "Don't pull out."

His eyes widened, "Wha...What?"

You locked your legs around his waist, "Don't pull out. Want you to cum inside. Want to feel you cumming with me."

"Fuck me. You know just what to say," Caleb hissed, claiming your lips with his again.

You were right fucking there. The coil in your body had tightened as much as it could, and you knew it was about to release.

"Caleb─!" You screamed.

"Yesyesyes─!"  He cried in response.

Then, you broke. Your orgasm ripped across you, tearing all conscious thought from your mind as your body was wrecked with tremors of pleasure. Caleb all but howled when he felt you cum on his cock, his own release triggering. He shoved as deep inside of you as he could, thick bursts of cum covering the walls of your cunt, leaking out onto his cock.

Your chest heaved, vision blurry as you basked in the after shocks of your orgasm. Caleb's uneven breaths echoed in your ears, erratic and broken. 

You slowly ran your fingers across his face, soothing him as much as you could. His hands responded in kind, tracing circles into the flesh of your hips.

"I love you so much," He finally whispered, pressing a chaste but passionate kiss to your lips.

You smiled, "I love you too. Just don't run away again, yeah?"

A breathless laugh left his lips, "The only time I'm running away is if you're with me."

"I can get behind that," You responded softly.

And you could. It didn't matter where in the universe you were, so long as you had Caleb by your side.

Sunlight dripped through the thin cracks between the leaves, making the grass on the ground look like a green sea. The world teemed with life around you, flowers blooming, moss a vibrant emerald shade, animals rustling in trees and underbrush. 

 You caught glances of creatures with glowing scales and magical features, saw plants that not even the wildest imagination could create. The air changed, pulsing with the intensity of inhuman influence.

It was treacherous to travel so far deep into the forest, but your feet didn't hesitate. The vegetation that grew here was too valuable, strong enough to break fevers and soothe infections much quicker than any normal plant could. Walking to the Fae's forest was a risk you were willing to take for the betterment of your people.

Queen Jenna had given you her reluctant blessing. She knew your role as court physician would compel you to do whatever you deemed necessary to help all you could. Everyone was free to seek care with you.

You sighed softly, listening to the distant sound of birds singing. Their songs were soft, breaking out from the tired haze winter placed them under. Spring was in full force now, and with it came new, fierce life.

You crouched down by a patch of blooming red flowers, the tips of their petals a vibrant, golden hue. Gently, your fingers brushed against one of the plants. On a less busy day, maybe you could come back and rest here for a few hours.

You hoped you could, but you knew all too well that some of the inhabitants that lived amongst these trees were none too fond of humans.

Quietly, you pluckled a few of the flowers out of the ground, careful not to disturb the others. You didn't need many; just one flower was enough to make ten vials of medicine to alleviate swelling.  

With the utmost gentleness, you tucked each flower into your bag.  The smell of them was sweet. Perhaps if you could spare some petals, you could make oils for your hair or skin.

Now all you needed was the mushrooms. You used them to help people deal with infections. The specific kind you were after was a vibrant orange. Tara had screamed at you when she first saw you eating one, shouting that it could be poisonous. You shrugged and said you'd find out in a second if you collapsed.

You didn't. Instead, the rash on your arm stopped itching so much.

You trekked deeper into the woods where the trees began to wind together, roots tethered to one another like shackles waiting for some unfortunate soul to get stuck within them. The world was darker here, more treacherous. You felt like you were walking into a room that was meant to be locked.

The birds got quieter.

Your eyes danced across the moss and wood in search of your desired object. They only grew in dark, moist places, usually against the bark of trees, so they could suck up their nutrients. Your feet crunched against sticks.

Finally, you found what you desired. The mushrooms were nestled in a large patch against a wise old oak. Its branches creaked in the wind like a soft lullaby. You found yourself humming softly as you crouched by them. 

They were cold to the touch, clammy in the way humans were. A strong orange shade filled your vision as you leaned close to the fungi, their earthy scent invading your senses as you curled your fingers around their stems.

You sighed softly, stomach grumbling. You'd been at this since dawn, and you knew you were testing your limits. Their limits. But still, you sat, crossed your legs over one another and pulled out a little pouch of berries.

The taste of your mixed berries was a welcome delight to your dry tongue and ravenous stomach. They were sweet and tangy, sinking into your mouth with a comforting kiss. You groaned in pleasure as you rested your back against a tree, surprised by just how much it ached.

You thought about your list of objects. Deliver Tara's tonic to her. Check Simone's cut─ a training session mishap. Ask the Old Lady near the Swan Tavern if her salve was working. Then you needed to crush the ingredients you'd collected today. Strain the liquids of what you'd collected before─

A twig snapped.

You went rigid. You immediately righted yourself.

You thought it was a deer when you first saw it. It wasn't. Well, it was, but ordinary deer didn't have glowing spots or four eyes. Some Imp, you supposed. Or maybe just a magical variation of deer that belonged to Starfall Forest.

You scooped up some berries into your hand and stretched them out.

There was a possibility it could hurt you, certainly, but you wanted to hope it wouldn't. Hopefulness was your flaw as much as it was your strength; you knew that all too well.

Slowly, the deer crept forward, sniffing the air.

You cooed to it softly, keeping as still as possible.

It took another wobbly step, four eyes wide and unblinking. You wondered if its eyesight was better or worse than the deer you were more familar with.

Hesitantly, the gentle beast lowered its head towards your open palm, mouth carefully pressing against it. You held in a giggle at the feeling of its tongue brushing against your skin as it took the berries from your palm.

"You're a beauty, y'know that?" You whispered to it quietly.

Then, you saw it. In the distance, upon a hill covered in mist and shadow. In the thin sliver of sunlight, a glint flickered.

You jerked backwards, almost too late.

A gasp tore from your mouth as an object whizzed past you, slicing against your shoulder. The deer reared up and bolted into the depths of the wood, the remnant of berries spilling onto he ground like your blood.

Your chest heaved as you raised your head.

An arrow had been shot into the tree, buried so deeply in it that you could no longer see the shine of metal. A cold shiver ripped through you. That was meant for you. That had your death marked on it.

A loud shriek followed.

You whirled to face the sound.

There, on top of that misty hill, was a dark mass, a horse. One made of secrets and shadows. It neighed loudly, stomping its foot into the ground eagerly. On top of the beast sat a man whose face was obscured in murk.

The sight of him pulling another arrow onto his bow was more than enough for you. You weren't foolish enough to hesitate. You liked living too much for that.

Without another moment, you snatched your bag from the grass and bolted. 

"Tara...stop fussing," You hissed lowly at the woman by your side. Someone had decided to tattle on you when they saw you entering the castle, and Tara had come running.

"Stop fussing? Stop fussing?!"  Tara exclaimed with wide, frantic eyes, "Y/N! You're bleeding!"

You scoffed, grunting as you pulled the needle and thread through your skin slowly, "No? Really? Never would have guessed."

As soon as you'd gotten into your room, you'd downed a red vile. It was made from a poisonous plant that, once boiled, could be used as a numbing agent. You used it on soldiers and surgeries mostly, and your current predicament called for it.

"Stop being snarky," Tara huffed, "And stop being so reckless. You could have been killed."

How many times had you heard that? 

You sighed softly as you knotted the final switches on the arm, securing them in place. It wasn't your prettiest work, but in your defence, the angle you had to work at wasn't the nicest.

"I know," You murmured, "It was my fault for letting my guard down. I should've known he was there earlier."

"He?" Tara inquired, gently handing a mug filled with water.

"Yeah," You hummed, rolling your shoulder and grimacing at the tightness of your skin, "He was on top of a horse over the hill. I couldn't see him very well, but I could tell it was a man."

"That's so scary," Tara shivered.

"Yeah. And I think we need something to warm us up," You grinned as you walked toward a small cupboard nestled into the corner of your room. You opened the wooden door and grasped the first bottle you saw.

Tara gasped, "Day drinking? We couldn't possibly!"

But she was already grabbing two mugs from another cupboard, eyes glittering in that mischevious way you'd come to know and love. She gently pulled you onto the table with her, giggling as she set the cups out in front of you.

Your heart thundered in your chest, lungs heaving with exasperation as you sprinted through the woods, hurling yourself over roots and rocks, lurching deeper into the mists of Starfall. Your body burned for relief, but you couldn't give it, not when so much was at stake.

Sweat layered against your skin like a thinly ailed armour that blocked out all strain from your senses.

The mother had come in the middle of the night, during a storm. She was haggard and drenched from head to toe. And she was crying. Crying and cradling a toddler in her arms. It had been a light fever, close to finishing its course, then, like bolts of wind, the boy's condition changed for the worse.

Your entire room smelled of his vomit.

You needed something stronger than normal herbs to help him. And there was only one place you could get it. So, you enlisted the help of a fellow physician to keep the boy as stable as he could. Then, you were running and you hadn't stopped.

The ground squelched beneath your boots, flicking mud up onto your clothes and skin. 

Danger didn't matter to you now, not when there was a boy who needed you. A mother who needed her son. A son who needed his mama. 

You willed your legs faster through some crazed force of mind.

The world around you got darker and darker, though the sun was rising, and you knew you were leaving the normal world behind. Good. The plant you needed grew near water, and you prayed that it had begun to sprout by the river you were sprinting to.

 It looked almost like a Blue Bell, dripping downwards. They were a similar shade too, perhaps more teal in some places. The only difference was that the bulbs within the petals glowed a bright white.

The sound of rushing water echoed into your eyes, and you burst through the bushes, ignoring he scratches you gained from the thorns. Your heart fluttered with relief at the sight of the river and all its vibrant, surrounding vegetation.

You caught a faint glow and sprinted towards it.

There it was. Your flower. You'd be able to save the boy, you were sure of it. With trembling hands, you willed yourself to slow down and be gentle as you carefully plucked the flowers from the ground.

Three would be enough. More than enough for him and some for the next person who ended up with such a lethal fever.

The birds stopped.

You ignored them. You had no time to spend being fascinated by the animals that lived here.

 Not even the crickets and bugs continued to converse. You paused.

 You glanced at the water only a few meters from you. A reflection shimmered there, of you and of someone behind you.

Shit.

A man, certainly. Much larger than yourself. It was difficult to discern the colours of his features through a blue haze, but you knew his clothing was dark and that his skin was fair and that his hair was long, winding down his back like the wind.

You couldn't be reckless. Not now.

"Listen..." You said slowly, carefully rising to your full height, "All I wanted was the flowers, and I've only taken three.  That's all I needed. That's all I'm here for. I swear."

"She says even though she has a sword hung at her side," Came the response. His voice trickled into your ears smoothly, the tone of his words thickened with the allure of magic. You clenched your eyes shut in dread. There went your hopes that this man wasn't one of the Fae.

You were so screwed.

"You can blame one of your friends for that," You scoffed, "I don't really like going out unprotected since I almost got an arrow lodged into my skull."

There was a pause.

"Ah, it's you," Completely dispassionate, like he was reciting a line from a book he couldn't care less about. And yet, the recognition in his tone was unmistakable.

Anger struck across you. You whirled on your feet. 

"You're the one who shot at me!" You exclaimed in disbelief. 

Your eyes locked onto the man a few meters from you, and you were taken aback by his appearance. You knew the Fae were beautiful and that they were blessed by Nature's hand, but you'd never seen one quite like him.

His hair was made of strands of starlight, plucked straight from the night sky and waved together in an ethereal wave.  You thought his eyes were like a storm, with lightning crackling in their centres, giving them a vibrant and intoxicating glow. Clouds must have been padded together to make his skin and its dewy white tone. His ears were pointed like the arrow he'd shot at you, a light silver colour at the tips.

His expression was serene, but you knew it wasn't at peace; you could tell that from the way his hand gripped his sword, already unsheathed. He was already planning to hurt you, then. Just your luck.

"I am," He said simply, soft words coming from rose petal lips.

You scoffed, "Thanks for that. Took me ages to sew up. Got shit faced at the end of it, though."

His expression tightened ever so slightly, "Shit faced?"

"Drunk," You answered, taking his moment of confusion to draw your own sword. Simone had given it to you when you were teenagers. You didn't use it as much as you could, but you knew how to swing well enough.

The man's back straightened, and he narrowed his eyes, tightening his grip. His stance showed you that he was ready for a fight.

"Why are all humans so..." He struggled for the right word, "Decrepit?"

A hollow laugh left your lips, "You're a bit judgmental, aren't you?"

"Or just truthful," Came his retort.

You hummed, the weight of your bag reminding you of your goal, "Listen, just let me go. I'm not hurting anybody."

He considered you for a moment. You hoped that he would let you go, but his face fell back into that cold, unemotional cloak. He stared at you with unblinking eyes as he spoke, "But you will."

"You seriously think that?" You scoffed. You didn't want to fight him, you really didn't.

The man dipped his chin, the briefest nod you'd ever seen, "Yes. It's better to kill you before you kill me. Or one of my own."

He reminded you of Benedict and his inability to see a way forward that wasn't brutality. Unfortunately for him, you refused to lie down like a dog and die. You didn't waste another second.

The man reacted immediately. A clash of sword and metal began. He was fierce and calculated in each of his movements, guiding his sword with razor precision. Your arms strained beneath the force of his blade, slamming against yours.

He was like a storm, trying to unroot you from the ground.

He was better than you. There was no denying that. But you were fighting for something, for a little boy dying on a bed, and desperation made you strong.

Your body burned as you met his blade again and again, the sound of metal shrill and shrieking in your ears, almost as loud as the blood that pulsed there. His eyes brimmed with electricity as he forced you backwards. You couldn't keep up with his techniques.

Your chest heaved, lungs struggling to expand as he continued to slash at you, catching the edges of your clothes and skin with his blade. He sliced the strap of your bag, it falling helplessly at your feet, distracting you for only a moment.

You lost your footing against the squishy mud and tumbled backwards with a scream. He watched impassively, almost rueful in his callous apathy.

The water was freezing as it embraced it. It nipped at your skin, numbing your body with intoxicating kisses. You shivered, clenching your mouth shut to avoid any more water flooding through your lips.

Your back touched the murky bottom, and you scrambled to rise back up to the surface. Greedy gulps of air were sucked into your lungs when you burst out of the water's mirror, rapidly blinking to rid your eyes of their blur.

"This is the end for you," The man spoke, standing at the water's edge, his silver blade glinting in the slivers of light.

You glowered at him.

"Know that I take no pleasure from this," He continued, "But that it must be done. Not for the betterment of me, but for the betterment of my people."

"How noble," You mocked. Hatred curled in your stomach. He could have just let you go. It didn't have to be this way.  You lowered yourself into the water, hands disappearing beneath the murky waters. The current brushed against you, as if trying to push you away from the fight.

But you wouldn't be moving any further from your bag.

The man gripped his sword, shaking his head, "I speak truthfully. This must be done─"

"Yeah, yeah. You're gonna kill me." You rolled your eyes, "Can we skip the foreplay now? I only like it when someone's trying to get me into bed."

He hesitated, "...What?"

"Foreplay. The thing that leads up to sex. What you and I could've been doing if you weren't pointing a sword at my face," You hummed. The water was cold, freezing your senses one by one.

The man looked taken aback. His numb face twisted into an expression of surprise, almost like a flower blooming. You saw his chest rise and fall, Adam's apple bobbing harshly as he stared at you. 

His tongue darted over his lips, "You and I─"

You took advantage of his confusion.

He didn't have a chance to react beyond a yell of surprise as you yanked at his leg, jerking it towards you. He had stood high and mighty on the edge of the river, not realising that the mud there was loose.

His sword slipped from his hand, clattering to the ground.

Laughter peeled from your lips as you lurched for the sword he'd dropped.

Clawed fingers curled around your arms like a snake's tail. You yelped as you were snatched backwards. Your heart thundered as you struggled.

You heard him grunt against you. Felt his back against your chest.

"Get off of me!" You snarled, thrashing in his hold. Water was thrown everywhere, drenching the two of you further.

"You vixen!" He hissed in response as he tried to pull you away from the water's edge. You knew he was stronger than you, but you refused to yield to his attempts to drown you beneath the waves.

You kicked at his legs with your own. One hand clawed into his. The other slapping against his face, grasping thick strands of hair to tug at them. "Let me go, you fucking brute!" You shrieked, "Go find someone else to kill!"

"You're the only one who keeps coming into Starfall!" He barked.

"I'm not the one who initiated this interaction!" You shouted.

"You swung at me first," The man hissed as you yanked his hair as harshly as you could.

"You shot at me two weeks ago!" A scream left your lips as his nails dug into the skin around your throat. The agony that it caused was unbelievable. It sent adrenaline pulsing through your veins frantically. It was do or die now.

You caught sight of your bag. You saw the bulbs glowing.

You clawed at the mud on the river's bank. Nails digging into the dirt and roots as you desperately tried to drag yourself up.

A hand layed itself over your own. Long nails overlaid your own, blackened like the night sky. You could hear him breathing in your ear. Feel his chest hammering against your back, his legs thrashing against your own.

You didn't hesitate to drive your head back.

A sickening crack.

A shout left his lips.

Sharp, throbbing bolts of pain shot through the back of your skull as it lulled forward after your vicious attack. The man behind you groaned, a low, pitiful sound leaving his mouth as he slumped, his lips brushing against the skin of your neck.

He was down. 

You scrambled for the opportunity.

You shook his hand off yours, kicking his body away as you did so. He struggled for a moment, one hand still clutching you, but you were already escaping from his grip, uncaring for the way his nails slide down your body, drawing blood.

You gave yourself no time to breathe or relax. You snatched your bag and sword and bolted.

You didn't dare look back. Not even as you heard him struggling out of the water, coughing loudly against the grass he lay on.

The boy had made a speedy recovery and told you he was going to learn how to be a knight, sword and all. You laughed and told him you also needed some more sword lessons. Simone had been happy to teach you the moment she saw your bruised body.

The Queen had been bewildered at your story and considered barring you from the Fae's forest together. You told her that you'd rather be executed than be unable to help people to your full capabilities.

Simone, Andrew and the other knights were on a hunting trip, and you tagged along with them. You swore to stick to the outskirts of the Fae's forest. More than close enough in running distance. 

You hoped you didn't need to do that this time. You were getting tired of running.

You hummed quietly to yourself as you walked among the trees and bushes. Occasionally, you stopped to admire flowers and fruits that grew around you. Nature was a generous mother, making so much for all her children to live on.

Carefully, you plucked some herbs from the ground. You were going to use them to make tonics for headaches; you were running low on those. As you were placing them into a jar in your bag, you heard calls for help.

You hesitated.

Slowly, but surely, you crept towards the sound. You weren't sure what you were expecting. Maybe some mimicking monster or a dying beast, using its last moments to take someone else down with it.

With caution, you peeked around the corner of a tree and found a man crying in a small clearing. He wept softly, head buried beneath his palms. You stared and watched him for a few moments. He curled into himself, hooking his knees against his chest.

He had bright ginger and even curled up into a ball; you could tell he was tall, with long limbs tucking against one another awkwardly. He was like a spider, with spindly legs that were unable to hide alongside the rest of his body.

Sympathy shot through you.

You stepped forward, "Hello...?"

The man flinched.

"It's all right," You murmured, moving slowly towards him, "I'm not going to hurt you. I'm a physician."

"A physician?" He croaked, voice hoarse. He didn't raise his head.

You nodded, though he couldn't see it, "Yeah. I can help you."

He turned his head so he could look at you with brown eyes. They were watery, glittering tears slipping down his cheeks. Here, the sunlight was thicker, and you could see perfectly the hallowed blue beneath his eyes.

"You can help me?" He whispered.

You nodded, smiling softly, "Yeah. If you tell me what's wrong, I can try to fix it."

He removed his hands from his face, gently laying them by his side as he rested his chin on his knees. He stared at you for a moment, as if trying to discern your motives, before he nodded to himself.

"I broke my nose," He told you.

You furrowed your brows as you observed his face. There was no blood. No swelling. And most certainly no crooked nose.

You leaned closer. Perhaps he merely thought it was broken?

You could see no bruise or cut.

"When?" You questioned in confusion.

"A few days ago, when a vixen slammed the back of her head into my face in a river."

You paused.

It was then that you caught the sharp point of his ears hidden beneath ginger tresses of hair.

"Shit," You swore, scrambling backwards.

He was quicker than you. He lurched forward, hands coming to latch around your wrist as he slammed them into the ground above your head. You struggled as your back pressed against the ground, his body towering above your own.

Like a veil had been lifted from his face, the man before you appeared in his true self. You glared up at him. He stared down at you, a glint of amusement in his eyes.

"Not a fan of tricks now, are you?" He hummed, his voice low and smooth. From this new distance, you saw flecks of silver across his cheeks. Freckles made of starlight.

You gritted your teeth and said, "I don't really think we can compare."

The Fae tilted his head, "No?"

"I pulled you into a river and threw my head into yours because you were going to kill me," you huffed, hyperaware of his body against yours. "You disguised yourself just to get back at me. This is you being petty."

"I'm not petty," Grumbled the man. His knee was slotted between your legs. His long hair fell over his shoulders, brushing against your skin.

A scoff left your lips, "What, so you just enjoy pinning me down? And here I thought you weren't interested in foreplay."

Fire glinted in his icy eyes. His grip tightened on each of your hands. You hissed at the feeling of his nails digging into your flesh. The grass was cold against your back, but you burned. The sunlight shone upon his features; they would have looked gentle if not for their sternness.

"I'm not," He hissed at you, "Stop insinuating such things."

You laughed, "Aw, does pretty boy not like me talking about his kinks?"

His face went slack in shock, but he quickly recovered, "Don't call me that."

"Why not?" You teased, "Does it get you all hot and bothered?"

He didn't respond. At first, you furrowed your brows, expecting some kind of fury, perhaps a physical blow. You assumed that's what he was after, the glory of killing you. But then you focused on his features. The way his eyes couldn't meet yours. The rosy hue of his ears.

And then you recalled what Simone had told.

Fae can't lie directly. 

Your eyes widened, "It does...!"

"Be silent," He glowered.

His lips curled into an angry pout. His lips were a beautiful shade, the colour of clouds in the morning. You wondered how they'd taste.

You giggled, "The fearsome faerie likes being called pretty boy. Do the ladies at home know this? Or am I the first to discover such a crucial detail?"

Abruptly, he moved both of your wrists into one hand, his other slipping onto your neck to clutch it. His fingers curled against the flesh of your throat as he glared down at you. A warning.

"Shut your mouth before I make you," He demanded.

You raised a brow, "How are you gonna do that? Gonna use those pretty lips of yours? You gonna kiss me, pretty boy?"

 He squeezed around your neck. You grunted at the sensation, not enough to hurt but certainly enough to restrict air flow. Your neck throbbed, and your body burned with heat. He was so intense above you, shining eyes searing into your soul. You wanted to know what was beneath his black clothing, regal and silky.

You grinned, "Restraining, being called names, and now choking. How long does the list go on? "

The Fae glowered, "Stop talking."

"I'd rather not. It's stopping you from killing me," You hummed, "I quite like being alive."

"So that's why you've been stealing plants from Starfall. You want to prolong your life. Another human trying to clutch at immortality," He hissed, bringing his face closer to yours to scrutinise you.

You scoffed, "I told you I was a physician. I go into your forest to get ingredients to make medicine for the people who need it."

Something in the man's face shifted as he studied you, perhaps looking for some hint of trickery or deceit. You could feel his breath fanning your face, a phantom against your lips.

You continued, "The day at the river. I was getting the flowers for a boy who was dying from a fever. That's all I was doing."

"How do I know you're not lying?" He inquired, eyes glinting like stars that were far away, blinking through their vibrant colours like a dance of magic.

"You don't. You'll just have to believe me," You responded.

He chuckled, the sound deep and rich, "Putting my trust in a human? My court would laugh at me for even considering it."

You paused, registering his words, "Your court?"

Smugness was etched into every feature of his expression, "Yes. My court. My people. My forest. My kingdom."

A gasp escaped your lips, "You're the king of Starfall?!"

A low hum left his lips as his fingers ran up and down your throat, setting the skin there alight, "Yes. You struck a king; you deserve punishment."

He looked like a god hovering above you. 

"I've also flirted with him. Does that also constitute punishment?" You murmured, gaze flickering to his lips, "Because if so, I have some ideas which could be quite fun."

The knee between your legs shifted as he drew closer to you. His chest brushed against your own, his nose centimetres from yours. His hair spilt down, like a silver willow tree's branches, the strands of his hair hid you from the rest of your world.

His face was carved from marble and decorated with nature's finest materials. He was beautiful in the way storm clouds rolling over the horizon were, desirable and daunting. He smelt sweet, you couldn't place the exact scent, but it was alluring all the same.

You breath hitched as his face ghosted over yours as he whispered, "What a fiendish woman you are. Your words and actions are empty. There is no intention in you."

"Actually, I have very strong intentions right now. You're the first," You mused in response.

His brows furrowed, "I'm the first what?"

"You're the first king that I've ever wanted to fuck," You said without shame. You saw no point in denying yourself what you wanted. You had to take every opportunity life gave you.

"Surely you jest?" The king of the Fae inquired, eyes glimmering in a way that made you want to stay beneath him forever.

"I─"

"Y/N!"

The king had snapped in the direction of the call. You took the opportunity to press your lips to his cheek. He spluttered in shock. His grip on your body is going completely slack. You grinned and used your legs to roll the two of you over.

His eyes were made as he stared up at you, hair splayed around him like a halo.

"You'll have to find out next time!" You laughed and jumped to your feet.

This time, when you ran away, you did so leisurely and looked over your shoulder to see him staring at you with an intense gaze that made fire sprint up your spine. 

You found yourself looking forward to your next venture into Starfall Forest.

You had dreamed of him since then. Dark and sinful dreams of entangled bodies and frantic lips. More often than not, you'd woken with your chest hammering and your cheeks flushed, your body aching for relief.

He tried to kill you. But there was something magnetic about him, something that drew you to him like a moth to a vibrant flame. He was intoxicating, like white foxglove; he was infecting every inch of your body. Calling you to him.

Your eyes traced the edge of the Starfall forest as your horse walked among the rest of the group. Queen Jenna had ordered a patrol of where her border collided with the Fae's, and you had been dragged along in case of injury. To say you were bored was a severe understatement.

As such, the second Andrew decided to make base camp in a tiny clearing, you were desperate for a chance to explore. He said no. You begged. And you didn't stop until he relented, sick of your incessant whines.

Finally, you were alone, and you were inching further into the territory of Starfall. You were careful not to stray too far. Th world seemed to hum softly around you, happy to accept you into the natural fold of the world.

Your fingers brushed against the specks of light that suddenly appeared. They were warm against your skin, and if you didn't know better, you would've assumed they were fireflies. 

You found yourself following them through the bushes and around the bend, completely hidden from sight. Another wonder of magic, you supposed, noting that the little lights felt familar.

"You really shouldn't follow things so blindly in the forest of Fae," A voice called, "You might find yourself somewhere you can't get out of."

You turned to find your man leaning against a tree. The lights you were following rushed towards him, dancing around glowing fingers excitedly, like children who had just come home from school.

You raised a brow, "Whose to say I was following them blindly? Maybe I knew they were leading me to you."

"And you still followed either way," The King observed. He had jewels in his hair; they looked like raindrops, glistening in the fractured light that leaked through the leaves.

Seeing him again was like being yanked out of the sea and seeing the world clearly. The waters of your dreams hadn't done him justice, and you found yourself getting hot all over again.

"Is it really so terrible that I wanted to see you?" You inquired, tilting your head, "I mean, we did get interrupted."

"Indeed, we did." His eyes followed your every move, attention fiendishly fixated on you; you felt like he could devour you with his gaze. "You were very rude, leaving so suddenly."

"Are you going to punish me for that, your majesty?" You teased, giggling lightly.

"Maybe," Answered the man, stepping closer.

You blinked in surprise. Quickly, you recovered, grinning at the Fae," Oh no! I'm so scared!"

"You should be," he stalked towards you. 

You swallowed harshly, stepping backwards. His eyes glinted darkly, murky with his veiled intentions. Nothing in his features gave him away; he was like mist, creeping closer and obscuring everything around him.

You wanted to look for an escape in your surroundings, but all of your senses were captivated by his. Straying from his gaze was an impossibility. This man was a king, and he demanded attention.

Your back thumped against a tree. 

He was upon you before another gulp of air could be taken in by your lungs.

He towered over you, his body casting you in shadow. You felt helpless as you stared up at him, suddenly much further out of your depth than you had realised. He hummed lowly, eyes gliding over your body.

You clenched your jaw, willing a glare onto your face.

"Such a magnificent expression," He murmured, "So very alive."

You scoffed, "What's the point of this? You question why I followed the lights, but why did you send them?"

He tilted his head, "I wanted to talk."

His hair fell across his face. You saw his sharp ear peak out from the strands. Half of you wanted you to pull the hair away from his features so you could see them better. Compare them to the face you'd mind had conjured in your dreams. 

"You wanted to talk?" You muttered in disbelief, "About what?"

"About how much of a menace you've been to me," Answered the King.

His blue eyes were like sapphires now, glinting treacherously. Your heart throbbed. He was so close, his sweet scent invading your nose while hot shivers ran up and down your spine.

"Me? A menace? How so?" You inquired quietly.

You felt like you were in a bubble of the Fae's design and that one wrong move could burst his carefully crafted truce. You could barely hear the world around you, the spots of sunlight faint and fair.

"Because you've been calling out to me," He answered with a deep sigh.

An incredulous noise left your lips as you furrowed your brows, "When?"

"At night. With soft sighs and desperate want," The King responded, eyes glittering with mirth.

You went rigid. He couldn't possibly mean...there was no way. But you stared at his face, and despite the amusement, you saw no hint of trickery in him. He was being serious. Flush erupted across your features.

"I─"

He rested one hand inches above your head, leaning down so his nose was inches from yours. You could feel his breath fan your lips, caressing your flesh tenderly. Every inch of you tingles with anticipation.

"Do you have any idea what it's like to be called upon like that?" He whispered, "What's it like to feel the desire dripping off your body?  To be given such a delicious offering from a woman who doesn't even know my name?"

He had caged you in. He had forced you to confront him and the way you burned for him. If he expected you to grovel in submission at his imposing figure, he was sorely mistaken. You were never one to back down from a challenge.

You reached forward, hand hooking against his black collar, fingers gliding against the pale flesh that sat there. You heard the hitch in his breathing, the way his chest expanded to feel more of your palm.

Your fingers glided over the plain between his chest and neck, tracing over the beginnings of his collarbones, "You tell me your name and I'll tell you mine."

He scoffed, "You dare to bargain with me? Who do you think you are?"

"Someone who wants to kiss you," You answered, and god, were you being truthful. You imagined what his skin would look like, painted red by the marks your lips would leave on his moonlight skin.

Your palm shifted to sit fully on his bare chest, fingers stretching out beneath the black silk of his shirt, treacherously close to his nipples. His nostrils flared as he sucked in a sharp breath, eyes fixated on every inch of you.

"You really are desperate for me," A low chuckle left his lips.

"I'm not the only one who's desperate, though, am I?" You teased, "Now do you agree to my bargain? Tell me your name and I'll tell you mine."

He narrowed his eyes, "Tell me your name first, and then I'll tell you mine."

You snorted, "That reaches the same result."

"That ensures you can't lie to me about telling me your name," The Fae King retorted quickly.

"God. You are a suspicious man, aren't you?" You hummed.

He didn't answer. 

For a moment, you were locked in a stalemate. You pressed against a tree; he pressed against you. His gaze flickered to your lips, yours to his. You wondered how long you could go on for like this. Could you spend eternity in this odd in-between state of wanting but not taking?

No, you couldn't, you decided. Being so close to him but not being able to touch more of him would drive you insane. You wanted to peel apart every layer that made him and caress each part of him with the utmost devotion. You wanted to know every inch of him.

"My name is Y/N,"  You finally confessed.

He was silent. For a moment, you feared he'd tricked you somehow.

But then, his lips parted, "My name is Xavier."

And what a lovely name it was. Finally, you had something to call the man that haunted your waking hours and blessed your sleeping self. This was the man you'd wanted like no other.

"Xavier," You smiled, "I think I like pretty boy more."

You couldn't resist the opportunity to tease him, but what you didn't expect was the way his eyes darkened. You felt his body stiffen, like a coil being pulled tight. He sucked in a brutal breath.

And you watched as the tether within him snapped.

The second he seized your body with his, you gasped. His lips conquered yours, demanding complete and devoted submission. The hand that had been hanging by his side, his final edge of restraint, came to grip your neck, tugging you further into him.

Every sound you made was swallowed by his lips as he slammed them against yours. Your hands gripped the cloth of his shirt as he kissed you sloppily. You felt light-headed from the intensity of his attack.

His teeth sank into your lip, pulling it. You whined, and he took the opportunity to shove his tongue inside your mouth, ravenous and devouring. 

"Fuck..." You gasped as he pulled away from you for only a moment. A thin string of saliva hung between your barely parted lips.

Xavier's eyes were lidded, but his gaze was wild.

He tugged your lips to his again, control entirely his. He was a mountain, unmovable in his desire to consume you. You felt feverish all over and knew that you'd fuck him right then and there. You waited too long for this, dreams far too good to pass up on making a reality.

You left his swollen lips to mark his delicious skin. He hissed darkly at the feeling of your teeth toyign with his flesh. His fingers threaded into your hair, but he made no move to yank you away from your mission. You wanted his neck covered in your devotion.

"You're a witch," He cursed you quietly, breathing unevenly.

You laughed against his skin, feeling goosebumps rise beneath your lips.

"I can't believe I left my people on the edges of Starfall just to find you," The King snarled.

If you weren't so enamoured with his voice, you wouldn't have listened to his words. But his tone was like honey in your ears, and his words made you go rigid in your movements. Some of his people were on the edge of Starfall.

No.

You lurched away from Xavier as you'd been burned, "You need to go."

He scoffed, offence rippling across his face, "What? Suddenly, you don't want me?"

Horror shot across your body like poison.

"No!" You cried, snatching his face in your hands, "They're in danger!"

He paused. Slowly, his hands came to cup your wrists, trying to discern your expression. You could see the reflection of your terror in his gaze, hear your heartbeat thunder in your ears. The world suddenly got cold.

"What do you mean?" He murmured.

You sucked in a wild, stunted breath, "There's a patrol of knights. If they find your people, I don't know what they'll do."

It only took Xavier one second to understand the truth in your words. His entire expression cracked. At first, you saw fear, the kind of daunting fear you felt at night when you blew out the final candle and were suffocated in the dark. Then, the weakness crumbled away into something you'd never seen in him before.

Not even when he tried to murder you had he looked so terrible.

The blue hue in his eyes died, and in its place blossomed a black abyss. His skin paled, death in its pallor, and his nails grew, curling at the ends like hooks meant to tear flesh.

"Go," You whispered, letting go of him.

He said not another word to you. You blinked once, and he was gone.

You shivered, all alone in the dark world.

You'd almost been too late in your warning.

It had been a fight, and many were wounded. But none were dead. And as far as the knights were aware, it was the same for the Fae and their monsterous protector. You could have cried with relief.

Your chest heaved with resentment as you trudged your way to the river you knew well. If you walked further down it, you'd eventually come to the place where Xavier and you had fought. Something wistful coiled in your chest at that realisation.

What was your relationship now? Something had changed between you, but resentment built from years of violence had given you both armour. You wondered if it could still be taken off or if its rust had eroded the metal of callousness into both of your hearts.

The idea of that made you sick.

You'd cradle your compassion with claws.

 Not even death would steal it from your grip.

You got to the river and breathed a sigh of relief. Here, there were no soldiers whispering hatred, no cautious eyes or cracking of knuckles. The absence of glinting swords was a welcome one. You were tempted to collapse and rid the blood from your hands. You doubted there would be any point. One of the idiots would inevitably reopen their stitches again. You were running out of supplies already.

You crouched by the water's edge.

It was then that you saw the little shoe peaking out from a bush.

You froze. 

That was far, far too small to belong to an adult.

You swallowed and dared to call out, "Hello?"

A sharp, smothered whimper came from the thick bush. You rose to your full height, observing the shrubbery with a heavy heart. You prayed to all high hell that you were going mad. You begged whatever higher power there was that the fight had been made up of only adults.

"It's all right," You murmured, "I'm not going to hurt you."

A quiet cry followed

Your heartstrings shuddered.

Cautiously, you crept closer and peered over the bush, searching through the leaves.

And there she was. A little girl. She went rigid the moment she saw you see her. Her eyes were golden, her skin a soft lilac shade, her hair a dewy blue. You felt sick. Tears coursed down her face as she tried desperately to smother her terror.

"Oh, sweetheart," You gasped, "I swear I'm not going to hurt you."

But how could she believe you when people who looked just like you had attacked her and her people only a few short hours earlier?

You scrambled to console her, "I'm friends with your king!"

She froze, looking up at you with wide eyes.

You willed a gentle smile onto your face, "Xavier? Tall, long silver hair, looks grumpy all the time?"

The girl sniffed, "I want my mama."

"I know, I know," You responded, "I'm going to help you get home, I promise. Can you come out of there, please?"

She hesitated, but eventually, through the bushes, you heard her shift. The crackle of branches echoed loudly into the woods as she crawled her way out of her hiding spot, letting out sharp gasps every so often.

Eventually, she appeared. You realised she had wings, soft of silvery.

"I'm Y/N," You murmured, crouching in front of her, "What's your name?"

"Andromeda," She whimpered quietly.

You hummed, "That's a very pretty name. Can you tell me if you're hurt anywhere?"

The little girl didn't answer with words and instead stuck her leg out for you to see. The shade was a dark blue against your purple skin; you guessed the equivalent of a human's red. Slowly, you reached down to study the ankle, gently applying some ointment to it hopes of soothing the swelling. She flinched from the pain.

You sighed, "Well, it's not broken. But it is sprained. I'm going to need to carry you to your home, sweetheart."

The girl shook her head, "Humans aren't allowed in Starfall."

You smiled, "I know. But I need to get you home."

Eventually, the girl nodded and let you scoop her into your arms, beginning your journey further into the Fae's forest than you had ever been before.

You didn't know how long you'd been walking, only that the moon had long since risen in the sky. Disantly, you knew Simone and Andrew would be frantic in their search for you, but you couldn't find yourself to care, not when you had a little girl in your arms

Eventually, you came to see lights in the distance and headed straight for them. You knew they'd bring you to where you needed to go. Vibrant houses began to appear, lanterns lighting the forest. The town was silent, so you kept going.

 You followed the cobbled path deeper and deeper into the kingdom of Starfall.

"Human!" A voice screamed as you rounded the corner to a massive town square. You'd never heard such terror before.

Hundreds, perhaps thousands of faces turned to stare at you. None were humans. You found yourself hesitating as blades and sickles and bows and claws were drawn.

"I have one of your children!" You yelled abruptly, terrified they'd shoot.

The entire square went rigid. The silence was deafening. You could hear your blood pulse in your ears. You swallowed uncomfortably, but no one made any move to say anything. They probably thought you were holding her captive.

Your chest hammered wildly, "She was injured during the attack earlier. She has a sprained ankle. I brought her home."

The silence continued. A deep, suffocating mistrust.

Then, suddenly, "Andy!"

A woman shoved through the crowds, and the second you saw lilac skin and light blue hair, you knew who that woman was.

"Mama!" The child in your arms yelled.

Without hesitation, you handed the little girl to the woman who held her tightly, tears searing down her face. You smiled softly, but your stomach churned as you felt all the eyes on you. You stepped backwards and waited to see what the Fae would do to you.

- ~ -

As it turned out, they were going to thank you. The news of the attack had been spread far and wide. Andromeda's mother had searched the entire kingdom for her daughter, but with no luck. Your presence to her was like a blessing, and she had kissed you on the cheek with all the force she could muster, pulling you into the throng of the crowds.

Now that all missing people had been accounted for, a celebration was in order.

You laughed loudly, clapping your hands as you sat by Celeste, Andy's mother, watching the girl's father dance with her in his arms.

The Fae were so lively, drinking and cheering and dancing like tomorrow would never come. You felt your heart come alive in the massive banquet hall of the castle. You knew this was Xavier's, and your body was alive with the delight of it.

Abruptly, the doors slammed open and the man in question strode in. Everyone paused. He'd been out looking for Andromeda and had only just come back. He looked wild, and yet his entire body was coiled with control.

"Xayxay!" Andromeda exclaimed.

"Andy," He smiled, relief stretching across his features.

"Your friend is very nice," She chirped.

He blinked in confusion, "My friend?"

"Hello, gorgeous!" You called out to him, standing from your spot.

His gaze locked onto yours, and you felt your heart pulse in your chest. He was beautiful even among his people, a star cradled in the Earth's hands. His long, tussled hair fell around him like wings as he stared at you with burning eyes.

"You are a─" He began, cutting himself off abruptly, turning to the little girl once more, "I am glad you are safe." 

Then, he strode to his throne, and the party continued.

You didn't appreciate being ignored. You wouldn't even call it being ignored, actually. Because that suggested that your existence was of no consequence to Xavier. In actuality, he was staring at you nonstop. When you danced or drank, his gaze was on you. It made you hot with anticipation, but he never moved from his iron seat.

You met his eyes with a glare, challenging him to rise and come get you.

He only met your gaze with one of his own. You hated that you couldn't tell what he was thinking.

You scoffed and left the room. It was easy; the entire hall was filled to the brim, and no one would notice you were gone amongst the celebration.

You shivered as you walked down the dark hallway, stepping further and further down it. The hallways stretched and warped as you did so, eventually leading you to a room with a door cracked open.

You slipped inside it, welcomed by warm light and a lavish bedroom.

You were amazed, until you swore the familar sword.

"It's rude to stare at someone," You hissed.

You didn't need to turn around to know he was behind you. The curtains billowed with the wind as you listened to the sound of his soft breathing. He hummed softly, his boots echoing closer.

You felt the heat of him behind you, against your back. You shivered in delight. His warmth was delicious to your senses. 

"In my castle, and still being a brat," He snapped.

You rolled your eyes, irritation coursing through you, "In my debt and still being arrogant."

"Saving the girl was just a way to get power for you then," He muttered. He wasn't questioning. He was stating.

Fury erupted across your body. You whirled on your feet, shoving your finger into his chest, "Is that what you fucking think of me?!"

The two of you moved a few paces back with the force of your pushes. Who was he to say such a thing to you?

He glowered at your finger, "Would I be wrong?"

"Yes!" You shrieked, cheeks warm from your anger, "I would never, ever abuse somebody like that!" 

Disgust and disappointment coiled in your body at that look on his face. You couldn't stand it. How could he think so lowly of you? You couldn't bear to look at his eyes.

"I'm just gonna go..." You muttered, brushing past him, bitterness erupting across your body.

He caught your wrist. You tried to yank it out of his grasp. He only held on tighter. You clenched your jaw. The moonlight rippled across his room, dancing with the golden lights of his candle. Your chest heaved with the weight of your fury.

"I can't understand," He murmured.

You scoffed in a bewildered way, "Can't understand what?"

"You," The King answered quietly, "Why you're so...emotional."

"Why I'm so emotional?" You spat the question back at him, twisting your body so you could glare at him with all the hate you could muster. It felt hollow and rotten in your chest.

He was impassive, as if your words held no effect on him. But you could see the tight set of his jaw and the way his eyes sharpened.

His fingers remained coiled against your wrist, "You act on every whim you get. Your feelings are intense and thunderous. Full of lust and greed."

"That's better than having emotions that are fickle and fleeting," You hissed at him angrily, "One minute you're kissing me and the next you're throwing accusations at me."

Your entire body burned with heat. He was beautiful even now. You hated that you thought so. he was stunning in the way the night sky was, enthralling but unreachable. You stared at him, trying to discern something beneath his cold calm.

"I cannot be so reckless," He responded simply.

"Reckless?" You laughed, "Going after something you want is reckless? God, what a miserable life you must live."

"My life is very full," Xavier responded, "I protect my kingdom and my people─"

"But not yourself," You cut him off, "When was the last time you actually did something for yourself?"

"I kissed you," The king responded. He looked like an angel, broken by his own values.

Your anger simmered in a wild way as you gasped, "So kiss me now."

"I can't afford to do that again," He swore, shaking his head and yet his grip on the wrist tightened. His words and his actions were opposed; you could see that in his eyes.

"Why not?" You demanded, "What are you so afraid of?"

He kept silent. It was as if he was trying to decide on what he should do, like he was at a loss, stuck in the middle of a mist that stole all pathways from him.

The moonlight shimmered against his silver hair like a halo of crystals.

You kept pushing, "Is it that you've never done it before? Are you nervous you'll mess up? Are you just not ready? Are of scared of the way you feel─"

He flinched.

You stepped closer, forcing him to confront himself. 

A breathless laugh left your lips as realisation washed over you, "You are..." You giggled in Xavier's face, "You're scared that if you sleep with me, you'll realise you like me more than you think you do!"

Every inch of his face sharpened, "No─"

A cackle escaped your mouth as you grasped his other arm to steady yourself, "Oh, my god! The King of the Fae is scared of having feelings for a human woman! He's terrified of having a crush─"

Whatever you were going to say next didn't matter anymore. Any thought of mocking you had died the second Xavier slammed his lips against yours.

He was angrier than before; you felt it in the way he dominated your kiss. It felt like he needed the control, like he needed you pliant beneath him.  You hissed against him as his teeth sank into your lower lip, toying with it.

Xavier hummed, his spare hand coming to clutch your waist, yanking you closer into him, shattering all distance. His lips ran hot and heavy against yours, insatiatable in their hunt for dominance

Your chest heaved with the weight of his affection. He was consuming, like an eclipse darkening your entire world with his presence. You whined softly into him, melting into his body. He was not gentle with you; he wanted you to feel every domineering kiss he gave you.

When you were gasping for breath and clasping onto his shoulders, Xavier moved his assault to your neck. Your lips tingled with the echo of him still burning there as his lips slid down to your skin, devouring it.

Xavier snaked a hand to your chin, shoving it upwards so he could have better access to your throat. He had constellations on his ceiling, but none of the painted stars matched the novas in his gaze. 

His nose ran across the expanse of your jawline as he sucked harsh red marks into your skin. He'd mark you for the entire world to see. 

Your body pulsed with feverish heat as you crumbled against Xavier's pursuit. You knew there was something dark buried beneath his sense of duty, and you wondered just how feral it could be. Heat coiled at your core at the possibility of finding out.

Your hands ran up and down his body, fingers coiling against his shirt as you struggled against the buttons. You frantically unhooked them, eager to feel more of his flesh. 

It was hot to the touch, burning against the pads of your fingers as you slid your palms against his chest.

He hissed into your mouth as your fingers slid off his nipples and downwards. His body was one of effort; you felt each hard ridge of his muscles as they flexed beneath your touch. The lower you got, the hotter he became. Your palm gently brushed against a thin trail of hair that dissapeared beneath his belt.

You flushed at the feeling of it and reached lower.

Xavier caught your hand in an iron grip.

A soft noise left your lips, "Still scared?"

He scoffed, biting into your flesh once more before lifting his head. He was beautiful, lips swollen and cheeks burning.

"Here's what's going to happen, brat," He gripped your chin tightly, "You're gonna finger your pretty cunt─"

"And what are you going to do, pretty boy?" You inquired, unable to resist the urge to interrupt him.

Xavier's tongue ran over his lips, "I'm gonna stuff my cock in your mouth and shut you up."

Heat pulsed through you, burrowing in your core with feverish intent.

"Get on your fucking knees. Now," He hissed at you, and the sound felt like velvet against your ears.

"Yes, your majesty," You teased breathlessly as you slid downwards, watching his eyes darken as you did so.

The King of the Fae looked so imposing standing above you like he was. His body was sculpted from stardust, smooth and hard and stunning in an unimaginable way. Your entire body reacted to him.

"You look so good down there," He hummed, "Go on, pet. Follow your orders."

You didn't need to be told twice. You reached for his belt, scrambling with the buckle in your eagerness. The metal was cold against your burning fingers as you pulled the leather through it, tugging the fabric down his legs along with it.

You waited only a second to admire the imprint of his dick against his underwear before you were hooking your fingers around the band of fabric and pulling it down. You swallowed at the sight of him.

You clenched your thighs together.

He was big, long and thick. His hardness sat proudly against his stomach, tip flushed and aching from weeks of teasing. This had been long anticipated for both of you, it seemed. Dark veins traced down his cock, pulsing at the base with hot desire.

Hunger seared in your chest as you inched closer, fingers ghosting over his flesh.

He sighed softly as you gently ran your fingers across his dick. The feeling of it was intoxicating; you felt entranced, like you could stay beneath his command for the rest of your life. Slowly, you worked him up, drawing your fist around his length over and over again to see his deep darkening into a delicious shade of red.

That was enough of your hands, you decided. You wanted your mouth on him.

Xavier sucked in a sharp breath as you blue on his dick, carefully wrapping your mouth around his tip. You wanted to savour this, the way his cock sat heavy against your lips, the way his expression changed, the way his breathing tremored.

His mystical eyes remained locked on yours as you slolwy sank your mouth deeply onto his cock. You planted your hands on his thighs to give you balance while you found your rhythm.

"That's it," He groaned quietly, "Keep sucking my dick."

You pushed him deeper into your mouth, revelling in the velvety drag of his hot cock against your tongue. He was so big you had to hollow out your cheeks to fit more of him in. You wanted your lips to touch the small gathering of hair at the base of his length. You wanted to suck all of him.

Up and down you went, your saliva coating his coat in a thick layer of lubricant, which only made it easier to draw back into your mouth. Xavier's hands came to tangle in your hair. One of your hands left his thigh to bunch up your skirts so you could reach your aching cunt.

You shivered as your fingers brushed against the wet patch left on your panties as you tugged them to the side. You ran slow circles over your clit and found your legs twitching at the sensation; it was much stronger than you ever remembered it being before.

You moaned softly around Xavier's dick.

His lidded eyes burned as he stared down at you, lip quivering with delight, "There you go. Shoving your fingers into your filthy pussy while I use this perfect mouth."

You whined at his words, gently pushing one finger into your tight hole. The sound your cunt made as it fluttered around your fingers was sinful. Xavier rolled his hips into your mouth gently, as if testing your abilities.

You met his soft thrusts eagerly, burrowing his cock into your throat like it was your sword and you were its rightful sheath. A pair designed to be together. You gagged lightly as your nose brushed against his navel. Your mouth was so full.

Your body was tightening with pleasure as you continued to rub your clit, flicking your finger back and forth against those sensitive spots in your pussy.

"You'd let me use you, right?" Xavier hissed, "You'd let me fuck your mouth, wouldn't you?"

You moaned your response, struggling to nod with the weight of his cock down your throat.

The second you gave your response, Xavier's grip in your hair tightened. You shivered in anticipation. Excitement coiling in your core as you ground your hips down into your palm. 

The change was instant. No longer did you have control of the pace or sensuality of it; all of that belonged to Xavier now, and he had no intention of taking it easy on you. Without hesitation, he yanked your hair backwards until you were slobbering over his tip, only to shove your head all the way back down.

A strangled gag left your lips as Xavier shoved his cock down your throat again and again. He was aiming to bruise it, to shape your mouth to fit the shape of his dick, training you to take him like a loyal whore.

His pace was relentless, and the sound of his sock slamming against the ase of your throat was a dark and lustful song. You pushed another finger into your soaked cunt, frantically trying to match his speed. Every time he buried his cock to the hilt, you buried your fingers as far into your walls as you could.

You moaned against his cock as he hissed and grunted, eyes wild in their feverish desire. A smirk lifted his lips as he met your gaze, "You look so happy being choked with my dick. Such a slut for me."

You whined at the way that name hit you. Fire burned in your chest as you ground your colt faster against your palm, desperately chasing that delicious release you'd been craving since you'd met Xavier.

He raised a brow, "Oh? You like being called a slut?"

You hoped you gave him some semblance of a nod.

"You liked being called a slut? You're so fucking filthy," Xavier moaned, "But that's okay. Because you're my slut. You're my slut, aren't you?"

You desperately tried to keep up with his thrusts, whining loudly to communicate your agreement. Your chest tightened with the need to release; you felt so good. The thick drag of Xavier's dick in your mouth was heavenly.

Xavier's eyes softened slightly, but his hips continued in their harsh rhythm, "And my slut deserves to cum, doesn't she?"

You squealed, jerking your fingers quicker inside of you as you frantically ground your hips, the extra friction of your palm rubbing against your clit driving you closer to the edge.

"Yeah, she does," Xavier groaned, "So go on then, cum for me."

That was all the permission you needed. You frantically dragged your fingers through your cunt, clit being rubbed all the while. Your peak tumbled towards you with violent intensity. You could do nothing but scream around Xavier's cock as you came all over your fingers.

Your chest heaved widely. Vision going white as you choked.

Xavier pulled his cock out of your mouth, and you sucked in air greedily. The air smelt of sex, salt, of musk mixing deliciously. You shuddered as his harsh grip turned gentle, fingers gently gliding through your hair.

The room was quiet except for your gasps.

"Breathe for me," He murmured softly, crouching by you as he lifted your chin to meet his gaze. Your blurry vision slowly focused on his body. He smiled at you softly, pressing his lips to yours gently.

You welcomed the change in affection, and you savoured it with delight.

"Xay..." You whispered

Worry twisted his facial features, "Yeah? Are you all right? I didn't hurt you, did I?"

"Hurt me?" You licked your lips, teasing laugh leaving your lips, "Is that really all you got?"

His expression darkened. The challenge in your voice unearthed something savage about him. You shivered because, despite the soft glimmer in his gaze, his hands stopped.

"I guess I haven't done my job well enough then," He sighed.

You didn't get to question him because the next moment, he was heaving you up into his arms and throwing you onto his bed. You squealed in surprise as you bounced against his silky sheets, surrounded by his delectable scent.

He chuckled softly as he settled on top of you, gently pulling your clothes off of you, tugging the remainder of his own clothing away in the same moment. You smiled up at him, reaching out for his body.

Xavier met you easily, intertwining your hands as his eyes raked up and down your form. You flushed beneath his gaze. He smirked, eyes glittering like shooting stars

"If only you acted this sweet all the time," Xavier hummed.

You felt something leaning in his words and narrowed your eyes accordingly, "What does that mean?"

"It means I still need to fuck the attitude out of you," Xavier hissed, "Flip over. On your hands and knees. Now."

You hesitated for only a second, studying the intensity of his gaze and the stiffness of his body. You waited to see if he was being serious. He was. And you waited too long.

You helped in surprise as Xavier yanked his hands out of yours, gripping your hips and twisting them. You grunted as your nose hit the sheets. He didn't care; his hands shifted downwards to grip your thighs, shoving them upwards like you were a toy he could bend to his will.

Within seconds, Xavier had shoved you into a mean arch, your ass high in the air and your face pressed against the sheets.

"Xavier─" You complained.

"Shut up," He snapped, "You wanna act like a brat? Then you're getting punished like one."

And then he was prodding at your entrance and shoving inside. A squeal left your lips as Xavier bullied his way inside your tight cunt. The stretch was painful and sharp, but it sent bolts of want coursing through you.

This was the feral part of him you wanted to drag out.

You sucked in a harsh breath as you struggled to rise onto your elbows.

 Xavier didn't let you.

He pulled out and slammed right back in without warning. All the air was punched out of you as he rocked his cock into your hole. You knew that Xavier wasn't human, but for the first time, you were feeling it. No ordinary man could dare to compete with his vengeful pace.

His hips slamming into yours caused loud, deafening echoes. You whined loudly as his dick hammered deeper and deeper inside of you. Your stomach tensed with need as Xavier dug his nails into your hips─ you felt the sharpness of them against your flesh.

"Oh my fucking god," You gasped in between frantic breaths as your body rocked with the force of his thrusts, his entire bed shaking with his strength. You knew your body would be bruised by the morning and felt yourself getting hot at the idea of being marked by him.

"You're so wet," Xavier groaned from above you, "This cunt has been craving my cock, hasn't it?"

You moaned helplessly into the sheets.

"Answer me, slut," He snarled, yanking you up by your hair.

"Yes!" You cried out, "Been wanting you so badly. Fingers weren't good enough."

His hips stuttered as your confession hit his ears. He slammed into you harder, angling his hips to pummel into the spot that made your vision go white. Your entire body flushed with desire, a knot tightening in your body, you were driven closer and closer to its peak.

"You fucked yourself to me? You fucking whore," Xavier moaned.

"Y-Your whore," You whined. You couldn't think, he was fucking you dumb, forcing your submission with each punishing drag of his cock. Any notion you'd ever had of defying him flew out the window; he was just too good.

"Yeah, you are," Xavier hummed, laughing softly, "You wanna know a secret?"

"Mhm," You gasped, struggling to keep your head up. Your eyes were rolling to the back of your head, mind hazy from the pleasure he was giving you.

Xavier leaned forward, pressing his chest to your back, his arms wrapping aorund your middle as his lips brushed your ear, "I fucked myself to you too."

The sound that left you in response was nothing short of animalistic. You cried loudly, throwing your head back so it rested against Xavier's shoulder. The angle of it was straining and painful, but being able to feel more of him was worth it.

With Xavier leaning on you, he gained a new angle to push his dick into your cunt with, and he took full advantage of it. You shouted helplessly as he drilled into you over and over again, pushing you towards the edge.

"Xavier!" You exclaimed, "I'm close─"

"So am I," He groaned into your ear, "Wanna come inside of you so bad."

"Please," You gasped, relishing in the idea, "Oh my god, please, Xavier.

"That would make you my queen, y'know?" Xavier slurred, smacking his hips into yours, "Then I'd be able to fuck you like this all the time. You'd like that, wouldn't you? Being fucked so full with my cum it would leak out of your cunt?"

"Yes!" You wailed.

"Yeah? You wanna make me an heir? Be my queen and make me an heir?" Xavier questioned, words frantic as he drove you towards you edge.

You groaned, "Yes, Xavier! Please! I'm so fucking close!"

"Cum for me," Xavier pressed desperate kisses to your neck, "My Queen, my wife, my lover."

"Xavier─" You squealed as your release shattered across you. The breath got knocked out of your lungs as pleasure ripped across your body.

Xavier rutted into you, crazed with desire, "Cumming! Oh, fuckkk I'm cumming─"

He slammed his hips into you one final time, burrowing his dick to the hilt inside of your sobbing cunt. You felt the hot spirts of his cum shoot from his dick as he collapsed on top of you. You whined at the sensation, feeling his hum coat your walls. You felt so full.

Xavier struggled to rise. You twisted your neck to meet his lips. You met in one sloppy kiss after another breaths mingled as Xavier rested his forehead against yours. His hands soothed against your sweaty skin, and you relished the gentle touch.

He slolwy pulled out you and you felt his cum leak out from your pussy in thick droplets. Your legs tremored when his fingers slid across your thighs, catching the cum that escaped from your cunt as he stuffed it back in.

He kissed your cheek as an apology, collapsing on his side as he pulled you to him, chin resting on your shoulder.

The room was quiet. It was peaceful. Your heart felt content.

"Did you mean what you said?" You murmured quietly as his arms wrapped around your waist, "About me being your lover and stuff?"

Xavier pressed a reverent kiss to your lips, "Every word."

And you knew without doubt that he was telling you the truth. Xavier would keep you by his side for eternity, and you couldn't be happier.

You rolled your eyes fondly as Simone shook her head, "You're terrible, Tara."

The woman only laughed and focused her eyes on the menus set in front of you. Your topics of discussion jumped constantly, one moment you were speaking about new fan designs, the next about the new heir of a centuries-old lordship.

"I heard that the babe strikes a surprising resemblance to Lord Camant's brother," Simone explained, taking a spoonful of her cake to her mouth as she did so.

"They are of the same blood, no?" Simone nodded at Tara's question, "Then surely it makes sense for the boy to bear resemblance to his uncle."

A hum came from the dark-haired woman by your side as she considered your other friend's words, "Yes. But there's a rumour going around that the Lord's brother was courting his wife before the Lord stole her."

Tara gasped.

You nodded sagely, "It makes sense, actually. Don't the two of you remember all the dances they shared before Lord Camant decided to pursue the Lady? Jenna mentioned to me that she was certain he was going to propose."

Simone clicked her fingers together, "Then perhaps they are still in love and carrying on behind Lord Camant's back."

"Between the three of us," you lowered your voice as much as you could, beckoning your companions to lean in, "I don't blame them."

"Neither do I," Tara agreed.

"Certainly not," Simone murmured, "Serves him right for stealing his brother's love."

The three of you smiled at one another in the way that all women of the ton seemed to do when they sated themselves with shared ideals. It was not always easy to find true companionship among a society full of politics and competitions, so the friends that were found were most treasured.

"Speaking of stealing," Tara began conspiratorially, "Do you two want to know about what I overheard from Earl Overtown?"

You furrowed your brows, "Haven't he and his wife only just returned from their trip to Tarus?"

"Yes!" Tara nodded enthusiastically, "A few days ago, I went to the Tailors down the street to pick up my father's suit for him, and the Earl was getting measured and, well, they were taking so long to fetch Papa's suit and he was talking so loudly..."

"You couldn't have been eavesdropping if he was speaking so loudly you could hear him from the opposite side of the room, from behind a screen," Simone hummed, eyes glittering with intrigue as she leaned forward.

"Precisely," You nodded, "Now, do go on."

Tara laughed, "With pleasure. He began by talking about how the hotel they were in was damaged during a storm and was left without a place to stay when they met the foreign Lord of the area. Once learning of their plight, he decided to host them during their stay."

Smione hummed approvingly, "How courtesous."

"Apparently, too courteous," Tara murmured.

You raised a brow, "Oh?"

"It seems as though the Earl's wife took a very...strong liking to this foreign lord," Tara leaned in, "So much so, that she has invited him to stay with them for the season!"

"No!" Simone gasped, garnering a few glances of curiosity.

Your eyes widened at the news, "He must be furious."

"Oh, he is," Tara agreed, nodding firmly, "He despises the man. Said that he was 'a zealous fool who didn't know his place'."

You and Simone shared a look of disbelief. The Earl was well known for his precious pride. It was his armour, and to know that someone could threaten it must've been a sore realisation. 

"Wait," You began, "Do you know how old this Lord is?"

Tara shrugged, "It was never mentioned. But I sincerely doubt he's her age."

"Scandalous," Simone giggled, "An older woman inviting her boy toy to live with her and her husband. I wonder what he's like."

Tara slipped some ice cream into her mouth and giggled, speaking softly, "You'll find out at Lady Jenna's ball tomorrow. According to the Earl, his wife has insisted on introducing their guest to the ton."

"Brilliant. Perhaps he will steal the attention of other women as well," Simone grinned, mischief glinting in her gaze.

You narrowed your eyes at her, "Simone...?"

"Andrew is being...too prideful," She huffed, "If he wants to pursue my hand, he must fight for it. Perhaps showing interest in this new man will motivate him."

Tara snickered, "And you say I'm terrible."

You laughed and shook your head fondly. You appreciated the lively nature of your friends deeply; it made it easy to stay in the moment. And yet, all the talk of love and courtship drew into your mind memories of what needed to be forgotten if you were to marry. It would not do you well to have the ring of one man on your finger, knowing you'd rather it belonged to a man who was dead and rotting.

You stared at yourself in the mirror, barely recognising the woman before you. You hadn't put your gloves on yet, instead choosing to run your fingers over a wooden crow, its craftsmanship was by no means extraordinary, rough and jagged from the tip of a blade in many places.

Your maid smiled at your reflection, pinning the final pieces of your hair in place. Even though you could not see it, you knew her design was elaborate and that she had incorporated a great many jewels in between the strands, like speckles of starlight. You sighed softly as she lifted the rose-scented perfume and spritzed you with it one last time, slowly wrapping the masquerade mask around your face.

"Thank you, Marie," You said softly to her as you rose to your feet.

She dipped her head, "You're welcome, miss. You look beautiful."

"As do you," You responded, "I suspect I will be home late tonight, so please feel free to have the night to yourself."

Marie shook her head instantly, "My lady, it's my job to take care of you."

"It's fine, truly," You laughed, "No point in keeping both of us up so long the sun begins to rise."

Your ornate room was full to the brim of things, and yet it felt empty. Twilight had already begun to fade, letting the watercolour of darkness seep through the paper of the sky. When you returned, this room would be swathed in shadow.

Marie smiled warmly at you and bowed, "Thank you, miss."

You nodded at her and strode out of the room, slipping your little crow into a little pouch that hung around your wrist. You did not think you could part with it tonight. And you were glad of your decision to keep it when you stepped into the carriage and saw that many, many others were also travelling the same path as you.

"Y/N!" Jenna called warmly as you stepped into the ballroom.

She was an older woman, widowed but once happily married─  this ball was to commemorate the two years of peace achieved by the end of the war that her husband fought and died in. Her brown hair was swept into a bun, her golden earrings glistening in the candlelight as she came closer to you.

You smiled at her, "Jenna. You've outdone yourself. This is beautiful."

The woman laughed, "Flattery will get you everywhere, my dear. Are you excited for this season? Your letters told me that you were dying of boredom at your estate."

"Oh, I was. I'm glad to be with more lively company again," You answered in response, dipping your hand in thanks to one of the servants as he handed you a flute of champagne.

Jenna's eyes creased with amusement, "Speaking of lively company, Tara and Simone have just arrived and are walking this way."

You turned on your heel to see the pair striding towards you, each like stars plucked from the night sky, glittering and ethereal. You almost didn't recognise them beneath their masks, elaborate and regal.

They gathered by your side, excitedly as their eyes danced across the ballroom.

"Come on!" Tara beckoned, joining forces with Simone to pull you into the centre of the revelry. Jenna watched you all go off fondly and continued on her rounds, socialising with each of her guests.

It was dizzying to talk to face after face and not immediately know who they were. Facade upon facade surrounded you, and there was an air about the nobility. You couldn't tell quite what it was, but you knew you felt it just the same. It was electric in a way, like anticipation was crackling just against the horizon of darkness.

The dancing had not yet begun, the young ladies and men still seizing one another up and a dance more complex than could be understood. Here in the ballroom, politics and strategy collided with passion and sin; the outcome could be explosive or silent. None knew which was preferred. Maybe no one wanted to. 

Tara and Simone giggled by your sides.

The former pointed to a pair of men standing in the corner of the room, "They look nice. Decently tall, well-dressed, humble in their abilities."

"Yes. Personally, the one to the right is more my taste, dark hair is so striking, don't you think?" Simone hummed, sipping her champagne.

"It is!" Tara agreed, "What about you, Y/N? Any preferences on hair colour?"

"Light hair," You said softly.

Simone raised a brow, "Blonds, eh?"

Even lighter than that, you thought, biting your tongue and hiding it with what you hoped was a coy smile.

A snicker left Tara as her eyes continued to search the room, darting from person to person in search of something new and exciting to talk about.  You wondered who would be the first to dance and if Jenna, as host, would have to entice them.

"Do you think Nero will ask Rose for a dance?" Simone murmured.

You hummed thoughtfully, "Perhaps. I certainly hope so; the two of them are so similar that they'd work perfectly together.

"Yes, they're both so shy," Simone agreed.

"Oh my lord!" Tara gasped suddenly, "The Overtowns are here!"

Immediately, the three of you huddled close together, eyes locked on the entrance, where murmurs had already begun to rise. You stared intently, searching for signs of the couple and their tagalong. 

The candles on the chandelier flared from above you, a glistening golden light that made everything seem gilded in its perfection. 

"Overtown!" A Lord called out, stepping into the middle of the ballroom with a grin, "It's been too long!"

A loud chuckle echoed as the crowd parted for the man in question, "Indeed it has! I haven't had good champagne in months!"

The group of men immediately welcomed him in as one of their own, boisterous laughter already beginning to bounce off the walls. You wondered which of them would make a fool of themselves tonight.

"! You made it!" Jenna said softly, breaking through the crowd to welcome her guest with a wide, welcoming smile. There was never any question about who the pinnacle of society was when Jenna was in the picture.

"Of course I did! How could I ever refuse an invitation from you?" The woman, in turn, laughed, strands of brown still striving against her mostly grey hair, "Come, my Lord, let me make your introduction."

A sharp gasp, Tara as she craned her neck as far as she could to ear around taller shoulders, "He's a giant!"

Both you and Simone laughed at her expression. You couldn't see all of it, but her open mouth was more than enough to make your imagination. A giant, she said. She'd probably say he had four arms next. Or a tail.

"A giant, you say?" Simone teased, "What does that make you, an imp?"

Tara's mouth opened in shock, "Simone!"

The three of you giggled quietly.

And then you saw him.

Tara had, in fact, not been lying, nor exaggerating. 

You had seen tall men in your life, but never, ever in your life one as tall as that. Even from the opposite side of the room, you could tell he towered above everyone, like a statue meant to blur the lines of godhood and mortality.  It was not just his height that was imposing, but his figure as well. Clad in a black suit, tailored to his design, his shoulders and arms looked mammoth in the light, like he was a soldier, born of brutality and callousness.

But what really caught your attention was his hair colour. As bright as the light that burned your eyes when you dared to glean the sun, his hair almost seemed to glow beneath the candles.

"I think we're all imps next to him," Simone whispered.

"I know," Tara agreed, voice barely above a murmur, "I can't believe his hair is white."

Neither could you. 

That shade struck your lungs like an arrow, ripping a jagged tear through them with each breath. The weight of the crow in your pouch grew heavier as it swung by your side, as if tethering you to a time long since past, taken from you before you could fully enjoy it.

You swallowed down the rest of your champagne in one go.

Lord Dunsvile was, to say the least, persistent. Tara and Simone had been swept up in dances, which had finally begun with a speech from Jenna and a clap of her hands, at your behest, leaving you alone in a sea of masked faces.

At first, you thought he was simply trying to keep you company, but you quickly sensed the intentions in his words and sweeping gaze. That was not a man you wanted to spend more time with than you had to, certainly. You'd told him that you needed to excuse yourself and collect another drink for your parched throat, hoping he'd let you go. Unfortunately, his insistence bordered on harassment.

You could hear his calls now and were simply pretending you couldn't. No one could blame you; the music and talk were so loud that it all dissolved into a singularity of sound. You weaved between as many people as you could, winding around in a convoluted route, intent on losing.

You spared a treacherous glance of your shoulder. He was in the distance, but undoubtedly still on your tail.

And unfortunately, he would catch right up because in your glance behind you, you'd neglected the front of you and smashed directly into someone.

A gasp of surprise ripped from your lips as you hit a hard body, feet twisting over one another in an attempt to right yourself. You clenched your eyes shut, fearful of falling and making even a greater fool of yourself. 

"This is certainly an interesting way to introduce oneself, no?" The words came from a sardonic voice dipped in a rich baritone pitch. You shivered at the sound of it.

You wrenched your eyes open, apology spilling from your lips, "Forgive me, sir. I wasn't looking where I was going. My mistake. I hope I didn't hurt you."

Where you looked, you expected to see a face and a head, but were met only by a chest. You furrowed your brows and looked higher.

It was him.

White hair glistened in the gilded light, framing skin kissed by snow, decorated with a black mask. It was encrusted with dark gems, silver embroidery swirling around in magnificent patterns, surrounding his eyes. They were crimson in colour and unreadable in emotion. A rush of feeling erupted in your chest, and you scrambled to drown it.

"It would take more than being bumped into to hurt me, miss," He spoke in his deep, rumbling voice.

"Regardless, I was careless," You answered, keenly aware of his hands. One sat on your arm, almost encasing it entirely with the breadth of his fingers. The other one was placed treacherously on your waist.

"I suppose," He tilted his head, cherry-red lips curling into a smirk, "You could make it up to me with a dance."

You blinked, registering his request. He was asking you for a dance? Truly? Him? Where was the Countess Overtown? You thought for certain she'd cling to him for most of the night like he was her brand new accessory to show off.

"I don't know your name, sir," You said softly, swallowing at the feeling of his fingers stroking the fabric of your sleeve. 

A hum left his lips, "Nor do you know my face. But isn't that the joy of a masquerade ball? For one night, you can be just a little bit reckless, and no one can blame you. For just a few hours, you can do whatever you want, with whoever you want."

"I-" You hesitated.

His eyes slid off to the side, "It would also be a valid excuse to avoid your pursuer for a tad longer"

"Pursuer?" You gasped, beginning to turn your head.

"Don't look," The man warned, "You may incite him to come over, and I'm sure you'd much rather avoid such a fate. Especially considering you ran into him in your attempt at escape."

He was right. Completely and unfaluably. You almost winced at the truth of his words, and did at the pricking feeling on your back. No doubt Dunsville's beady eyes.

You took a breath, "I hope you are a good dancer, sir."

"I shall not disappoint," He said to you.

"I'd be very upset if you did," You teased lightly, "I quite enjoy dancing and would most hate for my experience tonight to be ruined."

A chuckle left the man's lips as he quided you forward towards the open floor, "I am not so careless to ruin the enjoyment of my lady."

His hand pressed firmly against your waist, his other slipping down to embrace your hand with his. His palm was so much larger than your own, his fingers encased yours with ease, as if armour protecting your flesh from all harm. The sight of your gloved hand intertwined sent a pulse through your heart. You'd forgotten what it was like to hold a hand like this. You buried memories down, knowing you'd have to unearth them later.

The man's fingers tapped your waist, jumping to the new rhythm of the orchestra. It took him only a moment to find the pace of the music and to sync you with it. He took one breath, nodded at you and moved.

He swept you with him without missing a beat. He moved with an authority you'd never felt before, as if he was commanding the entire room to stop and watch as he held you close. With each step he took, guiding you with him, his eyes never left yours. You wondered what he looked like beneath his mask.

He was true to his word and did not disappoint. An impeccable dancer who never missed a cue or went out of pace with the music. It was easy to forget about the world surrounding you when he had you in his arms; all you could focus on was him and you.

"Did you know that everyone is looking at the two of us?" The masked man murmured to you.

You hummed, "Welcome to the ton, sir. So long as you are here,  eyes will never leave you."

His crimson glittered with something wild and daring. "Then how about we give them something to truly stare at?"

"For a few hours, we can do whatever we want, no?" You responded.

His lips widened into a smirk, "Quoting me already? What an impact I've made on you, miss."

You scoffed lightly, "Giving them something to stare at?"

He said not another word. He dropped his hand from yours and pressed it against your waist. You blinked in bewilderment, but he did not let your steps fail. In fact, he took your feet from the ground entirely.

A squeal of surprise left your lips as he lifted you into the air. His hands remained firm around your waist, a shield against all the monsters of the world. His grip was safe, and it struck a pang in your heart. You gripped his shoulders in surprise, distantly recalling the time a boy lifted you out of a tree.

With one strong movement, he twirled you in the air, the gasps that flew at the sight echoing distantly in your ears. He let a chuckle as he settled you on the ground, your hands tethered on his shoulder blades, staring at him in surprise.

"Wasn't that fun?" He raised a brow.

You scoffed in disbelief, but your lips pulled upwards all the same, "You─ I have never met a man like you in my life."

The man tilted his head, hair glinting like snowfall as it caught the light, "Never?"

You shook your head, "Never."

You'd met a boy like that, though. A very long time ago. And you would never meet him again.

The thought of that made your smile crack on your face. Perhaps he saw it, and perhaps he wanted to question it, but his ruby eyes flickered beyond you and dimmed in their sparkle. The hands on your waist tightened, if only for a moment, as he sighed.

"There are two women who like they're seconds from tugging you out of my arms," He began lowly, "Has your pursuer acquired accomplices?"

You raised a brow, "Would they have black and brown hair by chance?"

The masked man hummed, "They would."

"Then no, they are not his accomplices," You laughed, "They are mine."

"Oh?" He tilted his head like a crow peering at a jewel it wanted to steal, "I suppose I must give you back to them, then?"

You dipped your head in a nod, "I'm afraid so, sir."

A deep sigh left the man before you as his right hand slipped to grasp your own, "Then, I must depart from you, my Lady. Though I know we will be seeing one another again."

"Yes," You answered softly.

He lifted your hand gently to the height of his chest and bowed the rest of the way. His glittering eyes never once left yours as he brought your gloved hand to his lips. They settled there in a fleeting kiss. You felt the warmth of his lips soaking through the silk and shivered. His courtesy was intoxicating, and you felt helpless beneath his gaze.

You were glad for your mask and the fact that it hid the heat of your cheeks. You flushed and dipped your head, slipping away from him the moment he dropped your hand. You couldn't face him any longer, not when your heart fluttered with each second you looked at him.

Tara and Simone latched onto you the second you reached them, guiding you into the crowd and further away from the crimson-eyed man.

"Did he kiss your hand?" Tara gasped.

"Forget the kiss! Did you not see how he lifted her?" Simone exclaimed.

You laughed softly.

"Tell us everything!" The girls chimed in together.

And you did. The three of you did not stop talking until the ball ended, and were forced to separate into three separate carriages. Your mind whirled with the events of the night, and you couldn't relax even when you got into your room.

It was only when you went to take your pouch from your wrist that you realised it was gone, the wooden crow gone along with it.

You had an awful habit of running away, which your governess had always told you since you were little. Back then, she'd been able to catch you, but as you grew older, you grew smarter and sneaking away became your talent.

Like a ghost, you'd slip away into the forest that bordered your estate, hiding among the brush and thick bushes. You could stay there for hours, cast in the shadows made by leaves that tangled together like winding limbs.

It was in this forest that you met a boy with silvery hair and grapefruit coloured eyes. His clothes were always dirty, ruddy with wild and fierce nature. His accent was rougher than yours, and he couldn't read. He was an orphan, he said, with no parents or family to speak of. The man who ran the farm on the other side of the woods barely tolerated him.

His name was Sylus, he said, and he was lonely, like you.

So you kept sneaking out, and you kept meeting him.  You wrapped up little cakes you stole from the kitchens and held them tightly while you clasped a book to your chest. You read to him and taught him how to understand the words himself. You shared your treats with him, giggling at the sight of his delighted face every time. As you grew older, you'd sometimes embroider while he worked on whittling little pieces of wood into clumsy figures.

He was always there without fail. It didn't matter how long you were away for, pulled to another estate or city, he was always in that little clearing in the woods, resting against the tree you'd first met at. He'd pulled a ribbon from your hair to mark it as such, tying a red strand around a branch only he could reach at the time.

When you began to stop fitting your bodies, features shrinking and stretching, the two of you would lie on the grass, or on Sylus' scrappy blanket and stare up at the clouds, murmuring about the far distant future, that no longer seemed distant. You whispered to him about how you were afraid marriage would take you away from home, away from the tree, and away from him.

Sylus silently gripped your hand, and this time, it was different. Different in a way you couldn't describe, the fluttering of your stomach unfamiliar, and the pulse of your heart burning. You sighed softly and intertwined your fingers. They were rougher than yours, calloused by days working at the farm.

That summer of blossoming changed something in you. You rested your head on his shoulder now and focused on his warmth when he wrapped an arm around you. When you met him, he'd pull you in and hug you softly, mockingly calling you a kitten just to see your annoyed face. When you had to leave him, he embraced you like you were never coming back.

One day, when each of you was eighteen, he convinced you to stay longer. And under the glimmer of shadow and starlight, he kissed you. He kissed you, and you kissed him back. It was treacherous and it was dangerous, but it was perfect. When he lay you down against the grass and paused, you held his face and told him you trusted him.

And in between, soft, passionate movements, he told you he loved you.

Then the war began, and Sylus enlisted.

You begged him to reconsider, pleaded with him not to go, not to leave you alone. But your attempts were in vain. Sylus kissed your forehead with the reverence of a man looking at home once last time and swore he'd come home to you. 

Then, he went.

It had been four years since then. Two since the war had finally been called to an end. When you went to find Sylus, the old man from the farm bowed his head at the sight of you and handed you a little wooden crow. He told you that Sylus had given it to him and told him to give it to a girl who would be coming looking for him.

Your heart turned rancid in your own chest after that. Rotten and decaying in its cage of ribs. That scrappy boy was dead, and he killed your heart along with himself.

You blinked rapidly to disperse the tears that had suddenly encroached on your eyelids. There was no use in crying about him now. You were no phoenix, and had no body to awaken from its eternal slumber. Your crow was gone, and there was nothing to do about it.

There was another ball tonight, a week after the last. A grand, sweeping event where the chess pieces of matchmaking would move closer to their conquest of marriage. You stared out of the carriage, eyes trailing across the flickering starlight, your fan clasped tightly in your hand.

You'd bought it earlier that day with Simone and Tara. The latter had been muttering her new collection of gossip to the two of you in that magical tone she had mastered long, long ago. She'd mentioned the Overtowns briefly and how their guest never seemed to promenade with them to enjoy the sun. Simone had snickered and said that perhaps the Duke had barred him from doing so.

You thought it humorous at the time and even more so when you witnessed him and the Duchess conversing, the woman leaning closer to him than was appropriate. You caught his eye, free from the framing of a mask. His face was sharp, carved from the marble Augustus used to build Rome into an Empire. His cheeks were high, like drawn bows ready to fire arrows, and his nose sloped downwards like an eagle's beak, refined and regal.

He was the kind of man poets and painters knew they weren't but wished they were.

You watched as he leaned down to whisper something to his host, who, in turn, nodded slowly. You furrowed your brows. Had she drunk too much already? With slow, almost clumsy steps, she moved towards a group of women who welcomed her with smiles and curious eyes.

The lord, on the other hand, had his sights set on you.

His imposing figure parted the crowd with ease, and his footsteps echoed like thunder rolling over the ancient mountains where magic still whispered its secrets and sins.

"It would appear that I'm not the only one with a pursuer." You hummed, sipping your glass.

"Ah, yes. Dutchess Overtown is certainly a...tenacious woman," The man chuckled, "Much to the chagrin of her husband."

"Oh, I'm sure," You hummed. In the distance, you saw Simone grin at you, Andrew at her side, trying to garner her attention. You were tempted to shake your head fondly, but resisted the urge, knowing she would share all the details of her endeavours with you later.

"Shall we keep one another company tonight, my lady?" He inquired, drawing your attention back to him like a flame enticing a moth, "Act as each other's shields to combat those who wish to chase us?"

You laughed softly, "Only if I can know my shield's name, sir."

He clicked his tongue "I thought you gave up that pursuit last week?"

"You had an excuse last time," You answered.

"And I need one this time?" His crimson eyes shone brightly.

You rolled your eyes, "Yes. I need something to call you."

"Then call me Sky," He told you, the plains over his silver-kissed skin almost seeming to shimmer beneath the candlelight that enveloped the room in a soft, golden hue.  Something in his tone made you suspicious.

Narrowing in on his expression, you raised a speculative brow, "Your name is Sky?"

"No," He responded.

You scoffed, "Then why'd you tell me it was?"

"I didn't," He chuckled, "You said you needed something to call me. You never said you needed my name, so I settled for sky."

"That's not what I meant," You huffed.

"You puff your cheeks when you're angry," The man laughed, a deep echoing sound, "It's quite charming."

"I─" You flushed again. How could a man be so bold? His crimson eyes shone as they studied you, his dark lips curling up slightly. He looked handsome in this light, sculpted by divine hands aiming to create a masterpiece. 

He leaned down slightly, "How about a trade?"

"A trade?" You tilted your head.

"Yes. You accept to call me sky, and I," He pulled something out of his pocket, "Give you this."

It was the pouch, your heart leapt at that realisation. Your crow was here. The one you'd lost. The crimson bag dangled between the man's fingers like the Apple just inches from Eve's hands.  You reached for it, breath caught wildly in your throat.

In one swift movement, the man jerked his hand away, lifting it higher than you could grasp. You dared to step closer to reach it. Perhaps you were too near, too far over the roots of propriety, or maybe you were delirious from lack of sleep, but for a moment, just a mere fragment of a moment, you thought you saw something in his eyes. It was almost a glow, like sunlight drifting through the fog of red glass. They drifted down, resting on the sight of your lips before they slipped upwards again to meet your gaze.

The man raised a brow, "Now, now. A trade must be agreed to before each party can give away their bartered item."

You scoffed in disbelief, "It's mine."

"Finder's keepers," He answered, "Tell me you agree to my terms. And use my name."

A breath left your lips as you stared at him, trying to glean some kind of humour in his expression. You found none. It was completely and unmovingly serious. The only way you were getting your precious treasure back was if you agreed.

And so, you did. 

You sighed softly, "I agree to your terms, Sky."

Sky blinked for a moment, as if disappointed by your easy submission. If it was a fight he wanted, he could find someone else. All you wanted was your crow back. You didn't care how or through what methods, only that he returned to you.

He stared at you with dark, beautiful eyes and slowly but surely extended his hand forward, the pouch swaying slightly, the drawstrings entwined like a couple embraced. You reached for it, and he gently placed it in your hands, as if your reverence for the object was leaking into his system.

The second the pouch touched your skin, a rush of wild, dangerous emotions flooded. You really shouldn't have such heavy feelings for the keepsake of a past lover when you were searching for a husband. And yet, you did.

You felt the weight of the wooden crow in your palms, and tears sprang to your eyes. They burned against your waterline, scorching in their intensity. 

Sky leaned down, brows furrowed, "Are you well?"

God, he looked so much like him. His hair was purer in its shade, and his eyes far darker than what you knew. His body was larger too; he wasn't made of the scraps and bruises you spent many a night tracing beneath stars. There were differences, but they didn't matter. They were enough to make your heart crack.

"I-" You choked on, "Excuse me."

You turned and fled. You felt his hand reach out to grasp your arm, his fingers brushing your sleeve. You almost wanted to stop and let him drag you back into him, social constraints be damned. But you couldn't. 

He was too alive and too fierce in his destruction of order. Falling into him was dangerous. No matter how much you found yourself wanting it.

You moved as quickly as you could, slipping through crowds in hopes of relieving the burning gaze fastened upon your back. You knew he was still there, stood in the same spot you'd left him, like you were. You were a ballroom, but your heart still sat against that ribbon-clad tree, waiting for a man who would never come.

Cradling your pouch to your chest, you clutched the muffled shape of the crow. You liked this man; he was fascinating and brilliant, but he wasn't the boy. He never would be. No one would. 

Your heart was made for him, and it decayed with him.

With tears in your eyes, you couldn't see in front of you and were helpless to the woman stumbling in your direction. You yelped in surprise as she collided with you. Duchess Overtown, you realised with a start.

"Forgive me," You gasped, willing tears away as you helped to right the woman.

She blinked up at you once, seeing you but not. Her gaze was unfocused, crossing in and out of the middle of her eyes. You furrowed your brows as you looked at her. Her body felt clammy, seeping through her dress, beads of sweet bubbling on her skin. Through her hair, you saw a dark, searing scab. No. It wasn't a scab. It was tear. Multiple cuts were strewn across her neck, crossing over so terribly, they ripped open into the chasm of her flesh. The skin around the area was sore and blackened, unable to heal properly. It looked awful. 

"Duchess Overtown...Are you all right?" You murmured quietly.

A fierce, strangled hiss left her lips as she jerked away from you, "Art may say a thousand words, but it does not speak!"

"Wh...What?" You were affronted. Bewildered. Perplexed.

A fanatical glimmer shone in her eyes as she glared at you, stumbling away.

You needed to go home, you decided.

The Duchess was sick. That was what the Duke said at the ball a few days later, though he didn't look much better himself. He too looked flushed, his cravat far too high and tight around his neck, almost like a noose. Unlike his wife, however, he did not mumble madness, calling for wine to be delivered to him with an old grin.

And so, the ball continued. Rumours of the Duchess's mysterious sickness surfaced. Some murmured about foreign diseases, others about old age, poison and even Syphilis. The man who gave it to her? The lord whom she'd been infatuated with.

You had stayed away from Sky during the night. You had yet to see him in the light─ in fact, no one had. And yet, the sight of him being plagued by whispers and scrutinising gazes tugged at your fragile heart.

He caught your eye, his own burning with an intensity that struck you to your core. Across the ballroom, you stared at one another. What was he thinking? Did he wish to pull you into his arms and dance the night away? Did he want to hold your hand? Did he want more? Dangerous questions with dangerous answers.

He dipped his head at you and turned to walk out of the ballroom, into a dark hallway. You waited a few minutes. You shouldn't have been keeping count, and you certainly shouldn't have strayed into that same hallway.

You walked in the shadow, eyes squinting in the dark. It gave away no secrets, whispering in your ears sweet nothing that enticed you further into the murk. Your heart beat strongly in your chest as your feet echoed against the oak floorboards. You turned the corner. Was he not waiting for you? Had you misinterpreted? Should you turn back?

A hand reached out and snatched you.

A scream erupted from your throat, but it was quickly muffled by a strong hand. It covered the entirety of your lower face, some fingers spilling out to clasp your chin and upper neck.

"Shhh," That soothing voice came in a husky whisper, "It's just me."

You let your eyes close and your body go lax against his. His chest rose and fell against your back, parts of his legs brushing against yours, your feet captured between his. You could hear him breathing, the soft, shallow sound a blessing to your senses.

You hummed quietly against Sky's palm. He slipped it down from your mouth, tracing along the length of your neck before settling there. The feeling set your senses alight, and yet, you did not move.

"You scared me," You whispered harshly.

He chuckled softly, the sound lying against your hair like gems of bliss, "I'm afraid I could not resist the cover of darkness."

You scoffed and rolled your eyes, "Why are you out here?"

"Why did you follow me?" You couldn't see his gaze, but you knew it glittered with mirth. He liked to challenge you, found thrill in it.

One of Sky's arms wound around your waist, pulling you closer. There was no distance now. You could feel all of him against you, like a warrior vowed in honour to your protection. You wondered if the two of you would meld together if you stayed like this. In the tiny crevice he'd pulled you into, sin thrived. It beckoned you to cradle it between your fingers and let the man holding you keep you in return.

You opened your mouth to respond, but you found no words came out.

A deep, rolling hum left him, "Cat got your tongue, my lady?"

"I─" You whispered.

"How about I tell you why I think you followed me?" Sky murmured against your ear, his lips brushing against it. Sivers shot through your body, your chest tightening against your corset. In the dark, all your senses surrendered to him.

"I think," He began, "That you followed me out here because you wanted me to hold you like this. I think that you want me to embrace your sweet body. That you want to break all the rules and keep me close, pressed up against you. I think you want me to show you how much I want you."

Your heart pulsed widely. He lowered his head, hair brushing against yours, nose running along the edge of your jaw.

"No─"

His lips found purchase on your skin. They were searing with heat as they glided over your flesh. They sucked and soothed your skin tenderly; you felt feverish all over.

"No?" He whispered, breath fanning your skin as his tongue ran over it, lavishing your flesh with his claim. He wanted you to submit to him, to fall into his hands without resistance, so he could play with you however he wished.

"I don't─" You rasped, tilted your neck backwards, "I can't think."

"So don't," He responded breathily, nourishing blossoming rosebuds already arising on your skin, "Just feel this. Feel me."

You gasped softly, the back of your head coming to land on his shoulder, hand winding into the silver strands of his hair. You felt him grin against your neck, teeth lightly grazing your flesh. The hand on your neck tightened ever so slightly, fingers coming to clutch your jaw so he could explore the plains of your neck freely. He was on a conquest, intent on claiming you as his.

Was it because you liked him or because he reminded you of the lover you lost?

You couldn't tell. Maybe you didn't want to.

"Sky..." You whispered, though the name felt heavy and wrong on your tongue.

"Just feel me," He murmured, his arm keeping your waist firm against his body. You could feel him pressed against you.

 The laboured rise and fall of his chest as he decorated your skin in his marks. The power of his hands as he kept you under his thrall. You felt his strain, knew all his slow movements would not last.

You flushed, reaching down to grasp the hand on your waist, "We shouldn't do this."

"Shouldn't...?" Sky grunted, suckling your skin in every place he could. Slipping up to your jaw and down to what little of your shoulder he could.

"We can't," You rasped, clutching his hair tighter.

He hissed softly, licking a sensual strip up your neck as he came to nibble at your ear, "We can't? You never used to say that in the forest, kitten."

Kitten.

Your entire body went rigid. As if you'd been shoved beneath ice-cold water, your system bolted in place, snatching the mists of desire to turn them into icecles that stabbed you into focus. Kitten. He called you a kitten. Only one person had ever done that.

Your heart plummeted, shattering on the stony floor of truth.

He paused, feeling your change in stance. You ripped away from him instantly, jerking forward like a horse hearing a gunshot for the first time. You reared wildly, turning on your heel to face the man.

His eyes glittered, and for the first time, you saw something light in them. They were glossy and heated and sent a spark coiling in your stomach. You ignored it. Confusion and suspicion were brewing in your body, infecting it with the disease of despair.

"Why..." You were surprised by the hoarseness in your tone, "Why did you call me that?"

Sky tilted his head to the side, mesmerised gaze fixated on you like a dragon admiring his hoard of treasures. His lips, blood red in the dark, curved upwards, "You know the answer to that."

"No, I don't," You said harshly, entire body burning with twisted disbelief.

He scoffed, stepped forward, "Yes, you do."

"Don't!" You warned, pointing at him sharply as you stepped back. You couldn't let him get close. Not now. Not when you were seeing him for the first time. The darkness coiled around his body like armour crafted by the devil's masterful hands.

"You know why I called you that. And you know who I am," His expression cracked, "Stop pretending you don't."

Your heart thumped wildly in your chest, slamming against the bones that guarded it like it was a feral beast. It hit your ribcage over and over again, bruising itself with the pain that erupted across your system like sickening fire.

You felt ill. Feverish in your bewilderment. How could he stand there and say what he was? The man you loved was gone. He was never, ever coming back. Death took, and it never gave back.  He had been stolen from you in a suffering-smothered land, and you never got to say goodbye. It wasn't fair.

"I'm not pretending," You hissed, fury splicing your veins into sharp shards of agony, "I don't know who you are. And I don't know why you're doing this."

'Sky' shook his head ruefully, "Then why did you let me touch you like that?"

"I-" You choked on your own words.

"Because even if your mind refuses to acknowledge the truth, your body knew it the second you saw me. Your heart knew." He breathed, as if begging to reconsider your refusal of him, pleading with you to see beyond what you knew.

"No!" You cried, chest heaving under the weight of its endless grief, "It can't be! It can't!"

He looked like he wanted to cradle you in his arms, bury your face into his chest and whisper to you how it would all be alright. You craved that feeling. You hadn't felt it since your love had abandoned you for blood-stained plains 

"Sylus is dead!" You shrieked, clutching at your heart. It was bursting in your chest, the strings that held it together tearing and snapping painfully with each ragged drag of breath. It was hollow and mechanical, devoid of joy and peace; only the rust of remorse remained.

Your eyes darted to the corner you'd rounded in what seemed like forever ago. The man before you caught your eyes as they returned to him.

His ruby eyes were bleeding, molten in their emotion as he stared helplessly at you. He looked beautiful in the moonlight. A dark angel come to torment you. He sucked in a deep, pain-taken breath, lips flattening into a line of acceptance.

"Do what you do best and escape. I know you'll find me when you need to," He said softly to you, "I'll be waiting."

He didn't need to say another word. You darted away from him frantically. Your heels slam against the wooden floors, each step echoing like a gavel raining in judgment. Was this how Orpheus felt, knowing that if he turned back, his lover would disappear?

You couldn't breathe. 

You suffocated in your own misery as you struggled down the hallway. You couldn't move quickly enough. You wanted to get away from him and what he meant. His impossibility. His lies.

Tears ripped against your waterline, sinking savage teeth into your eyes, trying to slice their way through your trembling facade of control. Your intestines twisted like a noose, knotting themselves painfully.

You hated this. Couldn't comprehend what had occurred. Your Sylus was dead, all that remained was an old oak tree, a tattered ribbon and an old crow. He was dead, and that was it. Death was permanent. It never moved from its eternal state of sleep.

You skidded to a halt as a man grabbed you.

The Duke.

You yelped, straining against his grasp, "Unhand me!"

The Duke was sweating. His eyes were heavy but conscious. A sucked in a greedy breath and leaned close, "When she said you were his painting, I thought Charlotte had gone mad. But she's right."

You went still in your perplexion, "You.. You mean Duchess Overtown?"

The man nodded sluggishly, "You look just like her. The Lord's lover. He said you were separated...that you were oceans apart. My wife asked what he meant. He said he went to Tarus for the war."

You felt dizzy.

The Duke wasn't talking to you anymore, his expression far off, witness to a time that had already passed but haunted him all the same, "Charlotte said she could help. Said she'd be willing to do everything she could to get him back to his paramore. Dragged me into it too ─ romantic fool. He liked the sound of that, and then he..."

Silence plagued the hallway then. The darkness slithered up the walls, siliva made of shadow dripping onto you both, sinking into your bones with malicious intent. Your heart thundered in your chest. 

A sliver of moonlight decorated the feeble man before you.

"Then he what?" You whispered, feeling like you were opening a door that should stay locked.

"He bit her. He bit us," Child-like horror stretched across the aged face before you. "It's hard to remember now. He needs it. It keeps him strong."

It was then you saw the terrible scrapes peeking out from beneath the Duke's cravat. Just like his wife's.

"He needs what?" You gasped.

"Blood," The man whimpered.

By God, you needed to get out of here.

Torture. That was the only apt word you could think of to describe the past two weeks. You had avoided the man who haunted your dreams completely. It wasn't difficult. He never appeared during the day. Nor did he show at any nighttime soiree. Neither did the Overtowns.

Dread churned in your stomach at that realisation.

Simone and Tara knew something was wrong. They tried everything they could to get you to speak to them, but you locked your secrets tight. Eventually, they gave up and strove to distract you from your own mind. It worked─ but only while you were with them.

At night in your room, your thoughts were plagued, and your chest filled with pestilence. You stared out of your window, swallowing down your hesitation slowly like it was a sword that threatened to slit your throat from the inside out.

It shouldn't be possible. It couldn't be. You had long since accepted that Sylus had died in a foreign far from home and that you'd never even get a body to mourn. You resolved to the fact that you would spend your life waiting for death so you could be with him again.

But what if he wasn't? What if that man, so like him and so different, was speaking the truth? What if he was lying? What if he was trying to draw you in like he had done to the Overtowns? 

You knawed your lip.

Maybe he was trying to trick you.

But maybe he had defied the laws of nature to come home to you.

Both were possibilities and both were risks. Each one, you were willing to take. You tightened your grip around the dagger.

You needed answers. And you were going to get them. No matter what.

Under the cover of silky darkness, you walked the way to Overtown's townhouse. Your feet echoed against the slippery concrete, dancing with the sounds of water dripping onto the ground. 

All the lights were dark, not a flicker of a candle to be seen anywhere.

Good. You'd spent your life escaping your home and more time breaking back into it. This would be easy. If the Overtowns were as sick as rumours claimed, they'd be no one to stop you, no one to hide from.

Breaking in was a simple affair, your tools quickly slipped back into your small bag as you snuck inside the dark house. In the shadows, misformed objects loomed like the monsters from fairy tales. Each of your steps echoed quietly, but you persisted, ignoring the stone sinking in your chest.

Eventually, you entered a room, and the door was cracked open. You furrowed your brows in confusion as you took in the murky scene before you. Everyone was ordinary, a dresser, a bed, a desk and a chair, but in the middle of the room, there was a coffin. Elaborate and grand, lined with gold and jewels and silk, but most certainly a coffin. 

"What the...?" You mumured to yourself, drawing close to it.

"You do know that curiosity killed the cat, right?" A silky voice called out from behind you.

You whirled around to face it, knife rising before your chest. Your blood pulsed in your ears, like the beat of war, as your eyes locked onto the fiend you were searching for. He stood there, in trousers and a dress shirt, which was mostly unbuttoned, giving way to stary-skin.

You swallowed, "But doesn't satisfaction bring it back?"

His maroon eyes shimmered like cursed rubies. "You want me to satisfy you?"

"I want answers," You responded, "The truth and nothing else."

A slow hum left the man before you as ht tilted his head, trying to peer into the depths of your soul like it already belonged to him, "I need questions to give truthful answers, kitten."

You gritted your teeth, "What have you been doing to the Overtowns?"

He raised a brow, "Is that really what you want to ask?"

You glowered at him, tightening the blade in your hand, "The Duke said you bit them. That you needed their blood."

The moonlight made him look ethereal, like a man crafted by the hands of God. His final and most perfect creation. His hair almost seemed to glow in the dim light, and his eyes shimmered like snatched stars.

"They're right," Answered the beast before you, "I need it to survive. It nourishes me. Keeps me sane. Just like the food you consume does."

"You eat people!" You exclaimed suddenly.

"Yes. I eat them. I devour them. Tear them apart. Whatever you wish to call it," He shrugged.

"Don't you care?" You jabbed your knife at him, though he was still far away.

"No," His expression shifted, softening slightly, "Because I do it all for you."

You felt like you'd been dropped from the sky and had crashed onto the ground, all bones shattered. "What?"

"You heard what I said," He scoffed.

Your chest heaved, "Sylus is dead."

He was dead. He had been for two miserable years.

"Yes," The man answered, taking a dangerous step forward, "I was cut down by another man, my blood spilt onto the war-torn ground, my life with it. And I cursed God for taking me from you. I cursed him, and he cursed me back. Or tried to."

Your heart slammed against your chest, and you were choking on your disbelief. He looked so like your first love and yet so different, like a mirror's reflection gone wrong.

"Explain," You whispered, voice cracking with the weight of his words. This couldn't be Sylus. Reality would not be so kind as to defy its laws for you. Not when for two years it had let you suffer in the strangulation of loneliness.

"He cursed me. Turned me from a man into a monster─ punishment, I suppose. But it wasn't, not to me. I don't care what crime or sin I have to commit, so long as I have you at the end of it. If manipulating and feeding on lesser people keeps me in your world, I'll do it. You're all I want in this world, Y/N," Came the answer of the man. His eyes glimmered like the waters of eternity. His face softened, pleading with you to recognise him not as a beat but the boy you'd fallen in love with.

Your chest hammered in your heart, "I-I─"

Suddenly, he was only inches away from you. His fingers wrapped around your wrist, holding you and your knife in place. You froze in his hold. His other hand came to gently caress your face.

"Look me in the eyes and tell me I'm not the man you love. Tell me that I'm not the man who loves you," Sylus rasped. His gaze burned with the heat of a man who was helpless to his own feelings, submerged beneath their intensity. You studied his features intently. So different yet so similar.

Reality would not he so kind as to defy its laws for you. But Sylus had made a vow to return, and had you ever known him to be a liar? What was this man if not proof of his devotion? Of the purity of his love?

Your heart had finally come home.

The knife clattered to the wooden floor. You shot forward. Smashed your lips against his like a tempest's wave slamming against the walls of a cliff. You demanded all of his affection, deprived of it for far too long.

Sylus grunted, hand on your face curling to clutch the back of your head, shoving you closer to him. This wasn't kind or gentle; it was fierce and furious, bridled with longing that commanded satisfaction.

Gasps escaped your wild lips, but you could pull away for seconds at a time. Sylus chased your mouth, crazed for the taste he knew so well. His tongue slid over yours, claiming again what had always belonged to him. 

Your hands ran across his body, memorising this new form. Your fingers traced the delicious skin left open by his shirt, the planes of his muscles far greater than you had ever known them before. He groaned at your touch, his entire being subject to the feeling of you. 

Frantic lips pulled at yours, devouring all your love.

Your fingers tugged at his shirt, fumbling with some buttons and tearing others. Sylus released you only for a moment to shrug off the fabric that restricted his upper body. He was ravenous, clutching your body to him with fiendish strength, far too great for an ordinary man.

"Missed you so bad," You whined against his lips.

One of his hands clutched the back of your neck, "And I you. These past four years have been cruel."

"Yes," You whispered as his lips slipped downwards, sucking over the marks that had faded over the two weeks of avoidance, "I have been so lonely without you."

Hot and heavy, his breath fanned against your throat, his tongue gliding over your skin, "Have you? Have you been longing for me? Dreaming of me? Wanting for me?"

"Yes," You clutched strands of his white hair in your hands, "All I want is you. Nothing else. Could never touch myself like you did."

"I bet you're aching. I bet she's desperate for me. For my fingers. For my tongue," Sylus teased through wild pants. He rolled his hips against you, and you felt that splendid hardness press against your core through layers of clothing.

You whined, "Sylus. Please."

"No need to beg, kitten. I promised I'd satisfy you," Sylus grinned against your lips.

It only took one blink of your eyes. It was disorienting. One moment you were standing. The next time you were lying on the bed, Sylus was hovering above like a god preparing to bless you. Your breath hitched at the sight. His eyes were glowing, a beautiful, vibrant crimson. 

You reached up to kiss him again, slower this time, but no less intense, scolding in its sloppy heat. Sylus's hands came to clutch the fabric of your dress, and all at once, you heard a terrible tear and felt cold air brush against your skin.

He had torn your dress from your body. Something about that sent a bolt of desire through you.

"Sylus..." You whispered.

His gaze was reverent, "Even more beautiful than I remember."

He dipped his head down to kiss your lips, trailing down to your neck, then over the valley of your breasts, where his tongue teased each hardened nipple eagerly. 

You whined over the sensation; his body being pressed up against yours used to be nothing more than a dream.

Your hands soothed the skin of his shoulders as he travelled lower and lower, kissing over your stomach and down to your navel. There, his hands hooked around your knees, lifting them so he could caress your thighs. He sucked and nibbled there, leaving dark, blossoming marks. You gasped softly, the feeling of his lips on your skin making your core tighten with need.

A groan escaped his lips, hazy, glimmering eyes staring at you through strands of silver, "You smell so good, kitten. I need to taste you. I need to feel your pleasure all over my tongue."

"Please. I've missed how good your mouth makes me feel. My fingers aren't good enough," You begged, chest heaving.

"Oh, I know," Sylus' lips twisted into a pout, "I'll fix it, sweetie. I'll make the ache go away."

Then he was spreading your legs further and nestling his face against your hot, pulsing cunt. He wasn't shy, nor was he soft. He'd gone for long years without tasting you; he had no patience left to take his time.

You squealed as his tongue ran through your folds, lapping up the juices of your need for him. The noises he made were obscene, his tongue flicking and curling around your clit, sinking into your tight hole, caressing the sensitive spots that only he knew.

You clutched his hair in your hands as you stared at the beautiful sight before you. Sylus did not tear his gaze from your own, eyes burning with feverish desire as his mouth kissed your cunt, devouring it like it was an offering.

You felt breathless as waves of pleasure ran over you, moans escaping your lips freely, a song of sensual emotion and want.

You couldn't help but grind your hips into his face, whining when his nose brushed against your sensitive clit over and over again. You'd never felt so good before. Sylus knew your body like the back of his hand, and his newfound power compelled him to embrace your body with senseless pleasure.

"Sylus," You gasped.

"That's it, kitten. Use me. Get yourself off. You deserve it for waiting for me for so long, don't you?" His voice was muffled against your folds, and the vibrations of it brought you another inch closer to that delicious pinnacle.

Your grip on his hair tightened, and you used it to push his face further into you. A moan left his lips. He was feral, devoted to his purpose of bringing you to orgasm. Pleasure struck across your body in wild waves of need.

"Oh, fuck," You whimpered, "I'm so close, Sy. Need it so bad."

He grunted into your folds, doubling in his efforts to drive to the peak you so desperately craved. This was the man you loved, lavishing his tongue against your hole all to make you feel good. His affection was the purest kind to exist, and you knew no man could ever compare. 

Cracked and desperate, your moans spilt from your lips as you rapidly tumbled towards your orgasm. It felt like a bolt of lightning boiling in a storm cloud, waiting for the perfect time to strike. You were right there. So close, your body pulsed with pleasure. 

Sylus, addicted to your intoxicating taste, hummed desperately into your cunt. The sound and feeling of it struck your body, and all at once, you came. 

"Sylus!" You cried out loudly as your orgasm raked through you. It tore across your body, igniting every sense in a feverish bliss. It was euphoric and blinding; your eyesight went white as the pleasure coursed through you.

Your chest heaved.

But Sylus wasn't done. His tongue continued to caress that sensitive spot inside of you, his nose brushing against your clit over and over again. You whined helplessly against his needful onslaught. He was ravenous and you tumoring again, electricity buzzing across your flesh.

 When your legs tried to close around his face, his hands kept them apart as he continued to devour the sweet juices of your release like a madman. You yanked his hair as hard as you could, finally pulling him from your cunt.

His feverish gaze locked onto yours. His lips glistened with the evidence of your release, and his tongue swiped out to lick it all up. He wouldn't waste any of you. Not a single drop.

You stared at one another for a moment. Moonlight streamed through the windows, caressing Sylus's skin in a hazy silk of passion.  His chest heaved, pants left his lips as he tenderly kissed your knee, laying his head against it like he could collapse just from the taste of your core on his lips.

You smiled endearingly, hands coming to stroke his face. His eyes closed at the sensation, as if he felt an angel had come to embrace him. Your fingers ran over the ridges and shapes that made his face; they didn't belong to a scrappy boy anymore, instead sculpted into a man's sharpness, but they were marked by the same devotion they had always been.

"I love you," You croaked, feeling tears bubble in your waterline, "I never stopped."

He opened his eyes then and there, molten with the searing heat of his affection for you. They simmered like the morning sky when the sunrise burned across it in that magnificent shade of red.

One of his hands slid up your body, resting over the skin where your heart sat. A deep, relieved sigh left his crimson lips.

"Neither did I. Not for one second," He swore, the power of his vow undeniable, "Ever since I have denied death, all of my thoughts have been full of you. Everything I have done is to get back to you. My body is proof that my love for you is undying."

A tear slid from your eyes.

Sylus rose, body leaning over yours as he hovered inches above you, kissing the tear away sweetly.

"Kiss me again," You whispered.

"Until you get sick of me," Sylus murmured, pressing his lips against yours. This kiss was like your first, soft and slow. It was about feeling and confession─ two lost souls finally finding one another in the dark.

He cradled your body like it was a flower, and he was the earth, all of your roots implanted in everything that he was and would ever be. His hands ran over your body soothingly, fingers tracing your skin like he used to.

Your body slowly ground against his, his own responding in a kind, familar rhythm, finding the two of you between kisses of devotion and enamour. Hands travelled across bodies that melted into one another.

Rolling your hips in tandem, Sylus slipped out his trousers, kicking them down his legs, not daring to pull his lips from yours until you were gasping for air with greedy gulps. You felt his hard cock press against your skin

"You're eyes are beautiful like this," You murmured, fingers tracing just beneath his left eye.

Adoration was the foundation of his gaze, "They're stronger than they used to be. I can see you much clearer now."

You raised a brow, "I bet they're not the only things stronger about you."

A smirk slid onto Sylus' swollen lips, "Want to find out?"

"Obviously," You answered bluntly.

He chuckled, "Such a demanding woman." 

He hooked your legs over his shoulders, his member brushing against your sensitive folds. Your legs were near your chest, bent in a delightfully painful angle. He stared at you for a moment, trying to discern any hesitation. He found none. There was none.

He began to slide in.

You hissed at the delicious sting of his cock slolwy burrowing into your walls. You'd forgotten how big he was and how full he made you feel. Sylus moved cautiously, gently rolling his hips back and forth to get you used to him again. With each gentle thrust, he slipped deeper and deeper into you.

You whined quietly. Sylus kissed the areas near your eyes, clearing tears before they even had the chance to fall. He waited patiently for you, reverent in his hold.

"It's okay now," You murmured against his bruised lips.

"Are you certain?" Sylus grunted, "I don't think I'll be able to stop once I start. You feel too good wrapped around my cock."

"Don't want you to stop. Not until we both collapse," You pulled his lip with your teeth.

His eyes glinted with challenge, "Careful what you wish for, kitten."

He pulled out and slammed back in. The force of it jolted the air from your lungs.  He gave you no time to catch up with him, pistoning his hips in and out of you rapidly. The sound of his skin hitting yours was sinful and divine all at once. Obscene in its loudness, righteous in its passion.

His heavy balls smacked against your cunt as he folded you in half. His dick dragged against your walls, hitting every sweet spot that had been neglected in his long absence.

"Oh, fuck, you feel so good wrapped around me," He hissed, dragging his teeth against his lower lip as his eyes glossed over into an erotic haze. He had fangs, you realised. Something about that made you hot inside.

Sylus had time to make up for, and he was going to make every second count.

You whined loudly, hands scrambling to hold onto him, his hands, his arms, his shoulders, anything. You needed to anchor yourself to him, needed to feel all of him. The plap, plap, plap of his cock slipping in and out of your tight cunt was luscious and sent a flush dancing across your body.

The bed shook with the brunt of his thrusts, each one more relentless than the last. Moans and whimpers fell freely from your mouth as you grinded your hips to meet clumsily Sylus's thrusts.

He captured your lips in a sloppy, hot kiss as he slammed his dick into you as far as he could. In a desperate attempt to ground yourself, you locked your ankles around the back of Sylus' neck. He liked that; you could see it in the savage glimmer in his eyes.

"That's it, sweetie," He moaned like he was being gifted the rarest treasure in the world, "You're squeezing me so tight. Trying to kill me again with your perfect cunt."

A helpless sound left your lips as you threw your head back, "Sylus! Keep going! Just like that!"

It felt too good. Feverish heat scalded your skin everywhere he touched, his tongue licking up the salt built on your flesh with a wild, feral need. Your pussy pulsed with the feeling of him, a knot tightening in your core as you cried out again and again.

Sylus's hand came to clutch the bedframe, giving himself more balance. His movements shifted you higher onto the bed and further onto his cock. Moans left both of you as he hit deeper inside of you.

You gasped, "Right there! Feels so fucking good!"

"Yeah? I bet it does,"  Sylus uttered against your neck as he focused in on that one spot that made you see stars. 

You screamed as he hit it over and over again, driving you close to the edge of ephoria. You clutched onto Sylus desperately, craning your head to kiss his cheek and jaw while he decorated your neck in his marks. You knew he'd bruise it, paint it with the blues and reds of his love.

"I'm so close," You rasped, feeling yourself tipping closer to your orgasm.

Sylus groaned against your skin, "So am I. Fuck. So am I."

You cradled his head against your neck as your lips caressed his ear, "Wanna cum with you. Want to feel you cum inside me."

This would be the first time. You'd always been careful before. You didn't give a damn now. All you wanted was Sylus.

"Good. I don't think I could bear to pull out of this pretty pussy now, kitten,"  Sylus groaned, licking up your neck wildly as he thrusted as hard and fast as he could like a man on a mission.

The collision of your bodies was harsh, and it burned in your soul. Your chest tightened with each drag of Sylus's cock.

"Can I bite you?" Sylus whispered, "Can I taste you like this?"

It shouldn't have been as sexy as it sounded, but it was. The idea of Sylus sinking the fangs he'd grown just to come back to you into your skin sent bolts of pleasure down to your core.

"Yes," You whined, "Bite me. Mark me as yours."

That was the permission Sylus needed. His hips slammed against yours, and his teeth sank into the flesh of your neck. The sting was sharp and sudden and more than enough to send you over that final edge. 

"Cumming!" You cried out. 

The sensation of him sucking your skin and pulling blood from your veins sends you spiralling into release. It was white hot, blurring your vision as you screamed out.

Sylus' muffled moans changed then. They increased in length of volume, frantic whines that echoed into the room as he chased his orgasm that crashed down upon him the moment your hot, pulsing blood dripped onto his tongue.

A wild groan left his lips as spurts of his cum shot into your hole, filling it. You could feel it mix with your own as it built inside of you,  marking every part of you completely as his. He rocked you both through your orgasms, clutching you to him as he rolled his hips slowly into yours.

You sighed softly as Sylus gently pulled his teeth from your flesh, his tongue smoothing over your broken skin.

The moonlight danced across your skin as Sylus unhooked your legs from his neck, lying on top of you, a familar and comforting weight.

One of your hands stroked his back while the other played with strands of his soft white hair, "I'm so glad you kept your promise to come home."

Sylus kissed your hair, "So am I."

And so, the two of you lay there, embraced for the first time in far, far too long, knowing you'd never let each other go again.

You were never one for fairy tales and myths. Pragmatic to your core, your focus had always been on what could be tested and proved. It had led you into many agonising years of university, all in the name of discovery. 

You thrived in your job as a scientist, devoted to your research and discoveries in a way not all could understand. But some could. Benedict did. He'd seen in you a tenacity most overlooked and offered you a position at one of the most prestigious laboratories in the world. He needed you, he said, he could trust only the absolute best with his new research project.

The walls of the hallway you walked down were a sterile, unforgiving white. Sharp and stinging, the smell in the air promised complete cleanliness. Your footsteps echoed loudly in the empty walkway as you strode towards the door that held what could be your life's work.

A shrill sound left the buzzer on the metal door as you slid your keycard against it. The crimson light on it flickered green, and you stepped inside.

"Ah! Miss L/N, good morning!" You heard Benedict's familar voice call and turned to find its location. 

In a refined suit, Benedict extended his hand outwards to you; by his side stood other people, each in their own lab coats, each with a glimmer of eagerness in their own eyes. The best.

"Good morning, and please, call me Y/N." You smiled as you approached the group, who made their own introductions in response. 

There was Carter, focused specifically on human biology. Nero and Tara, the shy and bold chemists, were the two who had come from the same lab. The first physicist was Simone, witty and quick-minded. The second was Jenna, older than the rest of you but more well-honed in her skills.

Your shared lab was giant, filled with equipment worth millions, the latest and best tech that was available. A scientist's dream. Benedict had invited you to explore and claim each of the desks as your own. Naturally, the six of you paired together in sub-sciences, each two had a row. You and Carter were sandwiched between the chemists in front of you and the physicists behind you.

"I can't wait to decorate my desk!" Tara chimed, clapping her hands together, "At the last place Nero and I worked, I had a pink colour theme. I'm thinking green for this one, though."

"Does that mean you're gonna make me have a green theme too?" Nero inquired softly. He was already organising his books and pens in neat little piles.

His counterpart grinned widely at him, "Of course! I can't let my partner in crime have a dull workspace.

"That sounds cute," You answered enthusiastically, "Maybe I should colour theme mine too."

"What, so we can match too?" Carter chuckled as he came to stand by your side. His eyes were almost as dark as his hair, but they shone with mirth.

You shrugged softly, "If you want. How about...blue?"

"Perfect," He answered with a nod.

"Jenna and I are claiming red then!" Simone exclaimed.

Jenna raised a brow, "Oh, are we now?"

Simone sent her a playful look, "Of course. We can't be the only ones not matching, Jenna! It'll be a fun bonding activity to decorate our desks all red together."

The woman laughed, eyes creasing with amusement, "I guess we're claiming red then."

Six of you cheered. The lights ahead were a burning white, but in the midst of conversation, they seemed softer somehow. You could almost imagine what the room would look like, swathed in the vibrant colour themes, like a school of stunningly scaled fish swimming in a white sea.

"It's wonderful to see you're all settling in," Benedict called as you reentered the room with a strong, charming smile, "But I'm sure you're all very curious to know what it is you'll be researching."

That piqued all of your attention. The very thing some of you had moved across the world for, the thing that required top secrecy and the best possible people the Earth had to offer, was finally going to be explained.

Something in the air changed like going from one room to another and feeling the temperature suddenly change through the doorway. All of you stood with bated breath, attention fixated on the king that was Benedict, as you waited for answers.

His eyes danced across each of your faces, perhaps searching for hesitation he couldn't detect. Then he smiled a polite smile and extended his hand towards the large grey wall at the back of the room, "If you'll follow me."

As if tugged by strings, you followed behind the man without doubt. This was Benedict after all, the man notorious for the breakthroughs he made in every piece of research he'd ever been in. People said he could change the world himself if he had the power. You believed them.

He led towards the wall, which was a thick metal, you realised. It looked strong, very much so. You paused for a brief moment as you studied it. Why did you need a wall that had been reinforced so fiercely?

The six of you shared glances as you waited for him to speak again.

Benedict's glasses glinted in the unforgiving light as he pushed them up his nose, turning to stand before you all again. He swallowed once and began his speech, "Before I show you what's behind this wall, I need you to understand that this will change everything that you believe is possible."

Another round of glances.

Jenna tilted her head, "We of all people know what it is to challenge the boundaries of what's possible, Benedict. Whatever you show us, we're ready."

The man nodded, "During a recent deep-sea exploration mission, two magnificent discoveries were made. First, a new kind of mineral was found.  And more importantly, a new species was found, one that had only been in our wildest imaginations before."

Murmurs erupted among you. Bewilderment and intrigue burned through the six of you as you reeled from the information. A new species? You knew what the creatures of the deep dark looked like, so far removed from any other animal on the planet. What would this beast look like?

"After many attempts, we managed to capture one member of this species," Benedict said, imploringly, "We have employed you to study this specimen and the minerals that accompanied it. We want to know how it lives, how it can where it does, and what these minerals do. Understood?"

Nods came from each of you. This was an unimaginable opportunity. A dream none of you had ever dared to consider.

Benedict studied you all for a moment before his hand slipped to a lever on the wall. "Then, without further ado, meet your research subject."

The sound the wall made was a horrific screeching. You flinched at the rumbling sound as the wall lifted. It sounded as if the entire world was caving in, opening out into a gaping chasm that ended in oblivion. 

Inch by inch, a colossal tank was revealed. Sand covered the bottom of it, and on top of that sand was an artificial environment, seakelp stretched upwards like chains, and large rocks loomed like trolls guarding some unknown treasure. You were reminded of the fish bowl you used to have as a little girl.

Next to the tank sat a winding staircase, tall enough to reach the top of the tank with just a gate to prevent someone from falling in.

"We all  know how to swim just in case, yeah?" You murmured, staring at the feat of engineering before you. You hoped it was as secure as it looked.

"Yeah," Nero breathed.

"I'm all good," Carter hummed, striding forward, "But I'm not seeing what we're meant to be studying."

He reached forward to press his minuscule hands against the thick pane of glass. The water on the other side looked like an abyss of dark silk. For a moment, everything was still, like a lake that had no ripples.

But then a shadow lurched.

Screams echoed through the room as a beat slapped against the glass. Carter jerked backwards, legs buckling from fright as he stumbled to the floor, unable to tear his eyes from the sight before him. None of you could.

Benedict was right; this was something that only existed in the wildest of imaginations.

Where Carter's small hands had been, large ones replaced them. They were long, and each finger was brandished with a curled claw. Webs hung between each finger, translucent and thin, maybe bluish. They gave way to a body. At the start, it was somewhat human, with arms and a chest, but the lower you looked, the more skin crumbled against scales. They glittered like all the stars in the universe had been collected and sewn together. Bruising blues and blossoming purples traced down, stretching out into translucent fins. A tail. A tail that was almost the size of you.

The almost-hands slammed against the wall of glass, nails scraping down the glass. A shriek echoed.

You flinched, unable to resist looking upwards. You wish you hadn't. Pale neck broke into flapping gills, vibrant in their royal colour that looked almost to glow in the shadows of the jawline. The face you saw was one of sculpture, each feature carved from some abysmal dream of beauty. A sharp nose and high cheekbones shaped the curved lips that snarled, showing violent fangs almost hidden by long, winding tresses. His hair floated like a crown of thorns, an intoxicating hue of nightshade, twisting around the long fins that extended from the beginnings of a human ear.

But, oh, his gaze. His gaze was a monster's; his eyes were so dark that no reflection could be seen in them. A black so perfect, it swallowed all light and emotion and left only rage. There was retribution in that glower. You were certain of that.

That wasn't a human, and those eyes were not humane.

"I fucking hate that thing," Carter grumbled to you quietly. It had been a few days since you'd been introduced to your subject, who had been affectionately named the 'siren'. After that first show of fury, he hadn't appeared again. He'd hidden himself in an artificial cave, and no one ever saw him leave it.

None of you had dared to try and entice him out of his hiding spot. The idea of getting anywhere close to him was one easily ignored. The wetsuits in the locker by the top of the tank had not seen so much as a drop of water. The six of you had instead focused all your efforts on analysing the data that had been collected during the point of capture.

"I know," You murmured in response, sipping your tea, trying to console the chill in your chest.

Your colleague, through a rueful glare towards the tank, "Something like that shouldn't exist."

Simone huffed, "Well, it does."

Jenna hummed in agreement, "There's nothing that shouldn't exist in this universe. Everything in our universe that evolved and fought to survive deserves a place in it, no matter how much you don't like it."

"Yeah. But it's still creepy," Carter said, "I mean, why does it look like us?"

"Nero and I were talking about that earlier," Tara called from her desk that was growing greener by the day, "We were thinking that one of our common ancestors returned to the sea."

"You mean apes or more recent?" You inquired.

"It would make sense to be more recent to explain the more humanoid features," Nero spoke softly, "Maybe they were a group that lived near the water and developed gills and whatnot and dissapeared into the deep sea."

"So they evolved to walk on land and then went backwards?" Simone questioned.

"Something like that. It's just a guess," Nero murmured, running a hand through his mousy brown hair.

The six of you settled on that idea for a moment, each of you turning it through your minds as if you considered it to be a potential answer to what you couldn't yet understand.  You looked to the tank again, the water seemed darker and darker every day, as if turning into something with its own set of fangs. You swallowed and sipped your tea.

An alarm echoed 

Jenna reached for her phone and sighed, "It's time to get the water samples."

You grimaced, "...It's my turn, isn't it?"

"Yeah," Simone answered, voice full of sympathy.

"Good luck!" Tara called as you rose from your seat, striding towards the staircase that somehow ascended into hell.  

The voices of your companions grew quieter and quieter as you climbed the metal stairs, each creak of metal more unsettling than the last. Still an ungogly bright hue, the lights shone above you, callous as you squinted as you searched for the next step. Once you reached the top, the world seemed silent. Only the dull, methodical humming of the bulbs above you could be heard.

You grabbed a set of test tubes; you needed four samples to ensure the water's chemical balance remained the same. Benedict was strict about keeping the specimen in peak physical condition. You wondered how that could be possible when he'd gone from having the entire ocean to a cage small enough to fit in a building.

Somehow, the water was still. You felt like you were staring at the sky, at the dark, blackening storm clouds rolling closer over the horizon. You stepped forward, making yourself crouch by the water's edge. You just had to dip your hand in the water four times. Easy. Simple. Quick.

The Siren hadn't come out for the others, so he wouldn't for you.

The glass vial rattled in your hand as you pushed it downwards. Rippling, the water encased your hand. It was freeing. Numbing to the touch. The chilling feeling in your chest spread across your body. Shadows loomed beneath the water, twisting and swirling like a potion that promised only ruination.

 You pulled your hand back up, the vial with it and sighed in relief. One down. Three to go.

The second vial went down and up quicker than the first, simplistic in its motion. The water from the top of it spilt down your fingers in thick, pulsing droplets. You grasped the third, the cool material of the glass suddenly freezing to the touch.

You hovered over the water, just about to dip the third vial into it, when you caught something in the corner of your eye. You went rigid. Like a sheet of black paper that had two holes punched through it with a pencil, two pinprick eyes were staring at you from below. A sharp and shrill gasp left your lips, and the vial escaped from your fingers.

As soon as you heard it thunk against the surface of the abyss, you scrambled.

"No, no, no," You whispered to yourself as you frantically tried to snatch the vial back. You leaned further and further down, chest pressed against the metal flooring as you swished your hand back and forth. You desperately tried to reach for the tube of glass, but you could barely see it anymore, the glint of it fading the further it sank into the shadows.

You stretched your arm as far as you could.

Something slithered beneath, blurred by the ripples of your arm. Your heart pulsed in its chest. Your entire body froze, muscles locking in place. The cloud of purple, only a few meters beneath your fingertips, twisted and rippled like a ghost behind a billowing curtain.

It was right beneath you. He was right beneath you.

You reared backwards, back slamming against the metal floor as you scrambled away, the water in the test tubes swishing widely as you did so. You remembered the sharp fangs bared the other day and feared what they would do if you stayed any longer.

It was a miracle you didn't trip down the stairs with how fast you were moving, each step echoing like a cannon firing into a warzone. Your heart thumped loudly in your ears. The tank looked more murky with each footstep, darkening with your fear. You couldn't bear to look at it.

The relief that coursed through upon seeing the familar desks was indescribable, like feeling the first sunlight of spring. You could hear your companions talking to one another, laughing and joking with an ease you suddenly found yourself craving. You pushed yourself faster, calling out to them.

"Hey, guys!" You spoke, "I only managed to get two test tubes because the Siren appeared."

Tara's eyes widened, "Really─ Oh my God!"

You whirled on your feet, the force of it making your world spin like you had virtigio. Your vision steadied, looking directed towards the target of Tara's scream. The scream that arose in your throat was suffocated in an instant as you locked eyes with it, with him. 

He was right fucking behind you. 

He was right there, separated by a layer of glass, directly behind you, in perfect line with you. His tail drifted off into the darkness, but his front half was centimetres away from the glass, and all you could focus on was his face. It was at the same level as yours, as if you were talking to him. His expression wasn't violent this time; it was almost serene. His lips, a pinkish purple, were parted ever so slightly. His skin was so pale it looked ethereal, like it was moon-kissed.  His hair spread around his head like a halo, like the tendrils of a tree reaching outwards.  He would have looked like he was at peace if not for his eyes.

They were wide and unblinking as they locked with yours. They weren't glowing. They were back to that unreadable black, devoid of all feeling. Only they weren't. There was something in his gaze you couldn't place, but could feel all the same. Your heart fluttered.

Distantly, the others moved closer.

You didn't look at them, nor did he. You couldn't bear to tear your gaze from his; it was like his burning eyes were burrowing into your soul, beckoning and daring you closer. You felt trapped beneath his dark attention.

It haunted you even as you were pulled away, even as you left the lab at the end of the day, his eyes followed you all the way into your dreams.

"You're sure you don't want any of us to come with you?" Jenna inquired softly as the six of you stood in the hallway. The sky was a blossom pink, beckoning you to leave work and return to your homes.

You shook your head, "Nah, I'll be fine. I'm pretty sure I left my keys on my desk, so I'll be in and out. You lot start heading home so you can hopefully beat rush hour."

"Are you sure?" Carter questioned, brows furrowed as he shifted to stand beside you, "I don't mind coming with."

"Thanks, but no thanks," You smiled, "I'll be fine. Go home and relax, I'll see you all tomorrow."

Uncertain, they nodded and offered their own goodbyes, gradually walking away with glances over their shoulders. You only smiled at them and turned back to the lab. The walk was quick and quiet, the soft hue of twilight caressing the white walls as you pressed your keycard against the buzzer on the door.

Just as you had said, your keys were placed in the corner of your desk, completely safe. They were cold to the touch as you cradled them between your fingers. You found yourself surprised by how quiet it was without your colleagues here. Eerie in a way. You sighed softly to yourself.

Movement.

"What the─" You gasped, jerking backwards as you whirled to face the tank.

The Siren had appeared again, silent as a ghoul. You pressed your hand against your wild chest, "You scared the shit out of me!"

Chills ran rampant across your body as you stared at the Siren who stared back. Why had he come out again? After the test tube incident, he hadn't been seen again, reclusively sticking to his tiny cave. You couldn't blame him; you'd cling to the only form of privacy you had if you were in his position.

His hair floated around his face like shimmering strands of starlight, a symphony of cold colour. You swallowed nervously as he continued to stare at you. You forced yourself to step backwards; you just needed to turn around and go home. In and out, like you said.

But then he tapped the glass with his sharp nail.

You went rigid. 

He tapped again. 

You stepped forward this time, waiting with baited breath for his next move. Something in his abysmal eyes glimmered, and he removed his palm from the glass, curling one of his fingers upwards.

Your mouth went dry. Was he pointing upwards? You mimicked his action once. His lips twitched briefly, and he repeated it.

You should have turned away and gone home like you were supposed to, but this was the first time he was actively interacting with any of you. He was intelligent, you knew that, and maybe you could find out just how smart he was if you listened to him.

You dropped your bag on the table.

No one ever got anything done by being afraid.

You marched up the steps, burying your apprehension with each level. This is what you were here to do. You were meant to study him. Intrigue burned across your body by the time you reached the top platform. The Siren was a miracle, and you longed to know him.

He was already waiting for you.

Your breath caught in your throat at the sight. The top half of his face was the only part of him that wasn't submerged beneath the dark water. His nose was sharp under the dim light, and the droplets running down his skin glistened like pearls.

You walked closer.

Like silk, his hair rippled out across the water, swaying slightly as he shifted his head so his eyes could meet your gaze. They sparkled like obsidian. Beautiful and forged in fire. You shivered as his eyes studied you.

Tentatively, you crouched. You made sure you were far enough away from the water's edge. Benedict had told you before that he had a 'habit' of ripping into those who got too close, almost like a dog out of control.

You didn't think he was out of control, though. No, something in his still told you that every move he made was calculated, that every person he'd torn apart had been a purposeful decision.

You watched as the fins on his eras twitched as you took in a breath.

You hesitated, "Why did you want me up here?"

You didn't even know if he could understand what you were saying. How could he?

He tilted his head again. Then, he pushed forward. You gasped, every inch of you coiling like a wire as you waited with bated breath to see what he would do. You were far enough away from him, you were certain.

Like a ghost, he glided closer, some haunting creature that kept you raptured by his movements. The image of his chest rippled beneath the water; you'd never noticed the markings on his body before.

You could hear your heart thump loudly as you watched him draw close to the edge of the water. His eyes glittered like fractured dreams as they remained on you; they never strained from you, not even once. The attention made you feel raw and exposed, as if he could see every inch of you.

One clawed hand gripped the edge of the metal platform. The tips of his fingers were a pale blue, as if frost-bitten. His fingers were long and slender; they moved with the refinement of a sculpture. You wondered for a moment if they'd be cold to the touch.

His other hand came to rest on the metal, but only for a moment. And when he slipped it back in the water, he revealed a singular test tube. The one you'd dropped. Your heart pulsed at the realisation. It was pristene, no crack or scratch anywhere.

Again, you hesitated. You wanted to reach out for it but stopped yourself, remembering his seemingly innocent hand. You wondered what lurked beneath the dark mask of his eyes. He followed your gaze to his hand, and his fingers flexed.

As if his hand was coiled around your throat, fingers caressing your delicate pulse, your neck grew hot.

Slowly, as if mocking you for your apprehension, the Siren pulled his hand back into the water, allowing it to disappear beneath the shadows. Something in his gaze was expectant now, like he demanded that you take the vial after making him put in so much work in retrieving it for you.

You couldn't help but follow his silent command.

The tube was freezing against your fingers as you clutched it, pulling it to your chest.

"Thank you..." You whispered to him.

A hint of something shifted his expression, but you couldn't tell what it was. Maybe he didn't want you to. He stared at you for a moment longer before dipping beneath the surface.

The next time you said you'd left something back at your desk, this time your coffee flask, you were lying. You convinced the others to return home and walked down the hall with an anticipation you couldn't describe. They didn't know about the test tube and assumed it was just another spare.

You didn't know why you didn't tell them. You buried it in the back of your mind.

This time, you didn't wait for the Siren to tap on the glass. You headed straight for the metal stairwell and climbed it with surprising speed. The water in the tank seemed to swirl with dark temptation, glossy in its ominous embrace.

He was waiting for you again. Closer this time. His hands were already pressed against the metal platform, crossed over one another, his chin resting against them.  Throughout the slithers of his overlapped skin, you saw his gills flex.

"Hello," You murmured, sitting not even a meter from him. His eyes creased for a moment, and something in his posture told you he enjoyed this new closeness. You swallowed, and he watched as your throat bobbed.

A quiet hiss left his lips, and for a moment, you thought he was going to sink his teeth into you. But he remained impassive, resting the side of his head on his right arm as he looked at you, the very definition of calm.

You floundered. Where did you go from here? You thought to yourself about what to do, quickly becoming frustrated by your lack of ideas as you raked a hand through your hair, catching your earring.

The Siren's fins twitched. He lifted his head, eyes focused on where your earring sat. They were diamond-shaped like teardrops that glimmered brightly as they dangled from their perchance in your ears.

You paused.

Then, slowly you moved your hair away from your earrings, revealing them to the bing before you. His body straightened as he took in the glittering gems.  His hands pressed firmly against the metal platform as he drew closer on his vertical arms.  Half of you wanted to turn and run, but the other half, the louder and more entranced half, kept you rooted in your position.

His chest emerged from the water, droplets tracing down the contours of his muscled body as he pulled himself closer to inspect the earrings that caught his rapt attention.

Distantly, you knew you moved to give him more access. You knew that you leaned forward to meet him halfway, twisting your neck slightly so he could see the full beauty of your jewellery. His breathing was light and faint, but it was all you could hear. It echoed like the kisses of the wind.

You watched his chest rise and fall and wondered how his skin would feel. The patterns and markings that were tattooed across his upper body swirled in an artistry you found yourself wanting to trace.

He shifted his weight, leaning on only one arm now. The other slipped upwards, slowly tracing up the ghost of your body to reach its desired location. You felt his nails brush against your skin as his fingers curled curiously around your right earring. 

Up close, his gaze was searing. There was no restraint or polite regard in his eyes, no, there was only a raw intensity─ It reminded you of a tempest. You were glad his attention was focused on the gem in your ear because it allowed you to truly see him. His skin was pearl white, so pale you could see some of his veins as they traced across his body. He had small red markings beneath his eyes, and the vibrant tone of them only seemed to illuminate the bronze in his gaze.

His eyes flickered to yours. The knowledge that they weren't simply reflections of oblivion stirred something in you. You couldn't help but look away from the Topaz glimmer in his gaze.

But he refused to let you escape so easily.

The fingers that were on the diamond teardrop slipped downwards, ghosting against the expanse of your neck as they came to curl around your chin. You froze at the sensation of his icy fingers on your skin.

He gave your chin a firm tug.

You were facing him again, and there was no avoiding his scrutiny this time. 

Like a golden sunrise, his eyes seemed to glow as they took in your features up close. You saw in his gaze as he looked up your face, then down, where he stayed. The fingers on your jawline soothed backwards and forwards, lulling you into a sense of serenity. 

You dared not say anything. He leaned in closer; you could feel his breath fan against your face, brushing tenderly against your parted lips.  From this distance, you could see that his eyelashes were long and silky, like strands of midnight sewn together.

Your gaze flickered downward─ his lips were the colour of crushed cherries. 

One of the Siren's fingers stretched upwards, the tip of his nail caressing your lower lip before quickly being replaced by the pad of his finger. The sensation of his flesh against your own set fire alight in your veins. Slowly, he rubbed his finger back and forth on your lip, as if entranced by the softness of it.

His tongue darted out over his own lips as he met your eyes once more. He was looking for something. Something that permitted him to move just a few more centimetres.  He was so close. You shivered, but you were burning all over.

You had no idea why you'd thought his eyes were black before. You could clearly see now that they were the hue of molten bronze and just as beautiful.

He leaned in.

So did you.

What were you doing?

You jerked backwards all at once. Scrambling frantically as if you'd been shaken awake, you stumbled to your feet. You felt like a newborn doe, unsure of her legs, as you stared at the Siren who looked at you with wide eyes.

That was the first time you'd seen him surprised.

"I─" You gasped, words dying in your throat, "I have to go home."

You didn't look back as you ran away, but you could feel his eyes on you the entire time.

You'd packed a lunch you usually loved, but today not a single inch of it looked appetising. Your entire stomach twisted painfully with each forced bite you took. The lights of the laboratory's lunchroom were a welcome break from the harsh white of the workspace, and yet the lack of water made you feel uneasy.

You knew the Siren was there, that hidden behind the kelp and rocks, he was watching you. The lack of it now felt odd and ill-fitting, like a shirt that was too big and looked lopsided. You hadn't been able to sleep properly the night before, plagued by the phantom of his fingers holding your jaw and his breath on your lips. He had been so close. You shivered, heat running down your spine.

Nero looked to you in concern, "Are you all right? You look really.."

"You look off," Simone finished, sipping her coffee, "Like you've just stepped off a rollercoaster and the world still hasn't stopped spinning yet."

You grimaced at the imagery, "I'm running on like...four hours of sleep? If that?"

Tara winced, "Ouch."

"I'll say," Carter nodded, "I probably would've called in sick if I had that little sleep, there's no way I could function. Why couldn't you sleep?"

You shrugged, "Just restless."

Jenna hummed softly as she opened a fruit pot, "Maybe you could catch a quick power nap while we're on lunch?"

Carter scoffed, "We're not exactly the quietest group, Jenna. Not really the best place to sleep."

"I didn't mean here," The older woman answered, "There are loads of rooms in the facility, I'm sure one's suitable for napping in.

You straightened your back, "I could go back to the lab and nap by my desk. That way I wouldn't miss work cause you lot could wake me up when lunch is over."

"That's not a bad idea, actually," Simone agreed.

"Are you sure that's the best place?" Carter inquired, uncertainty stretching across his face as he probed you to reconsider.

But you were already packing up your things and throwing your bag over your shoulder, "Yeah. It'll only be like half an hour." 

He still looked hesitant. You didn't really care.

You waved goodbye to your coworkers and slipped down the hallway, walking to your laboratory with a heavy heart. You needed to see him again. Apologise for running so suddenly. 

Just like before, you didn't wait for him to appear at the bottom of the tank and instead went for the stairs. The climb was quick; the whole time, you could hear your heart fluttering, rampant in its nervousness.

He was there again, but he was far away, on the opposite side of the tank, a questioning look in his gaze. 

You swallowed and sat right on the edge of the platform. If you tipped forward just a little bit more, you'd spill into the murky darkness that lurked beneath you.  You stared at one another in silence.

"I'm sorry for leaving yesterday," You said quietly, running your tongue over your dry lips, trying to soothe the burning of them.

The Siren tilted his head, as if considering your words. Then, he slid forward. You saw the flick of his tail as he used it to glide forward like a swan. It was beautiful,  a stunning mirage that left your head spinning.

You didn't flinch when he came to you, you didn't pull away when he rose, using his arms to lift himself to be eye level with you.  You took in a steady breath, silently willing your heart to stop in its erratic beating.                                     

He was close again. The golden glimmer in his eyes was bright and curious. His gills flexed as he parted his lips ever so slightly. You couldn't help but look at them. They were such a dark, rich colour. 

Without hesitation, he slipped his right hand upwards to grab your face. His fingers burned with ice as they slid across your jaw, finding firm purchase against your chin. His grip wasn't harsh, but it certainly wasn't gentle. He wouldn't let you run away this time.

And as his thumb caressed your lower lip, parting it softly, you weren't sure you wanted to. Your breath hitched as he leaned close. He smelled like sea salt.  His ochre eyes were lidded, trained on the curve of your lips. His nose brushed against yours.

You shivered. You felt his breath on your lower face, wanted it against your lips. You only needed to tilt your head slightly and he'd be there. Had you ever felt so intense about someone? Had you ever wanted to kiss anyone this badly? 

You didn't think so. There was something about this man before that was intoxicating, something that reeled you in and beckoned you to stay.

His lips parted.

You shifted closer─

"Y/N!"

The next three things happened at once. Carter charged towards you, eyes wide with horror. He gripped you with harsh hands, trying to jerk you backwards. Rafayel let out a savage hiss and dug his claws into Carter.

You screamed.

So did Carter.

Rafayel's eyes were murderous, teeth bared in a dark, malicious way. His clawed fingers sank into Carter's arms as he yanked him forward with inhuman strength. Carter struggled desperately, but he was no match for the Siren.

You stared in frozen horror as Carter was dragged forward, slammed and shoved beneath the water. He screamed and shrieked the entire time, his attempts to free himself futile against the Siren's fury.

What did you do?

You could go get the others. No. They were still in the break room. Carter would be dead by the time you got back. Were there tranquilisers? No. Benedict said no more harm, no matter how small, would come to the Siren. He wanted his test subject to be pristene.

Carter was going to die.

If the Siren didn't gut him, he would drown.

You had to get him away. No matter what.

You didn't think as you kicked off your shoes, yanking your shirt and trousers off with them. You shivered in your underwear, but you knew it would help you get to Carter quicker. You took in one long breath and dove in.

You prayed that Carter hadn't already been ripped apart.

If it was difficult to see through the water before, it was almost impossible to now. You could only make out blurry images, clouds of colour that shifted from shade to shade. The water was numbing against your senses, but you kept pushing downwards.

You found them. You found the Siren, really, his beautiful tail shimmered brightly as he throttled Carter. You could see him flail helplessly, kicking and jerking around in desperate hopes of loosening the Siren's grip, but his movements were growing sluggish.

Your heart beat faster, lungs burning from the lack of air as you swam towards the pair. You pushed your hands out blindly, trying to separate the two. Your hands jabbed at Carter, who let out a muffled shriek. Your fingers curled around an arm, and you knew it to the Siren's. You tugged at it. You tugged and tugged and tugged. It was unmovable.

Frustration made you desperate. You couldn't let Carter die. You refused to. You kept struggling against the Siren even when your vision grew blurrier, your arms going heavy with exhaustion.  You couldn't let Carter drown, even when you were.

Abruptly, the arm you were holding jerked away, only to be replaced by two hands. They weren't cold anymore. The hands slid across your body. You looked sluggishly at where Carter had been and found him thrashing towards the surface. He would make it, you were certain.

One of the hands gripped your face, pulling you to face the Siren. The other found its place on your bare hip. Distantly, you felt his thumb caress the skin there. Your lungs were bursting for air.

He was close again. Nose brushing against yours.

In the corners of your vision, black spots were beginning to grow, like specks of mould intent on killing you.

Helplessly, you patted the Siren. Hands smacking against his shoulders, begging him to release you.

He didn't. He simply pushed himself the final few centimetres you'd been robbed of earlier. He shoved his lips against yours, and all the fear faded, buried beneath a layer of surprise. You knew it was still there, lurking beneath your other senses, but all you could focus on was him.

His lips were soft, perhaps to make up for the fierceness, and he pressed them against yours. He was relentless, all-consuming, full of an urgency you'd never experienced before. The lips that had haunted you were finally against your own, and you couldn't help but meet them halfway. Water slipped in and out of your lips as you smashed them against the Siren's, surrounded in his unbreakable embrace.

You kissed him until all the oxygen left your lungs and your vision went dark.

Both Carter and you had been given a few days off after you'd been examined by doctors. The others had come to find the two of you wheezing helplessly on the metal platform, half unconscious as you struggled. They were horrified and scrambled to help, desperately asking what had happened.

You feared you would have to confess to all your secrets now, but Carter saved you with his assumptions. He was luring her in, he said, the Siren had incapacitated her and was going to drown her. You let him and the others believe that. Your hands and feet prickled with pins and needles, but your lips burned with the ghost of another's.

None of them considered why the Siren had let you go, simply glad you were both still alive. Carter had to get stitches for the cuts on his arms, but thankfully, that was the extent of your injuries. Benedict had sent you both home, ordering you to rest and relax for a few days before coming back to work. A four-day weekend, he said.

At first, you'd done what he said and fallen asleep as soon as you got home. But nothing could keep thoughts of him at bay for long. Every time you tried to sleep, dreams of him circled your mind, waking you with a flustered heat. When you took showers, the droplets of water felt like his fingers, sliding down your skin. You couldn't escape him. Every time you closed your eyes, he was there, beckoning you close.

It would've been the end of a shift, you thought as you twisted against your sheets, trying to escape the ghost of his body against yours. Your lips tingled with the echo of his. Was he thinking of you like this? Was he as tormented by you as you were by him? His kiss had been harsh and overwhelming, full of demand and desire. Was it simply a whim for him or something more?

You groaned and thrashed, yanking the sheets of your body as your chest heaved.

You couldn't focus. Your thoughts were full of him. You needed to know if you were insane or if his intentions were full of purpose.

And so, without realising it, you'd grabbed your keys and got in your car, driving the familar route to the lab. Reckless, you knew, but you were beyond the point of caring. No one questioned you; the guards simply didn't give a damn, so it was easy to slip into the building. Easier to walk towards your lab and the man who lurks within there.

The silence was eerie. You didn't bother to turn on the main lights, using the dim blue ones above the tank to guide your way. Your bag and keys were forgotten by your desk as you grasped the railing of the stairwell. You felt like you were floating, like all of your steps would be washed away like the sand on a beach. 

Would he be waiting for you again? 

You climbed the stairs, the metal echoing softly in your ears. The air was cold, and it forced shivers across your body. You could hear the methodic thump of your own heart in your chest, pulsing through your electric veins.

When you reached the top platform, you felt the air being snatched from your lungs. 

He was there, and he was closer than he'd ever been. He sat leisurely on the edge of the platform, leaning his back against the metal railing as he waited patiently for you. The top of his tail sparkled as water droplets spilt down it. His chest rose and fell slowly as he watched you with lidded eyes.

You swallowed, "Hello..."

He extended a webbed hand out, his palm facing upwards.

Slowly, you reached out to grasp it. The gills on his neck twitched, his Adam's apple bobbing harshly as he wrapped his fingers around your wrist, gently tugging you forward. You let him guide you, kneeling by his side.

Keeping one hand clasped against yours, he used his other to glide up the fabric of your shirt, slow and calm. He hooked his finger around the collar of it, pulling it slightly, drawing your face closer to his. Your mouth went dry at his calculated movements.

His bronze eyes flickered between meeting your gaze and the collar of your shirt. He tugged at it again.

You furrowed your brows, "...What?"

He clicked his tongue. Tugged at your collar again. 

"Do you..." You paused, "Do you want me to take it off?"

His lips curved up this time, a mocking pride in his expression. He made a show of nodding in a slow, exaggerated way.

"Wait. You can actually understand me?" You breathed. You'd always been speaking more for your own comfort; talking was somehow easier than complete silence.

The Siren shrugged this time, coy to his core.

You swallowed and found your hands reaching for the bottom of your shirt. He unhooked his finger and waited expectantly, pulling away from you to watch your movements. You hesitated for only a moment, slowly tugging your black shirt over your head and tucking it behind you.

The cold air made goosebumps rise on your skin.

Without taking his eyes from yours, the Siren reached forward to tap your jeans. It only took one gesture for you to understand his silent command. And a command it was. His eyes gleamed with authority, with a power you couldn't understand but felt all the same. 

It was awkward to pull off your jeans with him watching, and you tried to get them off as quickly as possible. You heard a huff of amusement leave his lips at the sight of your struggle. You scoffed quietly and kicked them and your shoes away.

When you turned, his eyes traced your figure appraisingly once, landing back on your gaze once more. You felt shy beneath his burning eyes; it felt like he was seeing into the dredges of your soul.

Silently, he extended a hand again.

You took it. His touch burned.

His lips curled upwards, more smirk than smile, and he slipped backwards. You went with him. A yelp of fear escaped your lips as you plummeted towards the water, the chill of it consuming you instantly. It locked your muscles in place as you clenched your eyes shut as tightly as possible.

Was Carter right? Was he going to kill you?

You felt yourself sink. His hand came to clutch your waist. It burned there; you relished in the heat. This feeling is what has been haunting you, tormenting you endlessly.

"You can open your eyes, y'know?" 

The words that echoed came from a silky, soothing voice. Like rich red wine spilling into a cup, there was a slight and soft rasp to it. And there was only one person it could have come from.

Unwillingly, your eyes shot open, and you gasped.

Water flooded your mouth instantly, and you struggled desperately to refill your lungs with air.

The man before you rolled his eyes. He was clearer to you now, each of his features defined, carved by stone. You flailed in his arms, but he remained firm in his grasp. The feeling of his fingers tracing your body was indescribable; sparks ignited wherever he touched.

"You can breathe," He said simply.

You didn't listen to him, continuing to struggle.

A scoff left his lips, "Breathe or I'll make you."

What kind of threat was that? 

Tired of your inability to listen to his commands, the Siren slid one of his hands up to your neck, gripping your jaw firmly. His nails brushed harshly against your skin, and he gave you no time to familiarise yourself with the feeling before he pushed his lips against yours.

Instinctively, you closed your eyes.

His lips were skilled, peeling away layer of fear by layer of fear, burying it beneath his secure embrace. His thumb stroked your jaw soothingly. The hand on your hip tugged you closer to him. Your hands clutched his strong shoulders, legs brushing against his tail. He kissed you again and again, hot and heavy.

 He used his tongue to force your lips to part. Every sound you made, he took with greedy demand. You felt like you were getting drunk off of him; the taste of his lips was enough to push you over the edge.

He pulled away slowly, "Much better, no?"

"I-" You choked, "How!?"

He tilted his head, "Gonna need to be specific than that, cutie."

"How are you speaking English? And how am I breathing underwater?!" You exclaimed. The feeling of water in your mouth was an unfamiliar one, and you were bewildered by the fact that you could still speak.

"I was taught English alongside my mother tongue," He answered simply, "And you can breathe because I kissed you. My species has the power to keep humans beneath the depths forever."

Your mind whirled. Your lips tingled.

"But...you've only just been discovered..." You muttered.

A scoff of amusement, "Then where did your myths come from?"

You couldn't answer. You were a scientist, you believed in fact. But the evidence was right in front of you.

The hand on your jaw continued to smooth your skin firmly as the man before you spoke, a teasing lilt to his voice, "You see, we've been living amongst your kind for centuries. We've just had to do it quietly to avoid being captured like animals.

And though his tone was light, you saw darkness flicker in his gaze.

"I'm sorry," You whispered, your thumbs softly moving back and forth over the plains of his shoulder muscles. He was sculpted like one of the Greek heroes of old.

"Don't be," The Siren murmured, "I found you, after all."

You furrowed your brows and went to speak, but your words died in your throat as he lowered his head, face drawn towards your neck. His nose brushed up against your pulse, his lips ghosting over your fragile skin.

Both of his hands were around your waist now, tugging you firmly against his body. He slotted his tail between your knees, keeping you as close as he could. There was an authority in his movements that set fire burning in your stomach.

"You have no idea what it was like for me when you went to collect the water that day," He whispered against your voice, simmering with want, "The smell of you was tantalising."

His lips pressed against your neck softly. You grasped, digging your nails into his flesh.

"Then you let me touch you," He muttered in a low, rumbling timber, "And now I want to touch all over."

He sucked on your skin, teeth grazing your neck. He knew what he was doing, each kiss of his sinful lips intent on drawing as much pleasure as he could out of you. You'd never been embraced quite like this. 

"Now you're letting me kiss you─" He gasped, pulling away from your neck, "─You taste so sweet."

And he was on your lips again. He was ravenous. His kisses were sloppy and erratic, claiming and wild as he devoured all your affection. Every gasp and whine that left your mouth was snatched by him and returned with equal ferocity.

His burning lips trailed from your lips to your jaw, to your neck, where they intended to mark. The core of you burned, and you melted into the man holding you, kissing and crying into his ear, fingers coiling into his hair.

"I'm Rafayel, by the way," He murmured, "Since you didn't ask."

Rafayel.

"I'm sorry!" You squeaked out, "My name is Y/N."

"I know," He responded, brown eyes shimmering with mirth.

You tilted your head, "How?"

"It's what the human man called you when he tried to take you from him," Rafayel answered, something sharp and hostile in his expression.

"I─" You blinked in surprise, "He wasn't trying to 'take me' from you. He was just worried."

"That I beat him to it," Rafayel scoffed.

"What?" You whispered.

"He wants you," The man chuckled, dipping down to kiss your neck fervently, "He's always hovering by your side, trying to get close. That's why he came to find you that day. The miserable wretch wanted a moment alone with you. That's why he pulled you away. That's why I had to pull him in. Why I had to kiss you for the first time while you were drowning. He ruined it."

He was sulking, you realised as he smothered your neck in desperate, possessive kisses. 

You pressed your lips to the shell of his almost human ear, "He can't ruin anything now."

Rafayel's lips curled into a smirk, and his eyes glinted with a new kind of darkness. He gripped you tightly as he hummed, "No, he can't."

He kissed you again, and this time you felt him move, pulling you with him as he drifted lower and lower. When he pulled away, you were in a cave with a dim blue light hanging above. His cave.

Rafayel's hands slid upwards, coiling around the fabric of your bra, "Let me take this off, yeah?"

"Yeah," You whispered, pressing your lips to his softly. 

It took a few moments for your bra to be unhooked and shrugged off, pushed somewhere far away. Your siren wasted no time; his hands came to caress the new skin.  You broke away from his lips to gasp as his fingers caressed your breasts, running over your hardened nipples.

"You're so pretty, cutie," Rafayel groaned as he toyed with your body with skilled fingers. The way his nails brushed against your skin was electric.

Your hands hesitantly slid down his body.

He grinned at the feeling, "Come on, precious. Explore my body, it's all yours."

You followed his command. Your hands travelled across the plains of his form, gliding against his pecs and down across the ridges of his abdomen, tracing the edges of his scales. Being in his embrace was intoxicating; it made your heart burst in your chest as his hands and lips ran wild across your body.

Your fingers brushed against his smooth scales, arranged like battle armour and just as strong. They felt silky to the touch, glistening and perfect. As you felt around, you ghosted around the edge of a divot in his tail.  It was only a few inches below his V-line and practically unnoticeable. Curiously, you pressed down on the firm but squishy flesh.

Rafayel jerked away from your lips to gasp out a raspy "Fuck!"

You pulled your hand away like it had been burnt, "I'm sorry!"

"Stop apologising and stop stopping!" Rafayel whined, "It feels good."

"It does?" You whispered.

"Yeah," Rafayel gripped your hand and pulled it back, guiding your fingers to press there again, "So good."

You watched with his face as it twisted with each touch you made. His pale cheeks burned with flush, a glorious crimson that encouraged you to go on. You kept pressing on the flesh there and felt something pulse to life.

"Is that...?" You murmured, entranced by his expressions.

"Yeah," He rasped, burying his head into your neck as he pressed desperate, sloppy kisses to your skin, "Keep going."

And who were you to say no? With every twist of your fingers, Rafayel's body grew hotter, tail swaying back and forth, melting in your skilful touch. Soon enough, the slit in his scales gave way to two appendages. One was smaller, the tip of it a deep purple. The other was more familar, thick at the base and decently sized, flushed pink at the tip.

"Two?" You inquired, fingers brushing against them.

Rafayel nodded against your neck, "Apparently very popular with the human women the men of Lumeria couple with."

You hummed, slowly sliding your fingers over the larger of the two dicks, "I'll be the judge of that once I get used to the human-looking one."

"Can't wait," He breathed, lifting his head as he hooked his fingers around the waistband of your underwear, "Takes these off."

You paused, "No offence, but your nails..."

He lifted one hand. The nails on his index and middle fingers were short. "I'm well aware of how sensitive you are," He smirked, obsidian eyes glinting with desire, "Want to make you feel good while you make me feel good."

You slipped off your panties without another word.

"That's it, precious," Rafayel's lips pressed against your cheek as he slid his hand downwards, fingers carefully splayed far apart to avoid nicking your fragile body. It was dizzying, feeling the way he held you firm but caressed you softly.

His fingers pressed against your core, slowly tracing along your body with focused care. The pad of one of his fingers ghosted over your clit, softly circling it. Your chest tightened at the sensation, and you found yourself ignited with the desire to make Rafayel feel the same. Your fingers slowly dragged up his length, sliding over the veins that jumped beneath your touch.

Rafayel grunted quietly, pushing one finger into your pussy slowly. Your breath hitched as he sank it deeper into you, watchful eyes focused on your softened expression. You matched your strokes to the pace of his finger, lungs tightening.

Kissing with you reverence, Rafayel groaned into your lips, desire hot on his tongue as he ran over yours in a clash of teeth and touch. 

"Put another one in," You murmured against his swollen lips.

"So bossy," He teased, but obeyed your order. The stretch of it was sharp and delicious, blossoming into searing want. He flexes his fingers in tandem with one another, pressing against the walls of your core, determined to make you feel as good as possible.

You slid your hand up and down his cock, thumb running over the tip when you brushed over it. Rafayel's chest heaved. His pupils were dilated. He looked enamoured, eyes lidded, lips swollen, cheeks flushed.

He jerked his fingers quicker inside of you, forcing a moan from your lips. Your body grew tighter, pulled taut by hot desire. Your body pulsed in anticipation. All you could focus on was Rafayel and the pleasure he was giving to you.

"Keep going," You whined, your hand's pace slipping into chaos as you struggled to overcome the feeling of his fingers curling inside of you. Over and over again, they pressed against that one spot that sent bolts of fire shooting across your skin.

"You wanna come, cutie?" Rafayel teased, tongue darting out to lick the salt on your skin as he kissed your treasuredly bruised neck.

You gasped out a raspy, "Please," legs twitching as your stomach knotted tighter and tighter, entire body coiling like a rope paused taunt. You felt like you were on a cliff's edge, only inches away from falling down.

Rafayel grinned, "Let go for me. I know you can do it."

His fingers kept pressing against your core, burning it with flaming want. You couldn't breathe. Your eyes were clenched shut as you chased the release you craved. With greedy desire, you snatched it. 

Helplessly, you moaned into Rafayel as your orgasm came crashing over you like a tidal wave. It locked your body in a delicious euphoria. Your body pulsed with each crash of pleasure, the centre of it bowing to Rafayel's fingers.

Your chest heaved. Your lungs swooned. You weren't cold anymore, full of searing heat. Rafayel rested his forehead on yours, keeping you tethered to him as you threatened to drift off into a bubble of bliss.

His fingers kept moving in a soft rhythm, but even that was too much for your sensitive bud.

You clenched your legs shut over his hand, gripping his wrist as you struggled to breathe.

"Ah, ah, ah," He mused, molten bronze eyes glistening brightly as his lips twisted into a saungine smirk, "You not running away from me again, are you, cutie?"

Your trembling hands grasped his shoulders as you pressed your lips softly to his, "Never."

Something in that word felt like an oath. It was binding and reverent and filled Rafayel with a need he was desperate to fulfil, "Come here." 

He kissed you again, lips slamming against yours in a frantic want that consumed all of your senses. He embraced you like it was the end of the world, and he was trying to burn your touch into him. He used his hands to shove you backwards, following suit like a string was tugging him with you.

Your back touched one of the smooth walls of the cave, and Rafayel pushed you firmly against it. You felt like a queen on a throne, Rafayel, your reverent king. His lips slipped downwards to mark under your jaw, sucking on your neck, intent on making it clear you belonged to him. You were his, and he wouldn't let anyone else have you.

"Wrap your legs around my waist," He said as he kissed under your ear, his hands stroking your hips soothingly.

You followed his order, legs locking around his body like they were always meant to be there.  Rafayel grinned, looking down at you with feral eyes. Your hands ran over the span of his chest, brushing over the marks on his body with fascination.

"The marks of the Lemurian Sea God," Rafayel answered your silent question.

You blinked, eyes widening, "Sea God?"

His lips curled into a smug smile, "Yeah. Sea God."

"Oh, my God!" You gasped.

He tutted at you mockingly, "Yeah, I am. And you're my devoted follower, right? You'll offer yourself to me, won't you? Let me take you however and whenever I want?"

"Yeah," You vowed, one of your hands pressed over the spot where his heart was, feeling it beat firmly with your devotion.

"That's my girl," Rafayel breathed and began to push into you.

You whined loudly at the feeling of him entering you. His fingers were no match for his cock as it slid through the ring of muscle at your entrance, slotting itself firmly in your pussy. The stretch stung with delicious anticipation.

"S'too big," You whimpered, so full you felt like you couldn't breathe.

"Nah," Rafayel disagreed, "Fits just right. Like you were made for me."

His lips ran over your skin as he waited for you to get used to the feeling of him. You felt him twitch in anticipation, his kisses getting more feverish the longer he stayed still. His hands gripped you tighter, nails brushing against the flesh of your waist.

You could hear his breath in your ear, hitched and uneven.

You rolled your hips, feeling the way his dick rubbed against your clit, "Move."

"With pleasure," Rafayel kissed you firmly, his breath mixing with yours as his tongue explored your mouth, claiming yet another part of you for himself.

He pulled out of you until just the tip remained, then shoved back in, claiming all of you. Like the constant tides, he moved back and forth, rolling his hips into your body, burying himself to the hilt, pulling almost entirely out, only to go all the way in again.

You moaned at the feeling of his dick rocking back and forth, brushing against your sensitive bud with each firm thrust. He was claiming you, ruining you for anyone else, imprinting himself into your body like your soul already belonged to him.

The thick drag of his cock was so good you could do nothing but whine and whimper into Rafayel as he took you just how he wanted.  His lips slid over your skin, searching for unmarked areas to darken with the bruises of his passion. His tongue found purchase as it circled over one of your lips.

His thrusts were firm, his rhythm breath-stealing, his hands burning. You rocked to meet his movements, the added friction sending bolts of desire throughout your body, coiling like a storm cloud at your core.

"Oh, fuck!" You whined, hands scrambling against Rafayel's burning skin. They dug into his back, harsh and relentless as they sank into the stretch of skin layered over thick muscles.

Rafayel hissed, nipping at your skin, "Yeah, scrape your nails against my back. Mark me up. Make me yours."

Your nails dragged down his back as you moaned loudly. Rafayel moved faster, thick cock slamming into your walls relentlessly. He panted into your skin, tongue sliding over it as he savoured your taste. Even through the water, you could hear the loud clap of skin as it collided and burned with heat.

"Just like that," Rafayel moaned into your ear, "You feel so good, precious. Want to keep you here forever. You'd like that, wouldn't you?"

"Yeah," You gasped, clawing at his back wildly as he continued to thrust, his cock was hitting the bundle of nerves inside of you that made you see stars. 

"Yeah? Never gonna let you go," Rafayel groaned, teeth grazing your lower lip as he pulled at it, "You wanna know why?"

You struggled to respond; every coherent thought you formed dissolved with each domineering thrust of his hips, "W-Why?"

"Because─" Thrust, "─You're─" Thrust, "─All─" Thrust, "─Mine," His slammed his hips faster now, "All fucking mine!"

He was pistoning his hips as hard and fast as he could now, aiming for that sweet spot that drove you toward the edge like a storm. You wailed as he thrusted into you, desperation clawing at his body as he pushed you closer and closer to your release.

"Rafayel!" You squealed, legs locking around him tighter, trying to pull him further into you. You felt craved, like only Rafayel could give you what you needed.

"Keep saying my name like that, cutie," He moaned loudly, voice breaking into a high, keening pitch, "I'm so close. Wanna cum so bad."

"Inside," You begged, the sound of your sopping cunt echoing in your ears.

Rafayel's lidded eyes widened, his pace turning sporadic in his shock, "You're being serious?"

"Yeah," Pressing kisses against his jaw, you nodded, "Want it inside."

Rafayel's chest heaved.

"Come here," He rasped, smashing his mouth against yours. His lips slid over and under yours, devouring you in a savage, frantic way. You moaned into him as his hips jerked forward, his pace relentless in its pursuit of release.

Rafayel moved feverishly, searing kisses lathered against your skin, tugging your lips as his strikes turned rampant. Hard and fast, they slammed into your over and over again, pulling you closer and closer to the edge.

Your core was so tight you felt like you couldn't breathe, the rest of your restriant so frayed it threatened to snap at any moment. Your nails scratched all over his back as you screamed, "Rafayel!"

"That's it, pretty girl," Rafayel commanded, kissing you brutally, "Cum for me."

You squealed loudly, your entire body seizing as your orgasm crashed towards it. Rafayel slammed his dick into your cunt, groaning and oaning desperately. Like a song, he whined out a keening, "Yesyesyesyes─" 

Like lightning, your release struck. You writhed in Rafayel's hold, body pulsing with pleasure as he buried himself to the hilt one last time. A cry left his lips as he came inside of you, chest heaving as his cock twitched, painting your walls with his desire.

With heavy, uneven breaths, Rafayel peppered soft kisses against your skin as you melted against him, pressing as close as you could.

The sounds of the water around you were like a lullaby.

"So...first time fucking a siren?" Rafayel murmured into your hair.

You laughed an exhausted laugh, "Ten out of ten. Would do again."

"You'd better," He teased, kissing your head, "Once I get out of here, we're trying every human position we possibly can.  After I buy you dinner."

"Buy me dinner?" You furrowed your brows.

Rafayel rolled his eyes, "I did say my species had been living alongside yours, cutie. I know about dating culture."

You smiled, "It's a date then."

You felt Rafayel's lips curl upwards against your hair as he kissed you again, silently swearing to that vow. You were his now, and he was never gonna let you go.

𝐒𝐘𝐋𝐔𝐒

𝐑𝐀𝐅𝐀𝐘𝐄𝐋

𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐁

𝐙𝐀𝐘𝐍𝐄

Lying in bed and not being able to get comfortable because your body just can't stop aching is a horrible feeling. No matter what position you twist your body into, the winding pains follow, hollow and pulsing, making it impossible to sleep. It's the kind of pain that makes you slam your head into your pillow, silently praying for sleep to come quicker. Everybody has experienced this pain at least once. For the majority of people, this is an occasional issue, but for you? It's an everyday occurrence.

Being a hunter is gruelling. It strains the body constantly, and no matter how many stretches or exercises are undergone, they can't remove the muscle aches. You love your job, you really do, but it's costly, and the price is your comfort. This is the constant struggle between you and Xavier.

You had cupboards in each of your apartments─ you hadn't found one you both liked enough to move into yet─ full of medicine. There were tablets, syrups, ointments, heating pads, and anything else you hoped would help stuffed in there.

Normally, you try to ignore it and get at least a few hours. But eventually, there was a day you just couldn't handle anymore. It had been a tough mission; you both had bruises, and your hearts hurt.  You cried, exhaustion and pain colliding. Xavier held you close, limbs twisting around your body to pull you into him. His hands soothed your back, rubbing and pressing down your flesh, kneading the aches with perfect precious. 

His fingers held a dull warmth, and as they glided against your body, your eyes closed. When you opened them again, it was morning. You told Xavier you'd finally slept better and told him you'd give him a massage too. And when you did, he was out like a light.

It got more elaborate. Candles were lit, sweet-smelling oil was applied, and the softest sheets possible enveloped you. It was the most soothing environment you'd ever been in. Sometimes you two joked that it was more intimate than sex. And really, in some ways it was.

Soon enough, it became an expectation. One of you would run a shower, the other would get the room ready, and you'd soothe the pains out of one another's bodies. On rough missions, the two of you could spend hours massaging one another; you'd run your hands over one another's body until the only parts of you that ached were your eyes.

That, of course, was the goal. Xavier would blow out the candles, and you'd open the sheets up for him to slip under. The two of you would wrap your arms around one another once again. In the dark of night, when sleep came for you, your bodies wouldn't fight it. Not when you soothed each other of all the aches and grievances you'd taken on as Hunters.

Massages became so ingrained in your routine, the two of you could retire as Hunters and open up a spa with your skills.

𝐒𝐘𝐋𝐔𝐒

You know how it's traditional to be awake during the day and asleep at night? That concept doesn't exist in the N109 Zone. It has no daytime cycle. It's constantly night, filled with shadows and monsters and men alike. This also means that Sylus has no sleep schedule to adhere to.

His days could start at 2 AM or 2 PM. The sun doesn't shine in his home, so the only way he wakes up is through alarms, and the only way he sleeps is when his eyes are so tired he can't keep them open. Sylus' waking hours can range from hours to days; it doesn't matter. Not to him. His concept of time is irrelevant to the world around him; he works on his schedule and his alone. Everyone else has to accommodate him.

Until he met you.

He met you, and he wanted to spend every second he could with you, but your routine was a strict one. You had multiple alarms for each day, meetings and reports and jobs to complete at work, and your spare time was used for maintenance around your home. Sylus couldn't see you with his nonexistent sleep cycle, and as you fell deeper into one another, his upset only grew. He wanted to hoard every moment of your presence, but couldn't because he could never catch you. When he woke, you were deep asleep, and when you were in the middle of work, he was ending his day.

The only option?

Sylus had to follow your routine. When you woke up, so did he. While you worked, he did too, slogging through even the most boring negotiations in an uncharacteristic nine-to-five. And that was fine. That was perfectly fine; in fact, Sylus had come to treasure the times he rode to the Hunter's Association building and picked you up on his bike after your shift ended.

His issue was sleeping.

He couldn't. He'd respond to your goodnight text when you were separate and kiss your head in response when you were together, but he'd never fall asleep. He tried. He lay still, closed his eyes, and even tried to count sheep. Nothing. He wouldn't sleep. He tried to pretend that he had when you woke up, but you saw right through him. You always did.

So you started reading to him.

Even when you had an early shift the next morning or a gruelling day before, you'd stay with him and read. It didn't matter if he had to hear you through a phone or with his head against your chest, Sylus listened with rapt attention.

You didn't care how long you had to read for; you'd never stop until you were certain he was asleep. Sometimes it took hours, sometimes it took minutes, but eventually it became routine. Your routine. 

He'd never understood the purpose of lullabies before then, but he came to treasure the soothing song of your voice.

And well, if Luke and Kerian commented about how he seemed to have more patience with the insolent rats trying to one-up him, they wouldn't be wrong.

𝐑𝐀𝐅𝐀𝐘𝐄𝐋

Rafayel spent a remarkable amount of time sitting still for someone so mercurial. At least, that's what Thomas said whenever he caught Rafayel working, which was often. Rafayel found that humorous, but he never told his manager why. How do you explain to someone that no matter what, you're always restless?

Rafayel's body may appear rigid, frozen in its focus, but his hands? His hands never stop. There's always something in them, maybe it's a pencil, maybe it's a brush, maybe even just a ring he fiddles with, but his hands are never, ever empty.

He felt like an uneasy sea, like an ocean with a storm simmering just beneath its waves, rocky and unsettling, but never frightening. It made sleep a difficult thing. His nights are spent twisting and turning, fingers tapping against his pillows, because he can't just go from doing everything to nothing all at once.

You thought it was funny at first. You laughed at him when he said he couldn't get comfortable, falling against his sheets made from silk and satin with a giggle. He only rolled his eyes and flung himself on the bed after you, listening with delight to the sound of your squeals.

Over time, you saw that he was serious. Whenever you woke from your sleep in the middle of the night, you saw that although his eyes were dark with exhaustion, he was wide awake. Sleep evaded him; whenever he grasped it, it slipped away, like the tide receding into the sea.

You got worried, but none of the teas or gummies you gave him worked, out of the ones he tried, at least. You came home one night after a long, seemingly endless shift and tried as quietly as you could to get ready for bed, but your hair was full of tangles and knots. You winced constantly as you raked your brush through your hair, and before you knew it, the brush was being plucked from your hands.

You hadn't even noticed Rafayel rising from his restless slumber.

His hands were kinder than yours.  They carefully gathered your hair section by section and gently brushed your comb through it until all tangles had been removed. He was so methodical and precise, he treated your hair with the utmost care, kissing the crown of your head once he was done.

The motion was so simple that it made his eyes tired. You smiled warmly at him in the mirror as you guided him towards his bed─ your bed now. Rafayel curled against you like he always did, one hand slipping to wrap a strand of your meticulously cared-for hair around his fingers.

The last thing remembered was the smell of the oil in your hair, sweet like strawberries.

Then he was woken by sunlight for the first time in years. He could finally sleep properly. As such, he demanded that you always let him brush your hair and, yes, he whined endlessly until you gave in.

That was it. Every night, without fail, Rafayel would brush your hair, and that tiny action alone would calm his restless mind enough to let him sleep.

𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐁

The stars were dying out. They were disappearing from the sky. They'd never be seen again. That was the consequence of human evolution. For all the bright artificial light that had illuminated humanity's dark life, it could never hold a candle to the beauty that was the night sky.

Caleb had always thought so. He resented the people who preferred the glow of the city to the shining freckles that adorned the skin of space. He hated cities in general. They were lively and brilliant. They promised opportunity and memories of all kinds. But they were also endlessly loud. They never slept. Cars blazed by, shouts echoed in the streets, and the life of night became especially treacherous in cities.

It made him restless.

Especially Skyhaven, the paradigm of human creation, the city in the sky. The artificial island had managed to reduce light pollution as much as possible.  He loved his home. He hated how loud it was. He hated that you weren't there with him. That he couldn't walk down the hallway anymore, press his ear against the door and listen to sleep peacefully. It drove him crazy. 

He had only one comfort. The fact that you and he would always be staring at the same sky.

Needless to say, when you finally became his and tried to come to Skyhaven whenever you could, he was thrilled. And when you confessed to being unable to sleep to city noise? Caleb was dragging you to the window before you could finish your sentence.

You laughed and whispered in the dark as you gathered blankets and pillows from the living room, laying them on the ground by his floor-to-ceiling window. The world still buzzed around you, but all the two of you focused on was each other.

Caleb would lean against the wall that jutted out and hold you in his arms. He'd whisper about the stars to you, and you'd murmur back. You'd point to constellations and listen to him prattle on about them. Just like when you were kids, sneaking into each other's rooms because Josaphine had decided you were getting too old to share one.

Caleb talked endlessly, voice lowering and lowering as tiredness came to him. The floor was cold and harsh, but neither of you dared to move. You'd stare up at the sky until sleep kissed your eyelids and only woke up when sunlight glided across your faces. Finally, you could rest again.

After that, Caleb moved one of his sofas into your precious nook. You brought your spare blankets from Linkon and decorated them. A perfect blend of you and him in one place.

It became a treasured space and tradition. Most nights you were in Skyhaven, the bedrooms went unused. Instead, you slept on that sofa, under your blankets. You slept beneath the stars in the arms of the man who would give you all of them if you simply asked for it.

𝐙𝐀𝐘𝐍𝐄

Zayne's a doctor. He's an exceptional one. His diagnoses are always on point, his success rate in surgeries is high, and he knows how to talk to his patients. Everyone at Asko loves him. It's him they come to for advice, for peer reviews and treatments. He's been sent all over the world to perform heart surgeries. He's been giving people back their futures one by one.

But that also means he's in high demand.

It's Zayne who gets the emergency calls, it's him who has the most overtime, and it's him who never has any time for himself. It makes sense that he ends up neglecting himself, even though he knows about the risks.

More often than not, the only thing Zayne does when he gets home is sleep. Even then, his dreams are not of the peaceful kind, and they steal rest from him with greedy hands. Zayne is almost always tired. He can't rest, not when he constantly has the lives of people weighing on his shoulders, not when he foregoes necessities because he's too exhausted for them.

Fortunately, that's where you come in.

You knew when Zayne wasn't taking care of himself before he did; you could just tell by listening to his voice on the phone, even before you were dating. That's why he loved you. You knew him better than anyone else ever could.

As such, you made it your mission to pick up where he couldn't.

Even when your shift was gruelling, you always showed up at Asko at the end of Zayne's day and went with him to his apartment. And there, you began your work. You made him a hearty meal, kissed his cheek when he wrapped his arms around your waist in the kitchen and told him to go get ready for bed before he could even touch the drying towel.

Sometimes Zayne had half a mind to point out that you hardly ever listened to his orders. 

Once you enter his bedroom─ he loves that it has your presence in it now─ the real work begins.

Taking care of his eating and drinking habits would have been enough for Zayne, but it certainly wasn't for you. No, you were determined to make sure he was properly treated. If that meant you buying as many skincare products as you needed until you found the ones that worked for him, then so be it.

Zayne came to crave the routine of you sitting in his lap, the feeling of your skin on his, as your fingers gently slid across his face. Each of your movements was slow and soothing as you rubbed creams and moisturisers into his flesh. Jasmine scented, as always.

When your fingers slid up the curve of his nose and rubbed the skin beneath his eyes, Zayne's eyes never failed to droop. The buzz in his mind always dulled into mutters of how much he adored you. Eventually, as if your hands weaved together into a shield, his unconscious mind's dreamless sleep welcomed him, finally peaceful.

And when he woke up, there was always a glass of water and his vitamins carefully laid out on his bedside table.

When Zayne woke up at 3:15 in the morning, it was to the lack of warmth. He groned softly as he was lifted from the dredges of sleep and into the dark world of morning. He could still see the ghost of moonlight through the curtains. He shivered. Unusual for him, especially since he'd met you. Your presence warmed both his skin and soul, and he'd come to welcome the sensations of your love with open arms.

He flipped over, squinting through the darkness to reach for you. He expected to brush against flushed skin, soft fabric, maybe even silky strands of hair. Instead, he found only cold. He pressed his hand more firmly on your side of the bed, but his fingers only met the sheets. Cold sheets. He couldn't feel the imprint of your body anywhere; he couldn't feel the heat leftover from your body.

That unnerved Zayne in a way he couldn't describe. He didn't like waking up to you gone. It was like his nightmares had walked into his waking life and snatched all his love and life away. He was always up before you. Always. Sometimes he forewent his morning coffee just so he could spend an extra ten minutes studying your features in the slivers of sun. He'd never seen a woman more beautiful than you.

Where were you? 

His hand clenched your pillow─ he pulled it towards him and scrunched it against his chest. He could smell your shampoo, the familiar scent soothed his tightened chest.

Distantly, he heard shuffling.

Zayne froze.  His fingers tensed around your pillow, nails digging into the cotton as he focused on the sound. He heard it again. The sound of something being dragged. Worry spiked in his veins, like shards slicing into his muscles, forcing them still.

He heard a grunt, then a sigh, then shuffling again.

Zayne listened intently to the sound of feet creeping against the floorboards. He instantly recognised their gait as yours. He sighed in relief. You were so ingrained in his being that he could recognise you by essence alone. Whatever you were made of, he was sure he was the same. He was certain that the two of you had come from the same cluster of atoms and were always meant to find one another again. There wasn't a doubt in his mind about that.

He heard you move. He furrowed his brows. What the hell were you doing at this hour? Was something upsetting you? Were you sick? Had you hurt yourself? 

He lifted himself so he was sitting in your lustrous bed. He'd laughed when you'd flung yourself on it in the store, pulling him down with you with that signature grin of yours. He loved kissing that smile. He pulled your pillow into his arms, pulling away from it only to turn on the bedside lamp.

"Love?" He called out softly.

 A gasp echoed. He heard all of your movements still.

Were you hiding from him?

Zayne tried again, "Y/N? Are you all right?" No response, "I'm coming to find you."

"No!" You finally squeaked out. The words rushed out of your throat, voice growing louder the closer you got. You practically ran towards the closed bedroom door. Zayne heard your feet thunder against the wooden floor as you yanked down the handle.

The first thing Zayne noticed was that your hair was tied up. Hazardously strewn together strands bunched up at the back of your head in a bun, a few wayward pieces fluttering around your face. It was messy. It was beautiful. It was you.

"What are you doing up?" Zayne murmured, "Is something wrong?"

You shook your head revently, "No. Nothing's wrong, sweetheart."

"Then why are you up?"

You hesitated, "I can't tell you. It's a surprise."

Zayne tilted his head, "A surprise? For what? There's nothing special going on today, is there?"

Your mouth dropped and your eyes widened, "Zayne. You cannot be serious."

Zayne froze. The disbelief in your gaze struck something in him. He scrambled to remember what he had forgotten. Your anniversary wasn't in September, nor do you have any important work events or any private events. Dates? No. He would've put them in his calendar.  Or had he put them in his calendars and forgotten to check?

Frantically, Zayne snatched his phone, appalled by the bright light that affronted him. The screen burned his eyes, but he found the calendar app without hesitation. Fifth of September. No work events, no personal outings, nothing. 

"There's nothing special going on today," Zayne repeated, nodding to himself, "I would've put it in my calendar. I always do. I always put our events in. Every date, every anniversary, everything worth remembering."

You tilted your head, "Baby..."

Zayne's gaze slid back to yours. Your eyes were glossy as you stared at him, an emotion he'd seen many times before. Sympathy. He furrowed his brows, more than confused, "My love. I don't understand. I haven't forgotten anything, have I?"

You shook your head, walking towards him, still clad in your matching pyjamas, "You have. In fact, you've forgotten the most important day in the entire universe."

Zayne blinked, "No, I haven't. Our wedding is on the 26th of June next year."

You laughed gently, your warm hands coming to cup his cheeks. Zayne relished the heat of your skin against his, unable to resist the urge to kiss your inner wrist. He smiled when you felt your pulse jump beneath his lips.

"You're such an idiot sometimes," You whispered, tone dripping with fondness. 

"I don't understand," Zayne huffed, frustrated. He prided himself on being the best for you, and to fail was a blow deeper than he could bear to feel. Your fingers traced the pout of his lips, almost managing to eliminate it completely.

Zayne could smell your jasmine-scented body lotion as you leaned down and said, "Happy birthday, Zayne."

A wave of realisation washed over Zayne's body. Then a flush of embarrassment followed. He'd forgotten his own birthday. His own birthday. He felt like a fool. He could feel heat rise up to his cheeks, scalding his ears as he looked at you.

Your eyes were glittering with amusement.

"I─ Thank you," Zayne murmured, caressing the backs of your hands as your fingers stroked his cheeks and jaw.

You smiled, "You're welcome."

Suddenly, Zayne's brows furrowed, "The most important day in the universe is my birthday?"

A firm nod came from you, "Yeah. If you'd never been born, then I would've never met you. I never would've fallen in love with you. I never would've been able to become your girlfriend or fiancée. And I certainly wouldn't be preparing to be your wife."

"You would've become someone else's wife," Zayne answered simply. If he never existed, someone else would take his place, he was certain of that. You were the most extraordinary woman in existence; anyone would be lucky to have you.

You shook your head softly. You looked beautiful in the orange-yellow lamp lighting. The dim glow alluminated your features, and the shadows that remained kissed your skin fondly. The bridge of your nose was strong and defined, the curve of your lips soft and sloping, and the shine of your eyes was like the first peak of the sun after a snowstorm.

"No," You said, "You're the only one for me. You're all I've wanted and all I ever will want. You've got my heart in your hands, Zayne Li. Romantically and medically."

Zayne laughed, the sound soft and breathy, "Come here."

He pulled you into him without hesitation. His hands found firm purchase on your hips, fingers brushing against your bare skin as he tugged you onto the bed and into his lap. You squealed as he did so, and if he could, he'd bottle the sound and keep it as a lucky charm.

The moment his head met the fabric of his pillow, your lips found his. Like the petals of Arctic Poppies, they were soft and sweet, blossoming a vibrant red. Zayne sighed into your embrace, shifting your lips between his as if they were gold dust. His heart was loud in his ears, but it couldn't hide the sound of your bodies pressed against one another.

Zayne loved this. He loved you.

He kissed you again and again, trying to convey just how much he felt for you. Words had never been Zayne's strength; he felt they were always too stiff and uncomfortable, a shoe grating against your heel or ankle. Actions were his speeches. They were his sonnets and soliloquies.

He heard you hum, a sweet, breathy sound he could get drunk off of, and kissed you harder. You grinned against him, hands pressed all over his body, his face, his neck, chest, stomach; they roamed relentlessly, staking their claim.

Zayne flourished beneath your touch. Never did he think he would have someone so devoted to him in all his life. You were a miracle, a guiding light, a saint, and somehow you were his. You were his, and you were going to marry him.

You pulled away, but Zayne could still feel your breath fanning his lips, "I love you, Zayne."

"And I love you," Zayne responded, reverently, "My heart is in your hands, love."

He saw your eyes glitter at the admission, "Thank you for trusting me enough to give it to me. I promise to take the best care of it."

Zayne felt his lips quirk upwards at your earnest oath, "She says even though she almost gave me a heart attack when she wasn't in bed."

A pout formed on your lips, the shadows only serving to highlight your childish expression, "You weren't meant to wake up..."

"No?" Twisting a strand of your hair in his finger, Zayne raised a brow, "Just what were you doing at 3 AM?"

"I told you, it's a surprise! I was meant to complete it while you were asleep and go back to bed so when you woke up you'd be none the wiser!" You exclaimed

"I see," Zayne hummed, "My apologies for disrupting your plans."

You only smiled, "It's fine. This just means you can help me pack later."

"Pack?"

"Yep!"

"I have work tomorrow. Well, later today."

He could feel the smugness emanating from your body and watched as a prideful grin lifted your lips even higher, squishing your cheeks and the skin around your eyes. You gently caressed his face, thumb running over the flesh of his lips briefly as you spoke, "No, you and I have a trip to a cabin up in the mountains. And before you freak out about work, I've already talked to Asko and they've agreed to give their star surgeon his well overdue holiday."

Zayne brushed a few strands of hair out of your face, "And how long is this trip?"

"A week," You chirped happily, "I've got you all to myself."

A hum left Zayne's lips, "I couldn't think of any better way to spend my birthday."

And he couldn't. All of his happiest moments had you in them. Zayne adored you; every string in his heart was tuned to the melody of your love. He still couldn't believe he would spend the rest of his life with you. He called you his fiancée, soon it would be wife, eventually the mother of his children.

Zayne kissed you, soft and slow.

He'd never been one to envision the future. He'd never seen the point in trying to discern every possibility in a world of endless pathways. Then you entered his life, and suddenly he was imagining what you'd look like in white, the way you'd babble to your baby, how your hand would feel against his when old age embraced you.

"I love you," Zayne whispered, pressing his forehead against yours, "I love you so much that sometimes I think my heart is giving out."

"Hey! There's only room for one heart condition in this relationship!" You laughed, a sweet, warm sound.

"Of course," Zayne chuckled. He never laughed as much as he did when he was around you.  It was like you released the weight of his chest.

You kissed him again, "I love you, too, by the way."

"Good," He nodded firmly, one hand tapping methodically on your side, "Now, as it's my birthday, I feel we're entitled to a lie-in, no?"

"That's a reasonable request," You giggled, "Don't get upset when you go to get your tea later and find decorations everywhere."

You shifted to slip under the sheets, the warmth of your body pressed firmly against Zayne's. He adored the feeling.

"Never," Zayne swore, pulling your head to rest on his chest as he kissed the crown of it, "Your love is the best present I could ever receive."

He felt you kiss his jaw, "You're such a sap."

𝐒𝐘𝐋𝐔𝐒

𝐑𝐀𝐅𝐀𝐘𝐄𝐋

𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐁

𝐙𝐀𝐘𝐍𝐄