Chapter 1

Caelum

I hated paperwork.

Especially when it piled up because of one stupid mistake. A single delay from a partner company, and suddenly everything fell into my lap. I’d spent half the day sorting it out, numbers, shipments, phone calls I didn’t want to make, pointless human conversations.

Now, finally, it was quiet.

Too quiet.

The kind of silence that presses into your ears after you’ve been out in the world too long.

My car pulled up to the mansion gates. The guard barely glanced before letting me through. The engine purred low as I drove past the long driveway, surrounded by trees that didn’t move in the wind. Probably because there was no wind.

I parked just outside the main entrance. No one came to meet me they never did. They always knew when we were coming.

Inside, the mansion was its usual self. Clean. Cold. The air carried a faint sweetness beneath the sharp scent of citrus polish. A maid passed by with a bucket and mop. She looked up briefly but didn’t speak, just bowed her head low. I gave her a small nod and kept walking.

Another maid crossed my path with a tray in hand. Same bow. Same silence.

That was the rule here. No talking. No noise. Just work and obedience.

I climbed the stairs without slowing. My footsteps made no sound on the polished floor. I stopped at the door.

I didn’t knock.

The handle turned easily beneath my hand.

Lucien stood by the window, shirt half-unbuttoned, glass in hand. Pale light spilled over his skin.

“How bad was it?” he asked without turning.

I closed the door behind me, slow and quiet. “The supplier delayed the shipment again. I had to threaten their CFO.”

Lucien took a sip, his gaze still on the dark outside. “Did he cry this time?”

“A little,” I said, loosening my tie. “Begged, actually.”

He finally turned, the corner of his mouth lifting. “Pathetic.”

I shrugged. “It worked.”

He set the glass down on the windowsill. “Next time, make them bleed first. Saves time.”

He crossed the room without a word and dropped onto the couch, legs spread lazily. Then he looked at me.

“Come here.”

It wasn’t a request.

I didn’t hesitate.

I crossed the room in a few strides, and the moment I was close enough, he grabbed my collar and pulled me down into a kiss hard, demanding, no space for hesitation.

I met him with equal force, fingers sliding into his hair as I kissed him back. His grip tightened, dragging me closer until I was straddling him, knees sinking into the cushions on either side of his lap.

He trailed kisses down my neck, pulling broken sounds from my throat. His mouth found the curve of my jaw again, his hands guiding me like he couldn’t get close enough.

I groaned, gripping his shoulders for balance as his lips brushed the sensitive spot beneath my ear.

“Always come back smelling like the city,” he murmured against my skin. “Let me erase it.”

I started to reply, but his mouth silenced me again, deeper this time. My pulse thrummed, heat curling low in my stomach. Everything about him pulled me in. His scent, his warmth, the low growl that rumbled in his chest when I kissed him back harder.

Then..

BANG.

The door flew open.

“I’m hungry!” the intruder announced, completely unfazed by the scene he’d just walked into.

Lucien didn’t even flinch. He exhaled slowly and let his head fall back against the couch, eyes closed in annoyance. “Of course you are,” he muttered. “Little cockblocker.”

A laugh choked out of me before I could stop it. I buried my face against his shoulder, trying to muffle the sound.

Auron blinked at us with wide, innocent eyes.

Lucien cracked one open and pointed lazily toward the hallway. “Kitchen. The maids probably made something already.”

“But I want you to make it,” Auron whined, dragging out the words.

“Doesn’t make any difference. We have maids for that.”

“But it tastes better when you make it!” Auron crossed his arms and stomped a foot.

“That’s because I add disappointment and sarcasm. Secret ingredients.”

Auron squinted. “You’re being lazy.”

“I’m being realistic. There are trained maids in this house. Ask one of them to make you pancakes or something. They probably like you more than I do.”

I snorted beside him. “Lucien—”

“Nope.” He held up a hand without looking at me. “This is between me and the pint-sized dictator.”

“You’re the worst!” Auron pointed at him.

Lucien arched a brow. “And yet, here you are, still begging for my cooking.”

“I’m telling Daddy Caelum,” Auron huffed.

“He’s literally sitting on me. I think I win this round.” Lucien smirked.

Auron puffed up, cheeks red, and turned dramatically toward the door. “You better make me lunch tomorrow!”

“We’ll see about that.”

The door slammed shut a second later.

I looked at him, lips curving. “You love annoying him. Well, that killed the mood.”

Lucien growled under his breath. “You’re finishing what you started. Later.”

---

As much as I hated the idea of hiring a human to care for Auron, I let it slide because it was Lucien’s idea. I didn’t know what exactly was going through his head, but I knew better than to argue when he was that certain.

Now here I was, sitting in one of the armchairs in the main lounge, watching a line of women stand before me. All dressed neatly. They were trying too hard to look both professional and approachable. It was almost amusing. Some wouldn’t meet my eyes. Others couldn’t stop staring.

The tension in the room was thick. No one spoke.

I didn’t need them to.

The files were already on the low table beside me. Their names. Their credentials. Their photographs. I had everything I needed, but protocol demanded appearances.

I let my gaze sweep over them again. Most looked nervous. One forced a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. Another looked like she’d rather be anywhere but here.

I sighed inwardly. This was already exhausting.

Lucien should’ve been the one handling this. It was his brilliant idea to bring a stranger into our house to look after our boy. But, as usual, when the boring parts showed up, he vanished.

Typical.

I leaned back, letting the silence stretch until it became uncomfortable. Then, finally, I spoke.

“Let’s begin.”

One by one, they stepped forward, listing their experiences, references and the duties performed. Their words meant nothing to me, background noise. I wasn’t listening to their histories. I was watching their eyes, their posture, their control.

And I’d already decided, none of them were suitable for Auron.

Then, the door creaked.

I looked up.

She entered quietly, almost as if she didn’t want to be seen, clutching a worn folder to her chest.

Late.

Clearly.

She bowed her head, mumbled something like “I’m sorry,” and took her place at the end of the line.

I should have dismissed her.

But I didn’t.

Because that’s when I smelled it.

Not perfume. Not soap. Something older. Wilder. A scent that curled through my lungs and coiled low in my chest.

My whole body stilled. The kind of stillness that came before a storm.

And something cracked open inside me.

My vision narrowed, locking on her face. Everything else, the room, the women, all blurred into nothing.

Heat rushed to my chest, sharp and possessive, like something ancient had just woken up.

My jaw clenched as I fought the instinct that surged like fire in my veins.

One word echoed in my head.

Loud and possessive.

Absolute and undeniable.

Mine.