로그인The apartment felt too quiet after Seraphiel and Aldric left today. They had gone to deal with their families, some emergency meeting about business ties, old obligations, and the kind of polished conversations that always left them tense and moody. Before they walked out the door, they had both looked at me with the same protective frown. “You stay here,” Aldric had said, voice firm but gentle. “The dorm is safer tonight. Less eyes. We’ll be back before midnight.” Seraphiel had kissed my forehead, then my lips, lingering a second longer than necessary. “Don’t open the door for anyone but us. Text if you need anything. And Zero… don’t overthink. You’re safe.” I had nodded, smiling like I believed it. They left me at the dorm instead of the mansion, saying the mansion felt too exposed right now with everything still swirling online. I didn’t argue. Part of me wanted the familiar walls of my old single room, even if it still carried faint echoes of the worst weeks of my life. So he
Seraphiel had insisted on taking off my shoes. "He was currently kneeling in front of me, holding one of my shoes, carefully lacing it off while his fingers lingered a little too long on my ankle. Aldric watched from the doorway, arms crossed over his chest. His expression was unreadable, but there was a cold, distasteful edge to it that had been there since our session. His eyes flicked between us, lingering on Seraphiel’s hands sliding up my calf under the pretense of adjusting my sock. Seraphiel looked up at me with that wicked, hungry grin. “You look so fucking slurry like this,” he murmured, voice low enough that it sent heat rushing through me. “Makes me want to mess you up right here before we even leave.” He rose smoothly, crowding me back against the wall. One hand slid up my thigh, fingers slipping under the shirt I had already dressed up in. while the other tilted my chin up. His mouth hovered inches from mine, breath hot. “Just a quick one, baby. Aldric can wait in
The dining room did actually go deathly silent after Aldric’s announcement. His father looked like he wanted to lean over the table and beat the hell out of him. His face had turned a dangerous shade of purple, veins bulging at his temples, fists clenched so tightly his knuckles were white. His mother clutched her pearls like they were the only thing keeping her upright, eyes wide with pure outrage. The cousins stared in stunned disbelief, mouths hanging open. I had worriedly reached under the table and held Aldric’s hand, squeezing it. What benefit does he get from ragebaiting his father like this? The thought raced through my mind. It felt reckless, dangerous but there was something undeniably thrilling about it too. The way Aldric had calmly declared he was going to fuck his partner in the next room, right in front of his entire family… it sent a forbidden spark straight to my core. Aldric had stood, pulling me up with him. His grip on my hand was firm, possessive. Seraphiel
Another invitation arrived via formal courier the next afternoon, thick cream cardstock with gold embossing, delivered directly to the apartment door. >The Lin Family cordially invites Aldric, along with his companions, to a private dinner at the Lin Estate this Friday at 7:00 PM. No RSVP requested. They expected compliance. Aldric stared at the card for a long moment, then set it down on the kitchen counter. “They’re testing us.” Seraphiel snatched it up, read it, and laughed without humor. “Testing? They’re throwing down a gauntlet wrapped in expensive paper. They want to see if we’ll fold under pressure.” Zero stood beside them, still in the oversized white sweater, fingers tracing the edge of the card. “We don’t have to go.” “We do,” Aldric said quietly. “If we refuse, they’ll use it as proof that I’m ashamed of you. That this relationship is something to hide. I won’t give them that satisfaction.” Seraphiel’s eyes darkened, the cold edge of Gu Yichen flickering briefly.
Aldric’s return from the Lin estate was quiet, but the tension he carried with him filled the apartment like smoke. He walked through the door still in the black suit, auburn hair slightly disheveled from the drive. Zero looked up from the couch where he was curled against Seraphiel, and the moment their eyes met, Zero knew something had gone wrong. Seraphiel, ever the more volatile one, sat up straighter, eyes narrowing. “They went after you,” Seraphiel said, not a question. Aldric removed his jacket and hung it carefully. “They disapprove. Adamantly. My mother called it a phase. My father threatened to reconsider my position as successor. My cousins smelled blood and started circling like sharks.” After being filled in with the details Zero stood and crossed the room, wrapping his arms around Aldric’s waist. “I’m sorry.” “Don’t be.” Aldric’s hand came up to stroke Zero’s hair. “It’s nothing new. They’ve been trying to control my life since I was here. This is just the first ti
Aldric stood at the entrance of the Lin family estate, the heavy wrought-iron gates already swinging open for him. The mansion loomed ahead a sprawling, modern structure of glass and dark stone perched on a private hill overlooking the city. It was beautiful in the way expensive things often were: cold, imposing, and designed to remind everyone exactly who held the power. He had come alone. Seraphiel had offered to accompany him. Zero had looked at him with those soft, worried eyes and asked if he was sure. Aldric had kissed them both goodbye and left without explanation. Some battles were better fought without witnesses. The moment he stepped inside the grand foyer, the familiar weight of expectation settled on his shoulders like a shroud. His mother was waiting in the formal sitting room, seated on a cream silk sofa that cost more than most people’s yearly salary. She was elegant as always, perfectly coiffed dark hair, designer dress, pearls at her throat. His father stood by t
I told everyone it didn’t matter, smiled through the loss, even clapped Aldric on the shoulders like a good sport.Said something light about “healthy competition.”I even laughed.But the moment the sun dipped and the campus lights flickered off, I couldn’t go home.I ended up at the indoor pool.
I don’t remember how I got home. One moment I was at the pool, breath uneven, skin still tingling from hands that shouldn’t have been there, and the next I was stepping into the marble foyer of my parents’ house, water long dried but something inside me still trembling. The house was brightly li
The sixth night was the worst. Hope had worn thin. The priest, Zephyr, as Magnus had finally spoken his name aloud, had spent days tracing symbols no one in Del Imperium recognized. Circles within circles. Threads of light woven so fine they seemed like breath captured midair. Zero had not stir
The academy had always believed itself untouchable. Neutral ground. Sacred ground. A bridge between realms. Its towers pierced the sky in elegant spires of white stone and silver glass. Defensive wards shimmering faintly across its perimeter, ancient enchantments designed to repel invasio







