Mag-log in"I have no idea why he kept you outside," Nathan mumbled as he dumped another scoop of food into Orion's plate. The dark doberman instantly gobbled it.Nathan chuckled."You're not scary," he commented, his lips curled into a warm smile. His eyes darted to Sapphire who was asleep in the shed. "But your sister is."Orion's ears perked up and he shot his head towards Nathan. His expression changed as though he understood what the boy had said. "What?" Nathan asked, tone blank.Orion tilted his head. "It's true." The dog stared at him for a moment before he resumed his meal. Nathan crouched down beside him and sighed, hand caressing the dog's back as he watched him eat. Valentino would soon be home. But knowing that did nothing to dispose of this emptiness in his chest. Orion's ear twitched as his finger traced the veins on the shell slowly. The dog shot his head towards Nathan again. This time, he stomped its fore paws."What?" Nathan's brows furrowed. His gaze sliced to his pl
His father was wrong.He wasn't that helpless boy who watched his mother writhe in pain until she took her last breath anymore.He was Valentino. A name whispered, with a weight that was not only ancient but venomous. Years of waiting, enduring, watching had molded him.His scars weren't just marks. They were testimonies strewn about his skin of the life he had to step into. A world where power breathed and weaklings bowed and danced to its whims. A world he had dominated with nothing to his name but only the sheer will to avenge his mother's death. Nikolai was wrong. Nathan wasn't his weak spot. He was his fuel. His drive. His reason to finally put that old man in his place. And bring his brother home. To truth. To mother. Valentino's steps filled the air, crisp and heavy, laced with the undertow of something that had wreaked an oppressive silence upon the office for a week.His eyes were sharp, despite the measly hours of sleep, dark brown irises tinged with suppressed rage.
The lecture room was quiet, except for the professor's mechanical voice drifting through the air like its main goal was to put Nathan to sleep.The boy glanced round, eyes half-lidded, his head rested on his hand. Mikhail wasn't here. Elena, too.They must be busy.Their wedding would be right after the semester.He scoffed and shook his head.Why the rush?His gaze sliced back to his note and he continued writing. If it hadn't been for his exams that were around the corner, he would have ditched the class.His mind wandered to Valentino and a small smile crossed his lips.God, he couldn't wait to get this over with and go home. Home. His heart thumped. Valentino's house was now home.He never thought he'd miss being hospitalised so much.They had all the time in the world. His smile fell. Now...The professor soon rounded up his lecture and packed his bags. It was his final lecture for the semester. He wished them good luck on their exams then left.Nathan wasted no time.He reache
"That's all?" Valentino asked as he placed the last bits of Nathan's belongings in a duffel bag.The boy's eyes darted round the room and a sigh slipped through his lips. He nodded, lips curved into a small smile."Let's go then." The man could not help but return the smile. He swung the bag on his shoulder and padded towards him."Let me carry that," said Nathan as he stared up at him. His wide eyes caught the light, sapphire-flecked irises sparkling with something that made Valentino's heart skip.Valentino's smile fell into something shy and he shook his head, unable to tear his gaze away.The boy scoffed, shooting him a glare.Then he stormed away, tousled hair bouncing with each step. Once he reached the door, he stopped and moved to the side, glancing expectantly at him.The man stared at him for a moment too long, before he closed the distance between them and slid the door open.A crisp 'tsk' dripped from Nathan's lips, but the small smile playing on his lips was hard to miss
Valentino shifted, sighing as he nuzzled his head against Nathan's chest. A chill coursed down his spine when the boy's hand moved to his hair.His fingers threaded through his strands, warm tips gently brushing his scalp. Another sigh slipped through his lips and he smiled."Aren't you supposed to be working?" Nathan asked, sliding his hand to his nape.Valentino's brows furrowed, his chest tightening with discomfort. He reached for the boy's hand and guided it back to his hair.A smile crossed his lips as his heart thumped against his cheek. Faster. Harder. Than he thought was possible."Yes," he replied, fluttering his eyes close as Nathan's fingers resumed their massage. His ears pressed harder against his chest and he listened to his heart beat.It was music."Why are you here then?" Valentino didn't reply; he lifted his head just enough for their eyes to meet. Once he had his fill of that confusion-ladened gaze, he plopped his head on the boy's chest and nuzzled against it.As
Nathan stood in the balcony, a hand rested on the metal railing, a smile across his face, his heart throbbing as he waved his parents goodbye.Valentino stood beside him.They slid into their car, pulled out of the curb, and his mother flashed them one last smile through the window, before they drove away.A soft sigh slipped through Nathan's lips and his hand fell to the railing.He inhaled sharply, when Valentino's hand slid to his waist and pulled him close, muscles tense as the sensation of his cold hand coursed through the thin fabric of his shirt.His eyes darted to the man. Their gaze lingered on his face for a moment too long, then it sliced to the bushes below.As they both watched the world below them, beneath the evening sun, in the chill breeze, snuggled up together, Nathan's mind wandered to those words.He hadn't meant to eavesdrop.But God was he glad he heard them.A warmth crept to his cheeks as they swirled in his mind, like they were there to stay. And he wasn't aga
The afternoon sun hung high in clear blue sky, its rays filtering through the glass-paned window, across the sleek hospital room.Nathan was seated in the chair by the window, staring down at the bushes below and the people walking by.His heart raced beneath his ribs, dread creeping deeper into hi
Sunlight filtered through the windows, casting a warm gold glow across the desk. The chill from the AC hung in the air, colder now that winter was near."I must say, it was quite a surprise." Valentino frowned. Nikolai's lips curved into a light smile, his gaze dipping.He reached for the coffee mu
Nathan stirred, squinting as his eyes adjusted to the light filtering in from the window beside him.His gaze sliced to Valentino's head rested beside him and he smiled small, looking towards their entwined hands.He stared at him for a while, trailing his features under the sun, brows furrowed, ha
The moon and stars were away. In their place were dark rain clouds. They stretched endlessly, cloaking the world in an eerie darkness.Lightning shot through the sky, veins of sharp lights that briefly illuminated the field, followed by roars of thunder.A heavy wind brushed walls, seeped through







