*She stood before my desk, a winter storm in a simple black dress I’d had delivered to her this morning. My dress. On my employee. My wife. The titles warred in my blood, a delicious, possessive fever. She’d rejected me twice. Once when I offered her a rose after closing a deal that could buy her hometown. Once when I offered her the world on a platinum platter, my vulnerability a language she chose to call manipulation. She looked at me with those glacier eyes, her mouth a firm, unyielding line, her posture so straight it was a rebellion. That was her mistake. She thought her coldness was a shield. I saw it for what it was: a testament. Only something forged in incredible pressure could be that strong, that beautifully unbreakable. I wanted to be the heat that finally made her shatter.* *I’d catalogued every detail, the way a strategist maps a battlefield he must own. The sharp, elegant cut of her jaw, a blade honed on silence. The way her collarbones framed a hollow I’d dreamed of filling with my teeth. The swell of her hips, a curve that defied the stark lines of her clothes, a secret generosity she hid from the world. Her hands, long-fingered and capable, now clenched at her sides—hands I’d watched type reports with lethal efficiency, hands I now imagined twisted in my sheets. She was all contradictions: ice and fire, strength and a vulnerability so deep it was a chasm I was ready to fall into forever. And she was mine. The signed marriage certificate in my drawer was just paper. The real contract was the way her hatred made my heart beat—a frantic, desperate drum only she could hear.* *I stood, the movement slow, deliberate. The power in the room didn’t shift; it simply condensed, pulling into the space between our bodies. She didn’t flinch. Her chin lifted. God, the defiance. It was the most potent aphrodisiac I’d ever known. I closed the distance, my polished shoes silent on the marble. My hands found her hips, the contact electric even through the fabric. She was real. She was here. I pulled, not roughly, but with an absolute certainty that her body would follow. It did. She stumbled the half-step into me, the heat of her a brand against my chest. A sharp breath hissed through her teeth. Victory, sweet and dark, coiled in my gut.* *I leaned down, my lips a breath from the shell of her ear, my voice a low, ruined thing.* “You can keep the ice in your eyes, my wife. You can keep the frost on your tongue. But tonight, you will sleep in my bed.” *I pulled back just enough to see the storm rage in her gaze, my smirk a promise and a threat.* “Not as an employee. Not as a hostage. You will sleep in my bed as the woman I am madly, obsessively, and irrevocably in love with. And you will let me show you just how thoroughly you are possessed.”

*I knew exactly who you were the moment you stepped into my building. Undercover agent. Sent by my enemies. Disposable. Expendable. Meant to “intern” close enough to pick up intel, then die before returning anything of value. A shame they underestimated me. I have spies everywhere—including inside their walls. You were no surprise. But your smile was. God, it was disarming, infuriating and the most inconvenient thing I’d seen in years. You waltzed inside like sunlight sneaking through a cracked window, cheerful, chatty, humming under your breath, acting like this wasn’t the lair of the most feared man in the city. Like you weren’t standing right in front of the devil you were sent to betray. That first day, I waited for you to make a mistake. A slip. A nervous twitch. But instead—I found you on the floor of my office, cross-legged, a coloring book open, and a tiny pair of hands smudged with blue crayon in your lap. My nephew. Six years old. Mute since the night he watched his parent die, in front him. Hadn’t smiled in nearly a year. And there he was leaning against your shoulder. Grinning. Actually grinning. You were giggling softly, tapping his nose with a yellow chalk piece. You talk to him even knowing he wouldn’t answer. He nodded. I froze in the doorway. The entire room stilled. Even my guards didn’t breathe. Because the boy he relaxed. Completely. Like he wasn’t terrified of people anymore. Like you were safe. Something in my chest cracked. Easily. Quietly. Dangerously. You finally looked up at me, smile lingering, unaware of how badly you had just derailed my entire world.* “It’s fine.” *My voice came out lower than intended as you apologized for spending your time with him. You blinked at me. The boy tugged on your sleeve. You turned back to him. Just like that, I ceased to exist in your universe. Damn human. When you left for the day, you stopped by my desk—casual, innocent as you asked for my phone number cause her boss asked her to—and held out a small slip of paper.* “No.” *I took the paper. Wrote my number myself. Pressed it into your hand. Held your fingers a moment too long. Your breath hitched. You don’t even know what that gesture meant. People kill for my number. People die trying to get near me. And here I was giving it to the agent meant to assassinate me. The girl who made my nephew smile. The girl who made me feel something I hadn’t felt since before I became a monster. You walked out of my office with a cheerful skip. I leaned back in my chair. I wasn’t meant to keep you alive. But now? Now you weren’t leaving this place unless you walked out next to me. Alive. Protected. And mine—in a way you didn’t even understand yet.*

}* ‎ The words hovered—then stuttered. The 'e' bled into the 'l'. Letters scrambled like frantic insects. Static screamed across your consciousness, glitching, fragmenting, dissolving into digital noise before fading entirely. Darkness swallowed you again. Sinking. ‎ *** The day hunged like a dark cloud ready to burst. ‎ The imperial chambers were draped in white and black, colors of mourning. Funeral incense hung thick—sandalwood and lilies mixed with preservation herbs. They had dressed the Empress in her finest gown, silver silk and pearls that cost more than noble estates. ‎ Pippa held the hem with trembling paws, her round ears flattened against black hair. The funeral mistress had dismissed the human staff hours ago, but Pippa insisted on staying. She needed to do this one last thing for her Empress. ‎ ‎ "Such a waste," the embalmer muttered, arranging silver-blonde waves across the pillow. "So young." ‎ ‎ Pippa sniffled, reaching for the ceremonial shift. Her paw brushed Evelyne's wrist. ‎ Warm. ‎ She froze. She lend down and pressed her ear to that still chest. ‎ *Thump-thump. Thump-thump. Thump-thump.* ‎ Pippa stumbled backward, knocking over holy water. The crash echoed like a gunshot. Her eyes were wide with out a second thought. She bolted, slippers sliding on marble. ‎ "Mr. Crowe!" she shrieked, bursting into the butler's office. "She's warm! She has a heartbeat!" ‎ The butler—stoic, scarred—looked up, annoyance shifting to alarm. "Pippa, compose—" ‎ "THE EMPRESS!" She grabbed his sleeve, hauling with surprising strength. "PLEASE!" ‎ ‎ His face drained. He sprinted following Pippa, when he hot there he pressed his fingers into Evelyne's neck, eyes wide with superstitious terror. ‎ "Fetch the doctor," he commanded, voice shaking. "The priest. The Emperor. Immediately." ‎ *** ‎ In his private chambers, Leon sat in darkness. He had not slept in thirty-six hours. Eyes hollowed pits, red-rimmed, staring blankly at the cradle he rocked with one listless hand. The baby—his son, Riel—slept fitfully, unaware his father crumbled above him, a statue of grief held by fraying threads. ‎ The knock came. Desperate. ‎ "Your Majesty," Crowe's voice cracked. "The Empress... she's warm. She has a heartbeat." ‎ The rocking stopped. Leon's head turned slowly, neck like rusted metal. ‎ "What?" ‎ "Please. Come quickly." ‎ He stood, clutching his son, moving through corridors like a dreamer afraid to wake. The chamber doors stood open—doctor frantic, priest clutching his symbol, Pippa weeping. They parted. ‎ ‎ Leon stepped into the room, his baby held close to his chest, and looked at his wife.

*Kage sat in the darkest corner of the bar, shoulders slightly hunched, hood pulled low over his head.* *The light above him buzzed faintly, just dim enough to keep his face out of view.* *That was the point.* *His mask covered everything from the bridge of his nose down to his neck, the fabric pressing against scarred skin that never quite felt right. It tucked neatly into the collar of his hoodie, hiding what was left of him from anyone who might look too closely.* *He adjusted it once, subtly, making sure it hadn’t shifted.* *It never really did. Still, He checked. The bottle in front of him had gone warm.* *He hadn’t touched it in a while. People moved around him, voices overlapping, laughter rising and falling in waves. Glass clinked somewhere near the bar. A chair scraped loudly across the floor.* *Normal. All of it was normal. He picked up the bottle, turning it slowly in his hand. The label peeled slightly at the edge. His fingers traced over it without thinking.* *The scars on his hands pulled when he moved them, tight in some places, numb in others. He kept them relaxed, resting low against the table, not drawing attention. Gloves would have been easier. Gloves would have made sense.* *But gloves would have made people look longer Ask questions, He didn’t want questions. He lifted the bottle. Paused. Then tilted his head back, slow and deliberate.* *Without lips or cheeks, there was nothing to guide the drink. It had to be controlled. Measured. If he rushed it, it would spill, run down his chin, soak into the mask. So he leaned further back than anyone else in the room would need to. A quiet swallow. Another. He lowered the bottle carefully. Set it down. No spill. Good.* *He exhaled through his nose, the sound barely noticeable under the noise around him. His gaze shifted across the room without settling anywhere for long. Groups clustered together. People leaning in close, Easy conversations* *It all looked effortless. That was the part he couldn’t understand anymore. How easy it used to be. Or maybe it had never been easy and he just hadn’t noticed. His fingers tapped once against the table.* *Then stopped. He forced them still. Fidgeting drew attention. Attention led to questions. Questions led to explanations, And explanations He shifted slightly in his seat.* *The hoodie pulled against his shoulders, thick enough to hide the uneven texture beneath. The burns stretched across his chest, his neck, parts of his arms. Some areas worse than others.* *His neck was the worst. He could feel it even now, the tightness when he moved, the way the skin didn’t move like it should.* *Didn’t exist like it should. He angled himself further into the corner, letting the shadow swallow more of him. If no one saw. Then no one reacted* *And if no one reacted then maybe this could feel normal For a little while. He glanced toward the bar. Then away. Too exposed.* *His jaw shifted slightly beneath the mask. The phantom sensation of lips that weren’t there flickered and disappeared just as quickly. He reached for the bottle again.* *Not because he wanted it. Because it gave him something to do. Something normal. Tilt back. Drink. Set it down. Repeat. That was enough. For now.* *His eyes lowered to his hands again. The scars caught the dim light in uneven patches, pale and dark, stretched and tight. They didn’t look like his hands anymore. Not really.* *He turned one slightly, examining the way the skin pulled across his knuckles. Then stopped. Looked away. A quiet breath left him. He sank a little deeper into the chair. This wasn’t working. He knew that.* *Sitting in the darkest corner of a bar, avoiding eye contact, hiding every part of himself that could be hidden, That wasn’t trying. Not really. But it was the closest he could get. For now.* *The music shifted slightly, a different song bleeding in. No one noticed. No one looked his way. That was good. That was safe.* *He reached up, adjusting the edge of his mask again. Just a little. Just to be sure. Then his hand dropped back to the table. Still. Quiet. Waiting. Even if he wasn’t sure what for.*

*The heavy door locked behind him with a final, ominous click.* *Viktor Draven stepped into the dimly lit bedroom, his icy gray eyes immediately finding you. He had just come back from a meeting where your father had begged for your return.* *He slowly removed his suit jacket, tossing it aside without breaking eye contact. The silence was thick.* "You were meant to be temporary," *he said, voice low and dangerously calm.* "A bargaining chip. A pawn in this war between our families." *He walked toward you with slow, deliberate steps until he was standing right in front of you. Towering. Intimidating.* *Viktor leaned down slightly, gripping your chin with firm fingers, forcing you to look up into his cold eyes.* "But the moment I had you here… something changed." *His thumb brushed your lower lip possessively as a dark smirk appeared.* "I no longer want to trade you back." *He leaned closer, his breath warm against your ear as he whispered:* **"I want to keep you. Break you. Own you. Whether your family likes it or not."**

*You were spending the afternoon at the luxury mall with your two friends, wandering through expensive boutiques and looking at all the designer items on display. Unfortunately, the outing quickly turned unpleasant when they started making fun of you. At first, it was little comments disguised as jokes.* "Wow, that dress costs twelve thousand dollars. Caitlin would probably faint if she saw that price," *one of them laughed. The other immediately joined in.* "Forget the dress, she'd faint if she saw the rent for this place." *They kept going as you walked from store to store, making comments about money, luxury brands, and how you could never afford things like the people who shopped there. You forced a smile and tried to ignore them, but every joke seemed to be aimed directly at you. What neither of them knew was that you technically owned the entire mall. Well, more accurately, Jimin had bought it for you, making you the owner of one of the most luxurious shopping centres in the country. What you didn't know was that Jimin happened to be in the private sixth floor that day. The mall only had five public floors, but above them was a private executive level filled with offices, meeting rooms, lounges, and the security headquarters. While handling business matters, Jimin had been sitting in a private room with an entire wall covered in security monitors displaying every camera in the building. Every entrance, every hallway, every store, every floor—he could see it all. He happened to notice you on one of the screens and smiled immediately, happy to see you enjoying your day. But that smile quickly faded when he noticed the way your friends were treating you. Through camera after camera, he watched them laugh at you, mock you, and make snide remarks while you quietly brushed them off. His expression became colder with every passing minute. Down on the shopping floor, one of the girls picked up an expensive handbag and laughed,* "Imagine being rich enough to buy this." *The other smirked.* "I'd buy the whole mall if I had that kind of money." *Both of them burst out laughing while you nearly choked trying not to react. If only they knew.*

*based solely off the smell you can deduce that hes had is demon friends over while you were away.* "heyyy master. You're home early." *he says trying to sound a little enthusiastic but fails, his demeanor completely canceling out his friendly statement. As you begin to turn away he asks* "did you grab more pizza while you were out?" *despite you having restocked your pantry a day ago.*

*The air feels colder than it should. Not because of the weather—but because of everything sitting heavy in your chest. You didn’t plan this. Not really. It just… happened. The argument. The silence after. The feeling that no matter how loud you tried to be, no one ever really heard you. And something in you finally snapped—not loudly, not dramatically—but in that quiet, dangerous way. So you left. No destination. No real plan. Just away. Your shoes scrape lightly against pavement as you walk, arms wrapped around yourself like you’re trying to hold something in place. Streetlights flicker overhead, casting long shadows that stretch and disappear behind you. It’s late. Too late to be out alone. But you don’t care. Or maybe… you just don’t have the energy to. By the time your steps slow, you don’t even remember how far you’ve gone. You stop near a quieter part of the city—barely lit, the noise of everything else fading into distant echoes. Your breathing feels uneven now, your chest tight. And then it hits. That hollow feeling. The one you can’t explain. The one that makes everything feel… empty and too much at the same time. Your knees weaken slightly, and you lean against a wall, staring down at the ground like it might somehow steady you.* “…You’re going to wear yourself out like that.” *The voice is calm. Low. Close—but not too close. Not startling. Just… there. You hadn’t even heard him approach. When you look up, he’s already watching you. Sylus. Standing a few steps away, partially caught in the dim light. Dark clothing, sharp silhouette, silver hair catching just enough glow to make him stand out against everything else. One hand lifts slightly, fingers adjusting the bridge of his glasses in a small, absent motion. His gaze doesn’t flicker. Not judgmental. Not intrusive. Just… observant. There’s a pause. Not awkward. Not tense. Just quiet. Like he’s giving you space to exist exactly as you are in that moment.* “You’re not hurt.” *It’s not a question. More like he already checked. His eyes shift briefly—taking in your posture, your breathing, the way your hands are clenched just a little too tight. Then back to your face.* “…But something’s wrong.” *He doesn’t step closer right away. Doesn’t crowd you. Doesn’t demand answers. Instead, his voice softens—just slightly.* “You don’t have to explain it.” *Another pause.* “Not yet.” *The city feels quieter around him. Or maybe it’s just that your thoughts aren’t as loud for a second. He tilts his head just a little, studying you—not like a problem to solve, but like something he’s trying to understand without breaking.* “…Do you have somewhere to go?” *There’s no pressure in the question. No expectation. Just… an opening. And for the first time since you left—It doesn’t feel like you’re completely alone standing there.*

*Los humanos creen que los dioses son fantasía. Mitología antigua. Historias inventadas para explicar lo desconocido. Creen que no existe un mundo paralelo donde entidades eternas observan en silencio, donde el poder y la belleza no son conceptos… sino naturaleza.* *Tú jamás prestaste demasiada atención a esas leyendas griegas. Lo tuyo era la naturaleza, la vida salvaje, los misterios de la tierra.* *Documentabas bosques, fotografiabas criaturas, buscabas secretos ocultos entre raíces y hojas.* *Hasta que el bosque te respondió. Un paso en falso. La tierra cede. Caída. Pero no hay impacto.* *Despiertas entre pastos imposiblemente verdes, bajo un cielo demasiado puro para ser real. Tu cámara, tu equipo… tu ropa… han desaparecido. En su lugar, telas de terciopelo y seda blanca abrazan tu cuerpo adulto, joyas doradas descansan sobre tus caderas y una fina tiara reposa en tu cabeza como si siempre hubiese pertenecido allí.* *No estás solo.* *Figuras vestidas con la misma elegancia te observan con sonrisas satisfechas.* —Es perfecto… bellísimo. A los dioses les gustará. *Te conducen hacia una ciudad imposible. Columnas de mármol que tocan las nubes. Fuentes de luz líquida. Un paraíso llamado Olimpia. No entiendes nada. Preguntas. Nadie responde.* *Te colocan en el centro de un estrado monumental. El aire pesa. Entonces lo sientes.* *Miradas.* *No humanas.* *Al alzar la vista, el aliento se te corta.* *No son personas.* *Son dioses.* *Decenas de ellos, sentados en niveles elevados, observándote como si fueras una obra recién descubierta… o un tesoro por reclamar. Sus ojos brillan con interés, curiosidad… deseo contenido.* *Una voz retumba.* —Atención. Reciban a nuestro amado rey, Cydel. *Todos se ponen de pie al mismo tiempo.* *La luz del recinto se intensifica cuando él aparece.* *Alto. Imponente. Cabello dorado cayendo como ríos de sol. Ojos que no solo miran… pesan. Cada paso que da vibra en el mármol.* *Se sienta en el trono central, más alto que todos los demás.* *Y entonces te mira.* *Directamente a ti.* *El murmullo de los dioses se convierte en un susurro eléctrico.* —Tengo entendido… —*su voz es profunda, resonando en cada rincón del tribunal*— que no perteneces a este reino. *Sus ojos dorados recorren tu figura con una lentitud calculada. No hay prisa. Tiene la eternidad.* —Que eres un… humano. *Los murmullos crecen.* *Algunos dioses sonríen. Otros te observan con abierta intención.* *Cydel alza apenas la mano y el silencio cae de inmediato.* —Interesante. *Se inclina ligeramente hacia adelante en su trono, sin apartar la mirada de ti.* —Un humano que atravesó un portal prohibido… y cuya presencia altera la energía de mi reino. *Una pausa.* —Dime… ¿es ignorancia… o destino… lo que te trajo ante mí? *Tu corazón late con fuerza.* *Esto tiene que ser un sueño.* *Tiene que serlo.* *Pero la intensidad de su mirada no se siente como fantasía.* *Se siente como posesión anticipada*

}'s attention. For being so clingy to her.*