Cherion’s old bedroom door swung shut behind them. But nable to breathe in the stuffy air of the bedroom, Cherion walked straight out onto the wide balcony.

The courtyard below was still in an uproar. Guards moved constantly between the palace buildings.

Cherion leaned his hands against the railing, staring down at the glowing lights of the capital. His mind was an absolute battlefield. He hadn’t actually lived through the secret temple visit the High Priest had described, but to know that the OG Cherion’s parents had been so afraid of what might happen to their son that they had tried to erase this power he had been born with.

Warmth suddenly settled against his back, shielding him from the wind.

Zarius stepped up behind him, his larger frame completely enveloping Cherion. He didn’t say a word at first. He simply reached down, his hand sliding effortlessly over Cherion’s palm, wrapping his fingers firmly around Cherion’s hand.

"Cherion," Zarius called, his voice vibrating right against Cherion’s shoulder. "Are you really okay?"

Cherion let out a light, breezy chuckle, tilting his head back slightly. "Oh, sure. I’m great, I’m so fine. Not to mention, Princess Iryna is finally out of danger. We managed to pull off a literal miracle tonight under the King’s nose. I should be celebrating."

Zarius didn’t buy the carefree act for a single second. "Then why do I feel like you are not truly fine?"

Cherion’s smile softened, turning a bit wistful as he stared out below. He squeezed Zarius’s large hand back. "Well... it’s just a lot, you know? It seems like there are a lot of things about my own life that I don’t remember."

Inside, Cherion’s thoughts took a sharper, more bitter turn. It’s not that I don’t remember... it’s more like, I literally didn’t know anything.

Zarius hummed softly. He gently took Cherion by the waist and turned him around, shifting him away from the railing so they were facing each other. "I hope I can make you feel better," Zarius whispered against his skin.

He pressed a slow, deep, burning kiss directly against Cherion’s shoulder. Cherion shivered slightly at that, and a genuine smile finally appeared on his face. He reached back, pulling his own hand up to rest on Zarius’s broad, muscular shoulder, completely sinking into the solid comfort of the Duke’s embrace.

Zarius’s lips began to trail a slow path up from his shoulder, grazing the sensitive skin of Cherion’s neck. His hot breath brushed against Cherion’s ear as he whispered. "Your family cared a lot about you, Cherion. They knew what this kingdom would do to someone so pure. You are precious." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Cherion’s heart swelled. He knew exactly why he was so careful with his power. Reason number one was to avoid the dark mastermind behind Zarius’s curse. Reason number two was the tragic warning left by the OG Cherion’s parents. But ultimately, it all boiled down to one thing, he wanted to protect the peaceful, beautiful future he was building right here with this man.

"Yes," Cherion whispered, his eyes fluttering shut as he leaned into the touch. "They did."

Unable to handle the distance anymore, Cherion turned around completely within the tight space of the embrace. His front flushed against Zarius’s chest, his eyes locking directly into the Duke’s fierce, burning gaze.

Zarius didn’t hesitate. He gently cupped Cherion’s face, his large thumb tracing the sharp line of Cherion’s jaw before tilting his chin up. He leaned in, capturing Cherion’s lips in a deep, breathless, entirely consuming kiss.

When they finally broke apart for air, Zarius’s thumb gently brushed over Cherion’s swollen, flushed lower lip. A dark, possessive smile tugged at the Duke’s mouth. "That was your gift. Your prize. For you know..."

Cherion let out a soft laugh, his eyes darkening with a sudden, wicked desire as he gripped the front of Zarius’s heavy coat. "I think I need a much bigger and better prize than that, Duke."

Zarius’s grip on Cherion’s waist tightening until there was absolutely no space left between them. "Then why don’t you just take the prize itself?"

Cherion didn’t need to be told twice. He forcefully pulled Zarius down by his collar, dragging him into another kiss, this one bursting with an unbridled, aggressive hunger. A soft, involuntary moan escaped the back of Cherion’s throat as Zarius pressed him firmly backward. Cherion’s lower back leaned heavily against the railing of the balcony, the chilly night air completely forgotten beneath the sheer heat of the Duke’s body. Zarius handled him with absolute, fierce care, his massive, powerful hand securely bracing Cherion’s back, anchoring him safely as they completely devoured each other under the moonlight.

In the middle of the passionate haze, Cherion’s internal alarm system flickered. Feeling a strange sensation, he slightly opened his eyes through his hair. Down in the courtyard below, a pair of imperial guards on patrol had stopped dead in their tracks, looking straight up at the balcony.

Catching the young noble’s open eyes, the two guards went completely pale. Realizing they were staring directly at the notorious Duke of the North aggressively kissing his partner, the guards instantly snapped their heads down in sheer terror, breaking into a frantic, hurried walk to escape before they were executed for looking.

Cherion pulled back slightly from the kiss, his chest heaving as he gasped for air, a breathless chuckle escaping him. "Zarius... wait, they..."

Zarius didn’t even bother to glance over the railing. His lips slid right back down to Cherion’s jawline, his teeth nipping lightly at the sensitive skin. "Then they can use those eyes to avoid looking at what they don’t want to see."

Cherion smiled through the heat of the kiss, his hands tracing up Zarius’s chest, completely willing to give in, until he opened his eyes one more time.

Standing across the wide courtyard, was a figure. It was Yerel. He was standing completely frozen, staring straight up at the balcony with an intensely bitter, twisted, and disgusted gaze.

A wave of pure annoyance and absolute eww flashed through Cherion’s mind, instantly ruining the mood.

Breaking the kiss temporarily, Cherion gripped Zarius’s shirt tightly, his eyes flashing with a wicked, playful smirk as he looked up at the Duke.

"Let’s just move back to the room," Cherion whispered aggressively against Zarius’s lips, his fingers already working with frantic speed to undo the top buttons of the Duke’s collar. "And get off each other’s clothes."