Chapter 185
Adrian Kael
I am sitting in the cafeteria, the cup of coffee cooling in front of me. To my right, David remains standing, visibly tense; his fingers tap nervously against the side of his pants. Darius’s delay irritates me. I tap my fingers on the table in a steady cadence, feigning impatience.
It was easy to manipulate him: obey or die, and he chose the right path. I ordered him to have a quick conversation with my love, persuading him to feign submission as if it were his salvation. If Magnus gives in, I will take advantage of every moment of that forged
devotion.
“Boss,” David whispers, his voice barely a thread. “May I ask why you
are doing this to the Enforcer?”
I smile broadly, a gesture that makes him uncomfortable.
“Because I love him.”
The confusion on his face draws a low laugh from me.
“It was love at first sight. I fell without brakes; the obsession grew
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and became a plan. What I am doing now is for his own good:
molding, breaking, and rebuilding him until he depends only on me.”
I close my eyes, savoring the feeling like a madman in ecstasy. Just
imagining my Magnus loving me makes my entire body shudder. A
shiver runs through me like forbidden pleasure.
He is my undoing, my fever, my cure, and my disease. An altar before
which I prostrate myself, even if I must destroy him first to then
make him be reborn in my hands.
“I want him to adore me as I worship him,” I say, still with my eyes
closed, savoring the words. “Magnus is everything: altar, religion, and
reason.”
By reflex, I cover my mouth with my finger, turn my face toward
David, and give a silent ‘shh.‘
“It’s better to keep it a secret. No one can know the name of my love.”
David nods, stunned, obeying like a frightened bird, following the
script without fully understanding it.
Footsteps approach, hesitant. I look sideways and see Darius, tense,
his eyes wide. I smile inwardly; exactly what I planned.
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“And how did it go?” I ask, keeping my tone casual.
He swallows hard.
“It… It was as you asked, sir. He’s going to pretend to obey.”
I stand up slowly, approach him, and place my hand on his shoulder.
The gesture is paternal, almost complimentary.
“Very good, Darius. Excellent work.”
I give a large smile.
“Now, I don’t need you anymore.”
I tilt my head to the side, almost with a childlike curiosity. A shot echoes–dry, sharp. The bullet pierces Darius’s forehead, and he collapses to the floor without even having time to scream. The smell of gunpowder still lingers when I turn my gaze. David holds the gun
steady, without the slightest hesitation.
A laugh escapes me, vibrant and satisfied. I approach and stare at him
like someone admiring a masterpiece.
“Good work, David. Keep it up… and soon enough, you’ll be a rich
man.”
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I ignore the body that slumped down like someone ignoring a broken
glass. I walk to the kitchen counter calmly.
“A very hot soup, please.”
The cafeteria dissolves like a memory; the scenery pales, and
gradually, I perceive the present returning around me. The cell
envelops me once more: the soft mattress, the gentle air, and the
sound of the bars that creak.
Then, his voice cuts through the space between us–hoarse, loaded
with suspicion, but firm.
“How are you so strong?”
He stares at me with hardness.
I open a slow smile, savoring the moment.
“You asked me something.”
He lets the words out in a low and furious tone, his eyes flashing.
“Answer the fucking question.”
I give another smile, even calmer.
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“I won’t answer if you continue with that attitude.”
I see him swallow another curse. He takes a deep breath, inhaling
slowly, his shoulders dropping a bit..
“Can you answer my question?” He speaks in a more contained tone,
which draws a soft laugh from me.
I embrace him more tightly, feeling the tension in his body.
“Of course. Anything for you, my love.” He rolls his eyes, and I find
that adorable. “Well, since I was a child, I participated in every
martial art you can imagine. I entered countless tournaments and
won trophies and medals. I am a black belt in every single one of
them.”
He looks at me in shock.
“But that doesn’t explain why you’re so strong. I’m twice your size,
I’ve fought armed men, and I’ve killed many at the same time.”
I smile from the corner of my mouth and tilt my head, bringing my
lips close to his neck. I leave a light kiss on the skin, and he goes
tense, which makes me laugh quietly.
“I don’t know what you think I am, love. I’m just an ordinary human. 1
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simply know human anatomy… and I know exactly where the weak
points are. I use that against whoever faces me.”
He snorts.
“Right. That one punch you gave me made me see stars.”
I pass my hand delicately over his cheek, pressing lightly on the
purple bruise.
“I don’t want to hurt you, Magnus. I mean it. It pains me to have hurt you. But I cannot stand the idea of seeing you rebellious.”
He rolls his eyes again.
“As if it were easy for me to bow my head and just let you do whatever
you want with me.”
I furrow my
brow.
“And why not?”
“I am not a toy, Adrian,” he fires back, my name coming out of his
mouth like an accusation,
I swallow the groan of pleasure that rises in my throat. Every time he
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pronounces my name, it’s like an electric shock through my body.
“I am not treating you like a toy, my love. I want to treat you like a
king. You have no idea how much I love you.”
He laughs without humor.
“You love me? And why do you love me?”
I break the embrace and stare into his eyes.
“Have you looked in the mirror? You are magnificent, perfect, and
beautiful. You look like a god. Your beauty, your serious expression,
that gruff way of speaking… all of it made me fall in love.” I give a
smile upon seeing the surprise in his expression. “I really wanted to
have introduced myself out there, maybe won you over in a more
romantic way. But you were arrested, and I had to find a way to come
too.”
His eyes widen.
“Don’t tell me that you…”
I smile maliciously.
