WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!
(17+ content , extreme kiss alert)
The group of five made their way to the bustling registration hall. Silas, Rhys, and Jacob each received their academy identity tokens, solidifying their status as official students. Silas and Jacob were registered in the mage section, while Rhys, to no one's surprise, enrolled as a warrior.
Just as they finished, Jacob's eyes widened in realization. "Oh! I need to contact my family," he said, suddenly anxious. "Just to let them know I'm okay and registered." With a quick goodbye, he hurried off to find a communication array.
Now it was just the four of them. Kael turned to Silas, a thoughtful look on his face. "Silas, why don't you go with Draven and see the rest of the academy's facilities? I need to... borrow your best friend for a moment."
Silas glanced over at Rhys, who was now desperately and silently shaking his head, his eyes pleading for Silas not to abandon him. An evil, mischievous grin spread across Silas's face. He turned back to Kael, his voice dripping with fake sincerity. "Okay, Kael! Go on and take care of my besssssst friend." He gave a cheerful wave as Kael, wasting no time, took Rhys by the arm and began dragging him away.
Draven watched them go, a low chuckle escaping his lips. "That guy," he said, nodding toward Kael, "he definitely likes your best friend."
Silas looked genuinely confused. "Who, Kael?"
Draven nodded. Silas watched the two figures shrink into the distance. "Then he'd better have eight heads on his neck," he muttered cryptically. "Or else..."
Now it was Draven's turn to be confused. "What do you mean by that?"
Silas just smiled. "Oh, you'll see soon enough." He then added with a conspiratorial giggle, "But I completely support Kael. If he can manage to break my friend's vow of being single forever, I'll be grateful to him."
A beat of silence passed. Draven's expression softened, and he asked slowly, his voice laced with a hint of shyness, "And what about you?"
Silas pointed to himself. "What do you mean, 'about me'?"
"What do you think... of being mingle?" Draven asked, the word coming out a bit awkwardly.
In an instant, Silas's ears turned a fiery red. He quickly averted his gaze from Draven, pretending to inspect a non-existent speck of dust in the air. "Maybe..." he mumbled, his voice barely a whisper. "If I find someone I'm interested in..."
The words hung between them, and Draven's heart began to hammer in his chest. A confession was right on the tip of his tongue, but before he could speak, Silas cut him off, abruptly changing the subject.
"But I want to ask you something!"
Draven nodded, trying to calm his racing pulse.
"When are we going to the dungeon?" Silas asked, his eyes now bright with excitement.
Draven's demeanor shifted instantly. He moved close and placed a hand over Silas's mouth, his expression serious. "Don't make a fuss about it here," he whispered, his voice low and urgent. "If anyone finds out we're taking a Level 1 mage to a dungeon, we'll face punishment from the academy."
Silas went still, feeling the warmth of Draven's hand on his face. Realizing what he was doing, Draven quickly pulled his hand back, a faint blush on his cheeks. He cleared his throat, eager to change the subject again. "Don't worry," he said. "I'll come to your dorm area tonight. Be outside your room at midnight. We'll go then."
Silas's face lit up with pure, unadulterated joy. He nodded enthusiastically.
With the plan set, Draven took Silas on a tour of the academy, showing him the vast, state-of-the-art gymnasium, the numerous sprawling training grounds, and all the other impressive facilities Argent Spire had to offer.
Kael's grip on Rhys's arm was like an iron band. Rhys stumbled along, continuously trying to avert his eyes and pretend he was fascinated by the academy's architecture, but Kael was a man on a mission. He marched them away from the main thoroughfares, his long strides purposeful, until he found exactly what he was looking for: a narrow, forgotten alley between two old lecture halls, a place so shadowed and ignored that no one ever came here, even in broad daylight.
With a deft movement, Kael pushed Rhys against the cold stone wall. Before Rhys could even think of bolting, Kael slammed both hands against the wall on either side of his head, caging him in. The sudden proximity made Rhys's breath hitch. He was trapped, encompassed by Kael's scent and the sheer intensity of his presence.
"My little bunny," Kael murmured, his voice a low, dangerous purr that sent a shiver down Rhys's spine. "Do you think I'd let you go just like that? Even if I needed to search the whole planet, I would have found you."
Rhys finally forced himself to look up into Kael's dark, mesmerizing eyes and saw an endless, soul-deep longing that made his own resolve crumble. "But Kael," Rhys said, his voice small, "I already mentioned to you before that my family is not simple."
Kael chuckled, a rich, warm sound that seemed to vibrate through Rhys's bones. "My family is also not simple, Rhys."
Rhys shook his head, frustrated. "I can't make you believe me until you meet them." The thought alone was terrifying.
"Then let's meet them after we get married," Kael replied smoothly, as if it were the most logical suggestion in the world.
The comment was so outrageous that it snapped Rhys out of his daze. His cheeks, already pink, turned a furious shade of red. "That idiot!" he grumbled, more to himself than to Kael. "He left me with a tiger and went off with his lover, didn't he."
Kael's lips twitched into a smirk. He leaned in closer, and Rhys could feel the heat radiating from his body. "Oh? You can guess Draven and Silas have something between them?"
Rhys nodded, pouting slightly. "I know that dimwit from childhood. He never lets anyone get that close to him. He definitely has something going on in his mind."
"Then what about us?" Kael whispered, his voice dropping an octave. He was so close now that Rhys could feel the frantic, rummaging heartbeat in his own chest echo against Kael's. "I'm asking you again, just like I did back in that small barony. Will you accept me as your boyfriend?"
Rhys looked at the dignified, powerful mage instructor before him. He saw the raw longing and undeniable love shining in Kael's face, in his eyes, in his very soul. All the fight went out of him. He gave a tiny, almost imperceptible nod. "But," he added, his voice firming with a sudden seriousness, "you need to remember, in the future, if I tell you we need to hide, we need to hide. Without asking any questions."
Kael was confused by the strange condition, but the joy of Rhys's acceptance overshadowed any doubt. He nodded in response.
That was all the confirmation Rhys needed. He didn't wait for anything else. He surged forward and pressed his lips against Kael's in a quick, desperate kiss.
Kael just chuckled against his mouth. "If you wanted a taste, then you should taste it properly," he murmured.
And just saying so, he did the complete opposite of Rhys's timid kiss. He captured Rhys's mouth, devouring his lips completely, pouring all of his pent-up longing and passion into the kiss. He kissed him until Rhys was dizzy and breathless, his mind blanking on everything but the feel of Kael's mouth on his. After what felt like an eternity, but was probably closer to fifteen minutes, Kael finally pulled back, his eyes glowing like a hungry wolf's.
Rhys, gasping for air, pushed lightly against his chest. "Kael… let's not go further."
A low growl rumbled in Kael's chest, a sound of pure, frustrated desire. But he respected the boundary. He let out a slow breath and relaxed his posture slightly. "Why don't you stay with me?" he asked, his voice thick with want.
Rhys shook his head. "No. I think it's better for us to stay separately for now. Until I'm ready."
Kael nodded in understanding. Without another word, he leaned in again, this time for a series of soft, pecking kisses that soon deepened once more into a heated, soul-stealing smooch in the quiet of the forgotten alley.
By the time night fell, the dorm room was once again occupied by its three residents. Jacob was already sitting on his bed, scrolling through his new identity token, when Silas and Rhys walked in.
Silas took one look at his best friend and a slow, wicked grin spread across his face. He zeroed in on Rhys's lips, which were unmistakably swollen and slightly red.
"So," Silas began, his voice dripping with amusement, "did someone already eat the sweetness of the honey?"
The comment was like a lit match to a short fuse. Rhys, who had been stewing over being abandoned all afternoon, spun on Silas, his face a mask of indignation. "How dare you!" he snapped, pointing an accusing finger. "How dare you just leave me there!"
Silas held up his hands in a gesture of pure innocence. "Ehh! It was Kael who took you away. He just dragged you off without stopping."
"But you could have followed us!" Rhys insisted, his voice rising.
Silas sneered playfully. "And do what? Become the bone between a couple? No, thank you."
The word "couple" hung in the air. Jacob's head shot up, his eyes darting between his two roommates. The pieces finally clicked into place. He looked directly at Rhys, his expression one of dawning realization. "Rhys! Are you dating Kael?"
The question hit its mark. All the anger drained from Rhys's face, replaced by a wave of mortification. His entire face, from his neck to the tips of his ears, turned the color of a ripe tomato. Silas also leaned in, looking at him expectantly.
Rhys looked down at his feet, then gave a tiny, almost imperceptible nod. "He asked me before, back when we first met in that small barony," he mumbled, his voice soft. "Today he asked me again. And I… I decided to accept."
Jacob's eyes went wide with surprise, which quickly melted into pure, unadulterated excitement. "Oh, that's great, Rhys! That's unbelievable! One of the great instructors is my friend's boyfriend!" A huge grin broke out across his face. "Hehe... I can show off to others now!"