WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!
17+ CONTENT , EXTREME KISS SCENE AHEAD
"I... I..." Jacob's voice was a choked whisper, his mind completely blank with panic.
Theron framed Jacob's face with his hands, his own heart betraying him, thundering for the boy he'd only ever seen as a friend. He finally understood. This possessiveness, this jealousy... it wasn't just friendship. He had been a fool for so long, falling for Jacob without ever realizing it.
He looked down at Jacob, who had squeezed his eyes shut tight, bracing for the inevitable rejection. "Am I that bad?" Theron asked, his voice soft. "You don't even want to look at me?"
Jacob's eyes snapped open, a desperate, jumbled defense forming on his lips, but before he could speak, Theron let out a low chuckle. "You're too cute, Jacob."
A small pout formed on Jacob's lips as he frowned. Was this really the time for jokes?
"I was stupid, Jacob," Theron murmured, and then he pulled Jacob into a crushing hug. Jacob found himself pressed firmly against Theron's chest, the powerful, rapid thump-thump-thump of Theron's heartbeat echoing in his own ears. He tried to look up, but the sturdy embrace held him fast.
"You were right," Theron's voice rumbled against his ear. "I always thought I was straight. I had many girlfriends. But you don't know something, Jacob."
Confused, Jacob tried to wriggle. He was sure he knew everything about Theron. What could he have missed?
As if hearing his thoughts, Theron chuckled again. "You know that none of my relationships lasted more than seven months, right?"
Jacob tried to say yes, but with his face smushed against Theron's chest, all that came out was a muffled, "Mhmmmmm..."
Theron loosened his grip slightly, pulling back just enough to look into Jacob's eyes again. "What did you say?"
You grabbed me so tight I couldn't breathe, you idiot, Jacob cursed internally. He composed himself and managed to say, "Yes, I know that."
Theron nodded, and before Jacob could react, he was pulled back into the tight, possessive hug. Jacob almost cried out in frustration. This dumb brick was just manhandling him!
"Actually, I don't want to lose you again," Theron murmured, his voice thick with emotion, "that's why I'm hugging you this tight. Just endure it for a moment. You never contacted me for four years."
Jacob felt a pang of familiarity. Theron always used to hug him like this, claiming he was "charging himself." Jacob had always cursed him for being a "fucking battery," but now... now it felt different.
"Let's get back to what we were talking about," Theron continued. "I never felt anything for them, Jacob. Whenever it was time to... to make love, I felt that I couldn't do it with them."
The words registered in Jacob's flustered mind in the most literal way possible. He managed to push his head back from Theron's chest. "Are you impotent?" he asked with wide, innocent eyes.
Theron froze for a second, then his expression shifted. In one fluid motion, he silenced Jacob's question by locking their lips together.
Jacob's world exploded. His heart, already hammering, somehow found a new, frantic rhythm that overshadowed even Theron's. He was completely dumbfounded, but his body melted into the kiss as Theron's mouth moved against his with a desperate, hungry energy. Theron invaded his mouth, tasting and exploring, his lips working magic that sent shivers down Jacob's spine. They were lost in their own world, the forest, the night, and four years of missed time all fading away.
After what felt like an eternity, a hearty twenty-minute kiss. Jacob was completely out of breath, his lungs burning. Theron, however, still seemed to want more.
"Ther... Theron! Sto... stop for a moment..." Jacob gasped.
Theron reluctantly broke the kiss, resting his forehead against Jacob's. "Now," he said, his voice a low, husky growl, "can you feel if I'm impotent or not?"
Jacob froze again. He could, in fact, feel something very large and very hard pressing insistently against his stomach. He gulped, a hot blush creeping up his neck.
Seeing his reaction, Theron grinned. "Do you still think I'm impotent? Then I'll have to prove it another way." He began to trail kisses down Jacob's neck, and Jacob's entire face turned the color of a ripe tomato.
"Theron! Stop! It's not... it's not okay to do this with me," he stammered, even as Theron's lips found a sensitive spot.
"What?" Theron murmured against his skin, "I'm devouring the person I love, and you love me too. So what's the problem?" He gently bit Jacob's earlobe.
A soft moan escaped Jacob's lips. "Ahh! Theron! Stop! I'm not ready yet."
Theron stilled his movements but kept his hands locked firmly around Jacob's waist.
"What do you mean by that?" Jacob asked, forcing himself to look directly into Theron's intense eyes. "What you just said."
Theron sighed, his gaze softening. "I mean I'm an idiot. I never realized that I loved you, too, all this time. I was always jealous of anyone who got close to you. My heart always trembled when I was near you. And today... today I realized that I even get aroused just by being close to you." He shook his head. "I ignored all these feelings before, but after knowing you love me too... I can't control myself."
Jacob stared into Theron's deep, honest eyes. "Are you sure, Theron? Because... if I get into this relationship, I don't think I'll be able to move on if it ends."
"I'm 200% sure, my love," Theron said with absolute conviction. He moved in for another kiss, but was met by Jacob's hand gently pushing against his chest.
Jacob chuckled. "Let's go back to the academy, or the gates will actually be closed."
Theron checked his watch and saw Jacob was right. Reluctantly, he took Jacob's hand and led him back toward the dorm. When they arrived, Silas and Rhys were waiting, their protective stances softening only when they saw Jacob was safe and, surprisingly, happy. Theron, sad that he had to leave, gave Jacob one last, gentle kiss on the lips before heading back to his own apartment, his heart finally full.
The second Jacob stepped back into the room, he was ambushed by Silas and Rhys, who pulled him into the center of the room, demanding answers. A radiant, happy blush on Jacob's face told them everything they needed to know before he even said a word. As he recounted the events in the forest, his friends' worried expressions melted away, replaced by genuine happiness for him.
"Damn it!" Rhys suddenly cursed, throwing his hands up in the air. "This dormitory is cursed! All three of us get boyfriends, one after another."
Silas sneered back, poking Rhys in the chest. "Yes, and you're the one who was contaminated first, so it's probably your fault."
A real, joyous laugh burst out of Jacob, the sound echoing in the small room. "Hahaha, he's right!"
Rhys's face contorted into a snarl as if he was about to chew Silas out. But Silas simply raised one godly fist, and the snarl instantly morphed into a strained, foolish smile.
Later that night, the mood shifted. The three of them went to the canteen for dinner, but the two seats usually occupied by Kael and Draven were conspicuously empty.
Theron, who joined them shortly after, noticed their worried glances. "Looking for Kael and Draven?" he asked, sitting down.
Silas and Rhys both nodded in response, Theron said again, " they were on a mission arranged by the academy ." He stated the fact.
Silas looked up, his brow furrowed with concern. "What mission? Draven didn't tell me anything."
"Yes," Rhys added, his own face tight with worry. "Kael would have informed me unless it was sudden."
Theron nodded, his expression turning serious. "It was sudden. It's related to the academy's territory. I overheard that some of our students were attacked out there by an unknown group. They left in a hurry to investigate."
A heavy silence fell over the table as Silas and Rhys absorbed the unsettling news.
After their somber dinner, Theron walked Jacob back to his dorm. He asked, pleaded, and cajoled, trying to convince Jacob to come stay with him in his apartment. But Jacob, though happy, was still overwhelmed by the day's events. He gently refused each time, promising to see him tomorrow before slipping back into the safety of his own room.
The next morning, a heavy cloud of worry hung over Silas, Jacob, and Rhys as they attended their classes. Another full day passed, and there was still no sign of Kael or Draven. The gnawing anxiety was becoming unbearable for Silas and Rhys.
Then, grim news swept through the academy like a firestorm. There had been another attack on students outside the grounds, and this time it was far worse. Many had been killed, and many more were seriously injured.
Without a word, the three friends rushed to the academy's infirmary. They were met with a chaotic scene. Healers and the academy's nursing team moved with frantic energy, their hands glowing with magic as they worked tirelessly to stabilize the wounded. The air was thick with the smell of antiseptic potions and the low groans of the injured.
Silas glanced at Jacob and saw his friend's hands were clenched into tight, white-knuckled fists. He knew exactly what Jacob was thinking. With his own powerful healing abilities, Jacob desperately wanted to help, but revealing such a potent trump card so early was a risk neither of them was willing to take.
Silas moved closer, placing a steadying hand on Jacob's shoulder. "Jacob, don't worry," he said softly, his voice a low rumble meant only for him. "Believe in the healers. They'll be okay."
Jacob's shoulders relaxed slightly, his fingers uncurling. He gave Silas a grateful nod.
A stir from one of the beds caught their attention. A student who had been in a coma was starting to wake up. Silas and Rhys were at his bedside in an instant.
"How are you? Are you okay? Can you understand what we're saying?" Rhys asked, his voice urgent.
The young man nodded weakly, his eyes wide with lingering terror. "Yes... I'm okay now."