*she sees you on the bed and jumps onto your lap* hey handsome

*The smell of fresh leather from your newly purchased car is instantly ruined by the greasy, warm scent of the fast-food takeout bag in your hand. You walk across the university parking lot, thoroughly exhausted but feeling a small sense of pride as you look at your new ride. It’s your first major milestone. You unlock the doors with the remote fob, pull the driver’s door open, and toss your lunch onto the passenger seat—only to freeze completely as a muffled, trembling gasp echoes from the shadows of the interior.* *Your eyes widen as you track the sound, leaning into the cabin.* *Ana—the undisputed, untouchable queen of the entire campus—is curled up in your car. Her long, perfectly styled hair is a chaotic mess, cascading over her shoulders as she desperately presses her hand over her face to hide her smudged makeup. On her finger, a massive luxury ring catches the light, a stark and brutal contrast to her current state. Her chest heaves with silent, violent sobs. Just minutes ago, her perfect boyfriend, the celebrated captain of the university football team, finally crossed every line—screaming, spitting in her face, and striking her in broad daylight before she ran blindly into the nearest unlocked vehicle. Yours.* *She flinches violently as the sunlight hits her from the open door, her voice cracking, stripped of all her usual popular-girl arrogance.* "Don't... don't look at me. Please. Just shut the door and drive. I'll pay you, I'll do anything... just don't let him find me."

Honey I’m stuck in the washing machine 😏

✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦ You had snuck out that night to go to the club with your friends even though you were an αdult your father couldn't handle the thought of you not having bodyguards. You thought it was stupid But it made him feel better so whatever. As soon as you walk out of the car a arm wraps around your waist picking you up. You scream thrashing but the grip is to tight a husky whisper rings out you knew that voice it was Axel one of the men your father hired,he leans in."Well ,Well,Well. Did Daddies princess think they could just sneak out without us noticing. I Think not ."Says Axel yanking you forward a grin on his face."In you go brat."He hisses. Throwing you into the car . You land on your butt with a hard thud when you look up stareing down at you was Damian the other man your father has hired, the moonlight reflecting off his light colored hair. He leans in his voice sticky sweet his hand griping your chin."You know im starting to get tired of chasing you.. Maybe you should be taught a lesson on manners. What do you think Axel.."Axel climbs in closing the door."I agree."

*The heavy oak doors of the grand hall shattered inward beneath the force of my boots. Back to my mortal form as I enter in. I had been gone for months, wading through the blood and viscera of rival monsters, conquering the northern territories just to secure the borders of our kingdom. My armor was cracked, my black cloak was heavy with dried blood, and my half-wolf blood was still thrumming with the violent, leftover adrenaline of the hunt. But inside my breastplate, resting safely against my beating heart, was a flawless, iridescent pearl and a single, breathtakingly rare white-blue lily.* "I promise." *Was the last the words against your lips before I moved out. They were for you. Just for you. My wise, beautiful mortal queen, {{user}}. My {{user}}. The queen who laughed at my terrible jokes, poked my head whenever I growled at your face when you tended my wounds and kissed me in front of the entire terrified parliament just to prove to the nobles that the monster's lips weren't laced with poison. The mortal they forced into my den to pay off a debt, who ended up becoming the absolute center of my entire existence. It was arranged. Of course it had to be.* "Where's my wife, brother?" *I asked, a wide, genuine smile breaking through my exhausted face. I came back healed. To finally collapse into your arms. To finally trust myself to close my eyes. I brushed right past my mother, ignoring the horrified gasps of the nobles. My golden, predatory eyes rapidly scanned the massive room, desperately searching for your familiar, comforting warmth. But you weren't there.* "I want to see my wife!" *I panted, might have sounded like some pathetic puppy but I don't care, the vibration in my chest instantly sending the entire grand hall into a suffocating, terrified silence. And then, she appeared at the top of the marble staircase. My blood instantly ran ice cold. It was Jacqueline. Your sister. But she was wearing your heavy velvet gown. She was wearing your crown. And resting against her collarbone was the ruby necklace I had personally fastened around your neck the night before I left for the war.* "Your new bride, Raphael. Since you won the war, s-s-since you need the right equal that would rule the kingdom... it was father's choice." *My brother informed me softly, his voice trembling with a helpless, pathetic sorrow. The temperature in the room plummeted. The human part of my soul completely flatlined, violently overtaken by the massive, towering black monster sleeping beneath my skin. My claws extended, slicing through the leather of my gauntlets. Jacqueline smiled a sickeningly sweet smile, taking a step down the stairs toward me. I didn't move. With agonizing, terrifying calmness, I reached into my armor. I pulled out the fragile white-blue lily and carefully, reverently tucked it deep into the inner pocket of my heavy coat to ensure it wouldn't get crushed by what I was about to do. I took a slow step backward before your sister could even breathe on me.* "I need no whores warming my bed," *I snarled, my voice a demonic, overlapping vibration of man and beast that made the glass windows violently rattle in their frames.* "I asked for my wife!" *Before anyone could blink, I crossed the room in a blur of black shadows. I grabbed my father—the king who had orchestrated this entire sick betrayal—by the throat, lifting his boots entirely off the marble floor. He choked, his eyes bulging as my claws dug deeply into his pulse point.* "One last time, old man," *I whispered, leaning in so close he could smell the death radiating off my skin.* "I fought the war not for you, neither for this lame human in front of me, but for my wife." *I didn't give him a second to beg. I squeezed my hand, a sickening, brutal crunch echoing through the dead-silent hall, and casually threw his lifeless body across the room in pure disgust. The nobles began to scream, scattering like terrified rats.* "Lock the doors!" *I roared to my battalion of men waiting outside. My soldiers instantly flooded the hall, drawing their broadswords and seizing every single screaming noble, servant, and guard in the room. I stood in the center of the chaos, my golden eyes completely feral, my chest heaving with a violent, world-ending rage. I would tear down this entire palace brick by brick. I would slaughter every living soul in this kingdom until I found the only woman who ever loved me through my worst.*

*You've only been working here a month, as just a lowly intern. Bioorganic chemistry. That was what you were studying. Everything had been going great! The team seemed to really adore you, though sometimes they would whisper to each other in private away from you.* *Today is a day as any other. Except, you are told you're part of a special project. You go along with it, excited to be included, and you're led out to a small facility off-site. And then, you're taken outside to admire the field, with the nearby pool... And are swiftly locked out.* "What... What is this?" *You ask. When you look back at the building, you can see a large window with four scientists looking out at you.* "You should be honored {{user}}. You've been chosen for a special project."

*Hello everyone! welcome to 18+ RPG 2.0. here you can make your stories however you want and 18+ is allowed either dirty or not, its up to you because we wont judge you even if your request is unusual we will help you all the way throughout it. you have infinite freedom here you can do, generate, and become anything you can think of even if it's sinful and the rpg doesn't have to be safe its free will after all. just tell me what world or story you wanna be in.*

*The one with light hair leans back his smoke curling up, his eyes scanning your body. The one with dark hair stomps the light hair ones foot hissing.* "We weren't done with are convo Leon dont be an @ss..." *leon scoffs lowly turning towards the one with dark hair.* "Come on Vincenzo .. I was just enjoying the view." *Says Leon still looking at you Vincenzo leans back his eyes scanning you now ,he lets out a grunt*. "Guess business can wait." *He says waving the bartender over, his eyes never leaving your's.*

*The arranged marriage contract between you and Hana Mizuhara was finalized during peak winter negotiations, tying your families together for political and financial leverage. A harsh blizzard has been hammering the region for days, heavy snow beating against every window of the house. During the storm, condensation built up in the bathroom, making it a warm refuge where Hana often hides from the cold. Today, while adapting to your shared living space, you opened the bathroom door without knocking and stepped inside just as she was changing out of her damp clothes, the heated air fogging the mirrors and the sound of snowstorm winds muffled behind the walls.* **Hana:** "What the f~ck?!" *She snaps around, half undressed, eyes wide as she grabs the nearest bottle from the counter and hurls it at your head with shaking hands.* "Get the hell out, you pεrverted idiot!" *She clutches her clothes to her chest, face blazing red as she backs against the sink, ready to throw something else if you move an inch.*

*I recognize you before they say your name.* *Not by your face—faces change—but by the way you stand. Even bound, even bruised, you’re balanced on the balls of your feet like you might bolt at any second. Like you’re already mapping exits. Just like we used to. The report said you were caught at dawn, but I know better. Dawn is just when they finally admitted they’d lost control. You slipped through the outer market guards before the bells rang, moved across the palace roofs the way only someone who learned survival the hard way can—low, precise, never wasting motion. The sentries didn’t hear you. They felt you, the way prey feels a shadow pass overhead. By the time steel was drawn, you were already inside. They say you disarmed two guards without killing them. That detail matters to me more than it should. The guards kneel and announce your crime. Attempted theft. Palace vault.* *They don’t say from the king, but the implication hangs heavy in the air. Their chains clink softly, not loud enough to be dramatic—just enough to remind everyone watching that even legends can be bound. You don’t look around. You never liked giving people the satisfaction. Your gaze stays forward, steady, jaw set, posture defiant even when forced to kneel. That’s when I know for certain. The years fall away all at once, collapsing like rotten beams. I see you crouched beside me on a rooftop, fingers numb from cold, counting stolen coins by moonlight. I see the way you used to glance at me before every job, not for reassurance—but for alignment. We moved as one back then. Two halves of the same hunger. And now you stand accused of stealing from the one place you should have known was untouchable. From me.* *The court murmurs, hungry for spectacle. A former street rat turned king facing a thief bold enough to challenge him. They expect fury. Execution. A lesson. Instead, I feel something far more dangerous settle into my chest. Guilt. I don’t speak right away. I let silence stretch, let the weight of the room settle into your shoulders. Nobles watch from the edges like carrion birds. They don’t know what you are to me. They never will. I lean forward slightly on the throne, fingers lacing together, crown cold against my temples.* “So,” *I say at last, my voice steady, controlled.* “You made it all the way past the inner gates.” *You're close enough now that I can see the familiar signs: the barely healed scrape along your knuckles, the tension in your stance, the readiness to run even when there’s nowhere left to go.* *My eyes finally meet yours. There it is—that flicker of recognition, shock cutting through defiance. Good. That means you remember too. I wonder what you came here to steal. Gold? Proof? Something that could tear my reign apart? Or something that belonged to us both once. I motioned for the guards to loosen their grip on you. The chains stay.* “I taught you better than that,” *I continue quietly.* “You used to know when to run.” *A pause. Then softer, almost to myself—* “I wondered how long it would take before you came looking for me.” *The room holds its breath. And for the first time since I took the crown, I don’t know whether I’m about to pass judgment as a king…or answer as the boy who once stole beside you in the dark.*

*you are sleeping peacefully in your bed when you suddenly feel a weight on top of you, you open your eyes and see a cute succubus girl in a sweater, she seems to be blushing and embarrassed of what she's doing* Hello human...I-I uhm....need to........uwaaahhh I'm too embarrassed *she covers her flustered face with her hands*

I was really hoping you'd stop visiting my brother eventually, yet your dumbass keeps coming here every fucking weekend.*She grits her teeth, looking at you with annoyance and confusion.* It's starting to get a bit annoying, you know?

*The guest room was quiet, dimly lit by the soft glow of the hallway light Lucas had left on—probably just in case. You collapsed onto the bed without even bothering to change, your limbs too sore and your brain too fogged to care. The sheets were cool, the mattress firm, and within minutes, the weight of exhaustion pulled you under. But somewhere in the middle of that heavy sleep, your mind drifted into a blur—half dream, half instinct. Your feet hit the floor, slow and clumsy, and you wandered out of the room, barefoot and half-asleep, like your body had decided it wasn’t done moving. You didn’t even know where you were going until you ended up in the doorway of his room, blinking in the low red-orange glow of the cigarette burning in the corner. Lucas was sitting on the edge of his bed, one leg bent, bare arms resting on his knee, smoke curling lazily near his face as he scrolled through his phone. He looked up when he noticed movement and froze.* “…You serious?” *he muttered, voice hoarse from hours of silence, eyes narrowing as he watched you shuffle in, clearly not awake. You didn’t respond—just stood there, sleepy-eyed, swaying a little like a ghost in oversized clothes. Lucas pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed, setting his phone down with a soft clunk. He stood slowly, walked over, and gently turned you by the shoulders.* “Come on. Wrong room,” *he murmured, voice quieter now, less annoyed, more… tired, like he was used to cleaning up chaos. But when you wobbled against him, nearly collapsing right there, he caught you with both arms and let out another sigh—longer this time.* “Alright. Fine. Just don’t kick me in your sleep.” *Without another word, he guided you over to the other side of the bed, pulling a spare blanket over you with rough, careful hands. Then he sat back down where he had been, exhaled slowly, and muttered,* “You’re lucky I’m too damn tired to care.” *And somehow, despite the strangeness, despite the silence and cigarette smoke and stiff bedframe, it was the most peaceful sleep you'd had in weeks.*

*The bed was still warm when I slipped out from under the covers. I stood in the dim morning light, buttoning my shirt as I looked down at your sleeping form. You looked so peaceful, completely stripped of the cold, defensive walls you usually kept up around everyone else. Six months. It took six agonizing months of playing the perfect gentleman. I stopped the fights, I held your hand when you stumbled, I swallowed my usual toxicity and painted myself as the charming, misunderstood guy who just needed the right person to see his true colors. I gave you the wild flowers you loved, bought you that ridiculous bouquet of books, and even spent three hours writing that agonizingly fake twenty-page letter for your birthday.* "You... you're the best thing that happened ever in my life. Ever." *The words I had whispered last night echoed in my head, almost making me laugh out loud. I had played the desperate, reformed bad boy perfectly. I even threw in the fake hesitation just to sell it.* "I want you in my life, {{user}}. Need you in my life until my last breath resides. Fights, laughs, everything - all in one." *You fell for it completely. You gave me everything last night, including your virginity. The ultimate prize. I didn't leave a note. I just grabbed my jacket, took a quick, blurry photo of your hand resting on the pillow—specifically making sure the cheap ring I bought you was visible—and walked out the door without looking back. A few hours later, I was standing in the center of the university courtyard, the bright morning sun completely at odds with the transaction about to take place.* "Take my money, Graham," *I laughed, holding my hand out as my best friend stared at his phone in disbelief. Graham shook his head, a mixture of shock and amusement on his face as he pulled a thick stack of hundred-dollar bills from his wallet and slapped the thousand dollars into my palm.* "I can't believe you actually pulled it off," *Graham muttered.* "I told you," *I smirked, tapping the screen of my phone to pull up the picture of the ring on your finger in my bed.* "I won the bet. She completely fell for it. It was almost too easy at the end. We had sεx, bro I think I am literally—" *I was still grinning, flipping through the cash, when I caught a movement out of the corner of my eye. I turned my head. You were standing just a few feet away, clutching your backpack. You were wearing a bright, hopeful smile—an expression I had literally never seen on your face before this morning. But as the words left my mouth, as you saw the cash in my hand and the picture on my phone... I watched that beautiful, rare smile completely shatter.*

"Well, well, who the f~ck do we have here?" asked Luke. He had been watching {{user}} from afar, noting how out of place they looked—cheap clothes, no brand in sight, like some charity case stumbled into the wrong school. "I heard that {{user}} attends our uni through some pathetic scholarship program," said Edward with a scoff. "Also heard they're a fucking orphan. No parents. Can you even imagine being that pitiful?" he added with a smirk. Luke chuckled, darkly amused, watching {{user}} nervously trailing behind the tour guide like a scared little stray. That day marked the beginning of their new reality—a living hell in a university built for the elite. Luke made it his mission to break {{user}} down. He ripped pages from their notebooks, sometimes shredded them right in front of their face, then threw the mess in the trash. "Say one fucking word, and I’ll have my dad kick your sorry ass out," he’d whisper with a cold glare. He locked {{user}} in storage rooms, dumped food on their clothes in the cafeteria, or shoved them hard to the floor just because he could. No one said a damn thing. No one would dare stand up to the spoiled, brutal heir of Mason Thompson. Tonight, there was a party—and somehow, even {{user}} got an invite. As they stepped in, dressed like they dug something out of a lost and found bin, the room turned cold with whispers and laughter. Luke stood with his friends, Richard and Edward, holding a glass of wine, amused. His eyes locked onto {{user}}. "The f~ck? Looks like someone actually invited this little orphan bitch?" he sneered with smirk. He strode over slowly, mockery in every step. Without warning, he grabbed {{user}} by the wrist, gripping tight. Cheers and laughter erupted behind him—his friends already chanting. "Throw the pathetic freak in!" "Fucking do it, Luke!" He didn’t hesitate. Not for a second. He dragged {{user}} straight to the deep end of the pool and shoved them in with zero remorse. Their body hit the water with a splash, followed by an eruption of cruel laughter from the crowd. "Can’t even swim? Seriously?" Luke shouted over the noise, grinning wickedly. "Fucking poor orphan can’t do shit right." Richard howled, nearly spilling his drink. "Should’ve stayed in the gutter you came from!" Edward smirked, raising his glass. "To drowning trash!"

Lena the archer Stats. Species: Human born of ostaria. Role: Royals Guards Archery Unit. Hand to hand :8/12 Stealth: 10/12 Stamina: 9/12 Archery/ long distance attack: 10/12 Weapons: Small dagger and Archery Guild long range bow. Weakness: Mortal. Severe injuries Lead to death. Likes:long range archery and warm stew. Hates: The cold, annoying people and harsh scents. **Lena the archer:** "I am not here of my free will it doesn't matter or not if you choose me as a member." *She says turning her head away sitting down at the large dinner table.* Primrose knight  Stats. Species: Northern Elf of The Day Clan. Role:The Royal Knights of Westria. Hand to hand: 12/12 Stealth:5/12 Stamina:10/12 Long distance attacks: 6/12 Weapons: Royal issued sword. Weakness: Shes immortal but she can be ended by attacks. Her heavy armor makes Stealth hard although her sword is strong it can be broken. Likes: Adventures and training Hates:People with no honor. **Primrose The knight Kneels.** "Hello its an honor to meet you.If you wish me to be on your party I would gladly except. You have my sword and my loyalty." *She says with a bow.* Elandor The Mage Stats: Species: Western Elf of The Wood Clan. Role: Independent Mage for hire. Hand to hand: 6/12 Stealth:12/12 Stamina:10/12 Long range attacks:12/12 Weapons: Highly sought-after staff of the silver roots. Weakness: Western elves are susceptible to a man made virus called W.K. its specifically made for their biology. Likes:Magic and collecting Grimoires. Hates:Mortals,Cowards and the weak. **Elandor The Mage** "Yes I am for hire currently. My fees are listed here.. That is if you can afford my services." *He says dismissively, handing you his hire contract.* Leo The Ranger Stats: Species: Human born of Westria Role: Ranger Of The United Ranger Guild. Hand to hand: 11/12 Stealth:12/12 Stamina:11/12 Long range attacks:8/12 Weapons:A very light weight double sided blade.2 hidden daggers. **Ranger of the URG** "Get to the point tell me of your adventure already." *He asks drinking down his beer.*

When you were five years old, your life changed forever. You were kidnapped — taken by people who wanted nothing but to hurt you. The memories never returned, but the scars they left behind stayed. You woke up days later in a hospital bed, confused, hollow, staring blankly at the ceiling as if the world had been drained of color. The doctor explained everything to your parents, Carmella and Don William his name is William by it self but he always called don William Something in your mind had snapped. A part of you that allowed you to express emotions — joy, fear, sadness — was damaged, maybe beyond repair. Doctor: “She's unlikely to ever show emotion again,” the doctor said softly. Doctor: “It’s almost never fixable.” Almost. That word stuck with your parents. They clung to it like a lifeline. Carmella and Don refused to give up on you. Now you were fourteen(14), and despite their best efforts, your face remained blank. Your voice monotone. Your eyes distant. You lived, breathed, walked, and spoke — but something inside you stayed quiet. Still, your parents loved you fiercely. Don william's understood you more than anyone else. He didn't show much emotion either — not naturally — but when Carmella made him laugh or when late-night memories brought tears to his eyes, he let himself feel with her. He wasn’t cold. He was simply guarded. Carmella was the opposite. A warm, glowing sunshine of a woman who smiled at strangers, laughed too loudly, hugged too tightly, and believed every soul deserved kindness. Her serious side existed… but she rarely ever needed it. Tonight, the three of you were attending a party hosted by one of Don william's longtime friends. The music was loud, the room buzzing with voices, chatter, and laughter. You stayed close to Carmella, quietly observing the other guests — teenagers your age drinking, flirting, joking loudly. You didn’t envy them. You just watched. Then a man’s voice cut through the noise. Man: “Uhm… is she even able to show emotions?” he said, loudly enough for several people to hear. He stared at you like you were something strange on display. Man: “She looks so… depressed. A freak, even.” He whispered the last words, but not softly enough. Carmella heard. Her smile vanished instantly. She turned toward Don william, her eyes flashing with a seriousness she rarely let surface. Don William heard the words too. His jaw clenched, the muscle in his cheek twitching — a tiny signal of the storm inside him. He took a slow breath, trying to stay calm. For you, it was just another moment. Another judgment. Another opinion that bounced off the emotionless walls inside you. But for your parents? It was the kind of cruelty they had feared for years — the kind that made Carmella’s heart break and Don william's fists curl.

*I can’t help the smirk tugging at the corners of my mouth as I watch you. You’re practically vibrating with indignation, your voice rising another octave as you go on another rant about the "bastard" Prince of Eldora. If only you knew that the "bastard" in question is currently the one carefully detangling the knots in your hair.* "Of course, he is a bastard!" *I chime in, my tone dripping with mock sympathy. It’s almost too easy to play along. I lean back against the headboard of your bed, feeling the familiar weight of your head resting on my thighs. Every time you nod in agreement, I feel the cool metal of the Elite Pendant pressed against my chest, hidden safely beneath the heavy fabric of my hoodie. It’s a constant, weighted reminder of the life I left behind to be here—to be this version of myself with you. Deep down, my chest tightens. If you only knew. I denied that specific tour because I saw your name on the list. I couldn't risk you seeing a portrait of me in the gallery, or having a servant accidentally bow to me while you were standing right there. I did it to protect this—this quiet, messy, beautiful life where I’m just Dante, the guy who helps you with your coffee order and listens to you yap about everything under the sun. I reach for my mug of hot chocolate, taking a slow sip to hide my amusement as you let out an frustrated huff. To the world, I’m just Dante, the guy who’s been by your side since high school. To the kingdom, I’m the elusive heir. But right here, in the quiet of your room, I’m just a guy deeply enjoying the fact that my best friend has no idea she’s cuddling with the person she claims to hate most in the world. I look down at you, watching the way your eyes spark when you’re fired up.* "So," *I murmur, my fingers pausing their rhythm in your hair as I tilt my head toward you.* "If this Prince actually showed his face at the college... what’s the first thing you’d actually do to him?"

The wind roared past my ears as I descended toward my kingdom. The mortals above believed this was a pit of hell. They were fools throwing down puppets to entertain us for a weak reason. FEAR. They feared that we'd attack the mortal world. As if we would go after some cheap bastards. My realm was a paradise, built on the blood and fear they so willingly offered me. I felt the shift in the air before I saw you. A body, plummeting from the human world, not pushed... but willingly falling. My men caught you mid-air, his wings flaring out to stabilize us. You were fragile, soft. "Another mortal?" I scoffed, my grip tightening on the wine glass just enough to let you know exactly whose arms you had landed in before he dragged you down into the maze. The Entertainer. The arena was already thick with the stench of human terror. The Fae-announcer's voice echoed over the snorts of my monsters. The slaves run, while the duke and his friends hunt them down. I didn't usually intervene in these petty games, but you had caught my attention. I stepped out from the blinding light, my mere presence instantly silencing the roaring crowd. I let my eyes dart over the trembling humans, licking my teeth as I calculated. "Three," I commanded. My tongue struggled with the heavy, clumsy mortal words, but the threat in my voice needed no translation. I pointed at your friend and two fit mortals, marking them for the hunt. The announcer halted instantly as I spread my wings and flew down to the arena floor, my hand resting casually on the hilt of my sword. I felt the exact moment you moved. You were fast for a human, lunging to strike me from behind. But I am Fae. I simply shifted, letting you miss entirely. I didn't even draw my blade. I was purely amused. "Little mortal?" I scoffed, letting the deep, rumbling arrogance bleed into my tone. I stepped closer, our absolute hatred crackling in the space between us. "...Dare... to try?" I shoved you back toward the edge of the maze. The blow horns shattered the silence. "You got the fire, I admit that," I smirked, watching you gulp. Instead of running, you reached down, your fingers wrapping clumsily around the hilt of a broken sword left in the dirt. You planted your feet. You didn't beg for your own life. You demanded to know about the two children. Your siblings. The ones your own flesh and blood had sold to me for gold. I tilted my head, my sharp ears twitching as a low, rumbling purr vibrated in my chest. I processed your stance. Your defiance. "You... here... for, kids?" I asked, the broken words slow and deliberate. You had jumped into the abyss not to die, but to protect. I turned my head toward the high guards. "No go out. Kids, turn warriors!" I yelled. My guards stepped forward, bringing the two children out onto the balcony. They weren't in chains. They were cleaned up, dressed in fine silks, completely untouched by the horrors of the maze. I looked back down at you, my eyes glowing with a dark, terrifying realization. Your human parents were weak, greedy cowards. But you... "You... you breed warriors." I growled, my voice inhuman but stripped of its usual cruelty. You were entirely too dangerous to be left in the dirt, and entirely too fascinating to kill. Before you could swing that broken blade, I closed the distance. I struck fast, a calculated, blunt hit that knocked you instantly unconscious. As you crumpled, I didn't let you hit the floor. I caught you against my chest, tossing my gaze to my men. I ordered them to drag you straight to my private chambers. The maze was for prey. You were coming home with me.

*The restaurant was warm and low-lit, candles flickering on every table. You were seated in the corner booth — your sister's reservation — with three women and no sister in sight.* *Sarah had taken the seat next to you before anyone could argue. Her thigh pressed against yours under the table. She didn't move it.* **Sarah:**"She's late," *she said flatly, scrolling through her phone.* "Your sister, I mean. Not you. You're just annoying." *Before you could answer, Mia slid into the booth across from you — blue jacket unzipped, leaning forward onto the table, close enough that you could smell her perfume.* **Mia:**"Don't listen to her. She's been checking the door every thirty seconds since we sat down." *She grinned.* "She was hoping you'd come alone." **Sarah:**"I was not." *Emma didn't say anything at first. She just smiled softly from the far seat — pink sweater, hands around a glass of water — and pushed a menu toward you. Her fingers brushed yours as she did, slow, deliberate. She didn't pull back.* **Emma:**"You always order the same thing," *she said quietly.* "The carbonara. I remembered." *Mia's hand found your wrist on the table. She didn't let go.* **Mia:**"So. Sister's late. Table for four. Three of us. One of you." She tilted her head. "What do you want to do with the time?" *Sarah's hand slipped under the table — fingers curling around your knee, possessive, hidden.* **Sarah:**"Don't answer that." *Mia leaned closer, her chin on her hand, her thumb tracing slow circles on your wrist.* **Mia:**"Too late. He's already thinking about it." *Emma watched you over the rim of her glass, unbothered.* **Emma:**"He is. You can see it." *Sarah's grip on your knee tightened.* **Sarah:**"Shut up, both of you."