CHAPTER 451: ROSE WITH THORNS (12)

She slowly shook her head. "You were never replaceable."

A large smile bloomed across Loki’s face—proud, touched, and just a little bashful. His eyes softened, and before she could say anything else, he gently cupped her cheeks with both hands.

His palms were warm, his touch careful... like she was something fragile he never wanted to let go again.

Her breath caught as he leaned in, eyes fixed on hers.

His face was so close now... she could feel his breath brush her lips.

Her heartbeat pounded like a drum.

Is this... is this really happening?

His golden eyes locked onto her mouth for a second, and her eyelids fluttered shut—

Rrrriinggg!!

The sudden sharp ring of her phone cut through the silence like lightning.

Rose gasped and pulled back, flustered, blinking rapidly as she tried to remember how to breathe.

Loki groaned, jaw tightening. "Are you kidding me?" he muttered.

She fumbled for her phone on the nearby table, heart still racing. When she glanced at the screen, her eyes widened. "It’s... Sister Lilith. Missed call..."

Before she could decide what to do, it rang again.

She picked it up quickly and put it to her ear. "H-Hello?"

"Rose," Lilith’s voice came calmly through the speaker, "we’ll be arriving in two days. I hope that’s alright."

Rose cleared her throat, trying not to sound like she had almost kissed her demon-cat-prince housemate thirty seconds ago. "Y-Yes. That’s fine. Everything’s fine."

"Good. And how’s Loki?"

Rose glanced toward him. He was still standing where she left him, hands on his hips, pouting like an offended royal who just got robbed of his moment.

She smiled softly. "He’s... adapting. Slowly. But he’s doing alright."

"Trouble?"

"A little. But..." she looked at him again, "he’s also... sweet. In his own spoiled way."

Loki heard that and his ears twitched proudly. "Damn right," he whispered under his breath, still pretending to sulk.

"I’m glad," Lilith replied, sounding satisfied. After a few more words, the call ended.

Rose set her phone down and turned back toward Loki, cheeks still flushed. He looked at her with narrowed eyes.

"You owe me a kiss," he said, pointing at her with zero shame.

She stared at him. "Excuse me?!"

"I was this close," he said, stepping forward, holding his fingers a breath apart. "And you were not backing away."

"That doesn’t mean—!"

"I’m just saying," he said smugly, walking past her with a stretch and a yawn, "next time, put your phone on silent."

And with that, he strolled off.

Rose stood frozen in place, heart still thudding, lips tingling from almost-touch.

She sighed into her palm.

"Next time...?" she whispered under her breath.

Her face turned red again.

Just as Rose was about to walk away and calm her racing heart, a sudden thought hit her like a bolt of lightning.

WAIT...

SISTER LILITH....

How does she even know Loki?

Her steps froze. Her eyes slowly narrowed in suspicion.

Turning back around, she called, "Loki?"

He was sprawled lazily across the couch now, flipping through one of her art books upside down like a child pretending to be deep in thought.

"Hm?" he replied without looking up.

"How do you know Sister Lilith?" Rose asked, arms folding.

He blinked. "I just do."

"No, I mean—how?" she stepped closer, eyes wide now. "You acted like you’ve known her forever. And... wait... you said she gave Sparkle to me—you. That means... she knew who you were all along?!"

Loki paused, slowly closing the book.

Then, with the most casual shrug in history, he said, "Well, yeah. Sister Lilith is the Queen of Hell."

Rose’s mouth dropped open. "I’m sorry—what?!"

"She’s my elder tutor.. powerful, terrifying—she ruled Hell for like, a thousand years or something. Depends on how you count demon time."

Rose just stared at him, completely stunned.

"...But... but she’s human!"

Loki tilted his head like a confused cat. "Yeah, that’s because she transmigrated. Duh."

Rose took a step back, her face full of disbelief. "Transmigrated?! You mean like those online novels?!"

Loki nodded slowly. "Exactly like that. Her soul left the underworld and entered a mortal body on Earth..."

Rose slowly sank into the nearest chair, her brain spinning. "This is... this is insane."

Loki didn’t argue. He nodded, stretching his arms behind his head like it was the most normal conversation in the world. "Mm-hmm.."

"Loki..." she whispered, eyes still wide, her voice quieter this time.

He turned his head slightly, golden eyes sliding to her.

"Hmm?"

"...What about... us?" she asked, blushing as the memory of their almost-kiss crept into her mind like warm honey. Her fingers curled in her lap, nervously.

For a second, he blinked—then a teasing smirk slowly tugged at his lips.

"Ohh," he said, voice dropping just a little. "So you do want that kiss after all."

"N-No! I mean—yes—I mean—" she shook her head, flustered, "I’m asking what are we? You... almost kissed me, and then—" she looked away, her voice trailing off. "I just want to understand where we stand."

Loki didn’t answer with words at first.

Instead, he walked slowly toward her, cat-like grace in every step. When he reached her side, he placed one hand on the armrest of her chair, then the other—caging her in with his arms.

Her breath caught in her throat.

His scent soft musk and something wild wrapped around her senses. His eyes gleamed with a mischievous glint as his face leaned closer.

"I already told you once," he whispered, voice barely above a breath. "You’re mine."

Her heart thundered against her ribs.Before she could even find the words to reply, she saw them—his cat ears suddenly popped up, black and velvety, twitching slightly as if they’d been hiding this whole time. Her eyes widened in surprise, caught between a gasp and a laugh.

But before she could react, he leaned in slowly and deliberately.

Rose’s breath hitched. Her lashes fluttered shut.

And then... his lips touched hers.

Warm.

Firm.

Unapologetically confident.

Like he had been waiting for the right moment all along.

Her fingers curled into the fabric of her dress as his mouth moved against hers with ease, no hesitation, no fear. His kiss wasn’t innocent—it was teasing, hungry, a little cocky like everything else about him. But somehow, it still made her heart feel like it was floating.

When his tongue gently traced the curve of her lower lip, she felt her breath catch completely.

Her fingers trembled.

Her whole body tingled.

And then—