CHAPTER 59: HELLO! HOUSEMATE!

Rin’s fingers twitched as he stared at the demon still standing inside the summoning circle. The room was thick with the scent of smoke, candle wax, and something darker... like burnt rose petals soaked in old blood.

The system alert blinked once again:

DING!

[System Alert - Host Stability Uncertain.]

[Dark Magic reaction detected. Unknown bond forming.]

"Bond forming, my ass..." Rin mumbled.

He blinked and turned fully to face the stranger in his room... As if a demon that beautiful could be called a stranger.

His red eyes were glowing faintly as he lifted his head to meet Rin’s trembling gaze.

And worse?

He knew Rin’s name, which was what he didn’t expect. He looked at the name the system introduced him as.

"You’re... Asmodeus?" Rin asked slowly, cautiously.

The demon tilted his head slightly.

"I prefer Zepharion. But, I’ll let you call me Zeph,"

Rin crossed his arms.

"I didn’t ask for your stage name. I asked how the hell you know mine."

"I’m more curious to know how you know mine also..."

"I....I asked first. So answer me,"

Asmodeus... Zepharion, or whatever his name was chuckled lowly, the sound curling around Rin like soft smoke.

"I’ve known you since you were a baby."

Rin froze.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me, Rin,"

"No, no. That’s the problem. I did hear you. That’s why I’m confused." Rin narrowed his eyes. "Would you care to explain that creepy statement?"

But Asmodeus didn’t answer. He just stared at Rin without any words slipping from his lips.

Rin exhaled loudly, as he didn’t get the response he wanted.

"Fine. Whatever. I don’t care how you know me... what I do care about is that you kissed me."

Asmodeus’s grin deepened.

"And?"

Rin stared.

"And? That’s it? No apology? You’re not even going to make an excuse like it’s a mistake or an accident? Nothing at all?"

"No." Zepharion’s expression didn’t change. "I’m not sorry. In fact..." he stepped closer, breaking the boundary of the summoning circle like it didn’t exist. "I’d very much like to do it again."

Rin choked on air and took a step back.

"No! Keep your lips to yourself, you ugly- beautiful demon!"

Zepharion tilted his head.

"If you insist... Master."

Rin flinched.

"Please, don’t call me that."

"You summoned me. I belong to you now."

"You belong to no one," Rin muttered under his breath.

DING!

[System Alert: Male Lead - Asmodeus (Zepharion) has taken interest in Host.]

[Unknown Bond Formed]

[Mood Level: Intrigued. Dangerous affection forming.]

Rin slapped a hand over his face.

"This can’t be happening. I summoned a demon just to... yell at him for kissing me... yet, I’m losing it. Anyway, since we’re done here, you can leave before the Duke returns."

Zepharion stayed rooted. "I can’t leave."

"Why not?"

"Because you summoned me. And until your command is fulfilled, I remain."

Rin froze.

"What command?"

DING!

[System Alert: Demonic Binding Triggered]

[Zepharion is now linked to the Host through a partial contract.]

[Current Mission: Assist Host through "Heat Phase"]

"...what the fuck does that mean?"

Zepharion smiled slyly.

"You summoned me to help you with your upcoming heat, right?"

Rin’s jaw dropped. "No. Nope. Nuh-uh. I did not. I wouldn’t. I..."

"You did." Zepharion’s voice was soft and rich like velvet. "And I accepted."

Rin backed away to the bed and dropped onto the edge, holding his head in both hands.

"What is wrong with this world?! I thought this place was just noble heirs and dramatically obsessed rich boys... Not a demon heat counsellor... people... thing!"

Zepharion approached him, slow and graceful.

"I’ll leave... for now, Master. Since your ’Duke’ is near." He reached for Rin’s hand. Rin tried to pull back, but it was too late.

The demon pressed a kiss to Rin’s knuckles.

"Call me when you need me," he whispered, lips brushing the skin.

DING!

[System Alert - Zepharion has marked you.]

[He can now sense your presence at any time.]

Before Rin could even scream, the demon vanished into the shadows.

Then...

CLICK.

The door opened and Duke Evan Vortellion stepped in. He began to scan the room like a trained predator.

Rin tried to hide the nervous, angry and anxious look on his face, hoping he would get caught. He managed to get rid of his facial evidence, but he didn’t get rid of the physical evidence. The Duke’s sharp grey eyes instantly took in the candles, the faint smoke, the cracks in the floor. He knew what they meant.

"You were trying to summon a demon," he said flatly.

Rin gulped as he threw his legs to the floor.

"I... uh... yes."

Evan raised a brow, wanting a clearer answer.

"I mean, yes, I was. But not for anything bad. I was just curious and... still shaken after the assassination attempt." Rin rubbed the back of his neck. "I wanted to feel a little safer."

He didn’t try to hide it since there was no way he could successfully hide anything from this man.

The Duke said nothing for a long second.

"You won’t feel safer by summoning a demon,"

"I just wanted to know if there was one... the one who protected me from those assassins,"

The Duke walked over and picked up one of the demonic books Rin had used.

"These," Evan said calmly, "are forbidden."

He took another and tucked it under his arm.

"Also, you wouldn’t have been able to summon one even if you tried."

Rin blinked.

"You’re too weak," Evan added, narrowing his eyes slightly.

Rin just smiled awkwardly and shrugged.

"Yeah. I’m super weak. I can’t even do basic magic skills."

He couldn’t let the Duke know that he succeeded on his first try. He would get suspicious and maybe call Silas and Theron to the house again. Maybe, this time... His identity will be exposed to everyone.

The Duke gave him a long, unreadable look. Then suddenly, he stepped forward and cupped Rin’s chin gently.

Rin’s breath caught as he was pulled from his thoughts. Evan took Rin’s hand in his, and his thumb brushed the same place Zepharion had kissed.

"Your skin’s warm," the Duke said, almost to himself. "Too warm. Your heat will start in a few days."

"What? A few days? No way!" He smiled.

’How the hell does he know that?!’ his mind screamed.

"The head doctor said it’ll start in less than a month," Rin added.

The Duke smirked.

"Month my foot!"

Rin’s mouth parted slightly.

"So you knew?"

"I always know. An alpha can sniff his Omega’s scent coming before he does,"

"I’m not your Omega," Rin almost yelled at him, but managed to hold himself back.

"Of course, you’re not. You don’t want anyone helping you with your heat, huh?"

Rin pulled back quickly and stood.

"I-I’ll manage on my own."

"No, you won’t," Evan said. "I’ll be leaving the estate for a few days but, I’ll return as quickly as possible so I won’t miss your heat,"

Rin’s eyes lit up...

"But someone will stay here. With you." The duke added.

The light in his eye died immediately.

"You’re kidding."

"No." Evan took a step forward. "Once I’m away, you’re not to leave the mansion."

"What do you mean? I can’t leave? I can’t even visit my colleagues at the clinic," he frowned. He didn’t like the sound of being caged like a bird with its wings broken.

"Rin," the duke called his name with a dreadful voice and he shuddered. "No dorm, no trip to town, not even the clinic."

Rin tried to protest, but Evan placed a firm hand on his head and ruffled his hair slightly.

"Be obedient, Rin. Or I will be forced to lock you in."

His voice was low and terrifying. And yet, Rin’s heart pounded in his ears.

"I-I understand. I won’t leave."

"Good boy,"

With that, Evan turned and left the room, taking all the demon books with him.

Rin collapsed back onto the bed, groaning loudly.

"This is hell. Literal hell."

Niblet barked from the side and jumped onto the blanket.

Rin stared at the ceiling as his right hand rubbed Niblet’s head.

He has two days until his heat.

He had one demon on standby to help him with his head. Then, one Duke was watching his every move.

And finally, he was going to be stuck with some new babysitter.

’I wonder who it’ll be,’

He fell asleep, exhausted.

.

.

The next morning, sunlight poured through the windows. The mansion was too quiet. Rin sat up slowly, stretched his hand before spotting a folded letter on the bedside table.

He frowned before picking it up. He opened it and a frown appeared.

I’ve gone to settle some matters at the estate. I’ll be back soon. Do not get attached to the person I left with you.

If you do, I’ll kill him.

-Evan V.

Rin crumpled the letter.

"Psychopath."

He threw on a clean shirt and padded barefoot to the kitchen. He made a simple sandwich, took one bite and then...

Ding dong.

The doorbell rang.

Rin froze with the sandwich in his mouth.

"He’s here? Already?" He mumbled with a full mouth.

Niblet barked ominously.

Rin sighed as he dragged himself toward the front door, trying to finish the sandwich in his mouth. He chewed fast..

Then, he pulled the door...

And what he saw made him forget how to swallow what was in his mouth.

Standing there... was his new housemate.

And it wasn’t just anyone. It was someone he never wanted to see again.

"Good morning," the man said, stepping inside without permission. "Looks like we’re housemates now... Young Master."

Rin turned his head to look at him.

"Why did that fucking Duke pick this man of all people....?"