CHAPTER 74: ALL BECAUSE OF RIN!

The moonlight was pale over the Vortellion estate, slipping through the high windows like ghostly fingers. In the quiet of his room, the pain pulsed in Dorian’s throat like a living thing. He groaned softly, clutching at his neck as he stepped into his room. His legs were shaky. His breath came in uneven huffs.

Lucien had almost crushed his windpipe. Almost!

He staggered towards the mirror above his dresser, unbuttoning his uniform with trembling fingers.

"I never thought..." he whispered hoarsely, staring at his reflection. "That he would ever... do this to me."

Lucien had never hurt him before. Not even when he was a child, not even when angry. But tonight, his hand had tightened around Dorian’s throat with a fury that hadn’t felt human. If he hadn’t broken free... He would have been dead. The unsettling scene played in his head over and over again. His lungs were filled with Lucien’s strong Pheromones that almost choked him to death if his throat hadn’t been crushed.

A soft click echoed in the silence. The door creaked open.

Dorian didn’t need to look. He already knew who it was by scent alone. Cool, sharp mint, touched with something like smoke.

"Young Master Julian," Dorian said quietly, his voice hoarse. "What are you doing here?"

A figure in a long cloak stepped inside. The hood fell back, revealing Julian’s dark hair and pale, grey eyes.

"I couldn’t sleep. I’ve not been able to sleep... not since my father tried to..."

His voice trailed off. There was no need to explain. The evening Duke Vortellion tried to kill Julian was a memory neither of them would forget soon.

"Still, you shouldn’t have come to a servant’s room. You’re the young master of the house. What if you get caught?"

"Do you think any of that would matter once my brother returns and becomes the heir?"

"But still..."

Julian walked in slowly, his gaze drifting across the room before settling on Dorian. His eyes narrowed when he saw the mark on his body.

"Your neck..."

Dorian shifted uncomfortably, trying to cover it up with his hand.

"It’s nothing. I said you should leave, Young Master."

Julian ignored the warning. He stepped closer, reached out, pulled Dorian’s hand from his neck, his fingers grazing the bruises with a gentleness that startled Dorian.

"Was it... Lucien?" Julian asked.

Dorian didn’t answer. He didn’t have to.

Julian’s lips curled bitterly.

"Of course it was. Because of him."

"Don’t start with this," Dorian warned.

But Julian kept going.

"It’s that thing that came from nowhere like a plague. Rin. He’s the reason my brother is turning against his own. The reason our father snapped and almost killed his own son. We should have gotten rid of him the first time."

"Stop it!" Dorian barked, the sudden force in his voice surprising even himself. He stepped back, eyes fierce. "You keep talking about Rin like he’s a threat, but he saved you, Julian. He was the one who told Master Lucien to use the mirror to hide your Omega status. You would be dead without him."

Julian flinched but said nothing.

Dorian’s voice shook with emotion.

"He’s an Omega too. Just like you. He’s not the enemy. He’s just trying to help you and you keep seeing him as a threat!"

Julian tilted his head slowly, eyes narrowing as if fitting puzzle pieces together.

"...He’s an Omega?"

Dorian went still.

"Wait..."

Julian’s expression shifted, a twisted smile playing on his lips.

"Well. That’s an interesting secret. Does the academy know? Omegas aren’t allowed to be staff."

"Don’t," Dorian growled. He grabbed Julian’s shoulder. "Please, Julian. Don’t use that against him."

"I won’t expose him," Julian said, voice cold. "Not yet. But understand this, Dorian. I’m doing this for us. Father nearly killed me. Lucien nearly killed you. All because of him. He has to disappear."

"What?! No! I’m not hurt because of that, Young Master!"

But Julian didn’t listen. He turned and walked away, his cloak trailing behind him like a shadow.

Dorian stood there, shaking. He sank onto the edge of the bed, hands buried in his hair.

"I never should have told him... Master Lucien is going to kill me for real this time,"

.

.

Meanwhile... Far from the Vortellion Estate and close to the academy, in the sacred silence of the Temple, the scent of incense clung to the walls.

Ezra sat alone in a locked prayer chamber, its candlelit corners casting long shadows. He hadn’t left for six days. Not since that day.

Not since Rin had fainted because of the Duke.

Ezra’s hands trembled in his lap. He opened his eyes and looked at them... holy hands. Holy hands, which were blessed by the goddess, were trained to heal and protect.

But all he could see was Rin’s lewd face.

Flushed, breathless, his back arched in pain and pleasure. The marks on his skin from the encounter with the Duke. The way his body had responded, even against his will. What he had done to Rin... making an Omega who hasn’t been cleansed do all those sweet and nasty things.

Ezra shut his eyes tightly, trying not to think about it.

He had healed Rin’s injuries. Even the internal ones. That was when he discovered the truth...

His holy powers couldn’t harm Rin.

Rin’s body, even with demon blood, had accepted his healing touch.

’Why? What exactly was he? Is it because he’s a half demon? But... He has killed half-demons with a flash of his Divine abilities before but why was Rin different,’

Ezra had apologised repeatedly, brokenly, before returning to the temple and locking himself in this room.

Tonight, a knock broke the stillness.

"Who is it?" Ezra called softly.

"Junior Priest Talen, Master Ezra," came the voice behind the door. "The chief priests request your presence at tomorrow’s Blessing Ceremony."

Ezra wanted to say no. He wanted to stay locked away.

But he couldn’t. They could suspect him of hiding a secret. A very nasty and unclean secret.

"...Tell them I’ll be there."

He listened as the junior priest’s footsteps faded away.

Ezra looked down at his hands again. He spread his fingers slowly. Every time he did, the memory returned.

Rin’s breathy moans. The warmth of his skin under Ezra’s touch. The guilt curled tighter in his chest.

He whispered, pressing his hands together

"Oh! Goddess, forgive me."

But no voice answered. He lowered his head and added more prayers.

"Please... Please don’t let him come to the temple tomorrow. Not until I can face him without thinking about that day..."