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M oargan watched as Xander stalled by his front door. His friends had dropped him off over a minute ago, but he hadn’t moved since. Unlike him, Xander was still wearing his school uniform. His was grey with a white broach, which identified him as a freshman.

Xander had lied about his motivations for coming to Helion. Everyone knew that Foxglove had the best art department, so that wasn’t the reason Xander had left Tulniri.

Moargan liked a little mystery combined with his increasing appetite for the black-haired stranger whose eyes darted around, panicked.

It was time to start this show.

Clearing his throat, Moargan gloated when Xander startled and instinctively took a step back, hitting the door. “Hello again. You know, I can hear you from a distance. Thump. Thump.” He inhaled slowly, deeply, relishing in that rattling fear that sounded like music in his own chest.

At the sound of his voice, Xander looked up.

Moargan’s mouth fell.

Xander’s eyes burned a bright yellow in the darkness, lighting up the place like two torches. They flicked around nervously.

Could Xander see in the dark?

Only the Dariux could because they were made to be special, to be the unmistakable elite. So, what did that make Xander?

Moargan approached him slowly through the darkness.

“I…this is a misunderstanding,” Xander’s voice trembled through the inky air. “I don’t know why you are requesting my presence here tonight, but I can assure you, I’ll study very hard. You won’t even notice I’m here at the academy.” Xander kept on blabbering, igniting Moargan’s desire further. From the moment he’d seen him in the spaceship, looking all flustered and shy, lost yet resistant, he knew he’d make Xander his.

His body had recognized him as his. And though that sounded absurd, that was exactly what it felt like. Moargan always got what he wanted, presented to him on a silver platter. Though he wanted to play differently tonight, and he wanted to confirm that this was where he’d keep Xander from now on.

Just because he could.

“I’ll let you discover your new home at your own pace,” Moargan murmured. He heard Xander gasp as he took another step, eyes frantically searching around.

He couldn’t see in the dark.

“Please tell me what it is you want from me and I will give it to you. I don’t want any trouble.”

“A bit of trouble is fun,” Moargan teased as he crept closer. “Are you any fun, Xander Devers?” They were now chest to chest.

“No. I mean—I mean I won’t be any trouble. I mean, I’m no fun, no. I can be a shadow.”

“That sounds boring. I don’t like boring people. They are disposed of first. Wouldn’t you agree with me?”

Xander swallowed. “Y-yes?”

Moargen let out a chuckle and dipped his mouth, ghosting it over Xander’s ear. “Then you’d better run, little aeon .”

Xander let out a strangled shout and their eyes found each other in the darkness. “You…you…” He swallowed back the rest of his phrase.

Then he ran.

Moargan watched as Xander stumbled through the pitch-dark corridor and staggered into the kitchen, flinching when a single light shot to life. He lunged for the glass doors at the back, which were locked.

Stepping behind him inside the kitchen, he inwardly purred at Xander’s wide eyes. “Already cornered, and we’ve barely started. I’ll go easy on you, though. I want you to feel comfortable.”

Xander blinked.

“Did they explain the rules?”

Xander nodded as he took a few more steps back to the dark corridor.

“What were they?”

“Run,” he choked.

“Hmm. Very good. And what else?”

“Don’t get caught.” Xander ran, leaving the kitchen, and made his way back toward the front door.

“You don’t learn fast, do you?” Moargan chuckled, continuing his slow pursuit. “There’s no way out for you, little aeon . I want you to discover your new home.”

“Why are you doing this?” Xander pleaded, but he didn’t wait for a reply. He swung open the first door he found. Another light switched on.

Moargan shrugged. “It’s in my blood to do this.”

Xander eyed the large bathtub, the white and golden tiles, and double wash basins.

“Do you like it?” Moargan leaned against the wall and their eyes met through the mirror.

“No.” He ran for the next room that soon lit up, nearly tumbling into the toilet.

Moargan chuckled.

Xander kept on going, revealing more rooms and lighting up the house. His desperation grew. His heart rate sounded like music to Moargan's ears. “Still don’t like it?” He asked when they finally came to a stop in the living room. Unlike him, Xander was panting, and his yellow eyes flickered as he shook his head.

There were two rooms left. Moargan’s own heart sped up. Tonight’s build-up had been a constant tease and his boner felt uncomfortable against his pants. Xander had discovered his entire home, except for the two rooms where they’d be spending most of their time.

As if he could feel that too, Xander eyed the closed doors with apprehension.

“Which one is it going to be?”

Xander didn’t answer, but when he jogged to the first one, Moargan felt his stomach tighten with hunger.

He opened, looked inside the brightened room, spluttered in surprise at the rapid puffs of the acacia diffuser, and tried to run out immediately.

“Those rooms are interconnected,” Moargan mused against the back of Xander’s neck as he pushed against Xander’s back, bringing them both inside.

“You’re crazy,” Xander exclaimed. “I’m not…what is that even?” His brilliant eyes took in the leather bench and set of tools that were put on display.

“This is my dressing room, though it has many…functional items aside from clothes to which I’ll soon introduce you.”

“No. This is wrong, this is…I’m sorry, you…I need to go, this is wrong.” Xander stepped forward, creating more space between them, then pushed open the other door with trembling fing ers. Gasping, he eyed the large bed with its silver bedding and silky pillows.

“Please,” he whispered.

Moargan pressed a hand on the small of Xander’s back. The plea sounded like music to his ears. “This is where your conquest ends,” he rumbled, and without a warning, he pushed Xander forward and onto the sheets. “And where mine begins.” Flipping his yellow-eyed beauty so they faced each other, Moargan straddled his thighs. “How are you feeling, little aeon ?”

Xander’s pupils were blown, and his lips had gone slack. He looked stunning like this. “What did you do to me?”

Moargan grinned. “Again, I see that you aren’t accustomed to Helion’s ways. The acacia puffer you inhaled? We like a little opium in our lifestyle. It takes off the rough edges.” Dipping his face, he gave Xander a sinister grin that made the other man tremble. With fear, no doubt, but there was something else there too. Just like the first time Moargan had hunted him down. Moargan’s lips ghosted right above Xander’s, and he lingered, letting the anticipation build up, then pressed down. Soaking up the fear from Xander’s mouth tasted like heaven, especially because of the sweet sounds Xander made.

They stared at each other, Xander’s eyes a delicious cocktail of fear, confusion, and hunger.

“Did you drug me?”

Moargan leaned in for another taste inside Xander’s mouth. “I did,” he mumbled against his lips. “Although technically, it wasn’t more than a puff. You’re just a lightweight.” His mouth rubbed against Xander’s, humming in approval as the pillowy lips melted into his. They brushed together as Moargan’s teeth scraped the soft flesh, making Xander gasp, his chest heaving when Moargan’s hand roamed around to test the tender flesh around his neck.

“Your skin is perfect for bruises,” he mused, chuckling when Xander’s glassy eyes shifted. “Don’t worry, little aeon . Your mind can’t keep up now, but your body knows exactly what it needs. Just let go.” He pulled Xander’s shirt from its waistband and ran his hand under the fabric. Warm flesh met his palm as he made his way up over the taut skin of his abdomen to his sculpted chest. “Later, I want to explore every single inch of your body. Not now, lover. Right now, I want to pleasure you.”

Buttons scattered around as Moargan tore open Xander’s white shirt, ignoring how his beauty let out a surprisingly clear yelp. He tasted Xander’s exposed neck, reveling when he tilted his head to give him more space. “You’ve made me so hungry,” Moargan mused, incisors scraping the fragile skin of his Adam’s apple. He started opening Xander’s pants, making the other man shiver.

“Watching you run around my house?” He mouthed against the elegant dip between Xander’s throat and collarbone. “Perfection. Tell me, aeon , did you think I’d let you go?” Moargan’s long fingers crawled inside Xander’s pants, and he grinned when he was rewarded with a hazy gasp that turned into a moan when he grabbed hold of that long, hard cock. “Did you?”

“Let me go now,” Xander shuddered. “I’m feeling drowsy. I won’t tell anyone.” He tried to push Moargan away, but the protest was futile. Moargan started pumping Xander’s weeping cock and used his free hand to undo the buttons of his own pants. “Tell me something, little aeon . Has anyone else ever touched you here before?”

Xander shivered.

“Has anyone ever chased you down and made you theirs? Hmm? Has anyone ever fucked you before?”

Xander shook his head, no, hips bucking in search of more friction.

“Words, beautiful?” Moargan insisted.

“No,” Xander’s soft reply made Moargan purr.

“Fuck, little aeon, you have no idea how much that answer pleases me.”

Feral. It made him feral. Xander was his .

They both groaned when Moargan pressed their dicks together. Spit dribbled down onto their leaking crowns, and he used it to lube their shafts and started stroking.

“Look at me.”

Xander panted, cock twitching. Finally, he gazed up. From this close, Moargan could see the golden irises were made of shimmering flecks. “Your eyes are something else.”

Xander flushed.

“They are spectacular.” Speeding up, Moargan watched his throat bobbing as he swallowed. His own eyes rolled back, and he knew he was close. Good light, having their erections rub together felt like heaven. He spit more in his hand, feeling how Xander’s heart picked up at the sight. And then his hand was back, faster than before, fisting their twitching cocks.

Xander shouted as hot cum streamed out of his slit, making his shaft even slicker. Moargan’s toes curled when he felt his orgasm approach, balls drawing up tight when pleasure erupted. Keeping a steady hand to milk them to completion, Xander sputtered and whimpered before collapsing back onto the pillow.

They stayed like this, sprawled out, panting heavily, until Moargan could think clear again. The little adventure he’d forced upon Xander in the spaceship had been good enough for him to want more of him, but good light, this had been amazing. He was used to his prey being afraid, but usually, that was laced with defeat. After all, Helions knew the outcome of an Aureate, a public contest.

Death.

Slavery.

Sex.

The Luminary.

It was whatever pleased their new owner.

But there was something refreshing about someone who thought they could talk him out of it. It was endearing. He was. Endearing. His new possession. His little aeon .

His .

“The front door isn’t locked.” Moargan turned to watch Xander clean himself with the towel he’d handed him.

“No?” Cyprian slid back into the sheets with hooded eyes. He looked tired and confused. “You played me.”

“Uhuh.” Moargan tossed the towel away, crooking his finger at Cyprian. “The ring. I know you don’t have those in Tulniri, but over here, we link them to our multi-slate. Swipe it over the door, and you can come and leave my property as you like. With my guards that is.” Xander looked beautifully lost, mouth agape as he undoubtedly searched for ways to fight Moargan’s decision. “Since I decided to keep you,” he added, just to be sure that part of the message had been received loud and clear. And because he loved the way Xander’s cheeks blushed at the words.

Feeling positively satisfied, Moargan pressed closer to him. They were both on their sides now, under the satin covers. The drugs were about to carry him off to sleep. “Did you have dinner before I had you picked up?”

“Hmm.” Xander let out a cute yawn, mumbled something unintelligible, and turned onto his other side, giving him his back, and drifted off.

Moargan watched Xander’s sleeping frame, the afterglow still warm. He wanted to talk to Yure and see if his friend had found anything interesting about his little aeon . He’d need to formalize things soon. After all, there was a murderer out there who preyed upon guests of Helion. At that decision, something settled in his chest, thrumming and sighing happily.

Lighting up his multi-slate, Moargan called Helianth. “I’m sorry I got back to you so late. I got caught up.” He traced a finger over Xander’s naked arm. “I spoke to Father.”

Their dinner got cancelled last night because Kylix needed his younger brother. They had been out the rest of the night.

“You did?” Helianth sounded eager. “And?”

Moargan slipped out of bed, careful to not wake up Xander, and strolled to the window. Drawing one of the curtains, he sat down on the windowsill and lit a red cinder cigarette. The soothing flow of the opium entered his system upon the first inhale and Moargan leaned back and closed his eyes.

“He’ll back you up. Of course.”

Helianth let out a sigh of relief. “That’s good news. That’s fucking great news.”

“You know Father. He would never turn his back on you. He needs to know what you need exactly.”

“We need to conclude the profile of our killer. Aside from the few things I told you, we’re still searching in the darkness. Random outsiders are attacked, or so it seems. We need to understand his motive. Their motive, because another possibility is that this is the work of multiple people. It feels like whoever’s behind these killings, is trying to make a statement against the Imperials, polluting Helion’s reputation with assault and murder.”

“Yesterday you said that the victims come from off-planet?”

Helianth sighed. “We’re not in the position to assume.”

“But up until today, the killer’s victims are outsiders?” Moargan let out a puff of red smoke.

“Yes.”

Moargan’s gaze drifted back to Xander. Fuck, did he look good in his sheets. “Alright. You, me, Kylix, and Father are going to sit together and talk like grown-ups. Don’t give me that,” he added when Helianth let out a protest. “This is a threat to our family, and we will not yield to crime. We stand together.”

Once he finished the call with his brother, he checked in with Yure.

“Did you have fun?” It was Aviel who replied, and he sounded smug.

“I did.” Flicking away the cigarette, Moargan got up and stalked toward the bed, crouched down, and rested his fingertips on Xander’s cheek. His skin was cool, his heartbeat steady. “It was a good chase.”

The memory of Xander’s fear, followed by desire and release, filled his cock once again. Tracing a line from his cheek to his temple, he slid through the unruly, black strands. This wasn’t anything like him. Moargan had the reputation of chasing many, many prey. There was something about this one though.

This one was different. This one feels chosen by something deeper than desire.

He pulled back his hand and got up. “Soon, I’ll be making an announcement.”