Chapter 126 Romance list

Chapter 126: Chapter 126 Romance list

Noah walked slowly through the cottage corridor, looking completely lost as his eyes remained fixed on the sword in his hands.

He honestly had no idea where he was supposed to put it.

The weapon was strange, powerful, and clearly didn’t belong to ordinary people. After what had happened Noah was even more convinced that leaving it somewhere carelessly was a terrible idea.

What if something happened to it?

What if someone else touched it?

What if it suddenly activated?

There were too many possibilities.

So, for now, he simply kept carrying it.

His mind, however, was nowhere near the sword.

It kept circling back to everything that had happened with the four Alphas.

And Lysander.

Especially Lysander.

Now that he finally had a moment to think, Noah was beginning to understand just how dangerous the situation he had willingly placed himself in actually was.

He had gotten involved with four powerful men, each carrying their own secrets and complicated history.

And then there was Lysander.

A demon.

The son of Lucifer.

The same demon who had gone to such an extreme length to bring him here.

Noah’s steps slowed.

The original Ashton had been killed by Lysander.

That fact alone should have been enough to make him stop and question everything.

Instead, Lysander had somehow gone through all of that just to bring him here.

Not Ashton.

Him.

Why?

That was the question Noah couldn’t get out of his head.

Why was he the one Lysander needed?

What was so special about him that the demon had been willing to cross that many lines just to get him here?

And then there were the other Alphas.

They had all done terrible things to Ashton.

The original Ashton had suffered because of them, and Noah couldn’t simply brush that aside because they happened to care about him now.

It wasn’t right.

It wasn’t something he could pretend never happened.

He was living inside a life that had already been destroyed by the people around him.

And now those same people were standing beside him, protecting him, confessing their feelings, and acting as if they could simply start over.

Could they?

Could Noah?

His fingers tightened around the sword.

He didn’t know.

And the situation with Lysander made everything even more complicated.

Lysander had killed Ashton.

He had manipulated events to bring Noah here.

He was a demon.

And yet Noah couldn’t deny the connection between them.

That was what frightened him the most.

Instead of pushing Lysander away, he kept finding himself drawn toward him.

It was confusing.

It was dangerous.

And Noah wasn’t sure whether he was being reckless or whether there was something deeper between them that he simply hadn’t remembered yet.

Then another thought surfaced.

Eugene.

Noah’s brows furrowed.

He still hadn’t completely understood Eugene’s explanation.

Why had Eugene created that rumor about being assaulted by Ashton?

Why go that far?

Was the hatred really that deep?

Was it revenge?

Or had Eugene simply wanted to keep Ashton at a distance while hiding his actual feelings?

Noah still didn’t know.

Every answer he received only seemed to create three more questions.

"Ah!"

A familiar voice suddenly interrupted his thoughts.

"There you are, Ash!"

Noah looked up.

Killian stood a short distance away, his expression brightening the moment he saw him.

"Should we go outside and practice?" Killian asked excitedly. "At least a few strikes with our magic. I want to learn more from you. Maybe we can exchange one or two techniques."

Noah stared at him.

For a second, he simply watched Killian.

Then he realized something.

For so long, he hadn’t been alone with Killian.

And he had missed it.

More than he wanted to admit.

The realization immediately lifted some of the heaviness sitting inside his chest.

"I’m hungry, Killian."

Killian blinked.

Noah pointed vaguely down the corridor.

"I’m just walking around to see if I can wait until the food is ready. Whatever the others are trying to cook."

Killian nodded immediately.

"Well, have no fear."

He placed a hand dramatically against his chest.

"I have the perfect snacks."

Noah laughed softly.

"Of course you do."

"Obviously."

Killian walked toward him and reached for the sword.

"Let me carry that for you. You’ve been holding it for ages."

"No, wait—"

Too late.

The moment Killian’s fingers touched the sword, a sharp burn shot through his palm.

"Fuck!"

He immediately released it.

Killian stumbled backward, clutching his hand.

"That hurt like hell!"

Noah’s eyes widened.

"Killian!"

He quickly put the sword aside and rushed toward him.

Killian looked at his palms.

They were already red.

"Guess it doesn’t want me holding it."

"I’m so sorry."

Noah took Killian’s hands carefully, examining them.

"I didn’t know it would do that."

Killian’s expression immediately softened.

He watched Noah fuss over his hands, his cheeks slowly becoming brighter.

"I’m not mad."

Noah looked up.

"Really?"

"Not at all."

Killian smiled.

"If this means you’ll take care of me like a little child, I almost wish it would happen more often."

Noah stared at him.

Then he smacked him lightly on the head.

"Don’t push your luck."

Killian laughed.

Noah sighed.

Just moments ago, he had been overwhelmed by thoughts of Ashton, Lysander, the Alphas, the academy, and the disaster waiting outside.

But now?

He felt lighter.

That was Killian’s effect on him.

Somehow, whenever Killian was around, the world didn’t feel quite as terrifying.

Then Killian’s expression changed.

His playful smile faded slightly as he lifted a hand and gently touched Noah’s chin.

He tilted Noah’s face upward.

"I sense sadness."

Noah froze.

Killian studied him carefully.

"Is there something troubling His Majesty?"

Noah’s eyes shifted away.

Of course Killian noticed.

He always did.

He paid too much attention to Noah’s emotions.

But Noah didn’t want to talk about Rose.

Not now.

He didn’t even know how to explain what had happened without making everything sound more complicated.

"Maybe later."

He gently removed Killian’s hand from his chin.

"Let’s practice instead."

Killian watched him for a moment before smiling again.

"And let me warn you, I don’t have that many skills to teach."

Noah smiled.

"But I can learn from you if you don’t mind."

Killian’s eyes practically lit up.

"Now you’re talking!"

He grabbed Noah’s hand.

"This is exactly what I’ve been waiting for."

Noah laughed as Killian began pulling him toward the exit.

"We can’t just relax forever. We need to train."

Killian suddenly pointed ahead.

"And I know the perfect place."

They stepped outside.

Killian led him toward the garden.

His expression carried that dangerous smile he had started showing more often recently.

Noah couldn’t help staring.

There was something about Killian when he smiled like that.

Something that made Noah forget what he had been thinking about.

He was so distracted that he nearly walked straight into a wall.

Killian reacted instantly.

He stepped between Noah and the wall, catching him before he could slam into it.

Noah gasped.

Killian looked down at him with amusement.

"Careful, little kitten."

He gently steadied him.

"We don’t want my butterfly getting hurt."

Noah’s face warmed.

"You’re too much."

"Maybe."

Killian grinned.

"Come on, beauty. Let’s head in."

He practically dragged Noah along the path, clearly far too excited about spending time with him.

Noah followed, laughing under his breath.

For a moment, he forgot about the outside world.

The destroyed academy.

The Emperor.

The war.

The people who might be searching for them.

Everything.

Perhaps that was what this cottage had given them.

A brief moment where they could simply exist without constantly looking over their shoulders.

When they finally reached the garden, Noah stopped.

His jaw dropped.

He hadn’t seen the place properly before.

He had only caught glimpses of it from the side.

Now that he was standing in the middle of it, he realized just how beautiful it was.

An enormous fountain stood at the center.

Around it were graceful white swans, their feathers glowing softly beneath the moonlight.

Noah’s eyes widened.

"They’re beautiful."

He stepped closer, almost tempted to reach out and touch their feathers.

Flowers of different colors covered the garden, some of them familiar and others he had never even seen before.

There was something magical about the ground beneath his feet.

A strange energy seemed to flow through the soil, surrounding the entire garden.

It felt like a world separate from the one waiting outside.

Killian watched Noah’s expression with obvious satisfaction.

"Those flowers over there are marigolds."

Noah looked toward where he was pointing.

"They glow at night."

"They do?"

"You should see them when the moon is higher."

Killian stepped closer.

"They shine like little stars."

Noah smiled.

Killian then slipped his hand into Noah’s.

"And you know what I imagined the first time I saw this place?"

"What?"

"Our first date."

Noah blinked.

Killian’s eyes sparkled.

"Somewhere this perfect."

He gestured toward the fountain.

"A table right in the middle. Swans around us. You sitting across from me in something beautiful and simple."

Noah listened.

"And then we eat, talk, and eventually kiss under the moonlight."

Killian sighed dreamily.

"And we do it in the evening when all these night flowers are glowing."

He looked at Noah.

"Tell me that’s not romantic."

Noah couldn’t help smiling.

"It is."

"Exactly."

Killian squeezed his hand.

"But that’s not even everything I want."

Noah raised an eyebrow.

"What else?"

"A kiss under the rain."

Killian’s smile widened.

"Then dancing under the moonlight."

His emerald eyes seemed to glow beneath the night sky.

"Just you and me."

Noah stared at him.

Something warm settled inside his chest.

Would he ever get to experience something like that?

A normal date.

Normal happiness.

Being able to walk somewhere beautiful with someone he cared about without worrying about the world ending.

He wanted that.

He wanted the simple things.

The laughter.

The dates.

The stupid romantic moments.

The thrill of being loved by someone and getting to love them back.

Maybe that was why this moment felt so precious.

The world outside was waiting for them.

But right now, he didn’t have to face it.

He could simply be Noah.

He looked directly into Killian’s eyes.

"I want to do them all."

Killian froze.

"What?"

"Everything you just mentioned."

Noah stepped closer.

"After my training, that’s going on my wishlist."

Killian looked like he had stopped breathing.

Noah smiled.

"All of it."

He lifted their joined hands.

"And the dancing?"

His smile became wider.

"You’re my special man for that."

Killian’s face went completely red.

"So I’m dancing with you under the moonlight."

"Tonight."

Noah pointed upward.

"Or tomorrow morning if we somehow stay awake until then."

Killian looked ready to explode from happiness.

"Get ready."

Noah released his hand and walked toward a nearby apple tree.

He reached up and plucked an apple.

Killian watched him with an expression that was almost absurdly happy.

Noah took a bite.

"What?"

"Nothing."

Killian looked away quickly.

But inside, his heart was practically screaming.

Finally.

After everything.

After all the waiting.

After all the uncertainty.

He had finally been given a chance.

Killian’s eyes followed Noah as he moved beneath the tree.

"Finally..."

He whispered the words to himself.

"I’m going to do it."

His smile returned.

"I’m finally going to declare my undying loyalty to him."

He watched Noah take another bite from the apple.

"And bond with him."