SILAS, saltburn

xiv. DEVOTED

CHAPTER FOURTEEN
devoted

     "SILAS SAT in the heart of the labyrinth, his back resting against the cool stone of the statue. An advanced math exercise book lay open on his lap; he'd already worked through a quarter of it. The soft hum of his yellow radio was a soothing backdrop to his concentration.

     He removed his glasses and set them aside, rubbing his tired eyes. A deep sigh escaped him as he stretched, the labyrinth's quiet solitude broken only by the faint sound of footsteps approaching. He looked up, and a smile tugged at his lips when he saw Felix making his way toward him. Felix's shaggy hair and bracelet-clad wrists were as distinct as ever. "What have I done to be blessed with your presence?" Silas asked, his tone light and teasing.

     Felix grinned, his eyes sparkling with humour. "Nothing at all, I'm just irresistibly drawn to you," he said, the playful tone belying a deeper truth. "I've been searching for you forever," he added, settling beside Silas and holding out one of the cans of lemonade.

     Silas opened his can with a satisfying click. "You know I always come here," the blonde replied after a moment.

     Felix hummed, taking a swig of his own lemonade. The silence between them was filled with unspoken words. Silas could almost see the questions bubbling behind Felix's eyes. Though he wasn't a seer, he was certain that Felix was about to broach the topic of Farleigh's cryptic remarks. "What are we, Sil?"

     A beat.

     That wasn't what Silas was expecting, at all. He glanced at Felix, instant regret shown in the brunette's features after he asked that. His expression softened with a mix of surprise and regret. He placed his drink on the grass and moved to sit on Felix's lap, their faces close enough for Silas to see the flush rising in Felix's cheeks. "What do you want us to be?" he whispered, his lips brushing against Felix's.

     Felix's eyes fluttered shut, his breath catching in his throat. He didn't respond, and Silas gently cupped Felix's chin, urging him to answer. But before he could ask again, Venetia's voice cut through the moment. "You two! Help me pick out my outfit for tonight!"

     The spell was broken.

     Silas sighed, standing up and stretching. As the sun set, casting a warm glow through his hair, Felix looked up, seeing Silas bathed in a golden light. It was as if he were an ethereal being in Felix's world.

     Venetia's voice rang out again, pulling them back to reality.

     Later, in the grand hall, the atmosphere was a lively mess. Henry was belting out "Low" by Flo Rida with all the sincerity of a man possessed. Elspeth reclined on a sofa, fingers in her ears, while Silas, Oliver, Felix, Venetia, and Farleigh watched from the comfort of the couch. Silas was perched on Felix's lap, a contented smile on his face.

     "Alright, fuck this. I'm getting a drink," Felix declared, giving Silas's thigh a playful squeeze as he stood up.

     "Me too," Venetia chimed in, also rising from her seat.

     The three of them made their way to the drinks table, but Venetia soon excused herself, leaving Felix and Silas alone. Silas took a sip of his vodka, the familiar burn now a comforting sensation. He didn't consider himself an alcoholic, though his fondness for vodka and fine wine was undeniable. He was caught off guard when Felix leaned in close, whispering in his ear, "Let's go for a walk."

     Silas's gaze shifted from Oliver, who had taken over the karaoke mic, to Felix. "I thought you'd never ask," he replied. The two boys slipped out of the warm, dimly lit hall and into the crisp night air.

     They wandered side by side in companionable silence, the cold breeze a sharp contrast to the hall's warmth, Felix occasionally nudged Silas with his shoulder, earning a playful push back. The night air was cool and chilly as Silas and Felix walked together, the castle's imposing silhouette looming behind them as they strolled in comfortable silence, each step away from the loud party.

     Soon they found themselves in a secluded alcove tucked between two ancient stone walls, Silas, sensing the change in the air, closed the distance between them. He could feel the heat of Felix's body, the way their breaths mingled in the chilly air. "You know," Silas began, his voice low and husky. "You look really handsome tonight..."

     Felix swallowed hard, his fingers lightly grazing Silas's arm. "You think so?"

     A charged silence followed, each second stretching longer as they stood close, the tension palpable. Silas reached up, his fingers gently tracing Felix's jawline, the touch was feather-light, but it sent a shiver down Felix's spine. Felix's breath hitched, his eyes fluttering closed momentarily, when he opened them again, they were dark with desire. Without breaking their gaze, Silas leaned in slowly and Felix stayed rooted, his eyes locked onto Silas's.

     As Silas's lips brushed against Felix's, a jolt of electricity passed between them. The kiss started softly, a tentative exploration, but quickly deepened as the intensity between them grew, Felix's arms wrapped around Silas's waist, pulling him closer as their mouths moved together, hungrily and desperately.

     The kiss was a whirlwind of emotions—fervent and raw, with the urgency of feelings that had been simmering beneath the surface for far too long. Silas's hands tangled in Felix's hair, his fingers gripping tightly as if he never wanted to let go.

     They finally broke apart, breathless and flushed, their foreheads resting together. Felix's eyes were still closed, his expression a mix of satisfaction and vulnerability. Silas's heart pounded in his chest, the heat of the kiss lingering.

     "Maximilian..." Felix's voice was barely a whisper as if it was some sort of plead.

     That very night, with the silver moonlight reflecting in Silas's blue eyes, Felix Catton realized something profound. Maybe he had always known it, perhaps it was his purpose all along, but in that moment, Felix understood that he would only ever love Silas Montague.

note

long time no see...

a lot has happened my god, I have to be honest, I LOVE silas but i'm gonna finish the book because i want to start a challengers fic, i have yet to decide if its gonna be a female or male oc.

the situationship i mentioned in the last note is terminated lol

i hope you all liked this oneee, i promise to not to update in a year HJAHJHAH