The moon hung high in the sky, casting a silver light over the lush gardens of the Asterdelle palace. The evening was peaceful, a stark contrast to the tension simmering between Ren and Onyx. They had managed to steal a rare moment of privacy, away from the responsibilities and eyes of the court. As they stood in the shadow of a large oak tree, the only sound was the rustle of leaves in the gentle night breeze.Ren looked at Onyx, his golden eyes softening as he took in the sight of his lover. The way Onyx’s dark hair fell into his eyes, the curve of his lips, and the way his presence alone could calm Ren’s often troubled mind—all of it drew Ren closer. He reached out, his hand brushing against Onyx’s cheek, and pulled him in for a kiss. Their lips met, and the world around them faded, leaving only the warmth of their shared connection.But as the kiss deepened, something shifted. The softness in Onyx's posture hardened, his grip on Ren becoming more assertive, almost possessive. Ren pulled back slightly, just enough to see Onyx’s eyes. What he saw made his heart skip a beat. The familiar warmth was gone, replaced by a cold, calculating gaze that could only belong to one other.“Achelios...” Ren whispered, his voice tinged with both surprise and trepidation.Achelios’ lips curled into a slow, predatory smile. “I was wondering when you’d notice, Ren. But I suppose you were too distracted to realize your precious Onyx has stepped aside.”Ren felt a chill run down his spine, but he didn’t back away. Achelios had taken control before, but this time felt different. There was a dark intensity in Achelios' eyes, a dangerous edge that Ren hadn’t seen in their previous encounters. He could sense Onyx struggling beneath the surface, but Achelios’ presence was overwhelming, almost suffocating.“What do you want, Achelios?” Ren asked, trying to keep his voice steady, though he knew it was futile to mask the underlying fear.“What do I want?” Achelios echoed, his voice a low purr as he leaned closer, his breath hot against Ren’s ear. “I want to remind you just how powerful I am... how easily I could break you if I wanted to. But…” His lips brushed against Ren’s neck, causing Ren to shiver involuntarily. “You’re too pretty for that.”Achelios’ words were a dark promise, filled with a mix of threat and desire that made Ren’s pulse quicken. Ren felt the hand on his waist tighten, pulling him flush against Achelios’ body. The contrast between their physical closeness and the emotional distance Achelios imposed was dizzying. Ren’s mind raced, torn between the desire to resist and the allure of Achelios' dominance.As Achelios traced a line down Ren’s throat with his fingers, a dark chuckle escaped his lips. “Look at you, trembling under my touch. I know you feel it, Ren—the power I have over you. The way I can make your heart race with just a whisper.”Ren swallowed hard, trying to steady his breath. “I won’t let you control me, Achelios,” he said, though even he could hear the uncertainty in his voice.Achelios’ grin widened, and he brought his hand up to Ren’s chin, tilting his head back slightly. “Control you? Oh, Ren, I don’t need to control you. You give yourself to me willingly every time Onyx and I switch places. You crave this, don’t you? The danger, the excitement... You want me as much as I want to dominate you.”Ren’s resolve wavered as Achelios’ words sank in. There was truth in them, a dark truth that Ren had been trying to deny. He did feel a strange pull toward Achelios, an attraction that went beyond just physical desire. It was the thrill of surrendering to something—or someone—he couldn’t predict or fully understand.Achelios could sense the internal struggle in Ren, and it only fueled his desire to push further. His hand slid down to Ren’s chest, fingers splaying over the fabric of his shirt, feeling the rapid beat of Ren’s heart beneath. “You’re mine, Ren,” Achelios whispered, his voice like velvet. “Tonight, I’ll make sure you remember that.”With a swift motion, Achelios pinned Ren against the rough bark of the oak tree, his body pressing against Ren’s with a force that took Ren’s breath away. The kiss that followed was nothing like the gentle one they had shared earlier. It was fierce, demanding, a clash of wills where Achelios clearly held the upper hand.Ren gasped as Achelios’ teeth grazed his lower lip, the sensation sending a shock of electricity through his veins. His hands instinctively reached up to push Achelios away, but the attempt was half-hearted. Achelios grabbed Ren’s wrists, pinning them above his head with one hand, the other trailing down Ren’s side in a way that was both possessive and sensual.“You can fight me all you want,” Achelios murmured against Ren’s lips, “but we both know you won’t. Not really.”Ren’s chest heaved as he struggled to catch his breath, his mind clouded by a mix of emotions—fear, excitement, desire, and something deeper that he couldn’t quite name. Achelios was right; there was a part of him that didn’t want to fight, that wanted to give in to the dark pull of Achelios’ dominance. But there was another part of him, the part that loved Onyx, that couldn’t let go so easily.Achelios noticed the flicker of resistance in Ren’s eyes and decided to exploit it. “You think you can hold onto Onyx, don’t you?” he taunted, his voice laced with dark amusement. “But he’s not here right now. I am. And I’m going to make sure you enjoy every second of it.”He tightened his grip on Ren’s wrists, pressing his body even closer as his lips moved down Ren’s jawline, leaving a trail of heated kisses that made Ren’s knees weaken. Achelios’ free hand slipped under Ren’s shirt, fingers dancing over the skin beneath, sending waves of pleasure through Ren’s body. The combination of the rough bark against his back and the warmth of Achelios’ touch was a heady mix that made Ren’s mind spin.“Say it, Ren,” Achelios whispered, his voice a command that Ren couldn’t ignore. “Say you want this.”Ren’s lips parted, the words caught in his throat. The battle inside him raged on, but it was a battle he knew he was losing. Achelios’ presence was too strong, too overwhelming to resist. The pleasure Achelios was giving him was intoxicating, and Ren could feel himself being pulled under, deeper into the abyss that was Achelios’ control.But just as Ren was about to give in, to surrender completely, a sudden wave of warmth washed over him, a familiar presence that cut through the fog of desire and fear. It was Onyx, fighting his way back to the surface, refusing to let Achelios take what was his.Achelios felt it too, the pushback from Onyx, and for a moment, his grip on Ren faltered. “Onyx,” Achelios growled, his voice tinged with frustration and something akin to respect. “You’re stronger than I thought.”Ren felt the shift as Onyx’s presence grew stronger, the dark aura of Achelios beginning to fade. Onyx was fighting for control, and Ren could feel the love and determination behind his struggle. The connection between them, forged through countless battles and tender moments, was unbreakable.Achelios let out a low, amused chuckle as he released Ren’s wrists, stepping back slightly. “It seems our fun is coming to an end, Ren. But don’t worry... I’ll be back.” His eyes gleamed with a promise that sent a shiver down Ren’s spine. “Onyx can’t keep me away forever.”And just like that, the darkness in Onyx’s eyes faded, replaced by the warm, golden hue that Ren knew so well. Onyx staggered slightly, catching himself against the tree as he blinked, his breath coming in shallow gasps. Ren reached out, his heart pounding with a mix of relief and lingering fear.“Onyx…?” Ren’s voice was soft, his hand finding Onyx’s cheek, the touch grounding both of them.Onyx leaned into the touch, his eyes closing briefly as he fought to steady himself. “Ren, I’m so sorry,” he whispered, guilt lacing his words. “Achelios... I couldn’t stop him.”Ren shook his head, pulling Onyx into a tight embrace. “It’s not your fault, Onyx. We’ll figure this out together. I’m just glad you’re back.”They stood there, holding each other in the moonlight, the shadows of Achelios’ presence lingering but not as strong. Onyx knew that Achelios was still there, waiting for another chance to take control, but with Ren by his side, he felt stronger. They would face this challenge together, just as they had faced so many others before.For now, though, they took comfort in the simple act of being close, knowing that whatever came next, they would face it together. But in the back of Ren’s mind, Achelios’ words echoed
