DELGADO || Sebastian Sallow (Hogwarts Legacy)

Part 22 - Twisted hearts and shatters

ꕀꕥ〡~𐀔~〡ꕥꕀ

❝What you did to me the last two nights—that wasn't love❞

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I stepped closer to his comfort zone, nodding as I took his hand, my thumb gently caressing it to reassure him in the face of his fear.

"I need to ask you something," he said, his brows narrowing. "Do you think I care about anything but you?"

I shook my head softly. "I know you care for me, Marvolo. That's no secret." I smiled.

"That's not what I'm asking," he continued, his tone serious.

"I think you care about many people, including me. But most of all, your family."

He chuckled darkly, shaking his head as he lifted his gaze to the stars. Then, tilting his head back down to meet my eyes, he asked boldly, "Are you that blind, princess?"

His fingers traced slowly over my cheek as he spoke in a deep, deliberate voice. "I look at you, and it terrifies me. It terrifies me to think of what I would do for you... Every time you smile at me with those eyes, I just—" He exhaled sharply. "You hold my entire soul in your hands, darling. You are the one I care for most."

I raised my hand to his cheek. "That's really sweet of you. But I care just as much for you, mister. And I already knew that." I giggled.

He let out a loud sigh, rubbing his forehead as he looked down. "You don't understand..."

Did he think I was stupid? I understood him perfectly. "You're telling me you care for me more than your own family. What's not to understand?" I asked, confused.

He shook his head. "You're missing the point. Just because I carry this secret well doesn't mean it's not heavy. And I'm not telling you this because I expect you to say it back—I just needed you to know how I feel."

"Well, I care about you too," I reassured him with a smile.

"Merlin, woman..." he muttered, turning away to lean on the balcony railing.

And suddenly, I wasn't sure if I had truly understood him. This wasn't some complex puzzle—right? Then why did I feel so lost?

He groaned in frustration before turning back toward me. In one swift motion, he closed the distance between us, his hands cradling my face as he leaned down to kiss me with unrestrained passion.

Was this his secret? That he wanted to kiss me so badly? As if we hadn't done that before... I had half-expected him to tell me he was an Animagus or a werewolf—something straight out of the wizarding world's dark lore.

When his lips finally left mine, his hands still held my face in place. He stared into my eyes, hovering over me. "I don't want to be apart from you anymore," he murmured. "Keeping my distance isn't what my heart desires. My dark, twisted heart beats only for you, darling."

His fingers traced over my lips as he loomed over me once again.

"Because you care for me?" I whispered.

"The right word you're looking for is love."

My mouth fell open as the puzzle pieces clicked into place. Marvolo's secret... was that he loved me.

"After tonight, I'm more certain than ever about my feelings for you, Angel. I've never felt heartbreak like I did when I found you in that bathroom stall—broken and hurt. And all I wanted was to destroy everyone and everything that stood in the way of helping you. But thinking of you calms my demons. You are my peace."