𝐌𝐘 𝐀𝐃𝐔𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍

三十六 | 𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆

adulation (n.)
adoration. worship.
admiration. devotion.
reverence. favor.

「 𝑪𝑯𝑨𝑷𝑻𝑬𝑹 𝑻𝑯𝑰𝑹𝑻𝒀 𝑺𝑰𝑿 」
𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆

꧁꧂

"Lord Crowley," Horn spoke as she landed on the windowsill of Crowley's study, her white dress fluttering beside her as she fully entered the room. "I just scoped out the area, and it appears that Lord Ferid is on his way here quite quickly. I presume for..." She slid her eyes to where (Y/N) sat next to Crowley, continuing, "...her."

     "Wow!" Crowley laughed, clapping his hands together as he stood from the rather grandiose chair. "Not even a a few days in, and he's already connected (Y/N)'s escape with me. I guess I shouldn't be surprised. I've heard that he's been quiet... aggressive towards the other vampiric nobles in regard to her whereabouts."

(Y/N) stared at the floor, tense.

He's... looking for me.

No...

No, no, no!

She trembled, fearful.

"Aw, the human looks scared," Chess crooned from where she was lazily sprawled on her stomach on the floor with her head propped up whilst her legs swung behind her. "Don't be so pathetic, human. Lord Crowley always has a plan. Even if it has to involve the likes of you."

"Chess Belle," Crowley uttered sharply, something that, instead of making her scared, only served to make her pale cheeks blush pink upon the usage of her full name. "Do not speak so crudely to her that way. Ever. Am I making myself clear?"

"Crystal," she sighed dreamily.

Horn rolled her eyes.

"In regard to the other topic Chess has spoken about... she is correct," Crowley nodded as he swept a hand across his desk before leaning against the edge of it. "I do have a plan—a plan that specifically involves you, Chess, as it turns out."

    "What?" Chess blinked.

"Yes," Crowley continued, pushing himself away from his desk to approach (Y/N), circling around her so he could gently place his hands on her shoulders. "I want you to safely escort (Y/N) to my Eastern most residence and stay with her there. Once Ferid's little destruction spree is over and Krul gets him back in line, he'll have no choice but to give up his search for her. Then, you can bring her back. I mean, so much discourse over a human... Krul will ensure that it is shut down immediately. One would only presume our faction in the world is weak, wouldn't you agree? She won't let that happen."

"So... the human will have to be hidden forever?" Horn summed up as she placed a hand on her hip.

"Correct."

(Y/N) inhaled sharply at that.

"Oh," Chess drawled with a rather nihilistic smile, her sharp fangs glinting in the rays of light that cast in through the open window. "Seems the little human didn't quite like that idea very much, Lord Crowley. How ungrateful. And after everything you've done for it so far."

"Chess," Crowley warned with a darkening tone. "Watch your tongue."

Chess pouted like that of a child.

Horn shook her head.

Silence blanketed the space with stifling tensity, something that didn't sit too well with (Y/N) as her stomach churned in discomfort. After all, it wasn't just Chess' hostility that she had to be worried about, but the impending feeling of Ferid's arrival. She swallowed thickly, her throat suddenly going very dry, clenching her hands into tight fists to try and ease the trembling of her fingers. Crowley, noticing her unease, felt his expression crease.

"Go," he uttered to his two aides, waving them away. "I need a private word with (Y/N)."

Though both Chess and Horn seemed apprehensive of his commands, they did as they were told without a peep of protest. Once the heavy doors closed behind them, (Y/N) and Crowley were drenched in the quietness of the moment once more. The only difference was that they were now alone.

"You're afraid," Crowley announced.

"I am," she murmured.

"There is no need to be," he stated as he rounded her chair to stand in front of her, pulling her up by the hand so that she was now standing as well whilst he gently tilted her chin upwards so that she was now looking at him. "I will keep you safe."

"And if you can't?"

"Such a situation won't happen."

"But—"

(Y/N) was abruptly cut off by the way Crowley embraced her tightly, one arm wrapping around her waist while his other hand was planted firmly to the back of her head so she was pressed flushed against him. She could feel every ripple of his muscles underneath his uniform while he could feel every contour and curve of her body through her clothes, the intimacy of the moment only overshadow by the way they shared a bed the previous evening. Her heart rate quickened the longer the seconds drew out along with how much tighter he held her.

From his actions alone, if not his words, he was quite unwilling to part with her.

"I will protect you," Crowley reinstated once again, his lips pressed to her ear whilst his fingers tangled in her hair. "Because I will rip apart anyone who tries to intervene."

(Y/N) froze at that.

How words were dark.

Heavy.

Completely irrevocable.

That was because he meant what he said, and through sheer relentless will alone, he would make do with his promises. Now, as (Y/N) stood there, she couldn't help but feel as if she were suffocating in his hold—as if slowly, the freedom that she had gained by going with him had been nothing but a lie and she still remained trapped.

"You know..." Crowley murmured, snapping her from her thoughts. "This is very unlike myself."

"What?" She breathed out in a whisper.

"Wanting you."

She tensed.

Observing this, Crowley pulled away to stare into (Y/N)'s eyes, his gaze smoldering like that of a molten fire that would only keep burning. He cupped her cheek with one hand, leaning in ever closer to the point only a trembling of air hung between them. Quickly and easily, he closed that gap by pressing a chaste kiss to her lips—so quickly she wasn't even sure he had done it. But, the way he stared at her lips made her think otherwise.

"Yes, it's very unlike me..." he murmured before meeting her eyes. "But it's exhilarating."

━━━━━━━━ ꧁ ♥ ꧂ ━━━━━━━━

「 𝑻𝑶 𝑩𝑬 𝑪𝑶𝑵𝑻𝑰𝑵𝑼𝑬𝑫 」