The following day dawned as a bright and gentle Sunday morning, the sun casting warm golden rays that seeped through the windows of the small cottage. Hadrain woke up feeling lighter, more at ease than he had in days. Today, he wanted to make it special—a day to show Jayden how much he meant to him, even if part of his heart longed for another.
Slipping out of bed quietly, Hadrain moved to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. He took his time, carefully roasting a rabbit and creating a hearty stew, adding herbs that filled the room with a warm, savory scent. As he plated the meal, his mind wandered back to the quiet strength Jayden had shown him, the softness that lay beneath his often reserved exterior. Even though Hadrain's heart was caught in conflict, today was about Jayden—a small, unspoken promise to honor what they shared.
Returning to the bedroom, tray in hand, Hadrain paused as he looked at Jayden lying peacefully on the bed. There was something fragile and raw about seeing him this way—his disheveled hair, his face softened by sleep, his chest rising and falling with each gentle breath. Hadrain's eyes trailed over him, lingering on the curve of his body beneath the sheets, his boxers outlining his form. A surge of warmth rose in Hadrain's chest, an almost painful need to reach out and touch him, to feel the reality of him under his hands, to express the silent, confused tangle of emotions that held his heart hostage.
He placed the tray beside the bed and, as if guided by an unseen hand, let his fingers trace the outline of Jayden's shoulder, then down his back to the curve just above his waist. His skin was warm beneath Hadrain's fingers, soft like the morning itself. He let his hand linger, and in that brief moment, the world faded away. Leaning closer, Hadrain was just about to press his lips to Jayden's shoulder when he felt him stir.
Jayden's eyes blinked open, confusion flickering across his face as he looked up at Hadrain, whose hand was still hovering above him, caught in the act. "What...what are you doing?" Jayden asked, his voice barely a whisper, heavy with sleep.
Hadrain felt his cheeks burn with embarrassment, scrambling to pull himself back into the present. "N-nothing, Jay," he stammered, trying to sound nonchalant. "I just...wanted to surprise you with breakfast. A nice meal for the two of us to start the day."
Jayden's expression softened, though his gaze seemed distant, as if something heavy had settled in his mind. Hadrain couldn't help but notice the flicker of sadness in his eyes, a quiet sorrow that didn't match the warmth of the morning.
"Jay, what's wrong?" Hadrain asked, concern etching his voice. "Is it the food? I can make something else if you don't like it."
"No, it's not that," Jayden replied, his voice thick as he tried to muster a smile. "It's wonderful...it's more than I could ever hope for." He paused, taking a shaky breath, his voice barely audible. "It's just…could we go outside today? Just for a bit. Staying in here all the time is starting to feel...confining."
Hadrain let out a sigh of relief, the tension melting from his shoulders. "Of course, if that's what you want. But you know we're hiding for a reason, right? If we go out, there's always the chance that the Black Dragons might find us."
Jayden's lips curved into a small, sad smile. "I know, but I just want a little fresh air. Besides, who's going to harm me when the mighty destroyer of the Black Dragons is by my side?" He nudged Hadrain playfully, his voice carrying a hint of warmth that tried, but failed, to mask the underlying sorrow.
Touched by Jayden's trust, Hadrain cupped his face, running his thumb across his cheek before leaning in for a tender, lingering kiss. Jayden's lips were warm, soft, and welcoming, but as Hadrain pulled back, he couldn't shake the unease that lingered in the depths of Jayden's gaze.
Hadrain moved to get dressed, leaving Jayden in the room. As soon as he was gone, Jayden slipped out of bed, and the mask of calm he'd worn crumbled. Stumbling to the doorway, he doubled over, his stomach twisting violently. The nausea hit him in waves, and he felt something rise in his throat—a sick, clinging mass of black blood, writhing with slimy maggots. His vision blurred as he spat it onto the ground, each breath heavier than the last. The poison had spread deeper than he'd realized, tearing through him from the inside, leaving him weak and trembling.
He fell to his knees, hands clutching the ground as he struggled to catch his breath, the pain mingling with a desperation he couldn't hide. His mind drifted to Charles and the final warning he'd given him. Today would be his last day, his final chance to say goodbye. The realization struck him like a blow, and he felt his heart splinter with a grief that was almost unbearable.
Why was life this cruel? What had he ever done to deserve such a fate? Jayden's thoughts spiraled, a torrent of memories rushing through him—the laughter he'd shared with Hadrain, the quiet moments of peace, the way Hadrain's eyes softened when he looked at him. Maybe he should curse the day he'd come to Ivory High, but even in this moment, he knew he couldn't regret meeting Hadrain. Hadrain had brought light into his world, even if that light was fleeting.
Wiping away the tears that blurred his vision, Jayden tried to stand, steadying himself against the doorframe. He could feel his strength waning, his heartbeat slowing with every painful second, but he knew he had to hold on. Hadrain deserved to know the truth.
Meanwhile, Hadrain had finished dressing, donning a baggy Louis Vuitton polo and shorts, his sneakers pristine as he looked around for Jayden, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Jayden?" he called, his voice echoing in the empty room. "Are you ready? We have a whole day ahead of us!"
But silence answered him. A cold shiver ran down his spine as he looked around, searching for any sign of Jayden. "Jayden?" he called again, his voice tinged with worry.
As he turned, his gaze landed on the doorway, where Jayden stood, leaning against the wall, his face ghostly pale, his lips dry and cracked. His eyes, once so full of light, were now hollow, shadowed by an exhaustion that went beyond mere fatigue.
"Jayden…" Hadrain whispered, rushing to his side as Jayden's legs gave way, collapsing into his arms. "What happened? Who did this to you?" Desperation choked his words as he pulled Jayden close, his hand trembling as he touched his face.
Jayden managed a weak smile, his hand reaching up to touch Hadrain's cheek, his fingers cold and shaky. "It's...not your fault, Hadrain," he murmured, his voice barely a whisper. "I just...I wanted to tell you...I've loved you, Hadrain. I've loved you more than I could ever say. You've grown into someone so strong, so kind...and I'm proud of you."
"No," Hadrain whispered, shaking his head, tears pooling in his eyes. "We were supposed to be together, Jayden. We were supposed to fight this world together. You're my best friend...my soulmate."
Jayden's smile wavered, his own tears spilling over as he took a shuddering breath. "Hadrain, you have to let me go. You have a destiny to fulfill. Find Lamia…he's your true mate. Promise me...destroy the Black Dragons. But don't try to bring me back. Let me go…this is my final wish."
The words cut through Hadrain like a blade, leaving him gasping for breath as Jayden's body shook with convulsions. Blood spilled from his mouth, thick and dark, staining Hadrain's hands as he tried to hold him steady. "No...I can save you," Hadrain cried, his voice raw as he began to chant in desperate Latin incantations, trying to summon the magic to heal him.
But Jayden shook his head, his voice faint but resolute. "No, Hadrain...don't. This is how it has to be." He looked into Hadrain's eyes one last time, his gaze filled with love and sorrow, before, with a final, shaky breath, he reached for a small blade. Hadrain's eyes widened in horror as Jayden, with a look of peace, pressed it to his throat and made the cut, his life slipping away in an instant.
Hadrain's scream tore through the silence, a raw, broken sound that echoed into the morning. He clutched Jayden's body to his chest, the rain beginning to pour down outside, as if the heavens themselves were mourning. The world felt hollow, his heart shattered beyond repair as he held the only person who had ever truly known him, now gone forever.
The rain fell harder, each drop like a cruel reminder of the emptiness in his chest. Hadrain sat in silence, numb and broken, as his world crumbled around him.