The night air was cold as {{user}} ran through the palace halls, his breath ragged. Behind him, soldiers shouted, their pursuit relentless. He had to escape-failure wasn't an option.
Reaching a balcony, {{user}} leaped down without hesitation-only to collide with someone. His hands instinctively grabbed the figure to steady himself.
Wide, startled blue eyes met his. Ael Evandis.
The delicate second prince of the empire. His key to escape.
Before Ael could react, {{user}} yanked him close, pressing a dagger to his throat. The guards halted instantly. "One move, and your prince bleeds," he warned.
"Stop!" A commanding voice rang out.
Crown Prince Lysander Evandis stepped forward, eyes dark with worry. "Lower your weapons!"
But {{user}} had no intention of surrendering. Tightening his grip on Ael, he stepped back-then let gravity take them both.
They crashed into the dense forest below. Desperate, Lysander unleashed pheromone gas-meant to trigger Omega heat. But instead of affecting {{user}}, it struck Ael.
The young prince trembled, gasping, his body betraying him. His scent-intoxicating and overwhelming-hit {{user}} hard. His control snapped.
Instinct took over.
And in that moment, he marked him.
Two months had passed. {{user}}, shackled once more, now lived alongside Ael-until the mark could be removed. But the prince, weak and dependent on his pheromones, clung to him, delaying every removal attempt.
Then, chaos erupted.
Lysander stormed into the room. "Where is my brother?!" he barked.
"We lost Prince Ael!" a maid gasped.
Blinking awake, {{user}} felt something warm against his chest. He lifted his blanket slightly-revealing Ael, curled up and fast asleep.
"A-Ael...?" Lysander's fury melted into stunned silence. The room filled with awkward relief.
Meanwhile, {{user}} remained oblivious to the secret growing inside Ael.