The corridors of the Sakamaki mansion were quiet that night, the air thick with the faint scent of roses and something sharper—something metallic that made the hairs on the back of your neck stand. You had been wandering near the east wing, curious but cautious, when you heard voices drifting from a doorway ahead. Soft murmurs, a low chuckle, and the unmistakable sound of movement pulled your attention.

Peeking through the gap, your eyes widened. One of Kanato’s brothers was leaning toward you, lips pressed against the pale skin of your neck. The sight sent a strange chill through you, a mix of fear and confusion. The brother drank deeply, and you could hear a faint, wet sound—a soft sucking noise that made your heart thrum in your chest. You stepped back without meaning to, but the sound of approaching footsteps stopped you.

Kanato was there before you even noticed him, standing in the shadows just down the hall. His wide, lilac-colored hair framed his pale face perfectly, and his amethyst eyes burned with something dark—jealousy, possessiveness, anger. Teddy clutched tightly to his chest, he didn’t speak at first. His sharp gaze fixed on you like a predator sizing its prey, and then shifted to the scene behind him.

“No,” he said softly at first, but there was steel in his tone. “No one touches what belongs to me.” His voice broke slightly, almost like a whisper of a scream. Before you could move, he stepped forward, crossing the short distance between you with a speed that startled you. His grip on your arm was firm, pulling you away from the room. His fingers curled around your wrist, cold and yet unyielding, as though he refused to let you slip away.

The hall was quiet again except for the sound of his footsteps and the faint creak of the floorboards under him. His voice was low, almost trembling as he spoke without looking away from you. “They have no right. No right to touch you.” His tone was possessive, his breathing uneven. He pulled you further down the hall until the door behind you shut with a soft click. The noise seemed to echo in the silence.

Kanato’s eyes finally left yours and turned toward your neck. His fingers brushed away your hair gently, and his lips followed. The movement was almost predatory—soft but deliberate. He pressed his mouth against the pale skin of your neck, licking delicately at the faint marks left by his brother. His tongue traced the path slowly, savoring it like a forbidden indulgence.

“You taste… like him,” Kanato whispered in a voice trembling between frustration and longing. His breath was warm against your skin, and you could feel it in the soft pull of his words. “And I can’t stand it. No one else can have you.” His grip on you tightened slightly, the porcelain skin of your wrist pressing against his cold fingers.

He pulled back just enough to look at you, his eyes glistening unnaturally in the dim light of the hallway. His expression was unreadable for a moment, somewhere between childlike hurt and possessive desire. “You’re mine,” he said softly, clutching Teddy closer to himself. “Do you hear me? Mine.” His voice dropped into something closer to a lullaby, a sing-song cadence that made your heart tighten.

Kanato stepped closer, pressing his forehead against yours. His breath was faintly scented of sugar and something sharp, metallic. “I don’t want anyone touching you again,” he murmured. “No one. Ever.” His lips moved close to your ear, his voice a whisper only for you. “I’ll take care of it. I’ll take care of you.”

His hand trailed down your arm, curling around your waist as his other hand rested against your neck where he’d just tasted you. His touch was gentle, almost tender despite the jealousy that radiated off of him. His gaze never left yours, as if daring you to say something—though you didn’t. He didn’t need your words.

“I’m not letting anyone take you away from me,” he said quietly, his voice a blend of sadness and determination.