Prince of Gluttony: Born from Betrayal

Cain closed his eyes and let out a slow breath. He wasn't sure if it was foolishness or bravery that had led him to speak those words, but seeing her reaction, he didn't regret them. His arm tightened around her instinctively, pulling her closer as though sealing the bond he had just declared.

Jayden tilted her head up again, her tear-streaked face glowing with a fragile but radiant smile. Her tail wagged faintly behind her, brushing against his legs in a rhythm that betrayed her joy. "Then I'm yours now," she said softly, possessively, but with such tenderness it was impossible to mistake it for anything but love.

Cain gave a short, quiet laugh, shaking his head slightly. "I wouldn't want it to be any other way."

Jayden leaned in until her forehead was pressed up against his chest.

"I feel the same."

Cain closed his eyes and let himself sink into the moment. For once, he felt at peace. The warmth of her body against his chest, the soft sound of her voice, the weight of her presence in his arms… it was grounding, even comforting.

And then it was shattered.

"Well, well," a familiar voice drawled in his head, smooth and mocking. "You certainly wasted no time, boy. I was expecting your first blood would be drawn in a duel. Never would I have imagined … this."

Cain's entire body tensed as his eyes snapped open. Heat rushed to his face, his stomach twisting in horror. He knew that voice. Gaius. The ever-watchful spirit and mentor who had set so much of this in motion.

"You should have seen yourself," Gaius continued, laughter dripping from every word. "Stumbling around like a starved beast, clawing at each other until neither of you could stand. Truly, a performance worth applauding. I do hope you enjoyed yourself… I certainly did."

Cain's face flushed crimson. His hand, which had been resting comfortably at Jayden's back, stiffened. His mind reeled as the realization hit him like a hammer. Gaius had seen. He had watched.

Shut up, Cain snarled in his head, his jaw tightening as he tried to suppress the rising wave of mortification and embarrassment.

"Oh, come now," Gaius teased mercilessly. "You cannot possibly be angry at me for observing. After all, you put on the show. Quite the stamina, too. I'm impressed. Who knew the scorned little prince had it in him?"

Cain groaned and buried his face in Jayden's hair, as if he could hide from the voice echoing in his skull. His ears burned, and for the first time in years, he genuinely wished the ground would open up and swallow him whole.

Jayden blinked at him, confused at his sudden change in demeanor. "Cain? What's wrong?" she asked softly, her tone laced with concern.

"Nothing," Cain muttered quickly, though his voice cracked. He clenched his fists into the sheets, biting back a curse as Gaius's laughter rang out again, sharp and cruel.

"Oh, it's something," Gaius purred, amused beyond measure. "I will never let you live this down, boy. Not ever."

Cain's face burned hotter than ever, his body stiffening as Gaius's voice slithered through his mind like a lecherous shadow.

Ah, look at you, he purred mockingly. The little prince flustered and panting. "Who knew you had such a flair for… pleasure? I could watch you all day, and never tire."

Cain groaned as he hugged Jayden a little bit tighter with a furrowed browa as if doing so would will the spirit to vanish. You're a pervert and a jerk, he thought angrily. Why do you always have to make everything worse?

Gaius laughed, sharp and teasing, and the sound scraped against Cain's brain. "Oh, come now. Do not act as if you are innocent. The way you scrambled over her, the noises you made… exquisite. You act like you were above that sort of stuff when I mentioned it but imagine my surprise that in bed you are actually a beast~!"

Cain's ears burned. He squeezed his eyes shut, imagining digging a hole and disappearing into the floor. How could he have been so foolish, so utterly exposed, and now his pervy mentor was going to tease him about it for ages.

His hands trembled slightly as he pressed his face harder into Jayden's hair. His body wanted to melt into the sheets and vanish entirely, but her warmth anchored him stubbornly in place. He could feel every word from Gaius like a physical slap, each syllable twisting deeper into his shame.

"Stop it," he muttered through gritted teeth, though his voice carried no real authority. "Just… stop it."

Gaius's laughter only grew, rich and sharp. "Stop it? My dear boy, I have only just begun. You cannot possibly imagine how delicious it is to watch a prince so thoroughly undone. You were not composed. Not regal. Not the slightest bit dignified. And yet…" The voice softened mockingly, drawing out the words like a cat toying with its prey. "…there was such eagerness. Such fervor. Truly inspiring."

Cain's hands clenched tighter into the sheets, his teeth grinding as Gaius's mocking voice continued to slice through his mind. The warmth of Jayden's presence seemed to do little to calm the inferno of shame roaring inside him.

Then there was a soft knock on the door. Cain froze instantly. The sound was mundane, everyday, but in that moment it carried the weight of a hammer striking him. Gaius paused mid-laugh, the voice vanishing into silence as if even he had been caught off guard.

Cain's heart hammered against his ribs. He could not move. His eyes darted toward the door, wide with panic.

The door creaked open slowly and there she was. Anna. Standing there, framed in the doorway, her expression frozen in a mixture of shock and disbelief. Her eyes trembled as they swept over the scene, the closeness, the intimate embrace, the unguarded vulnerability he had been exposed in.

Cain's entire body stiffened. He could not breathe. He could not think. He could not even look at her without feeling raw humiliation burn across his skin.

For a long moment Anna said nothing. Her lips parted slightly, her gaze fixed on them with an intensity that made Cain wish the ground would swallow him whole. Then, as if the sight had shattered something fragile inside her, she spun on her heel and walked away.

The door remained open. Cain did not notice it. His mind was still reeling and the silence left behind by Anna's departure was deafening. Jayden shifted slightly in his arms, concern knitting her brow.

"Go after her." She mumbled softly. She looked a bit uncomfortable saying it but Jayden seemed to be feeling guilty again for some reason.

Cain froze, every nerve screaming as he stared at the open door. The echo of Anna's shocked gaze burned in his mind. He felt rooted to the spot, torn between mortification and the urgent need to fix what had just happened.

Then, almost instinctively, he leaned down and pressed a quick, tender kiss to Jayden's forehead. "Wait here," he murmured softly, his voice tight with urgency. He pulled back just enough to meet her eyes, a silent promise passing between them.

Without another word, Cain scrambled to his feet. He grabbed the nearest clothes, pulling them on in a frantic blur. His heart pounded, fueled by a mixture of shame, worry, and determination.

The moment he was dressed, he dashed for the door, swinging it wide. The hallway stretched before him empty, but he didn't hesitate. Every step echoed in his ears as he raced after Anna, the image of her trembling gaze driving him forward.

He wouldn't let the moment be left unresolved. He had to reach her before the silence became permanent.