Chapter 33
Luke gave Asher space to breathe, but soon, he plunged back into Asher’s wet mouth, intertwining their tongues. Like tangled threads, their tongues twisted together, and Luke pulled at the tip of Asher’s tongue. It was slow and gentle enough that Asher could have escaped if he wanted to.
But his mind was already consumed by pleasure, leaving no room for thought. Instead, he clung to Luke’s clothes, craving more, his eyelids trembling.
“……Asher.”
His name rolled off Luke’s lips in a way that sent shivers down Asher’s spine. His mind felt like it was melting, and he instinctively bit down on Luke’s tongue. But Luke pressed deeper, grinding his tongue against the sensitive spot near Asher’s throat.
“Hnngh… th-there…”
Strangely, that spot tickled. The sensation was so intense it made Asher’s body tingle, and he lightly bit Luke’s lip in response.
“You were the one who provoked me first.”
Luke emphasized his refusal to stop, lifting Asher’s chin slightly. He kissed Asher’s glistening lips softly, then licked them before curving his eyes into a smooth, almost predatory smile—as if to say, This is only the beginning. The sight made Asher’s knees weak, and he felt something large and hard press against him.
“Ah… ah…”
The unmistakable sensation made Asher stammer. He couldn’t believe what he was feeling—it was undeniably large. His lashes trembled as Luke pressed his cheek against Asher’s and slid his tongue into his mouth, as if knowing how to make the space even tighter. He plunged deep.
“Luke…!”
Luke’s tongue brushed against an incredibly sensitive spot, and Asher called his name without thinking. Luke pulled his tongue out, as if pleased, and slowly licked his lips.
“I never thought my name could feel like an erogenous zone.”
His fiery eyes curved wickedly. The sight was as chilling as a summer nightmare, and Asher covered his lips with the back of his hand. But Luke grabbed his wrist and slid his leg between Asher’s thighs.
“I-I’ll go home… hngh…”
Asher tried to say he was leaving, but Luke dismissed the idea, his hand tracing Asher’s damp torso. His finger teased the protruding spot, and he pressed his lips to the back of Asher’s hand.
“I won’t go all the way.”
Despite his words, the scent of Luke’s Alpha pheromones grew thicker, and the sound of buttons popping open one by one filled the air as his fingers slipped beneath Asher’s collar.
***
For Asher, this was his first heat, and it was unbearable. Unlike the typical three-day heat, his lasted only two days, but the memory of that passionate kiss lingered intensely. Luke had kept his word—he hadn’t gone all the way. He had only kissed Asher, never pressing his lips to his body, but the places Luke’s fingers had touched were seared into Asher’s skin as if branded.
“……Young Master… Young Master?”
Asher, lost in thought, jumped at Aria’s voice and dropped the documents he was holding. Embarrassed, he coughed lightly and gathered the scattered papers on the table.
“Where were we?”
“We were talking about how your heat cycle came three months earlier this time.”
Only then did Asher let out a soft “Ah…”
“Have you experienced any physical changes recently? For example, suddenly being exposed to an Alpha’s pheromones…”
“Is this something I have to write down?”
“Since we need to monitor your condition, Young Master. Judging by your body’s changes, it seems to come almost every six months, but this time, the cycle came early, so I asked.”
Asher had suspected it was due to Baron Varhan’s pheromones. Heat cycles in Omegas could be triggered faster by Alpha pheromones. But he didn’t want to share such private details, so he silently listened to Aria.
“This means your next heat will likely be in February next year.”
“Are you saying this because of pregnancy?”
“Yes… His Grace the Duke seems to hope you’ll become pregnant.”
Asher let out a dry laugh. February’s spring was around the time he planned to leave anyway. He dismissed the idea, gazing at the gloomy sky.
***
The rainy season had passed, and the sweltering heat of August had arrived. Asher spread out a map, planning his escape. But nowhere seemed safe enough to hide—he was certain the Anest Ducal Family would find him no matter where he went.
“The only way is to flee to another kingdom across the sea…”
But blindly running to another kingdom was risky. He needed to learn the culture and language of his destination and study its geography. A poorly planned escape would only lead to capture. Since he had time before the “real” Asher appeared, he needed a solid plan. Asher found an island near the coast on the map and marked it with a red pen.
The Bulldog Kingdom. Though small, it was a popular tourist destination, welcoming people from all nations without prejudice. It seemed like the safest place for him. Asher decided to leave in April, timing his departure with the arrival of the real Asher. If he disappeared around then, they might not search for him as diligently. For now, he just needed to evade the Duke’s attention. He could live comfortably for the rest of his life if he managed that.
A cough escaped him, and Asher swallowed a pill from his drawer with water. Lately, his health had been deteriorating strangely, but he assumed it was just from staying indoors too much. He folded the map and put it away, then moved deeper into the study. But a hushed voice from the corner made him slow his steps and cautiously approach.
“Did you do as I told you?”
“Yeah… but is this really for Mari?”
“I lost Mari. I’ve endured everything here only for her revenge.”
Listening closely, Asher recognized the voices as Jan’s and Sorta’s, the new servant who had arrived a few days ago.
“I don’t think this is right. Mari wouldn’t want this either.”
“So? You’re not going to do it?”
“I’m saying we should find another way. If we get caught, we might end up like Mari—dead!”
“Lower your voice.”
Jan’s voice was uncharacteristically sharp. Asher’s eyelids trembled at the stark contrast to the man he knew.
“You haven’t forgotten what Mari did for you, have you? If you have any conscience, you wouldn’t refuse.”
“Jan…”
“I’ll take full responsibility. You just do as I say.”
Sorta didn’t respond. Asher couldn’t see his expression, but he clearly didn’t like the idea. What could possibly drive Jan to threaten him like this? Asher’s fingertips grew clammy with sweat.
“Don’t you remember what Mari did for you? The least you can do is avenge her.”
“Then you do it. Why are you pushing it all onto me?”
“I’ll handle the final blow. Hitting him when he’s least expecting it—that’s the happiest ending, isn’t it?”
Jan’s chilling words sent a shiver down Asher’s spine. A terrible thought crossed his mind—what if I’m the target of this revenge?
“What are you planning to do…”
The moment his suspicion turned to certainty, Asher’s vision blurred. Jan had been the one he trusted most, the one who had always cared for his well-being. But now, it seemed Jan had been plotting to kill him all along. The shock hit Asher like a blow to the back of his head.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
