The Tyrant's Pet

Abel slowly opened his eyes, catching Aries's sleeping face as soon as he did. His expression remained the same, cold, caressing her cheek with the back of his fingers. His silence spoke many things, making his fingers tremble slightly.

'I'm sorry, darling,' he expressed inwardly, retrieving his hand from her face. 'I… cannot let things slide.'

Abel carefully slipped away from the bed, doing his best not to wake him up. When he stood on the side of the bed, he bent over to cover her unclad body with a blanket.

"I'll be back later," he whispered, plating a kiss over her forehead. As he did, Abel pressed the side of her neck for a reason. "Rest well."

He breathed in deeply, inhaling the floral scent of her hair. Drawing his head back slightly, he studied her sleeping face up close. It was only hours since he appeared in front of her after two years, but there were many things he already noticed.

Abel simply didn't speak about them, preferring to spend their reunion as peacefully as possible to catch up. However, that didn't mean he would let it slide.

Maximus… had ruined her.

In this place called the mainland, a territory initially owned by the Grimsbanne… how could he allow Maximus, who was nothing but a thief and a scavenger of the Grimsbanne's powers dare exploit Aries? Not only he had been sucking her blood for the past two years, but also her life and that damn Maleficent.

No way in hell Abel would let things stay like that, even if Aries asked.

Abel idled by her side for a moment before pushing himself away from the bed. He stood still on the side of the bed, eyes on her. Silence reigned over the room, leaving it that way. Turning his heel around, his footsteps didn't make the slightest sound.

His steps as he walked out of the chambers through the long hallway didn't falter. The dark aura emanating from his back grew stronger with every passing second. Soon, Abel reached the front door, pushing it open, producing a loud creak as if the hinges would come off.

Just when the door opened, Abel paused. His eyes landed on the figure leaning against the pillar on the mansion's porch.

"That took you quite a while, but understandable since it's been two years since we met her," said Dexter. His arms were folded under his chest, back against the pillar, eyes on the entrance.

It was as though he had been waiting for him even though they didn't talk anything about this. Well, there was no discussion needed. Just being with Aries for a brief time was enough to understand the weight she had to carry, even if it meant crawling her way forward.

"I let her sleep for now." Abel stepped out of the mansion and stood in the middle of the porch. "She'll have a deep sleep for the first time tonight."

"Then I wouldn't have to worry." Dexter peeled his back from the pillar ever so slowly, unfolding his arms and dropping them to the side. "We can go wild all night, yes?"

"Be as wild as you can…" Abel's tone sounded lazy, but danger shone in his eyes. "I'll end him tonight."

The side of Dexter's lips stretched from ear to ear, having this rare equilibrium with Abel. He slowly set his eyes ahead, particularly in the thick forest surrounding the clearing where the mansion stood.

"I thought I would have to do it if you didn't come out tonight," said Dexter, already dead set on settling scores tonight. Now that Abel was here and now that he was able to get out of the House Leviticus, Dexter wouldn't allow another second for his sister to suffer.

Aries had already sacrificed herself to save all of them, and all of them meant every single one in Haimirich. Suzanne, Conan, Isaiah, Dexter, Abel, Violet, Roman… every single one of them was still breathing because Aries used her body and life as a shield. It didn't mean that Maximus and Marsella were invincible. It was just that those two came prepared with their long-standing plan, catching everyone off guard with the twist and turns.

If Aries didn't prepare the slightest in welcoming Maximus back into the Haimirich Empire, they could only think of a worse outcome than the current one.

"No way in hell… would I delay something that I know hurts her with every breath she takes," whispered Abel, drawing a deep breath. "I already asked him two years ago not to act up. He still did."

Abel lifted his chin as a glint flickered across his eyes. "No mercy to anyone who stands in my way, Marquess. That is a royal order."

"As you wished, Your Majesty." Dexter tilted his head down, more than willing to execute this royal order.

With that being said, these two men marched to the capital with the intention to massacre everyone who would stand in their way from executing Maximus tonight. Yes. Tonight. Because deep in their hearts, they couldn't have the courage to rise up along the sun doing nothing for Aries.

It was a must.

*

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*

Minutes later…

Aries slowly opened her eyes. She didn't look for Abel immediately, staring at the empty side of the bed. She stretched her hand to the space beside her, smiling subtly when she felt the lingering scent he left.

"So it wasn't a dream, huh?" she whispered, eyes softening as she stared at the crease on the sheet. "He really came."

There was a moment of silence that descended on the chambers she slept in. She knew Abel tried to force sleep into her, but it was futile. Unless Abel does something more powerful than pressing her acupuncture point, Aries wouldn't be affected by it.

Aries breathed out, pushing herself to sit up on the bed. The blanket covering her naked top fell to her lap, running her fingers through her hair.

"Gustav," she whispered, turning her head to the slightly open window where the wind was blowing. "Assist London and evacuate all the monarchs to the safe palace. Even I won't be able to stop Wrath from continuing where he and Maximus left off. Maximus had it coming, after all. I do not intend to interfere."