Lucien's home in the city was nothing like Kai had imagined.
Kai stepped through the tall black gate, heart thumping. He hadn't expected the city to feel so...❄️cold. Not in temperature, but in tone. Buildings stood tall like watchful statues, sleek and shining, their mirrored windows hiding secrets. Lucien's home rose at the end of a private, shadowed street—tall and modern, with clean glass walls, enchanted metal trims, and an aura that made even the wind hesitate.
The Virellan estate was nothing like the wild forests or enchanted ruins they'd wandered through. This was pure control. Magic lingered in the air like perfume—silent but thick. The moment Kai crossed the threshold, he felt the house recognize him. Something in the walls shifted, like a heartbeat.
"Your family lived here?" Kai asked softly, eyes wide as he followed Lucien into the hallway. Lucien nodded. "This is all that's left of them."
Inside, everything gleamed in shades of obsidian, steel, and violet enchantments that glowed faintly in the corners. Floating🕯️candles flickered in long hallways. Stairs folded away and reappeared. A silver-framed mirror🪞reflected back their images—only Lucien's moved a half-second later, lips twitching in amusement before syncing with him again. "They don't like strangers," Lucien said, noticing Kai's glance. "The house is alive. Old family spell work. You'll get used to it." Kai gave a short laugh. "That's not creepy at all."
Warmth wrapped around Kai like a blanket. The air smelled faintly of spices, old wood, and something ✨magical—soft, glowing energy that hummed gently beneath the surface. The floors were dark, polished wood, so smooth he could see their reflections. Tall windows lined the walls, letting in warm golden light that spilled across thick rugs, high bookshelves, and plush armchairs. Modern touches mixed with ancient magic: sleek light fixtures floated in the air without cords, softly glowing crystals hovered in corners, and portraits blinked subtly as if they were watching. kai turned in a slow circle, awe spreading across his face. "It's like a palace... but enchanted." Lucien gave a small, tired smile. "It's been in my family for generations. Too many, maybe."
They settled into a study filled with magical tomes,🔮crystal globes, and floating quills that paused as they entered.It looked more like a scholar's chamber from another world. Books piled high on every surface—leather-bound, handwritten, some humming faintly with their own power. Scrolls and maps were scattered across long oak tables. The walls were lined with glass cabinets holding artifacts that pulsed with low, magical light. A wide fireplace sat cold but grand, and the ceiling arched high above them, painted with constellations that gently shifted as they walked in.
Kai stepped into the room carefully, like he might break something just by breathing. "You… grew up here?"
"Sometimes." Lucien removed his coat, revealing a dark, fitted shirt that clung to his shoulders. "We moved between estates depending on where the power flowed strongest. But this was always the heart of it. My family's wealth came from old magic—deep magic. But the curse runs deeper." Lucien poured tea. It was hot and sweet, with a note of spice. Then, as the silence stretched, he finally looked at Kai and said, "There's something you should know." Kai set down the cup. "What is it?"
He walked to a dark bookshelf and pulled out a thick, black book. Its cover was cracked, and a strange symbol—half sun🌗, half flame🔥—glowed faintly at the center. He opened it, flipping to a worn page near the back. "My family," Lucien began, "were once the enforcers of balance in alpha-omega magic. The Virellans were feared and respected. We carried fire in our veins—literally. But like all power, it came with a price."
He flipped open the book, revealing pages filled with glowing runes. "Centuries ago, my ancestor—Aleron Virellan—betrayed his bonded omega to gain more power. He thought he could control magic that was meant to be shared. When his mate died, the gods cursed our bloodline."
Kai leaned forward, breath shallow. "Every Virellan since has been doomed. The bond drives us mad if broken, but claiming it fully can destroy the omega... or us. It's like walking a blade edge. We're cursed to either be alone or to burn."
Lucien looked away for a moment, voice quieter. "My mother died trying to protect me when my powers first awakened. My father tried to bind my bond forcefully. He failed. Vanished. Some say the magic consumed him. My brother—Cazel—rebelled and vanished too. Maybe dead. Maybe not." "And now it's just you," Kai said softly. Lucien nodded.
"You're not alone anymore," Kai said. It came out quietly, but the weight behind it was real. Lucien looked at him then—truly looked. "No, I'm not."
They spent the afternoon in the study, the fire now softly lit and casting golden shadows across the room. Lucien guided Kai through old scrolls and handwritten notes, maps of ley lines, magical sigils, and rituals forgotten by most of the world. Some of the pages shimmered with hidden ink that only appeared when their bond flared. Others turned themselves when Lucien muttered words in an ancient tongue.
Kai discovered that when he focused too hard, the air around his hands began to ripple—light bending as if the world itself trembled. Once, when he accidentally brushed Lucien's wrist, a spell across the room flared to life, casting symbols across the ceiling. "It's like… our bond is fuel," Kai said, breathless. "Like magic listens to us more when we're close." Lucien looked at him carefully. "It doesn't just listen. It obeys."
One entry caught Kai's eye:
"When soul fire meets its match, the curse may twist or break. But it will never disappear willingly. The bond becomes a gate, and what lies beyond... chooses to wake."
"What lies beyond?" Kai asked. Lucien didn't answer. His eyes had gone sharp, distant. Later, as dusk fell, they stepped out to the balcony. The city glowed beneath them. Stars blinked slowly above, watching. "Do you think we're strong enough to survive this?" Kai asked. Lucien stepped closer. "I think you're stronger than you know. And I think we'll figure this out—together."
A soft breeze stirred Kai's hair. Their hands brushed. A spark lit between them—gentle, warm, electric. Not like the heat of lust, but something quieter. Steadier. "I used to think being an omega made me weak," Kai said. "Now... I feel different. Like something's waking up inside me."
Lucien smiled faintly. "It is. You've always had power. We're just giving it a name now." They stood in silence, shoulder to shoulder, gazing at the night. Then, something shifted.
The air turned cold—unnaturally so. From the far street below, a figure appeared. Hooded. Still. Watching. Even from this height, Kai felt the pressure—dark magic humming low like a warning. Kai blinked. "Lucien…"
Lucien's jaw tightened. "That's not a local. We're being watched." "Enemy?" Kai asked.
"Maybe. Or something older." The house trembled slightly, as if reacting to his words. Kai stepped close, his voice quiet. "You think it's the curse reacting… or something outside trying to break in?" Lucien met his eyes. "Both."
The figure vanished.
Lucien turned, eyes now lit faintly with fire. "We're not safe here forever. We need to work faster."
As they stepped back into the house, the door closed on the city—and on something in the dark, waiting..