Chapter 7

Celest’s POV

Darkness. Screams. The scent of blood all over the air.

I was small, too small to fight, too small to run fast enough. My mother’s arms trembled as she shielded me. "Stay quiet, Celest," she had whispered. "No matter what happens, don’t make a sound."

But how could I stay quiet when the moment she released me, she and my father were torn apart?

I had tried to reach them, but the shadows moved too fast. My father’s howl of agony echoed through the night, then there was silence. My mother’s terrified gasp was cut short.

Blood. So much blood.

I wanted to scream, but a hand clamped over my mouth.

A boy, no older than me, his amber eyes glowing in the moonlight. "Don’t move," he whispered. "They’ll find us if you cry."

I clung to him, my small fingers digging into his arm.

The shadows shifted. The predators sniffed the air, searching.

“Don't be afraid. Dev the Devourer is at your service.” he tried to put my mind at rest.

I wondered how he could joke at a point like this, but the name stuck to my head.

The boy’s stares were scattered. He reached for something around his neck—a wolf-tooth necklace—and pressed it into my hands. "Hold this. Don’t lose it."

“No, I can't.” I said and pushed it back into his hands. He flashed me a smile, then, before I could stop him, he dashed out from our hiding place, his voice rising. "Over here, you bastards!"

“No, Dev,” I cried out, hushing myself in time to avoid attention.

They chased him and I ran in the opposite direction.

I never saw him again, but I'll be forever grateful to him.

I jolted awake.

A deep, husky voice murmured beside me. "Calling out for another man in your sleep, Celest? How bold."

My breath caught in my throat.

I turned my head, eyes wide in the dimly lit room.

Magnus.

Lying in my bed.

His muscular frame was sprawled across the pillows, one arm propped under his head, the other draped lazily over my waist as if he owned me.

I jolted upright, scrambling away from him until my back slammed against the edge of the bed. "W-What the hell are you doing here?"

His eyes snapped open, burning with something dark and unforgiving. In a blur of movement, he was on me—fast, predatory, relentless. His fingers snatched my chin, tilting my face up until our breaths collided.

"You tell me," he growled, his grip tightening, forcing me to hold his gaze. "You were the one moaning another man's name in your sleep."

My stomach dropped. Panic and shame tangled in my throat. Did I really say the name out loud?

His jaw clenched, muscles ticking beneath his skin. "Who was it?" His voice was rough, edged with an anger that threatened to devour. His other hand slammed into the mattress beside me, caging me in. "Say it again. Let me hear you call for him while you're in my bed."

I swallowed hard, pulse hammering against my ribs.

He let out a humorless chuckle, his grip on my chin turning almost bruising. "You think I’ll let another man’s name leave your lips? You think I’ll tolerate it?" His thumb dragged slowly over my lower lip, a dangerous contrast to the fury brimming in his eyes.

"I’m curious, though," he murmured, voice dripping with mocking possession. "How exactly do you know my childhood nickname?"

The blood drained from my face.

“Your childhood nickname?”

My heart pounded as I tried to piece it together. The dream—the boy—the necklace.

It did not make any sense.

"Anyways,” he took me off my thoughts. “I’m more interested in the present. Specifically, why are you looking so damn tempting."

I took a deep breath. "I—You—"

He leaned in. "You smell intoxicating, Celest. Did you know that?"

I pushed at his chest, but he didn’t budge. "Get off me!"

Magnus chuckled. "I’d reconsider your tone, sweetheart. You seem to forget who owns you now."

I was angry, but before I could say anything back in response, he acted first.

And then, he took what he wanted.

I couldn't dare protest or oppose him again. It always didn't end well. So, I let him have his way. He spread my legs, greased his cock with saliva and penetrated my pussy.

He had his methods of putting me in the mood, and soon, my juice dripped all over.

His pace was as quick as usual, like it was ages since he had my body. With every thrust, I moaned and he grunted, moving in sync with me till I neared orgasm.

My legs wriggled with the intensity as I squeezed the pillows hard. At the same time, I felt his warm load flow through me, then, slowly he pulled away, laying beside me in exhaustion.

***

Asides the pain I felt between my legs, my morning at work had been bugged with questions.

The thought of the boy from my past—the one who had saved me, the fact that Magnus said I called out his childhood name in my sleep, made everything even more confusing.

"Celest?"

I flinched at the sound of my name. Looking up, I met a pair of concerned brown eyes.

Leon.

My heart sank.

"Where the hell have you been?" he demanded.

I forced a smile, feigning nonchalance. "I was sick."

His jaw tightened. "Really? Because your brother’s hospital account suddenly received a deposit of five million dollars."

I froze.

"Celest," he pressed, stepping closer, "where did that money come from?"

My mind raced. If I told him the truth, if I even mentioned Magnus, there would be consequences. Terrible consequences.

I swallowed hard, forcing my lips into a thin line. "I got an advance on my salary."

He frowned at my answer. "That much money? Do you really expect me to believe that?"

I shrugged, gripping the rag in my hand. "Believe whatever you want."

Leon exhaled sharply, raking a hand through his hair. "Celest, please tell me you haven’t done something reckless. I—" He hesitated, lowering his voice. "I just don’t want you to get hurt."

Dramatic.

"I’m fine, sir," I said, forcing a weak smile. "Really."

His eyes searched mine for a long moment before he sighed. "I can only hope you know what you're doing."

I nodded. I had to give off the impression I was in control.

By the time I returned to Magnus’s villa that evening, my feet ached from standing all day.

The nanny greeted me at the door, her usual warm smile in place. "Miss Celest, you have something waiting for you."

Curious, I followed her into the living room.

She handed me a folded document. "Master Magnus asked me to give this to you."

I took it, confusion settling in. "What is it?"

She hesitated before giving me a knowing look.

I unfolded the paper. My breath caught in my throat.

A physical examination report.

His physical examination report.

Heat rushed to my cheeks as my eyes scanned the details, each test result confirming that Magnus was, in fact, in perfect health.

Oh my god.

I pressed the paper against my burning face, mortified.

The nanny chuckled. "It seems Master Magnus took your concerns seriously."

I groaned. I am never bringing this up again.

That night, the villa was eerily silent.

Magnus hadn’t come home.

I lay awake in bed, staring at the ceiling, my mind restless. I wondered why, but wiithout him here, the house felt… colder. Emptier.

The thought unsettled me.

Needing to move, I slipped out of bed and wandered down the halls.

It wasn’t long before I stumbled upon a door.

Unlike the others in the house, this one was different.

It was locked.

My fingers hovered over the handle. Why is this room sealed off?

"Miss Celest."

I turned to see the nanny standing behind me. She almost stunned me.

"You shouldn’t be here," she said gently.

I hesitated. "Why not?"

Her gaze moved from the door to my face. "That is Master Magnus’s forbidden area."

I frowned. "Forbidden?"

She nodded. "No one is allowed inside. Not even the staff."

A strange feeling started to creep inside me.

"Why?" I asked.

The nanny sighed, glancing around as if checking for unseen ears. "Master Magnus… is a very private man."

I leaned against the wall. "Yeah, I noticed there aren’t any pictures of his family here. No childhood photos. Nothing."

"That’s because there aren’t any."

I blinked. "What do you mean?"

She sighed. "In all the years I’ve served him, I’ve never seen a single image of his parents or siblings. It’s as if they don’t exist."

"And women?" I asked hesitantly. "Has he ever—?"

The nanny’s lips curled into a small, almost pitying smile. "You’re the first, Miss Celest."

My breath caught.

The first?

Somehow, I found that hard to believe.

Just who was this man?.

No family photos. No past lovers. No one truly knew who Magnus was.

I had always assumed he was exactly what the media painted him to be, a notorious playboy, a ruthless businessman, a monster in human skin. But now, doubt crept in.

What if those reports were exaggerated?

I had believed it. Hated him for it.

But what if it was all a lie?

If no one knew anything about him, then who wrote those reports? Who benefits from his bad reputation?

I swallowed hard, pushing away the questions. It didn’t matter. What mattered was getting my brother to safety. Magnus was away on a trip as his servants had talked about, and I had to use this time wisely.

First, I’d transfer my brother to another hospital. Somewhere Magnus wouldn’t find him.

Then, I’d run.