1.8 Mortality

As Persie walked to the dining room, he couldn't stop himself from smiling, feeling like hiding and covering his face.

He had been extremely nervous after their kiss, but he acted cool, as much as he could at least. He wondered if kissing everyone felt that way or just with Cole.

Maybe he should try to kiss someone else to see. He and Cole had an agreement, so he should look for someone in the meantime.

Honestly, he had always been a little envious of Venus's ability to draw people in so easily. He was always seen as Venus's friend, and people only gave him a passing glance, but he wanted more.

Persie wanted to have fun, flirt, and enjoy life to the fullest before he went back to Mount Olympus, and he would.

Reaching the dining room, Persie looked at the flowers in his hands and gazed at the guards. He tilted his head and examined one of them more carefully.

He looked at the name on his jacket and read Nicholas. Persie admired him. Nicholas had an imposing figure with a commanding presence.

He stood at least six feet tall, with broad shoulders and a muscular build that spoke of years of physical training and exertion.

His hair was thick and dark, styled in a short and practical cut that framed his chiseled jawline.

His most striking feature was his piercing grey eyes, which seemed to reflect the steely resolve and determination that lay within him.

They were intense and focused, giving the impression that he was always sizing up his surroundings and assessing the situation at hand.

He exuded a sense of power and strength, both in his physical appearance and his demeanor.

Nicholas seemed to be someone who commanded respect and admiration and possessed the charisma and confidence to lead others.

Persie couldn't help but think he looked like Adonis. There was something familiar about him. Even his grey eyes shone the same.

Persie felt his heartbeat quicken. Seeing someone who reminded him of Adonis made him feel better. When Nicholas looked at him, Persie's cheeks flushed.

"Do you need help with something?" Nicholas asked.

Persie asked, "Can you hold my flowers until dinner is over?"

He didn't want anything to happen to them, and he didn't trust Evander not to fake feeling sick because of it.

Nicholas smiled, and Persie felt like he was looking at Adonis. Nicholas's smile was the same as the one Adonis would always give him.

Despite Nicholas's build, there was nothing scary about him, just like with Adonis. Persie couldn't help but feel comfortable.

"Sure, I'll hold onto it," Nicholas said.

Persie beamed. "Thank you," he said.

Nicholas gazed at the cute omega and nodded, reaching out when Persie handed him the bouquet.

However, before he could take them, someone else grabbed them. Persie turned around to see who had taken his bouquet and met blue eyes. They looked a shade darker than they usually would.

"What are you doing?" Cole asked impatiently.

Persie was confused as to why Cole looked a little angry. "I was giving my flowers to Nicholas so he can hold onto them until dinner is over," he explained.

Zoe, who was behind Cole, sneered inwardly. She noticed how Persie called Cole by his name, and now he was calling the head of security by his name too. Who did he think he was?

Cole looked at Nicholas, who looked back expressionlessly. Persie looked at Nicholas as well, and he met his eyes.

Persie smiled at him, seeing how Cole was being mean by staring daggers at him. Nicholas smiled back at the cute omega.

Cole's eyes darkened. He grabbed Persie's wrist and pulled him in. Persie immediately frowned and tried to pull his wrist back.

Like earlier, Cole was walking fast, and Persie had to run to catch up. The worst part was that Cole's hold was too tight, and his wrist hurt.

Every time Persie tried to get out of his hold, Cole tightened his grip. "Cole, stop," Persie murmured.

Persie stopped in his tracks, but Cole easily pulled him forward.

"Cole, stop unless you want to lose your hand!" Persie yelled, his eyes red with anger and pain.

The room fell silent as everyone turned to look at the commotion. Nicholas frowned when he saw Persie's face.

Cole turned around and released his grip on his wrist, stunned by the look in Persie's eyes. They were wet with tears, and Cole could feel the fury radiating from him.

Persie pulled his hand back and fought back the urge to cry. His wrist was deep red and swollen, and for the first time in Persie's godly existence, he felt physical pain.

He had always been invincible, but now he was just a mortal, feeble and vulnerable. When he arrived in the world, Luke treated him harshly, but he didn't feel any pain.

So Persie assumed he wouldn't feel pain in his new life either. But he was wrong. The pain he felt now was excruciating and it made him realize the reality of his mortality.

Iris sensed that Persie was at his breaking point and reassured him, "Master, it's okay. It's only because it's your first time. I can't always shield you from the pain as I did when you first entered the world. But I promise it won't feel as bad next time."

Persie only felt worse hearing that. He didn't want to experience this kind of pain again, and he was furious with Cole for holding him so tightly.

He glared up at Cole, who met his eyes with discomfort when he saw the resentment and hurt in them.

Cole took a step towards him, but Persie instinctively stepped back.

Cole called out to one of the butlers, "Bring in the aid kit." The butler nodded and left to retrieve it.

Cole then took hold of Persie's other hand lightly and guided him to the empty seat at the head of the table.

Persie felt embarrassed when Cole pulled him onto his lap, and he blushed, looking away. As they waited for the aid kit to arrive, Persie couldn't help but take in the grandeur and elegance of the room around him.

The walls were adorned with richly patterned wallpaper in shades of burgundy and gold, while the floors were made of polished oak wood.

Large crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting a warm glow over the room and illuminating the ornate details of the furniture and decor.

In the center of the room, a massive dining table easily accommodated more than twenty guests.

The table was made of rich mahogany wood, intricately carved with ornate details, and embellished with gold accents.

It was set with gleaming silver cutlery and sparkling crystal glassware, each piece catching the light in a dazzling display.

Around the table were more than twenty comfortable upholstered chairs made of mahogany wood with intricately carved details.

The seats and backs of the chairs were covered in plush velvet in shades of deep red and blue, which added to the luxurious feel of the space.

The windows were dressed with heavy velvet curtains in a deep shade of burgundy, adding to the grandeur of the room.

The walls were decorated with beautiful oil paintings depicting grand landscapes and portraits of the Leos castle's previous occupants.

A grand fireplace made of marble and intricately carved with detailed patterns sat at one end of the room, providing warmth and ambiance.

As Persie glanced at the president of each subsidiary, he noticed that every one of them had brought their partner and their children, whom they had named the heir.

More than twenty people were seated around the massive dining table. The chair Cole was sitting on was a magnificent throne-like piece of furniture, fit for a king or queen.

It was oversized, towering above the other chairs in the room, and commanding attention with its impressive stature.

The chair was made of dark, polished wood with intricately carved details in the arms and legs, showcasing the craftsmanship of the skilled artisans who created it. Persie observed that the Leos household ran like an empire, which was odd.

On Cole's left, Zoe had taken the empty seat, and next to her were Demetrius and Calista. Luke was sitting on Cole's right, and next to him was Evander, whose hands were currently tightened into fists.

When Evander had gone to Persie's bedroom and he hadn't answered, he was sure he had taken his life after locking himself in his bedroom.

However, not only had he not taken his life, but he was also sitting on the lap of the man he loved, looking breathtaking. Evander narrowed his eyes at Persie.