1.18 Of Devils and Angels

The dining room remained silent until the main course arrived, and Dorian began to eat. He glanced up when he felt Renan's eyes on him.

Renan smiled and asked, "Do you believe you're ready for the second trial?"

Dorian replied, "I do, and I'll have the advantage of training for it."

The king inquired, "Do you wish you would have signed the normal way?"

Dorian looked at him and answered, "I did at first, but if I hadn't gone through with it, I doubt I would've woken up and taken back control of my life."

Sage nodded and asked, "How close was your father to the Zenos?"

"Extremely. The rare times I didn't go with him, I stayed at their house."

Damian sneered, "And now they believe they are entitled to your fortune."

Dorian gazed at him and smiled. "It's okay; I believe in karma."

Damian smiled. Honestly, he would've preferred to take a more direct approach, but he'll support Dorian in whatever he wants to do.

The king looked at Dorian intently and asked, "Do you hate them?"

Dorian looked at him again. "I feel indifferent."

Renan asked with a smile, "Does that mean you don't plan on being your villainous self and making them pay for mistreating you?"

Dorian chuckled. "Getting revenge on those who hurt you is part of the description of a villain."

Damian, the king, and Renan shared smiles. Dorian tilted his head, studying Renan.

Renan smiled and asked, "Do you have a question?"

Dorian said, "You seem used to seeing the difference between Damian and Evander."

Renan explained, "I might not partake in those kinds of things, but I'm used to it. Alphas aren't exactly known for being calm."

Dorian asked, "So you're an angel who's remained pure despite living in the underworld?"

Renan chuckled, finding it amusing how sure of himself Dorian is that he is a good person. "I guess you can say that."

Dorian smiled. He blinked when his head was turned. He gazed into Damian's grey eyes. "Don't call him an angel."

Dorian raised an eyebrow. "Why? That's what he is."

"It doesn't matter what he is; don't call him that. Also, promise me you won't kiss or be intimate with anyone."

The king looked at his son and smiled. He never thought Damian would ever feel jealous.

Dorian chuckled. Since he's looking for the right person, he won't go around sleeping with anyone he fancies, even if at first, this is what he was planning on doing.

Seeing Damian bothered and uncomfortable, Dorian promised, "I promise, I won't."

Damian released a breath and beamed. Dorian then pushed his hand away and asked with an amused smile, "Do you think you can play the jealous card when you've dated half of the galaxy?"

The king chuckled. Damian looked at his father with narrowed eyes and then at Dorian, who was still smiling. "It's in the past. I haven't dated anyone since we met."

Dorian said, "You can date whoever you wish; it's not like we are dating. I take being in a relationship seriously; that's exactly why I want to get to know someone before officially being with them."

Damian said, his grey eyes turning a shade darker, "I want you and no one else."

Dorian's heart skipped a beat. He thought and asked, "What if we don't wish for the same thing?"

Damian said with certainty, "I'm sure we do."

Dorian chuckled. Since he has CS, he knows without a doubt that they don't. He said, "We don't."

The king asked, "What do you think the two of you differ on?"

Dorian met his eyes and answered, "I don't wish to have children. I want a memorable marriage proposal and a huge wedding."

Dorian has never been in a relationship before, so when he meets the person who finally believes he is good enough, he wants to do all the things he never got to do.

Damian had a son in the original timeline, proposed to both Luna and Aries without getting on one knee, and he and Aries just signed the marriage certificate. There was no big wedding or celebration. It isn't surprising seeing how Damian is.

Evander chuckled and said, "Then you're getting to know the wrong person. Damian will never do all those things, and he needs an heir for the throne."

Damian looked at him and warned, "Don't speak on my behalf again."

The king asked, "Why don't you wish for children?"

"I just want to enjoy this life with a mate."

There's no doubt in his mind that he would be a terrible parent. Not only is he a villain, but his parents both ended up being the worst role models.

The king nodded. Dorian resumed eating. He just wants things to be clear in case maybe Damian ends up being the right person for him. Dorian glanced at him and saw that he was looking down.

He smiled and turned his head. Obviously, Damian is bothered by it.

Dorian looked up when Renan said, "I don't wish for children either; I also want to enjoy life with a mate."

Dorian smiled. Indeed, Renan never had children in the original timeline. He can't help but feel that Renan likes him, even though he is engaged to marry.

Damian's eyes darkened, and he turned Dorian's face again. He said, "If this is what you wish, then this is what I wish. I'll make sure your proposal will be memorable, and we'll have the grandest wedding in the galaxy."

Dorian's heartbeat quickened when he saw the devotion in Damian's eyes. He asked, "Aren't you bothered to not have an heir?"

Damian answered, "As you've said, I'm different than other alphas. If I would've had a child, I'm unsure if I would've been able to connect with him or her. You're the only person who makes me feel; you're all I need."

Dorian's heart skipped a beat when he saw that Damian was sincere. Unconsciously, he relaxed and couldn't stop himself from leaning in and giving him a peck.

He felt stunned when he sensed the amulet gaining power as their lips met. Not only that, but he also felt a small shot of electricity.

Dorian blinked. Damian pushed his chair closer and captured his lips. Their lips met, and Dorian felt a jolt of electricity shoot through his body again.

It was like nothing he had ever experienced before - a mix of tenderness and passion that made his head spin.

As the kiss deepened, he lost himself in the sensation of Damian's lips against his and momentarily forgot about the amulet gaining power. Dorian felt Damian's arms wrap around him, drawing him even closer.

For Damian, it was a moment of sweet surrender. Their lips moved together in perfect harmony, and he could feel the tension in Dorian's body melting away, replaced by a warm glow of contentment and pleasure.

Damian had kissed before, but never like this. There was something different about their kiss - something that made him feel alive and whole in a way that he had never experienced before.

The king said, "Save it for the bedroom."

As they finally broke apart, both of them were breathless and flushed with emotion. Dorian gazed into Damian's eyes, as though he was searching for something.

Dorian's cheeks were flushed, and he felt unsure of what to say. Kissing had never felt this good before. The most incredible part was that he seemed to gain power every time he kissed Damian.

This newfound power surpassed anything he had experienced before; his previous gains felt like a mere joke in comparison.

Since meeting Damian, Dorian couldn't shake the feeling that he was different, not quite the person from the original timeline.

Unlike other protagonists, Damian could evolve and question himself. Did that explain why he gained power?

Perhaps changing his destiny contributed to this newfound strength. However, the mystery remained—why only during their kisses?

While it was a welcome development, Dorian wouldn't stay with Damian solely to expedite his own liberation.

If Damian wasn't the right person for him, Dorian resolved to move on and continue his search. Yet, he couldn't deny the unexpected pleasure he found in kissing him.

Feeling the intensity in Damian's gaze, Dorian resumed eating with flushed cheeks. Damian smiled, and his eyes softened. This person would be his, no matter what.

Throughout dinner, Damian was pleased to witness his father bonding with Dorian. Laughter echoed as they shared stories about their childhood and personal preferences. However, annoyance crept in when Renan joined the conversation.

Damian sensed Renan's interest in Dorian. It was clear why Evander had brought him here. Renan appeared bold in pursuing someone he liked, fully aware of Damian's nature. Damian was determined not to let him lay a hand on Dorian.

As Renan finished his meal, he stood up and bowed to the king. "Thank you for having me, your highness."

Sage smiled. "Of course, say hi to your parents for me."

Renan reciprocated with a smile. "I will." He turned to Evander. "I'll see you next week."

Evander nodded with a smile. Renan then looked at Damian. "It was nice to see you again."

Damian simply nodded. Dorian's eyes flashed in amusement. Renan walked behind the king and stopped close to Dorian. "Will you walk me out?"

Dorian was surprised but nodded. He stood up, and the two walked out of the dining room. As they strolled to his car, Renan laced his hand with Dorian's. Dorian looked at him and noticed Renan gazing ahead.

The two walked in silence until they reached Renan's car. Dorian was about to interlace their hands, but Renan tightened the hold and looked into his eyes. "I'm engaged, and until I met your blue eyes, I was sure I had made the right decision."

Dorian's heartbeat quickened. He responded, "As soon as I'm out of sight, you'll forget about me."

Renan smiled and said, "I used to believe that those who would say they fell in love at first sight lied, but now I know that it's possible."

Dorian felt speechless. After a moment, he said, "You can't love me; you don't even know me."

Renan replied, "I know enough about you to love you."

Dorian felt unsure of what to say. He hadn't expected someone to fall for him, especially at first sight.

But Renan wasn't just anyone; he was the very definition of an angel.

"Of all the people you could have fallen for, you fell for the devil."

Renan took a step forward. "I don't believe you're the devil."

Dorian looked at him intently and said, "I plan on killing every member of the Zenos family after I torture them."

Renan simply said, "As you should. They deserve it for the way they treated you. I might not partake, but it doesn't mean I wouldn't have your back if you did."

Dorian felt a little surprised. He had never met anyone like Renan. Renan smiled and asked, "Can I have your cellphone number?"

Dorian nodded and tapped his number when Renan handed him his cell phone. Renan called him and hung up when it rang. Dorian pulled out his cell phone from his pocket and saved his number.

Renan asked, "Will you always answer my texts and calls?"

Dorian smiled, thinking of how Damian had told him the same thing, but with Damian, it wasn't a question; it was a threat. "I will."

Renan smiled, leaned in, and captured his lips. Dorian was stunned. He didn't expect Renan to confess his feelings, let alone kiss him. After a few seconds, he kissed back, checking if he would gain power, but he didn't.

Dorian didn't even feel the shot of electricity he did when he kissed Damian. He pulled back and gazed into Renan's eyes. At that moment, he realized he liked Damian more than he thought. Kissing Renan felt wrong.

Renan smiled and said before driving away, "I'll see you soon."

Dorian looked at him go, touched his lips, and smiled as he turned around. However, he froze when he saw Damian. His heartbeat quickened at the resentment in Damian's eyes.