Melotini

In the heart of ancient Egypt, where the sun god reigns and noble blood dictates fate, a young servant’s heart dares to defy the order of the world.

Aarav, a fifteen-year-old boy taken from Meluhha, arrives in Thebes as a mere servant—destined to be unseen, unheard, and forgotten. But his fate changes when he is assigned to the enigmatic Khai, the nineteen-year-old son of a powerful nobleman. Draped in gold, kohl-lined eyes concealing his true self, Khai is an untouchable vision of perfection. Yet behind closed doors, when the masks fall away, Aarav glimpses something no one else has—the unguarded beauty of a man who is both powerful and painfully human.

What begins as silent devotion turns into a love neither of them can name, a forbidden bond woven in stolen glances and unspoken words. But in a world where status is law and desire is dangerous, how long can love exist in the shadows?

A tale of longing, devotion, and a love that defies the sands of time.

By the NILE, By your SIDE

Khai's words had burrowed into his mind, wrapping around his thoughts like silk thread, tightening with every passing second. You will not look at me like that again.

He had spent years serving nobles, bowing, obeying—never questioning. But Khai was unlike any master he had ever known. He was unpredictable, sharp, and far too aware of the power he held. And now, Aarav knew what lay beneath the mask.

He wanted to forget. He needed to forget. But the memory of Khai, bare-faced and ethereal in the moonlight, haunted him.

That night, as the halls of the estate fell into silence, Aarav told himself he wouldn't be foolish again. He wouldn't make the same mistake. He would stay in his quarters, shut his eyes, and pretend he wasn't thinking about—

His breath caught. The voice was quiet, smooth, but unmistakable.

His heart pounded as he turned toward the door of his small chamber. The flickering oil lamp barely illuminated the figure standing in the shadows. But he knew who it was before the light even touched him.

Aarav quickly got to his knees. "M-Master—"

"Shh." Khai's bare feet stepped onto the cool stone floor, silent and deliberate. The dim light revealed his form—draped in only a thin, sleeveless robe, his jewelry absent, his face untouched by kohl. It was the same vision from the other night. Except now, Khai had willingly brought it to him.

Aarav swallowed hard, lowering his gaze. "What are you doing here?"

Khai tilted his head, amused. "Interesting. A servant questioning his master."

Aarav immediately bowed his head lower, pressing his forehead to the floor. "Forgive me."

There was silence. Then, a soft, amused hum. "You always ask for forgiveness," Khai mused. "But tell me, Aarav… are you truly sorry?"

Aarav's fingers clenched against the stone floor. "…Yes, master."

Khai knelt down slowly, robes pooling around him. Aarav could feel his presence, closer than ever. Too close.

"Hmm." Khai reached out, trailing a single finger along Aarav's jaw. "Then why is your pulse racing?"

Aarav nearly flinched. But he didn't. He couldn't.

Khai chuckled softly. "You're trembling."

Aarav's breath was shallow. He should move. He should step back. But instead, he remained frozen in place, as if Khai's touch had rooted him to the ground.

Then, just as suddenly as he had leaned in, Khai pulled back.

He stood effortlessly, his presence still lingering like a phantom. "You should rest," he murmured. "You have a long day ahead of you."

Aarav exhaled shakily, his forehead still pressed to the floor. He didn't dare look up.

Khai stepped toward the door, pausing only once.

"Oh," he mused, a smirk lacing his words. "And Aarav?"

Aarav's fingers dug into his palms. "…Yes, master?"

Khai's voice was velvet, smooth and taunting.

Aarav stayed on the floor long after he had left, breathing ragged, pulse unsteady.

The servant's temptation