Aric’s head was still spinning, his thoughts a jumble. “But at what cost? I nearly lost myself in the magic, in the hunger and the power of it. How can you ask me to use such a dangerous force to kill my own kind?”

Malekith reached out to take Aric’s hands in his. His touch soothed Aric’s frayed nerves, grounding him in the present. “I do not ask this of you lightly, my star. But it is the only way I see to end the war, to save both your realm and mine. If you can just make it through this final trial, then you will have regained Sovereign Zaxos’s trust for both of us. And then we can learn more about this anomaly, and what it means for our two realms.”

Malekith’s words were a lifeline, a promise of hope in the darkness. Aric wanted to believe that it was possible, that he could find a way to end the war without sacrificing his own soul in the process. But the path ahead was still shrouded in shadow, and he feared what it might cost him.

“I will do my best to protect you, my star,” Malekith said, his voice a soft caress. “But you must endure the torments of this final trial just a little bit longer. Will you do that for me? Will you trust that I will stand by your side, no matter what comes?”

“I will,” Aric vowed.

He didn’t know what else to say, what words could possibly convey the maelstrom of feelings inside him. The fear and uncertainty of their situation, the raw need for the connection he found in Malekith’s arms. He didn’t know where they stood, what the future held for them, but in that moment, it didn’t matter. All that mattered was the press of Malekith’s body against his, the heat of his skin, the hunger in his touch.

Malekith’s answered by pushing Aric back against the stone wall, and Aric’s head swam with a heady mix of fear and desire. Malekith’s eyes were dark, almost feral, and Aric’s head spun as Malekith’s hands skimmed over his skin, tracing the lines of the sigils on Aric’s back.

“Malekith.” Aric’s voice was a plea this time, a prayer he didn’t know how to voice. Please don’t stop. Please don’t make me go back to a world where this isn’t possible. Where we are enemies and nothing more.

But he didn’t have to ask, because Malekith’s hands were already moving with a single purpose, divesting Aric of his clothing. The cool air of the chamber made his skin prickle, but it was nothing compared to the heat in Malekith’s eyes as he took in the sight of Aric’s bared body.

“Beautiful,” Malekith whispered, his breath hot against Aric’s skin. “You are so beautiful, my star.”

The words were a balm to Aric’s soul, soothing the raw edges of his fear. He reached for Malekith, his hands fumbling with twitch Malekith’s trouser lacings, and Malekith stilled to allow him to undress him. The layers of silk and velvet fell away, pooling at their feet, and Aric trembled at the sight of Malekith’s bared flesh.

He was a study in contrasts, all sharp angles and smooth curves, hard muscle and soft skin. His body was marred with scars and sigils, testaments to a life of battle and pain, but to Aric, they only made him more beautiful, more real. He traced the lines of Malekith’s tattoos with reverent fingers, and Malekith’s breath shuddered in response.

“Aric,” Malekith said, his voice a low, urgent rumble. “Please. I need . . .”

Aric’s breath hitched as Malekith sank to his knees, his eyes never leaving Aric’s. There was a raw, primal hunger in his face, and a hint of anger, too—anger at their circumstances, at the forces that conspired to keep them apart. But in that moment, Aric didn’t care about any of that. He only knew that he needed Malekith, desperately, and the feeling was mutual.

Malekith’s hands, cool and strong, slid up Aric’s thighs, pushing his legs apart. Aric’s heart was pounding in his ears, his skin tingling with anticipation as Malekith unfastened Aric’s breeches. He felt the Malekith’s breath against his groin, and then Malekith’s tongue, slick and sinful, swiped a path up the length of his shaft. Aric’s head fell back against the wall with a groan, his hands clutching at Malekith’s shoulders for support.

Malekith took his time, his tongue tracing lazy patterns on Aric’s sensitive skin, teasing him with light flicks and licks. His hands kneaded Aric’s thighs, his claws pricking just hard enough to send sparks of pleasure-pain through Aric’s body. Aric was panting now, his hips twitching involuntarily as he sought more friction, more contact.

But Malekith was in control, and he seemed determined to draw out the torture. His tongue swirled around the head of Aric’s cock, teasing at the slit, before he took the tip into his mouth, sucking gently. Aric moaned, his hands tightening on Malekith’s shoulders, his fingers digging into Malekith’s flesh.

Then, with a low growl, Malekith took more of Aric into his mouth, hollowing his cheeks as he sucked. His tongue worked in tandem with his lips, sliding and stroking, driving Aric mad with pleasure. The heat of Malekith’s breath seared him, the wet suction of his mouth surrounded him, and it was too much, and not enough, all at once.

He wanted to thrust his hips, to bury himself in that wet heat, but Malekith’s hands held him firmly in place. Malekith set a relentless pace, his mouth working Aric’s length with practiced skill. Aric’s senses were overwhelmed—the feel of Malekith’s mouth, the sound of his hungry growls, the scent of their arousal filling the chamber.

Aric’s head thumped back against the wall, his eyes sliding closed as he surrendered to the sensations. He was dimly aware of the ancient runes glowing around them, the map of their realms illuminated with their passion. But all he could focus on was the feel of Malekith’s mouth on him, the wet heat and the insistent pull of his lips and tongue.

Malekith’s claws trailed up Aric’s thighs, drawing beads of blood in their wake. Aric hissed at the sharp sting, his hips bucking involuntarily. Malekith’s mouth tightened around him in response, sucking harder, his tongue working feverishly. Aric’s control was unraveling, his body on the brink, and Malekith seemed to sense it.

Malekith cupped Aric’s ass, pulling him closer, urging him on. Aric’s breath caught in his throat as he felt the tip of Malekith’s fang graze his skin, a promise of what was to come. Then Malekith’s mouth was on him again, his tongue and teeth and lips working in perfect harmony to drive Aric over the edge.

Aric cried out as he came, his hips jerking uncontrollably as his release pulsed through him. Malekith swallowed around him, milking him dry with relentless efficiency. Aric slumped back, his body shaking, his heart pounding. He felt Malekith’s hands slide up his thighs again, gentle now, as Malekith rose to his feet.

Aric saw the same raw hunger reflected in Malekith’s gaze. His lips were swollen, his breath coming in short gasps. He reached out, his hand cupping Aric’s cheek, and pulled him into a searing kiss. Aric tasted himself on Malekith’s tongue, and it only served to stoke the flames of his desire.

But as their lips parted, the reality of their situation came crashing down on them once more. Malekith’s hands tightened on Aric’s shoulders, his eyes searching Aric’s face as if memorizing every detail. “I wish we had more time,” he growled, his voice thick with frustration and desire.

They clung to each other, their breathing ragged in the stillness of the chamber. The air shivered with the residual energy of their magic, casting an ethereal light upon their entwined forms. Aric’s heart hammered in his chest, his skin still tingling from the intensity of their encounter. He knew he should pull away, steel himself for the trials ahead, but he couldn’t break their embrace.

“This wasn’t supposed to happen,” Malekith murmured, his voice rough with emotion. “I never intended for you to become entangled in my web, Aric Solarian.”

Aric lifted his head, his eyes searching Malekith’s face. “And I never imagined I’d find myself here, in your arms. But fate works in mysterious ways, it seems.”

A sad smile touched Malekith’s lips. “Fate, or something far more treacherous. Our worlds are not meant to collide, and yet here we are, bound together by forces beyond our control.”

Aric’s thumb traced the sharp angle of Malekith’s jaw, his gaze dropping to his lips. “I don’t regret it. Not for a moment.”

Malekith captured his hand, pressing a kiss to his palm. “Nor I. But it makes what comes next all the more difficult.”

The weight of their shared burden settled between them, heavy and oppressive. Aric knew that Malekith’s position was precarious, his plans to end the war hinging on Aric’s success in the final trial. Failure meant not just their separation but also potential disaster for both their realms.

“I wish I could spare you this,” Malekith continued, his eyes dark with worry. “The trials you must endure, the choices you will face...they will test you to your very core.”

Aric’s throat tightened at the raw vulnerability in Malekith’s voice. “I know. But I’m not alone in this. You’re with me, and together, we will find a way through.”

Malekith’s thumb brushed over the fine bones of Aric’s wrist. “I will do everything in my power to protect you, but the final choice will be yours, and yours alone. It must be so.”

Aric understood the power of those words. The final trial would test his loyalty, his commitment to the demon realm, and the choices he made would have far-reaching consequences. “I know,” he said softly. “And I will make the choice that I believe is right, no matter the cost.”

Their eyes met, and Aric saw the depth of Malekith’s fear and longing. Malekith, so often a master of manipulation and control, was laid bare before him, his emotions raw and untamed. It was a side of Malekith that few ever witnessed, and it bound them together in a way that went beyond their physical connection.

“I fear for you, my star,” Malekith confessed. “I fear what this trial may demand of you, and what it may cost us both.”

Aric’s heart twisted at the pain in Malekith’s eyes. “I’m afraid, too. But we can’t afford to give in to fear. We must have faith in each other, and in the path we’ve chosen.”

Malekith’s expression softened, and he leaned forward, his forehead resting against Aric’s. “You have a gift for hope, Aric. Even in the darkest of times, you find a way to shine a light.”

Aric closed his eyes, drawing strength from Malekith’s touch. “And you, my prince, have a way of making me believe that anything is possible. Even peace between our worlds.”

Their foreheads remained pressed together, their breath mingling.

“Aric,” Malekith said, “I⁠—”

But their moment of peace was shattered by the blare of a distant horn, an urgent summons that sent a chill through Aric’s veins. Malekith’s face went ashen, his eyes flicking toward the door. “We’ve overstayed our welcome. You must return to your cell at once.”

Aric’s heart sank as he realized their time together was coming to an end, perhaps sooner than they’d anticipated. He nodded, understanding the urgency in Malekith’s voice. As he turned to go, Malekith pulled him back, crushing him in a fierce embrace. Malekith’s heart pounded against his own, the tension radiating from his body.

“Be careful, my star,” Malekith whispered. “Listen for my voice, no matter what happens. Remember our bond.”

Aric nodded, and his eyes lidded, committing every detail of this moment to memory—the feel of Malekith’s arms around him, the scent of his skin, the sound of his ragged breath. “I will,” he promised.

Malekith’s fingers traced the sigil on Aric’s back, the symbol of their magical connection. “This will be our safeguard. If all else fails, follow my voice, and it will guide you back to me.”

Aric emerged from the secret passage, his mind reeling from everything that had transpired. As he made his way through Drindal, the town took on a new aspect. The crumbling buildings and war-torn streets spoke of a conflict that had raged for far too long. Yet now, Aric saw more than just the scars of battle. He saw the potential for healing, for a future where demons and humans could coexist. It was a fragile hope, but one he clung to fiercely.

A flicker of movement caught his eye. Aric turned, his senses suddenly on high alert. There, in the shadows between two dilapidated structures, a cloaked figure stood watching him. The hood obscured their features, but Aric felt the their stares like a physical touch.