Chapter 53: 53-Only difference
One by one, Aeltharion unboxed the gifts that Nytherael brought. His heart was full of approval. He could see the thought put in for every gift for Sseraphis, and he loved each one.
"Very good. You’ve done well, and your taste is as impeccable as ever," he confirmed.
Sseraphis rolled his eyes, sipping the poisoned tea Aeltharion prepared for him. The poison tasted sweet in front of Aeltharion’s flattery.
He was the least bit impressed by the gifts Nytherael bought for him. None of them could compare with the cruel death sentence that the male threw in their direction.
"Do you like them, little truth?"
Sseraphis snorted. "How many times must I ask you not to call me that?" Sseraphis asked, not answering.
"What else am I supposed to call you if not this?"
"You broke the purity of our relationship. You don’t deserve to refer to me with any form of endearment."
"I know my mistake, and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make it better."
Sseraphis felt raw anger boiling beneath his skin. There were so many complaints of the tip of his tongue. There were so many grievances he wanted to raise and ask Nytherael for an explanation.
However, his thoughts suddenly, the ice fox is currently whimpering in his dungeon. Ilyrien, the one that Nytherael had chosen.
He wondered what the fox would do if he learned that his first love and beloved for whom he betrayed them was currently being tortured by him day in and day out.
Would he get mad? Would heat threaten to leave them again? Would his resolved win them back falter?
The growing curiosity within him was pushing him inch by inch to tell Nytherael that he had his beloved first love chained and brutally wounded in his dungeon.
Unfortunately for that part of him, he wanted Nytherael to know the truth. The evil side of him detested the idea of the two lovers reuniting and kept him composed and calm. He was not letting loose anything about the ice fox.
"What if I tell you the only way you can make it up to me is by disappearing from my life. Can you do it?"
"Anything but that."Nytherael answered.
The whole point of him coming all the way and his resolved to make up wasn’t so that they can be a part, but so that they can get back together. He couldn’t agree to a deal that meant he would never get to see his lovers again
"That means that you’re not sincere with your apology. If you truly were sorry, you would agree to whatever I wanted."
"Is that truly what you want?" Aeltharion Asked.
"I’m having a conversation with Nythe. Why must you intervene?"
Aeltharion Set the vials of poisons on the table and looked up. His eyes landed on his little Venom, and for a minute, he really wished that he could just shake his little snake until the snake admitted that he truly did miss their bond.
It was unfair to all of them for the hatred to keep lingering. None of them were happy. Not with the way things were right now, and unless Sseraphis agreed to let go of the past, they were never going to move past what happened.
"Why is it that everything I do is wrong and everything he does is right?" Sseraphis complained.
"That’s not true, little truth," Nytherael jumped in to explain. "Lightning only wishes For the two of us to get back to the way we were. No hatred, no resentment... Just love."
Hahaha!
Sseraphis Bust out laughing. It felt like a joke to hear such words coming from Nytherael, the very person who created the resentment and hatred in their bond.
"Spoken like someone who truly understands love. But where was this understanding when you were invoking a divorce from us? And expressing your very wish to reunite with your first love, Huh?"
Nytherael tightened his fights on the hem of his robes but kept his eyes clear. "I can tell you with great understanding that I am not the best at love, I admit that. But I am ready to learn."
"And that is all the effort you need to set things right," Aeltharion chipped in, lightening the mood with his positive attitude.
Sseraphis rolled his eyes so hard. If they weren’t permanently attached to his sockets, they would have rolled out and dropped to the floor.
"Aren’t you going to say thank you for the gifts?" Aetharion raised a questioning eyebrow at Sseraphis.
Sseraphis set his cup down. "Now why would I do that?" He asked, offended. "Did I ask him to buy me a gift? Did I tell him that I want any of these things?" He lifted his lips with disdain.
"Ssese, why are you so stubborn?"
"Sturbborn. You haven’t seen stubborn yet," he fought back.
Nytherael didn’t take his hostility to heart. Given what he had done to them, he felt like bearing with his temper was the least he could do among many other things to make up for his mistakes.
"I won’t change my mind, Sseraphis. Either get ready to be annoyed by my presence moving forward or open up a chance to forgive me and..."
"Pass," Sseraphis let out coldly.
"Nmph," Nytherael breathed out. However, he didn’t want to lose hope. He’d caught moments of softness in Sseraphis and knew there was still a chance for them to he happy together.
He just has to get past Sseraphis hardened shell and prove to him that he can let himself be fragile and vulnerable with him without fear.
"By the way," Sseraphis sipped his tea with mischief playing in his eyes. "How is Ilyrien doing now?"
The question sent a dead silence curse to envelop the room. With the lingering questions about his past and the anomalies that didn’t add up from the time, Nytherael didn’t want to touch on Ilyrien’s subject.
As for Aeltharion, he was fully aware that Ilyrien was right there in the palace with them. From the last torturing session, Sseraphis put him through, he was passed out and barely able to move.
His body had regenerated new skin to replace the broken ones, but the effort had drained him.
"You two must have left together after you left the beast court a year and a half ago, right? I wonder, how’s that love story going?"
Nytherael choked.
Aeltharion glared at Sseraphis. All three of them knew that Ilyrien and Nytherael hadn’t left together. How could they if Ilyrien had Sseraphis’ prisoner the whole time.
It puzzled his brain as to why Sseraphis was asking such a ridiculous question.
"Tell me, how does he feel knowing you came back for us?"
"I wouldn’t know. I haven’t seen Ilyrien since that fateful day," Nytherael answered.
It was the truth. After Ilyrien froze him in the lake, the male ice fox vanished. He had no idea where Ilyrien was or what he was currently up to.
"And I don’t care what he feels. I love you and Aeltharion, not him."
"Funny," Sseraphis smiled. "You said the same thing back then... The only difference is who you claim to love."
