CHAPTER 79

CHAPTER 79
Magnus Hale

Talking about killing someone sounds as natural to him as breathing—without hesitation, without weight, as if it were just another mundane decision of the day. Even though I'm getting used to this side of him, it still shocks me.

"Adrian... no. No killing your father."

He makes another face.

"You don't let me do anything, love."

I roll my eyes.

"If you want money, work for it."

He huffs, crossing his arms.

"I already have a job guaranteed. When my father retires, I'll be the new CEO of the company. But I don't want that... it would mean less time with you."

His gaze softens.

"I waited so long to have you with me... I know." His smile widens. "You'll be my secretary. That way we stay together all the time."

I roll my eyes again, shaking my head.

"We'll settle that later. Now finish feeding me; I need to lie down. My body is still hurting."

He hurries to finish giving me the soup. As soon as he’s done, he stands up and goes to the shelf. He grabs a pill and a small bottle of water, returning immediately. He places the tablet in my mouth and holds the back of my neck with care to help me swallow.

As soon as I finish, I sigh in relief. My body is clean, my stomach is full—I just want to rest.

"Do you need to pee again?" he asks suddenly.

I feel my face burn. He laughs quietly, finding it amusing.

"You don't need to be ashamed, love. This is normal."

"Normal, my ass," I grumble. "It's embarrassing as hell, Adrian. My dignity is going in the trash."

He holds my face delicately.

"My love, you are mine. Taking care of you is a pleasure for me. So, don't worry. Even if you took a shit, I would clean it with love."

I make a disgusted face.

"You are sick."

He just smiles, genuinely.

"Come on, let me help you." He adjusts my body with care, laying me back down.

The pain pulses, but it's bearable.

He takes the same bottle I used before, holds my member firmly—without a trace of sexual intent—and positions the tip at the opening. I let the pee go, trying to ignore the mounting embarrassment.

As soon as I finish, he closes the cap and moves away.

"What did you do with the other bottle?"

He stares at me, and his gaze turns dark; a smile slowly spreads across his face.

"No..." I furrow my brow, incredulous. "You didn't keep my fucking pee like it's some kind of sacred relic, did you, Adrian?!"

He laughs, clearly amused by my reaction.

"Of course not, love. I threw it out; I poured it down the toilet. You don't need to worry."

"I don't believe you," I say, suspicious.

Now it's his turn to roll his eyes.

"I'll prove it to you."

He moves away, walks to the toilet, opens the bottle cap, and pours the urine out.

"See, my love?"

I sigh and go back to staring at the ceiling, trying not to freak out.

This boy is going to drive me crazy. I don't doubt for a second that he actually kept my fucking pee as if it were something holy. I already knew Adrian wasn't normal, but this level of madness crosses every limit.

"What time is it?" I ask just to distract myself so I don't end up pulling my hair out over these thoughts.

I mean... even if I wanted to, I couldn't pull my hair out. I can barely move my fucking arms. Every movement hurts as if my body had been run over by a truck—and come to think of it, I don't doubt Navarro tried to do exactly that.

"Eleven in the morning," he answers, already returning to my side.

With an effort, I drag myself back a little on the bed.

"Come sleep."

His eyes spark, and he quickly lies down beside me, taking care not to touch me too roughly. Just the fact of having him there, so close, brings me comfort.

I close my eyes, feeling his familiar scent fill the air. The world seems to slow down, and exhaustion weighs on my muscles, but even with the pain, I slowly move closer, seeking the warmth of his body.

I tuck my face into the crook of his neck, breathing deeply. The sound of his racing heartbeat reaches my ears—erratic, intense, like everything about him. A small smile forms on my lips.

"I really like your scent... it's very good," I murmur, brushing my nose against his throat.

He wraps his arms around me carefully, as if he were afraid he might break me.

"Your scent is better, my love." His hoarse voice carries a deep tenderness. "It's addictive... warm, thick. When I breathe it in, it feels like the whole world gets lighter."

He squeezes the embrace slightly, resting his face on the top of my head.

"I love you so much, Magnus... sometimes I think my body only exists to feel you."

The sincerity in every word makes my chest warm up. I smile faintly, tired but serene.

I stay silent for a few seconds, feeling my heart beat in the same rhythm as his, until I let out a low sigh.

"You know... this is so strange. I was always in control of my life. I always thought I would die alone. Then you appeared... or rather, you forced your way into it just to have me."

Adrian laughs softly, kissing my hair.

"It's not my fault if I love you above everything, Magnus." His voice comes out soft but loaded with emotion. "My whole life was empty, without a purpose. I didn't feel anything... until I found you. You taught me how to breathe again, how to see the world in color. So, yes, I needed to have you. Even if my methods were cruel... I needed you."

I let out a sigh and nuzzle my nose against his throat, feeling the heat of his skin and the scent that calms me.

"It's still hard to believe I feel this way about you," I confess quietly. "You took my throne, took everything from me, and still kept me locked in this cell. But when I let you into my heart... I felt at peace. Even if everything between us is sick and insane... I like it. It's strange, but I like it."

I stay silent for a moment before continuing.

"We had that little argument over my jealousy... something so silly I don't even know if it can be called a fight."

He squeezes me tighter, and an involuntary groan of pain escapes my lips.

"Of course it was a fight, Magnus." His trembling voice can barely hide the tension. "To me, it felt like the end of the world. Just the thought that you might leave me... I thought I'd go insane. The despair, the anguish... I never want to feel that again. I love you so much I would give my life for you."

I breathe in deeply, his scent invading my lungs, and I smile slightly.

"I don't want your life, Adrian. I want you to stay alive," I say firmly, my tone hoarse with possession. "You entered my heart, and you'd better stay alive. You're mine, and I don't permit you to die."

He moans softly, shuddering at my words.

"I love it when you're possessive with me... please, be more. I want you to be obsessed, to forbid me from everything."

I roll my eyes, but I can't contain the smile.

"I'm not quite that crazy. But yes, I don't want you near other people or smiling at them, even if it's a fake smile. You're mine, and I don't share what belongs to me."

He moans with satisfaction, the sound low and gravelly, as if my possessiveness were feeding him. His body relaxes against mine, completely surrendered.

"I love you so much, my love. Truly."

I smile, feeling the weight of sleep approaching.

"And I like you, Adrian. Now shut up and sleep... I'm getting drowsy, even though I just woke up."

His laugh is soft, almost a whisper, before I feel a kiss on my hair.

"Your body is hurt, love. It's normal to want to sleep all the time. Sleep."

And this time, I obey. I let myself sink into the warmth of his embrace, his scent surrounding me until sleep drags me under once more.