CHAPTER 80

CHAPTER 80
Adrian Kael

Four days have passed. My Magnus is recovering fast, even faster than I expected.

Every morning, before he wakes up, I give him a massage, careful and slow. I clean every part of him and apply ointment to the wounds, which are already almost healed. The swelling in his face has gone down significantly; only a slight bruise remains under his eye, nothing serious. There are still a few marks on his body, but nothing that worries me.

He can already sit up and eat by himself, though I don’t allow it. I love to feed him with my own hands; it’s a pleasure I simply can’t give up. To my misfortune, he can also get up well enough to go to the toilet on his own.

Our routine over these four days has been simple: I wake up early, leave the cell only to fetch meals, and eat by his side. The prison is quieter now. Ever since what I did to Navarro, no one has had the courage to cross my path.

Fear has spread, and honestly, I like it.

To hell with this place.

Soon, my god and I will be out of here, leaving everything behind.

I let out a sigh and watch him sleep. I’m kneeling beside the bed, elbows resting on the mattress, my face close to his. Magnus sleeps deeply, his body still in recovery.

He wakes up, eats, we talk for a bit, and soon he goes back to sleep. And I stay like this, admiring him, addicted to every detail of his beauty.

I am happy.

Truly happy.

Knowing that my Magnus loves me, even without saying it, is all I need. His "I love you" was giving me permission to break his legs if he ever tries to run. That is the language of our love: brutal, sincere, and real.

Magnus has become my world, my air, my reason. I don't want to return to that emptiness from before, to that feeling of feeling nothing, of having no purpose. He taught me what love is, even if in a twisted way. And I love him so much, so much that my chest actually aches.

I want to walk with him through the streets holding hands, showing everyone that this man is mine. I want to spoil him because I know he never had anything good in his childhood. I want to shower him with gifts, just to see his serious face try to hide a smile.

Magnus is my god, my king, my sovereign.

But even so, the fear still exists—the fear of losing him, of waking up and finding him gone. I try to push that thought away. Relationships are built on trust, aren't they? And he gave me his.

If he tries to run, I will simply fulfill the promise: I’ll break his legs. He gave me that permission himself.

"What are you thinking about to have that dark glint on your face?" His voice pulls me from my thoughts.

A blink is enough to bring me back to reality. I lean in and kiss his cheek, smiling.

"That if you run away from me, I'll break your legs."

He lets out a brief laugh, the sound hoarse and amused.

"Starting the day with madness already, huh?"

I give a light, sincere laugh.

"And it's this madness that you love, my love."

Magnus huffs, but he doesn't deny it.

And that silence is enough.

I don't need words.

Because deep down, I know he loves me, and that is enough.

"Help me get up; I need to urinate." His voice comes out raspy, still marked by sleep.

I stand up immediately, slipping one arm behind his neck and the other under his thighs, lifting him with ease.

"What the fuck, Adrian!" His eyes go wide, surprised. "Put me on the floor!"

I ignore the protest and kiss his neck, feeling the heat of his skin against my lips.

"I'm helping you, my love. Relax," I say lowly with a satisfied smile.

I walk to the toilet and, carefully, set him on his feet.

"How can you carry me like that? I'm six-foot-six, and I'm heavy," he grumbles, still in disbelief.

I shrug, wrapping my arms around him from behind, pressing my body against his and kissing his shoulder.

"I don't think you're heavy, my love. If I could, I would carry you everywhere, attached to me, like a part of my body."

I slide my tongue along his back and bite his shoulder lightly, drawing a sigh that makes me smile. He shakes his head and urinates, and when he’s finished, I walk him to the shower.

I step in with him, taking off my uniform and letting the hot water fall over us. Watching the water run down his body, now almost healed, is a scene that calms me and drives me crazy at the same time.

"It's so good to be able to take a real shower again, without needing a towel rubbed over my body." His voice is light, and I end up smiling.

"Now my moment has come, my love." I grab the soap and look at him. "Turn toward me. I want to wash you entirely, leave every inch clean, fragrant, and soft."

He obeys, and I start slowly, passing the soap over his neck, then his broad shoulders. I move down his ribs and trace his chest, enjoying every touch. The foam runs down, and I move to his thighs and his groin until I kneel to wash between his toes. Every gesture is a caress, a devotion, my love.

Finally, I rise again and wash his face with care, observing his relaxed features. When I finish, he moves back to rinse himself, and I watch him for a moment, following the movement of the water running down every line of his body.

Only then do I start soaping myself as well, moving the soap quickly, washing every spot: my neck, shoulders, chest, abdomen, and legs, never taking my eyes off him for long.

Once I’m finished, I approach and wrap him from behind, letting the hot water fall over both of us. As I'm pressed against him, my hands rest on his stomach, feeling the warmth of his skin under my fingers.

Magnus slides his own hands over mine and, with a slow gesture, intertwines our fingers.

The touch drives me wild with happiness.

I press my face against his back, taking a deep breath and letting his scent overpower me. It’s addictive—a mix of soap, heat, and something uniquely his. A perfume that calms me and, at the same time, drives me wild.

"What are we going to do once we get out of here?" he asks suddenly.

I kiss his shoulder and smile against his wet skin.

"Whatever you want, my love. We can go straight to our house, get to know the place, and relax. Later, we’ll go out to explore the city, buy new clothes, a phone… have a decent dinner. Anything you desire."

He turns around, meeting me with that gaze that completely deconstructs me.

"You mentioned marriage. Do you really intend for that to happen?"

I feel a shiver run up my spine, and my smile turns darker.

"Of course I do, my love," I say with conviction. "You will be my husband. My Magnus Kael. Or would you prefer for me to be Adrian Hale? From the moment I stepped inside this place, I knew you would be mine forever. And I intend for us to marry. You are my god, my king, my everything… and you will be my spouse."

I caress his cheek, and he closes his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath.

"You’re quite a fast mover."

I let out a light laugh.

"Of course I am. If it were up to me, I’d marry you right now. But I want to put a ring on your finger—the biggest one there is—to prove that you belong to me."

He kisses the tip of my nose and gives a small smile.

"Alright. When we get out of here, we’ll get organized, get settled… and yes, we can set a date."

My chest warms, and I lean in to kiss him, but he places his hand over my mouth.