76 – Cypress Mosaic

He ​pushed ​back ​once ​more, putting more ​strength ​into ​it. ​Fortunately, ​this time the man ​backed ​away. He did ​so with a ​clear ​expression ​of ​strong ​dissatisfaction, ​as if he ​were ​being ​forced to retreat ​against his will.

After draining ​another glass ​of apple ​cider, Lorenz ​spoke in ​a ​voice ​as heavy as ​a slab ​of iron.

“Fine, it was ​my mistake.”

The profile he ​showed Elian was stiff. ​The muscles ​in ​his jaw twitched several times, betraying ​his displeasure.

Setting the glass ​down, ​he ​turned ​his ​gaze toward the ​window. Complete ​darkness ​had fallen over ​the ​villa. With eyes as deep ​and sunken ​as ​that darkness, he ​looked ​back ​at ​the ​sleeping child.

“It’s ​already ​this late. ​Let’s head back now.”

The voice as he ​stood up held ​no trace of ​the regret he had ​shown moments ​ago. The gaze ​that ​had burned as ​hot as the ​flames in ​the ​fireplace had ​cooled ​back to ​its ​usual state. ​As ​if ​nothing had happened ​between ​them.

Lorenz, having ​risen ​first, ​extended ​a hand toward Elian. Feeling that refusing would be overly dramatic, Elian took the hand and pulled himself up. Perhaps because of the warmth of the fireplace, the pale hand with prominent knuckles was unexpectedly warm. Much like the feel of the muffler he had wrapped around him.

Is it this man?

Could it really be this man?

The one behind those inhuman Clinical Trials that drove his mother to her death…

Another wave of chills washed over Elian. Even though the flames were still roaring in the large fireplace, a shiver ran down his spine so violently that his entire body trembled for a moment. It didn’t seem like this was just a simple cold.

■

Leaving Tarrytown, the car began to drive south. Instead of taking the parkway, Lorenz chose the local roads that ran along the river.

Unlike Manhattan, the city that never sleeps, the roadside along the Hudson River was quiet and dim. Maple trees lined both sides of the road, and scattered streetlamps illuminated the riverside scenery with a certain poetic mood. The old houses looking down at the river from low hills felt somehow cozy.

However, Elian was in no position to enjoy the tranquil autumn night scenery.

The interior of the car was filled with nothing but awkward silence. Yet, it seemed Elian was the only one who actually found the silence awkward.

Just as it had been on the way to Tarrytown, Lorenz, in the driver’s seat, didn’t even turn on any music. He didn’t bring up any topic that might soften the silence. He seemed to be lost in deep thought the entire time.

Elian felt he knew what the man was thinking without even having to ask.

Because Elian, too, couldn’t help but be conscious of the kiss at the villa.

Why did he do that?

He couldn’t fathom Lorenz’s intentions.

From what he had observed so far, Lorenz didn’t seem like the type of person to attempt impulsive physical contact. As he had said himself, even if he and his spouse in their arranged marriage didn’t remain chaste, he wasn’t the type to impulsively choose a partner for agreed-upon affairs. Joshua might be different, but…

Joshua’s motivations for courtship certainly seemed superficial. He simply followed the instincts commanded by his sight. He didn’t examine the legitimacy of it. But Lorenz was different. He was the type who needed a rationale to convince himself, even when choosing a partner for purely physical relations.

“Lorenz Lockhart isn’t such a big deal after all. He’s completely fallen for you.”

Then, was it really as Vincent said—had he actually fallen for him?

But he had introduced himself quite calmly, saying he was going to marry Adriana. If he had any emotional affection for Elian, there would be no need to do such a thing.

Furthermore, he couldn’t imagine a Lorenz Lockhart who was “completely fallen” for someone. Joshua suited that kind of passion much better. Though it would likely cool down as quickly as it had flared up.

Gripping the steering wheel, Lorenz stared stubbornly straight ahead. Since leaving the villa, he hadn’t spoken to Elian once. Elian had been the same.

If only Lucas were here, the atmosphere wouldn’t be this awkward. Elian rubbed his own arm, missing the child’s presence.

Lucas, who had been fast asleep in front of the fireplace, had been moved to the vehicle with the caregiver and other employees. This was to install a proper car seat rather than a booster seat. Since there were no more vacant seats in that car, Elian had to accompany Lorenz.

Traffic was sparse on the suburban roads now that the sun had completely set. Looking out at the Hudson River reflecting the faint unauthorized copymoonlight, Elian rubbed his arm [stolen content]once more. He had been noticeably Read on Read BL Novelschilly since leaving the villa, but something felt off about his condition.

Having noticed the repeated action for the several-th time, Lorenz glanced over.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing.”

“Nothing, my foot. You’ve been rubbing your arm over and over.”

“I’m just… a little cold.”

Lorenz manipulated the panel system to set the interior temperature higher.

Then, sliding his arm out of the sleeve of the Barbour jacket he was wearing, he gestured with his chin toward the back seat.

“Look through the Boston bag back there. There should be a muffler.”

“…I will. Thank you.”

Leaning his body far between the driver’s and passenger’s seats, Elian reached for the back seat. Throughout the drive, Lorenz continued to turn his head to check on him. While pulling the bag toward him, Elian’s hand slipped. Because the fever was worsening and his body was shaking, it wasn’t easy to apply strength.

Unable to watch any longer, Lorenz wrapped his arm around Elian’s chest as he leaned over.

“Leave it. I’ll do it.”

“I just dropped it because it was heavy, so if I just grab it again…”

“Will you just listen?”

He eventually pulled Elian up by the chest. While holding the steering wheel with one hand, he expertly reached out and snatched the bag. In the next moment, the heavy bag was tucked into Elian’s arms.

While Elian was taking out the muffler, Lorenz took off the rest of his Barbour jacket and handed it over.

“Wrap this around you instead of a blanket.”

“It’s okay. The muffler will be enough.”

Despite Elian’s refusal, Lorenz pressed the jacket into his arms and muttered.

“I should have made you wear more clothes this morning.”

To Elian, these words were meaningless.

Even while Elian wrapped the muffler around visit our sitehis Read on Read BL Novelsneck, Lorenz continued to glance at him with a distrustful gaze.

“Are you sure you’re just cold? You’re breaking out in a cold sweat.”

“I think I might have a bit of a cold.”

“A cold? Since when?”

“I started feeling chills little by little earlier, in the forest.”

Even as he spoke, the fever was intensifying in real-time. Even for a cold, the fever had never spread this quickly, so Elian himself was bewildered.

“Why didn’t you say something sooner?”

“I just felt a little cold. I didn’t feel a fever at all.”

Hot breath leaked continuously from Elian’s lips. Now, it wasn’t just a simple fever. For some reason, his body kept feeling buoyant, and a sensation of his spine turning limp made it difficult to keep his upper body upright.

Thump. He leaned his temple weakly against the window.

Lorenz didn’t miss the movement and looked back.

“Let’s go straight to the hospital.”

His voice was firm.

“It’s just a simple body ache. I’ll go home, take some medicine, and get some res—!”

Elian couldn’t finish his sentence. His slumped body suddenly snapped straight, and his chin lifted. He trembled violently, eyes wide and mouth agape.

At his temples, by his ears, at his wrists—multiple hearts were beating wildly.

He fumbled in the air with shaking hands. It was an unconscious action to grab onto something, but his hands caught nothing.

“What is it? What’s happening?”

Lorenz’s urgent voice pressed him.

“I… I don’t know. This can’t be happening. This shouldn’t…”

Screeeech—

With a sharp sound of friction, the car came to a halt by the roadside.

Thump, thump, thump.

The hearts that had been split and beating in multiple places began to swell inside Elian’s body. His entire body became a heart, throbbing as if it would explode at any moment.

Having stopped the car, Lorenz grabbed Elian’s shoulders and turned him around. His expression twisted completely as he checked Elian’s face, which was drenched in sweat and exhaling hot breath.

“You… were you an Omega?”

His narrowed eyes couldn’t readily believe the sight before him.

“How did you…”

“This is a Heat. You’re in Heat. How can you not know that?”

Elian shook his head several times. The speed of his heartbeat grew faster.

“No. That’s absolutely impossible. I never missed my Suppressants, and there’s no reason for a Heat to suddenly… come like this…”

Once again, Elian’s words remained unfinished.

Thump, thump, thump.

At his temples, by his ears, at his wrists… and deep inside his underwear. Hearts were racing like [visit our site]seizures Read on Read BL Novelsin various parts of his body.

And, the scent.

He could smell it.

This scent, which pierced through and awakened his paralyzed sense of smell, was…