Chapter 57 Confession beneath the stars

DEEP IN THE WOODS

Hadrain's breath was heavy as he and Jayden raced through the dense forest, the night thick with the sound of their pounding footsteps. The Black Dragon cult wouldn't rest until they found them. Hadrain had done the unthinkable—he had turned his back on his people, the cult that had raised him, all to save Jayden from being sacrificed. He could still see the horror in their eyes when he struck them down with magic they'd never seen before. It wasn't the dark, twisted power they had taught him; it was something purer, something far more dangerous and deadly.

The trees blurred as they moved, their breaths mingling with the cold night air. Jayden, still shocked by what had transpired, couldn't stop glancing at Hadrain. "Why did you do it? Why risk everything… for me?"

Hadrain slowed slightly, the sound of his heartbeat still loud in his ears. "You're my best friend, Jayden. Nothing will happen to you while I'm around. I couldn't let them take you. I couldn't let you die like that."

Jayden's brow furrowed, his steps faltering as they continued. "But Alexa… your family… they'll never forgive you for this."

Hadrain swallowed hard. He hadn't allowed himself to think about Alexa, about the consequences of betraying his people. But deep down, he knew this was a path he couldn't turn back from. "I don't care," he finally said, his voice firm. "You're more important. Family or not, I couldn't stand by and let them sacrifice you for their dark magic."

Jayden fell silent for a moment, absorbing the weight of Hadrain's words. They had been friends since childhood, inseparable despite the differences in their upbringings. Hadrain, with the dark lineage of the Black Dragon cult, and Jayden, a simple boy with no powers, no special bloodline—just a heart far too kind for the world they lived in.

As they journeyed deeper into the forest, the urgency of their escape began to fade, replaced by an unspoken tension that hung in the air between them. The moonlight filtered through the trees, casting an ethereal glow on their path. Jayden couldn't help but steal glances at Hadrain, the man who had sacrificed everything to protect him.

"Why me?" Jayden finally asked, his voice softer now. "You had everything—power, family, Alexa. And you gave it all up… for me?"

Hadrain's gaze softened as he looked at Jayden, his steps slowing as they reached a small clearing. "Because I couldn't let you go. Not when I knew I could stop it."

Jayden's heart raced, not from fear but from the closeness they now shared. He stepped toward Hadrain, his voice barely a whisper. "I never knew…"

Hadrain smirked, though there was sadness in his eyes. "You never knew what?"

"That you felt this way. That I meant this much to you."

Hadrain's eyes flickered with something deeper, something he had buried long ago. "Maybe I never said it because I was afraid of what it meant. But now, I don't care. I can't let them have you."

Jayden felt his chest tighten, warmth spreading through him as Hadrain's words sank in. There was a passion in the air now, something they had never allowed themselves to acknowledge. But here, in the quiet of the forest, with danger lurking in every shadow, it was impossible to deny any longer.

Slowly, Hadrain stepped closer, their breaths mingling as they stood face to face. There was a pause, a hesitation before Hadrain spoke again. "I can't lose you, Jayden. Not now, not ever."

Jayden's heart pounded in his chest, his gaze locked with Hadrain's. "Then don't."

And with that, something between them shifted. Hadrain reached out, gently brushing a lock of hair from Jayden's face, his touch sending a shiver down his spine. Jayden leaned into the touch, his eyes fluttering closed for a moment, savoring the warmth.

"You're safe with me," Hadrain whispered, his voice barely audible.

Jayden nodded, his voice soft. "I know."

The forest had grown quieter as night deepened, the danger from the cult momentarily distant. Hadrain and Jayden sat by a small fire, the flickering flames casting shadows on their faces. They hadn't spoken much since that moment in the clearing, but the tension between them was undeniable.

Jayden couldn't stop thinking about what Hadrain had said—about the sacrifices he had made. "Hadrain… you really gave up everything. For me."

Hadrain sighed, his gaze focused on the fire. "I didn't just do it for you. I did it for myself, too. I was tired of living under their control, of being forced to follow their twisted ways. You gave me a reason to break free."

Jayden's eyes softened as he looked at him. "I don't know what to say. I've always looked up to you, but now… it feels different."

Hadrain glanced up, his eyes meeting Jayden's. "Different how?"

Jayden's heart raced as he searched for the right words. "I… I care about you. More than I thought I did."

Hadrain blinked, surprised by the vulnerability in Jayden's voice. "Jayden…"

"I'm serious," Jayden continued, his voice shaking slightly. "You've always been there for me. And now, you've done something I could never repay. I don't know how to say this, but I think I love you."

The words hung in the air, heavy with emotion. Hadrain's eyes widened, his breath catching in his throat. "You… love me?"

Jayden nodded, his cheeks flushing. "I didn't realize it until now. But yes. I do."

For a moment, Hadrain was speechless. He had always cared for Jayden, always wanted to protect him. But love? That was something he hadn't allowed himself to think about. Not until now.

Slowly, Hadrain reached out, taking Jayden's hand in his. "I never thought… I never let myself believe that this could be real. But hearing you say it… it makes me realize something."

Jayden's eyes searched his face, hope flickering in his chest. "What?"

Hadrain smiled, a rare, genuine smile. "I love you too."

With those words, the world seemed to fall away. The dangers, the fears, the past—they all melted in the warmth of their confessions. Jayden felt his heart swell as Hadrain pulled him closer, their foreheads resting against each other as they shared a moment of peace amidst the chaos.

"I'm never leaving your side," Hadrain whispered, his voice full of promise.

Jayden smiled, closing his eyes as he leaned into Hadrain's embrace. "I don't want you to."

Just then Hadrain mind went to Emily but he didn't feel any ounce of pain he once thought he loved Emily but truly his real lover has been with him all this years, maybe it was time he embrace his sexuality after all? what could go wrong he will live out remaining days with Jayden and he won't feel bad that's how far he has fallen in love.