Unsurprisingly, Regulus looked tense when his meeting with the other Death Eaters ended. He was mostly quiet, clutching to Adena's hand, and following her around as she greeted some of the other guests like recommended by Walburga earlier. She hated how his activity as a Death Eater was slowly destroying him. 

As they walked, they suddenly became face to face with a group of three guys she recognized right away since they used to be fellow students. Peter Pettigrew, one of Candace's friends, Dale Penley, a fellow Ravenclaw of Adena whom she despised very much and Severus Snape, a fellow Slytherin of Regulus.

"Good evening," she started, greeting all of them. "It's a surprise to see you there Peter."

"Oh... Adena... it's a surprise to see you there too..." answered Peter, visibly uncomfortable. Peter Pettigrew has always been a shy and quiet boy as far as she knew about him. He would most likely agree to every word James Potter and Sirius Black would say. So, that was the reason why she was shocked to see him there.

"You've become a Death Eater?" asked the girl curiously.

"Y-yeah recently..."

"Have you become one of them too Winsten? I don't remember seeing you at our meetings," taunted Dale Penley.

She glared at him. By her side, she could feel Regulus, who had stayed quiet until now, becoming agitated.

"No, I am not. I'm just accompanying Regulus."

"Of course, you guys have always been stuck to each other," snorted Dale with a cocky expression.

"So what? Are you jealous? Don't even start to annoy me, you know I can't stand you," spoke the brunette harshly, her anger more visible in her hazel eyes usually so calm.

"Penley," finally spoke up Regulus in a cold voice, "I recommend you to not get close to her. Or maybe you didn't learn your lesson last time. We're not in Hogwarts anymore." Suddenly, his wand flew up to Dale Penley's neck in a threatening manner.

"Black. I won't touch your slu..."

He couldn't even finish his sentence. Regulus, with a slight wave of wand and no word spoken, had made a small cut on his neck, almost invisible if blood wasn't slowly dripping from the cut. For a moment he looked surprised, but his face returned into a scowl once more.

"Snape, I thought you worth better than that kind of scum."

"Don't compare me to that Black," snickered Severus Snape, eying his fellow through his long black bangs.

Regulus was still holding his wand up to Dale Penley's neck, and so Adena reached out to take a hold of his wrist while looking at him.

"Regulus, we're in the middle a family reunion. Your family."

"Right... I'm holding myself back for now," he said, his fingers clutching around his wand in anger, knuckles turning white. "But next time. You better be prepared."

With his last words, he turned around, leaving the group. Adena made sure to stomp on the boy's foot as she left the group, she then turned around but she managed to take one last glance at the three guys. One looked frightened, the other, angry - glaring at her - and the last one seemed uninterested in this drama.

They walked through this mass of people until reaching the garden they had once visited together at the back of the house. The sun was setting, creating a beautiful sight but Adena wasn't interested in watching it.

"Are you feeling unwell about your meeting again?" asked Adena softly, not wanting to rush him.

He took some time to answer, pondering over how to form this. "You've heard about that assembly that calls itself the Order of the Phoenix?"

"Yes, I did..." Of course, she did, her sister was part of it and had mentioned it many times to Adena, hoping she would join her and her friends to fight Lord Voldemort.

"Well, one of our next missions, the one I'll participate to, will be to engage a fight with some of them. Pettigrew is a spy; he knows about their missions as well." He was looking at Adena with a frightened expression in his eyes; his beautiful grey eyes even seemed to be screaming for help, but the girl felt useless at that moment.

"It'll be fine. Try to stay out of the conflict as much as you can," she tried to say, hoping to reassure him a little.

"No... it can't be fine... what if I find Sirius there! I don't want to fight with him. We've argued enough in the past..."

"Try to stay safe. I don't think Sirius would attack you, or at least not seriously..."

"I don't know Adena... I don't want this, I'm so tired..." he murmured, letting his forehead fall against her shoulder. The brunette let one of her hand held onto Regulus' waist while the other flew to his head that she caressed comfortingly.

"Can we go home?" she murmured.

"I don't know..."

"Well, whatever. We're leaving now..." She hold him more tightly as they disappeared before apparating in the middle of his dark room.

The girl let go of her boyfriend, looking at him one last time. She lit some lamps with her wand, before starting to get rid of her fancy outfit to instead find some comfortable clothes among Regulus' ones. As she moved around in the room, she could feel him much slowly discarding his own clothes.

"When is this mission?" she muttered, finishing preparing for bed.

"Next week," he just said in a plain voice.

Adena climbed in his bed. She laid there, her sad eyes fixed upon her boyfriend as he was still moving around looking drained of energy. Once he was ready, he went to lie by her side, but he wouldn't look at her, his eyes just seemed lost.

"Regulus," she whispered, turning to lie on her side so she could face him. Her fingers went to trace patterns on the skin of his forearm; his left forearm, where was situated the Dark Mark. "I'll be waiting for you. Try to meet back with me as soon as possible. I won't be leaving the house."

He finally turned his face towards her, his grey eyes meeting hers.

"Adena... thank you."

"It's normal... I'm there for you... just promise me you'll be safe..." said Adena, her tone sounding worried.

"I'll try my best..." He offered her a small smile as he murmured that.

"Thank you. I love you Regulus."

The brunette's hand flew up to his cheek that she caressed so tenderly. His porcelain skin felt so soft under her fingertips, she enjoyed the feeling.

"I love you too Adena."

He moved forwards just a little so he could capture her lips.

"What if I didn't have you... I wouldn't be able to be so strong..." sighed Regulus after retrieving back.

"I'm glad to hear that. I'm here for you and that's the least I can do."

"I don't remember if I've already told you that but you're so important for me... there's nobody that means as much as you, nobody that I love as much as you."

She was staring at him, her eyes widening slightly as she listened to his voice, speaking softly these words that made her heartbeat quicken its pace.

"Regulus... I... it really touches me, I'm so happy to hear about that. You're crazy, do you think my heart can bear hearing such things..." she mumbled as she let her face hide in the crook of his neck, her hand falling down to his chest.

Regulus started hugging her close with one arm as he chuckled "I'm sorry, I can't help saying what's on my mind..."

"Silly, don't make me have a heart attack..." she said, and he chuckled again.

Adena could guess Regulus was feeling better. Just by the way he was holding her or his slight teasing. And a feeling of contentment and fulfillment was now submerging her.

author's note: well i've been busy firstly with work and secondly having yet another crush. i think i've mentioned a few of them in the past but this one, i feel different about him haha. it's still easier to write romance than to create it in real life but it's so much fun, i feel so good around him, he's very caring and sweet. i'm on a long weekend right now and he's too so i can't wait to see him at work next week. my colleagues have been teasing us lmao this situation is just so cute

btw 10 chapters left, i love what comes next