Devyn turned to see the son holding his mom and smiling. The monir was smiling as well and hugging her son tightly. Devyn let out a small smile at the two's reunion, but his heart hurt when Denzyl acted like a complete stranger towards him.

"How are you?" The monir asked as she brought her son to arm's length and held his hands.

"I'm fine, Mom. Honestly, I don't know what you were so worried about. It was nothing I couldn't handle," Denzyl answered with a smile.

Ilya looked at the conflicted human standing in front of them before looking back at her son. "Denzyl, I am flattered that you would come and hug your mother first, but you shouldn't leave him standing there all alone any longer, don't you think?"

Denzyl looked at his mother is a confused expression. "What do you mean? Leave who alone?"

"Well, Devyn, of course."

"Devyn?"

The monir looked at her son quizzically before gesturing to the man standing awkwardly a few paces from them. Devyn had already closed his eyes and had turned around. He brought his hand to his face to hide his expression. Denzyl looked at the human before turning back to his mother. "Who is he? Do I know him? I don't recall meeting a human named Devyn."

Even though Devyn knew this was coming the moment Denzyl walked past him, his heart hurt tremendously. Denzyl's words pierced his heart that had already been through so much. And now, he was all alone. The one person who protected, comforted, and gave him warmth and kindness forgot him. The one person who he could lean on did no longer remember him.

"What do you mean? Denzyl, he is your mate."

A shocked breath left the avex. "I don't have a mate."

"Sweety, are you feeling okay?" The monir inquired as she felt her son's forehead.

"I'm fine, Mom. I don't get what this is about. I haven't marked anyone, and I have never even seen him before. Mother, what is going on?"

The monir eyed Denzyl carefully before asking, "Denzyl, why were you in bed these past days?"

"I was recovering from a wound I got during training. Ryiak and I were sparring, and things got a little out of hand," Denzyl answered.

A breath left the monir's lips as she studied her son. Nothing seemed to be wrong. He was happy and healthy. "You really do not know who he is?" The woman inquired once more as she motioned towards Devyn.

Denzyl looked at Devyn before turning back to his mother. "I don't know him."

Several moments passed as the monir pondered what to do. Devyn never once took his eyes off Denzyl. Denzyl took occasional glances, but he kept his gaze on his mother most of the time. The monir took a deep breath as she came to a solution. "Well, there is nothing we can do about you not remembering Devyn. Most people would have died going through what you did." Denzyl's brows furrowed in confusion, but he did not interrupt the monir. "Be that as it may, Devyn is your mate, and you will treat him as such. I will not allow you to abandon someone precious to you. I am aware that the centennial mark is approaching and that Devyn was meant to be a sacrifice, but before the elders make a verdict, you will continue to perform the duties a mate should."

Denzyl remained silent for several moments as he took in the monir's decision. "Understood." His answer was short, and his brows remained furrowed. He was deep in thought.

"Good. Now, let's eat before the food grows cold," the monir said quietly as she walked back to the table.

Devyn continued to stand as he, too, was deep in thought. The human could feel Denzyl's eyes on him, but he did not want to make things hard for the avex, so he looked away as he walked towards the table and sat next to the monir. Lunch was silent, and Devyn found his appetite to be gone. The monir shook her head slightly at the servant who came bearing the second bowl of porridge. The servant bowed before exiting the room with the bowl.

Denzyl looked at the barely-touched bowl of porridge before looking at Devyn who kept his gaze turned down. Why is he eating porridge? Is he recovering from something? The avex continued to look at the human as he racked his brain for any memory of the green-eyed man.

"I'm afraid you will have to excuse me. I have business to attend," the monir excused herself once the meal was done. The two males bowed their heads respectfully as the woman stood from her chair. "Why don't you go up and get some rest?" The monir patted Devyn's arm gently.

Devyn nodded. "I will, thank you."

The monir smiled at the human before leaving the table and exiting the room. The two men remained sitting in an awkward silence with the absence of the monir. Maybe it is best if Denzyl does not remember me. Then, I can leave without hurting him. Devyn tried to convince his aching heart that this was for the best, but it was not working quite as well as he would like. He would have to be alone, and it would take a while to convince himself it was for the best.

Determined to convince his aching heart to calm down, Devyn stood and excused himself. Denzyl also stood and stated that he would go rest. Devyn grabbed onto the railing to support himself as he began climbing the stairs. Denzyl was still deep in thought, so he walked slowly and remained just behind Devyn. Devyn found himself holding his breath during the climb. He finally let out his breath as they reached the third floor and expected Denzyl to leave the stairs and enter the hallway. But, much to Devyn's surprise, Denzyl continued to follow Devyn up the stairs to the fourth floor.

Devyn occasionally glanced behind to see Denzyl still following him as he walked down the hallway. The human's heart was pounding when he reached the door to the room he had been staying in and Denzyl was still behind him. Devyn was quick to open the door and enter. To his dismay, Denzyl also entered the room. Why is he following me inside? I thought his room was on the third floor! I don't really want to share a room with him right now, but I have no where else to go!

"Why are you in my room?" The demon inquired of the human as he shut the door. By this time, Denzyl was no longer deep in thought and was gazing at Devyn intently.

Devyn looked at Denzyl in shock. "Th-this is your room?"

Denzyl nodded. "How else do you think you are wearing my clothes?"

"I thought you stay on the third floor."

Denzyl shook his head. "The third floor is for recovery."

"Ah."

"So, why are you here?"

"Your mom put me here."

The demon bobbed his head slightly as he pondered. "My mom put you here, hm?" Denzyl walked around Devyn before turning to face him again.

Devyn nodded in response. "I didn't know this was your room."

"You didn't, did you?" Denzyl took a step towards Devyn, causing the human to retreat towards the door. "What are you doing here? What are your intentions?" The demon questioned in a low voice. By this time Devyn, was just few inches away from the wall.

Devyn did not retreat any farther as he knew his back would not like being pressed against a hard surface even if he leaned against it as gently as he could. The human studied the demon's face in front of him. It was curious and cautious. Does he think I am lying? "What do you mean?"

"What do I mean? I have no memory of you. You showed up suddenly and have my mom wrapped around your finger. How did you get so much of her grace? What are you trying to do? You claim you are my mate, but I haven't seen my mark on you, and I'm pretty sure I would remember marking someone. It is not something I would give lightly!"

Devyn swallowed as he looked up at Denzyl. "My only intention is to get off this planet and go home. I never intended to-"

"Do you honestly expect me to believe that? You must see me as a fool to think that I would believe the words of a stranger."

Denzyl's words were so sharp that Devyn's eyes began to glisten. His voice was quiet and low when he spoke again. "There is nothing I can do or say to make you believe me."

"Well, that's convenient. You have no evidence. I don't know if you are brave to show up in my life and pull shit like this or just stupid."

"I'm sorry."

Devyn's sudden apology stunned the avex. "What?" Denzyl took a small step back.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean for any of this to happen," Devyn looked up at the crimson-haired demon through tears. "I just...I just wanted to go home."

"What do you mean?" Denzyl's voice softened at the sight of Devyn's glistening, green eyes.

"I didn't mean to get this attached, either."

A scoff left the avex's lips as he began to think Devyn's tears were a façade to stir up his emotions. The demon advanced, closing in on cornered the human. "Tell me properly! What are your intentions? Why are you claiming to be my mate?!"

"I didn't ask you to mark me!" Devyn spoke back, but his words just infuriated the confused, lost, and bewildered demon. Devyn let out a gasp of pain as the demon grabbed his shoulder and pushed him up against the wall. New tears of pain entered the human's eyes, but they blended with the tears of sadness and desperation.

"Drop the act! What are you trying to do?!"

Denzyl's grip around Devyn's shoulder tightened as he became desperate to find out the truth behind the beautiful human who had captivated him at first sight. Devyn grabbed the demon's wrist to make him let go, but his weakened state could not compare to the avex's strength. "Denzyl," Devyn whimpered through the pain.

Devyn's whimper made Denzyl see through his suspicion. Instead, he saw a vulnerable, pained, and desperate man standing before him. Tears were streaming down Devyn's face as he grimaced from the pain. Denzyl immediately let go and took a step back. "Are you okay?" Denzyl inquired. He did not intend to hurt the human.

Devyn let out a breath as the pain in his shoulder subsided. He nodded and brushed off the demon's question. He looked back up at the crimson-haired demon and parted his lips to say he was okay when Denzyl reached out and touched his shoulder. "What is this?" Denzyl asked as he saw the fringe of a bruise painting Devyn's milky skin. The warmth from Denzyl's touch spread through Devyn's body as the demon's fingers lifted the hem of the shirt and slid under it. Denzyl's hand moved over Devyn's shoulder, bringing the shirt to hang off the human's arm and expose the healing bruise.

"It's nothing." Not wanting to worry Denzyl more or mess with his life any further, Devyn grabbed the shirt and tried to bring it back over his shoulder.

"Wait," Denzyl held Devyn's hand and moved it back down to the human's side, stopping Devyn from covering the bruise. "Don't move," the demon said as his hands fell to the bottom hem of Devyn's shirt. Devyn held his breath as Denzyl grabbed the hem of the shirt and lifted it. The human closed his eyes as the demon brought the shirt over his head and removed it completely. Denzyl's eyes turned hard as he saw the bruises and cuts covering Devyn's body. "Who did this to you?" Denzyl asked.

"It doesn't matter," Devyn tried to shrug off Denzyl's question, but the demon held his chin and made him look up at him. Devyn continued to gaze at Denzyl through tears as he looked into those stormy grey eyes.

Denzyl gazed deep into Devyn's emerald eyes as he pondered his next step. He had been fighting his heart since the moment he saw the human. Rationally, Denzyl wanted to discover the truth behind the human's appearance and the reason his heart ached every time he looked at him. However, looking at the state Devyn was in, he did not care about what was logical. He cared about the man standing before him in pain. Denzyl gently wiped a tear from Devyn's cheek before saying softly, "Tell me everything. I need to know you."