Beware the warlocks in the dead of night. Their smokey gaze so tempting, but their intentions not quite right. A touch of darkness to lure you in closer, their monstrous desires will consume you with guile. Their honeyed whispers, so seductive and sweet mask a venom filled with deceit. They'll weave their enchantments, until you're at their feet. The lust in their magic, so alluring and wild. Do not fall for their bewitchments for they will ensnare you within dark confines, where your soul will be at their mercy. Heed this warning, do not let their deceitful charms lead you astray.

A scourge.

A product from the union of demonic and fae blood. A beacon of fear, nightmares, and deliciously vile sins, a reminder to the mortal realm of all the carnage the Abyss possesses. A loophole sliced through the Grand Divine set by the Primordial Creators by a single woman with an unquenchable thirst for power and knowledge. A woman scorned, if you will, created from the Earth of a heaven that no longer existed. Loved by a man, with conditions of course, and when those conditions went unmet, she had been cast out into the terrors of a waring world. Her existence was a scourge, an anomaly, and she was determined.

She whispered into the ear of a naïve witch, the youngest of the moon trinity, a child in her elder age and all too willing to befriend the enchanting woman. The woman learned the ways of the moon, illusions, rituals, and so much more. Her thirst unquenchable as she abandoned the naïve goddess and found herself in a realm bathed in blood. There she met another woman, more mature in her ideals, a dark temptress and ruthless fae queen. Through this vicious beauty she learned the arts of war and protection. During the nights when their world silenced, the two would intertwine in the throes of passion, the woman had tasted the metallic power and felt a touch that could only be described as divine. However, as time wore on, this two left the woman insatiable for more. The fae queen, expecting her lover was left with nothing but the bitterness of baneberries on her tongue. The woman bore on, exploring the evolving world around her.

When she happened upon a crone, too old to count, she learned of the roots of the world. Both the weave hidden below the Earth's crust and the invisible force within the air. She learned of a sight far greater than perceptions could allow; past, present, and future woven together in a grand display as old scars opened and scars to come sliced her. She learned of the delicate balance between fae and Earth, the healing properties, and the whispers of history drifting along the wind. Their time would be the shortest, there had been so much more the woman wished she could have learned from the crone. But as the eldritch tree burned at the hands of the humans the crone's agonized cries reached the Heavens and the Hells, slicing through the boundaries of the realms as the ancient life within her withered to ash.

Distraught. Angry. A vehement rage festered within the woman. Humans were the true scourge of this beautiful Earth that had been crafted from stardust. They built these civilizations for the soul intent of destruction. They reaped the bounty of Earth, massacring both fae and humankind. They needed to be stopped. They needed to taste the despair, hated, and treachery that they so willfully spread.

Seizing advantage over the rifts sliced through the realms the woman fell through the layers of the Hell Domains, until she reached the Abyss Kingdom. There she whispered into the ear of the Abyss Prince, seducing him with promises of unbridled power, promises that he would one day walk the mortal realm unhindered, and his legions would reign supreme. The dark temptress soothed the Abyss Prince and soon absorbed his seed within her womb. She would return to the mortal realm and give birth to a new species, a demonic fae that would rip away the natural order of magic and spread the Abyss' will like a swarm of locusts. Created in her image her demonic fae would be beautiful, tantalizing creatures blessed with the charms and bloodlust she'd learned from her naïve goddess and fae queen. They would command both fear and love. And. It would be simply divine as the woman would watch the mortal world unravel around itself.

Lilith was once a simple fae woman, created from the Earth of a divine garden that had burned eons ago. She befriended a naïve goddess of sorcery and loved a vicious fae queen. She had learned the limitless wisdom of a crone, born from the very stardust their Earth had been molded from. Time and time again she witnessed the violence of humankind and as that seed of rage grew deep within her soul, she became the mother of warlocks. The most trusted concubine of the Abyss Prince and the Queen of Dark Divine.

She would watch the world burn.

**

A golden glow peeked through the long black sheer curtains that dressed the arched windowpanes. Timid shadows cascaded across the room and gently nudged at the restless figure balled up on the bed. The shadows nipped across his partly exposed face, his jaw twitched with tension and brows knitted creating deeply etched wrinkles across his for forehead. The blanket laid askew, only half on the bed, and even less on the body as it twisted to the floor.

Noah's mind was a maelstrom.

Magic, as wild as a stallion and as vicious as a stampede of rhinos, thrashed through his entire being. The weight of every breath pressed against his chest, each inhale was a laborious task, as if his lunged filled with lead. A storm brewed within his veins, electrical currents surged through every passageway, crackling until his very essence began to fray. Noah winced with each zap; his muscles tensed, and limbs trembled.

Since Noah was young, much younger than other spellcasters came into their gifts, the magic that raged within him was of a volatile nature. It slithered through him, demanding to be heard. Demanding to be appeased. No matter the cost. It'd been a relentless battle as Noah desperately fought for control, but that morning. That morning he had been in danger of losing the battle, perhaps even the war as the volts of chaotic energies riddled through him.

With shaken fingers Noah grasped for the only anchor he knew to keep himself from being pulled deeper into the bitterly cold darkness. His fingers wrapped around the teardrop of silvery blue against a cloudy white, the pendant coiled in thin sterling silver threading that hung from his neck. His lungs burned as he gasped for oxygen, unsure if he'd been succeeding in taking in breaths. As Noah's fingers felt the familiar cool touch of the moonstone, he squinted his eyes open, an aura of warmth blanketed him as the enchantment of love and tranquility counteracted the tempest within him.

Slowly, so very slowly, the electrical currents simmered into a faint buzz of static that tickled underneath his skin. The burn in his lungs eased as his shallow breaths steadied, he gulped in the chilled air. The swell of his brain shrunk, relieving the ringing tension against his skull. Noah slumped out of the bed and towards the floor to ceiling window, the moonstone twirled in his fingers as he gazed out at the soft pink glow of the snowy mountains.

The full moon would rise that night, Selene's radiance would pierce through the darkness. The enchantment bound within his pendant would reach peak power when the moon reached apex, making it the perfect night to perform a cleansing ritual. He would release the excess of wild energies in a controlled environment, but first he would need to get through the day. As Noah gazed out the window with unseeing eyes his mind wandered to a memory of his childhood.

He remembered the night as clearly as if it'd been the day before. He'd been seven at the time, six years younger than when a spellcaster fae would present their magical blessings. Him and his mom had just moved into a small, secluded cottage in a town that couldn't be found on any map. The super moon hugged the Earth, Noah had snuck out of his bed as he did every full moon. For as long as he remembered he'd felt a pull to Selene's moon. It provided more warmth than the sun ever could, and it'd comforted him more than a motherly embrace ever did. Though, he would keep that to himself, he didn't want to hurt his mom's feelings. He watched that moon for hours, for so many hours that he had fallen asleep in the freshly plowed garden him, and his mom had been working on.

He'd fallen into a deep slumber, but when he opened his eyes, he found himself in a perfectly circular clearing. Surrounded by trees whose tips extended so far into the sky he'd been sure they connected with the Moon Domain. The moon hovered over him, it's mass nearly engulfed the entire clearing of sky. Blood splashed across the surface, washing the pale glow in a crimson hue. Noah pulled his eyes from the sky, as they slowly rolled down the length of the trees they fell on another boy. A teenager, but just by a year or two. A pair of golden eyes that could only be possible if Midas himself had touched them stared back at Noah. Silence hung in the impossibly still air until the teenager's muscles popped and bones snaped in a horrifying display that Noah would never forget.

The boy screamed as heavy tears rolled down his cheeks. Pain distorted his face, but a fierce determination emitted from those golden eyes. Sharp pains raddled against Noah's ribcage as his heart tightened. The young warlock couldn't bear to watch the other boy writhe in pain, even if it was nothing more than a simple dream. Within this dream world Noah called upon his magic. He didn't know how he knew what to do, but it'd felt like the most natural thing in the world as bolts of electricity zapped through the atmosphere, targeting him like a lightning rod. Unaware that with each bolt that penetrated his little body he'd beckoned a darkness forth within himself. No words were spoken, he hadn't known any such spells, but as his small hands rested on the other all the intentions of health and strength flowed through him and into the wolf-boy.

It had eased the wolf-boy's sufferings, within mere seconds no longer did a boy stand before Noah. In the absence of the teenager stood a magnificent beast with fur that sparkled like rubies under the moonbeams. Bathed in the blood-splattered moon those piercing golden eyes stared down at Noah, his own light purple eyes mimicked the moon as blood seeped through the pupils pooling within the purple.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

The sudden thudding against the door pulled Noah out of his memories, or dreams as he had to keep reminding himself.

Another set of impatient knocks banged against the door.

Noah peeked at his reflection in the full body mirror leaned against the wall, he looked awful. His disheveled hair stuck up in all directions, dark circles formed under his bloodshot eyes, his normally vibrant complexion was dull and lifeless. He thought maybe a shower could help to revitalize his weary state but as another set of knocks banged, he resigned himself to this miserable appearance and went to answer the door.

"Took long enough," Bellamy stood with his arms folded together, his crimson gaze scrutinized Noah's exhausted state. Aside from looking every bit as terrible as he felt, he had still been in his pajamas. "You're not even ready yet."

Noah pushed the door open wider so Bellamy could enter, "I'm sorry Bell, I didn't sleep well last night."

The door closed behind them, "What else is new," Bellamy grumbled. "Why should I suffer every morning just because you can't sleep? I need my coffee before class," Bellamy stomped across the room and sat on the unmade bed.

Noah shuffled towards the bathroom, he wanted to shower but the frustrated sighs from Bellamy were the only warning Noah needed to get his butt in gear. "I'll be ready shortly; I just need to wash my face."

"Fix that hair too," he sniped "You look like a damn mess. People are going to think I'm not taking care of you."

Running water could be heard from the bedroom as Noah scurried about the small ensuite bathroom. Noah quickly splashed his face with cold water, only taking a short minute to wash his face while hoping it would be enough to bring some life back to his drab appearance. He ran some water through his bedhead and tried to brush the persistent cowlicks down as much as possible. Without a proper shower he couldn't get them to fully settle but at least he didn't look like he got caught in a winter flurry anymore.

He emerged from the bathroom, quickly pulling his pajamas off to reveal his lean figure. While warlocks took on characteristics of their birth parents, every warlock shared qualities from the dark mother. The crimson eyes that seemed to glow against the darkness of night, slender frames and cheek bones that created a natural androgynous appearance. It hadn't been enough that being a warlock made Noah a black sheep in the fae world and a waking nightmare in the human world, but he'd taken after his birth mother in appearance far more than other warlocks did. His curves were much more feminine as his waste dipped inward and his hips curved out, his legs were long and slender, feigning a height that wasn't actually there. He barely reached five feet five inches, which was roughly six inches shorter than the average warlock. Not to mention the average man. His eyes were still saturated with purple as red seeped through. By the time warlocks turned thirteen and embraced the dark mother's blessings the color they were born with vanished.

Bellamy kept his gaze on Noah as he stripped down, his mouth salivated as he flicked his tongue over his fangs. "Come here," he demanded, his voice thick with desire.

Noah froze as his pants dropped around his ankles, "but... I thought..." The intensity in Bellamy's gaze was unmistakable, the tight curve of his lips spoke volumes. He wouldn't repeat himself, at least not nicely.

With each slow step Noah's heart stuttered, Bellamy sat still and waited for Noah to come within arms-reach. The second he had, Bellamy swooped out his arm and hooked it around Noah's bare waist. Their bodies brushed together, a warm heat excited Noah's skin. Noah circled his arms around Bellamy's shoulders, his fingers raked upwards into the soft red locks. Bellamy was gorgeous, his deep crimson eyes matched his neatly combed hair. He always looked well-rested, his olive skin fresh and vibrant. The tips of his fangs peeked from his lips as they sprawled into a sensual smirk, his earlier irritation momentarily forgotten.

Noah lowered himself into a straddling position on Bellamy's lap, their lips met in a searing kiss. The points of Bellamy's fangs sliced across Noah's bottom lip; the small droplets of blood that mixed in their mingling spit enticed Bellamy to swipe his tongue over Noah's lip. Noah groaned softly as his blood pooled downward, his hips took on a will of their own as they grinded against Bellamy's growing erection. The hand wrapped around his waist dipped under the fabric of Noah's boxer briefs as their mouths disconnected. Bellamy trailed a string of wet open-mouthed kisses down the collum of Noah's neck and rested at his collar bone. Bellamy sunk his fangs deep into the fragile flesh, Noah tilted his head backwards and moaned softly as a rush of vampiric venom mixed with his blood in a cocktail of dopamine and endorphins.

The world spun into a blur as their bodies wove together in a passionate unison. Noah's mind mystified as his brain and body disjointed. Bellamy wasn't a vampire, but his blood mage status gifted him with vampiric attributes. He could walk in the sun without fear of burning to ash and he still needed a healthy diet of mortal food to survive, but he was drawn to blood in the same way a vampire was. It fueled his magic, and his fangs contained a venom that when released rendered his victims into a euphoric state, a trick he often used when the two were intimate.

Time slipped as the fog thickened in Noah's mind. His body lost all sense of when and how he had been touched. It wasn't until Bellamy's weight shifted off him completely, he realized the puddle of cum that glazed his stomach. Weakly he propped himself up on his elbows and watched as Bellamy pulled up his pants "Hurry up and get cleaned up." The words were distant and distorted as they tried to penetrate Noah's haze.

The high could last anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours, depending on how much venom Bellamy used. The room continued to blur; a tingly warmth mixed with unease filled Noah. Being out of control of his body and mind while his magic rallied to break its chains was dangerous. Noah winced as he sat up, his upper body wobbled as he grabbed his head in both hands. "Bell..." Noah's voice quaked as his stomach soured. "I don't feel well."

Bellamy pulled out his phone and checked the time "Uhg, I'm not going to be able to get my coffee because of you."

"I'm sorry," Noah muttered with a broken voice.

Bellamy shoved the phone back into his pocket and leaned over the bed to press a kiss against Noah's temple "It's okay baby, I forgive you. Just make sure it doesn't happen again, you know how much I hate my routines being messed up." He left Noah's side "I'm leaving without you. Clean yourself up," he gripped the doorknob unconcerned by the haze in Noah's fully dilated eyes "Meet me after your morning classes, we'll go to that coffee shop in Sunshine you like, even though the brews taste cheap."

By the time Noah woke up nearly two hours passed, he missed his first lecture of the day and if he didn't hurry, he'd miss the second. Despite the heaviness in his limbs and the fog in his mind Noah leapt out of the bed. He staggered towards the bathroom, a wave of nausea washed over him, and his heart pounded in his ears. He didn't bother flipping on the light as he turned on the shower, steam filled the small room, but Noah only allowed himself five minutes to relish the scalding water before he quickly washed his body and hair before getting out.

He grabbed a bottle of water from the mini fridge in his room and forced himself to take several big gulps, in hopes of quelling the queasiness in his stomach. He took a deep breath then grabbed the first articles of clothing from his dresser and pulled them on. A pair of black skinny jeans that were several years faded and worn, but fit his figure comfortably, a simple long-sleeved t-shirt and a dark grey pullover hoodie with a little rainbow tyrannosaurus rex patched over his chest. He'd been gifted the hoodie for his birthday by his friend, Aylin, she said it made her smile and think about him when she saw it. Noah scrubbed the towel through his hair several more times until he was confident it wouldn't freeze when he stepped outside. The cowlicks persisted, despite washing his hair, they flicked up at the top of his head as prominent as ever.

Noah spared a minute to examine himself in the mirror once more. The heat of the shower flushed his snowy skin enough to give his face a blushed glow. Dark shadows still loomed under his eyes, but at the very least he felt more presentable. At least enough that Bellamy wouldn't be embarrassed. Noah tossed a handful of books and binders sprawled across his desk into the backpack hung over the back of the desk chair. He threw his reading glassed in their case and tossed them on top of the books then zipped up the bag and swung it over his shoulder.

The door opened and slammed shut behind Noah as he rushed down the hallway to the elevator.

As he stepped outside, the brisk air hit him like a slap to the face, briefly jolting him out of his stupor. The world around him seemed to be moving at double speed, as if mocking his sluggishness. His pace quickened as determination burned through him like wildfire, fueling his need to get to his second lecture and salvage some semblance of normalcy from the chaotic morning. Noah's legs carried him through the swarm of students and faculty as swiftly as his weakened state permitted.

Eldarion occupied an enormous piece of land in the mountains above the town of Sunshine. At its heart rested a centuries old castle, that harvested histories of the royal Eldarion lineage and the fae that have walked within the walls. When Silas, a prince by blood but denounced by time, came into ownership he opened the castle as a haven to all fae kind. The extravagant rooms were renovated into classrooms and lecture halls, plenty to accommodate all lifestyles and education needs of the fae students that have chosen to grace this prestigious relic of fae history.

Surrounding the magnificent stone castle modern buildings were erected. The housing district included long-term and temporary living arrangements. Of which Noah lived in the former, he'd chosen to be a permanent resident through the duration of his education at Eldarion.

Noah gasped for air as he arrived at the lecture hall. He felt several gazes fall on him as he quietly settled in an empty seat. "Cutting it close," Riley slouched in the seat next to Noah. Tight chocolate-colored curls framed his square-shaped face and fell around hypnotic hazel eyes that radiated against his light brown skin. He offered a half-eaten cinnamon bun. "Here, I can hear your stomach growling."

Noah plopped his bag at his feet and scrunched his nose "It's not." As if on cue his stomach let out a hearty roar in defiance. "Okay! Maybe I am a little hungry." He grabbed the cinnamon, ignoring the cocky smirk scrawled across Riley's face. Noah made a satisfied moan as he ripped his teeth into the cinnamon bun. A savory mix of spiced sweetness touched his tongue as he chewed the still warm bun. "So good," he mused between mouthfuls.

Riley chuckled "And here I thought you were sick. Guess I should've gotten two." Noah nodded and gave a thumbs up as he finished off the last bite of the sticky sweet pastry. It had been easy to ignore how hungry he'd been after the morning he had. "Want to get food after class?"

"I can't. I'm meeting Bellamy after class."

Riley frowned, disappointment clear on his face "Fine, but he better feed you."

Noah smiled wearily, outside of Bellamy Noah had two fae he could genuinely call friends. Riley was one of them, he was two years older and part of the athletics program. They'd met by chance during early move in week, since Noah opted to become a fulltime resident, he'd been part of the first group of students to move onto campus during late summer. Riley also opted to be a fulltime resident and lived on campus year-round. During the first night Noah had been having a difficult time falling asleep in what would be his new home for a minimum of four years. Feeling restless, Noah had gone for a midnight run to burn the excess energy and familiarize himself with the campus. During that run he bumped into Riley, who had just finished raiding the twenty-four-hour mini mart built in the center of the residential district. Riley, being the expert extravert, pulled Noah into conversation and decided then and there they'd be friends. When classes started, they found that they had two classes together, kinesiology a physical education course and beginners' KI health.

While Noah grew closer to Riley, he'd realized that his new friend and boyfriend didn't even pretend to get along. "You should give him a chance," Noah was hopeful but cautious.

Riley's nose scrunched, the usual casual smile on his lips straightened "He's a jackass."

"That's not fair, you don't even know him," frustration boiled inside of Noah.

Riley scoffed; his voice dripped with bitterness "I know him better than you think."

Even though Noah knew neither of them ever had a class together, he knew were freshman in the same year. Neither of them had ever outright mentioned any incidents that may have happened, but it'd been clear they'd crossed paths in the two years before Noah started attending Eldarion.

"I don't know what happened between you two but you can't-"

"He's an entitled prick that uses fae as if they're his property," Miles interrupted with a matter-of-fact tone. "And he-"

"Gentlemen," the professor interrupted with a stern tone. "Either stop being rude to your classmates that are actually here to learn or," she pointed towards the door "you are welcome to leave."

Several students snickered as the two fell silent.

Noah spent the remainder of the lecture scribbling notes in his notebook, preferring the old school method of note taking opposed to using his laptop. Every few strokes he'd make sure to shoot a daggered side-eye in Riley's direction. In response Riley would smile like he knew the Devil's weakness and feign unwavering focus on the lesson.

Ki- vital energy/life force

Types of chi- negative and positive.

Demons and demonic fae (including warlocks, vampires, succubus.) are like wilting plants (gee thanks teach) they emit and invite an influx of negative energy

Druids (nymphs, leishii.) wisps attract positive energies

Energy is constant, always moving, release and absorb.

As the lesson ended, Riley leaned towards Noah until their shoulders bumped "You look like a little bunny, rebelling against the magician. It's adorable."

"Careful," Noah nudged against Riley as he stood and swung his back over his shoulder "rabbits bite harder than you think."

Riley laughed and stood up to follow Noah out of the classroom "I'll believe it when I see it." Noah shot him an incredulous look before letting his lips wiggle into a smile. Riley dug in one of the pockets of his backpack "Here, a snack incase the jerk doesn't feed you." Noah slipped the energy bar into his hoodie pocket but sighed exasperatedly at Riley's words. "Make some time for me this weekend."

"You sure you're going to have the energy after wolfing out kicks your ass?"

"You're low maintenance enough, bring me some snacks and we'll binge watch some of those spooky movies you like so much. By the way," he emphasized his words with his hands, "That vampire movie you like where werewolves are enslaved by vampires, bullshit. That'd never happen in real life."

"What can I say, Lucian stared in my first sexy dream."

Riley playfully stroked his chin "So, what I'm hearing is you have a thing for buff, hairy, werewolves... I could introduce you to a few."

Noah lifted his hand in a stopping motion and shook his head "I'm going to have to pass. I've met your friends, and I don't think I could keep up with the golden retriever lifestyle."

"Sure. Sure the bitchy feline life is much better," it was a half joke, but as Riley rolled his eyes and nipped the tip of his tongue Noah knew the conversation had been in danger of taking a sour turn.

"Anyways," Noah raked a hand through his unmanageable hair "we don't have to watch that one. How 'bout binging the Resident Evil movies, nothing like a good flesh-eating gore fest after a full moon."

"It's a date." Riley swung his arm over Noah's shoulder and yanked him in closer "Bring extra snacks. Sweet and salty. Don't worry about drinks I have plenty already."

"Please tell me you have stuff other than alcohol."

"I can... and it's tap water."

Laughing, Noah pushed Riley away "I'll get some drinks too."

"Oh good, we'll have mixers."

"See you tomorrow," Noah waved as he walked towards the main entrance.

Noah quickened his pace to the front entrance, excitement bubbled in his chest as he made his way to meet Bellamy. They had missed their opportunity to get coffee together that morning because of Noah's sluggish start. He didn't plan to miss another coffee date with his boyfriend because his short legs couldn't carry him fast enough.

As Noah rounded the corner, he came face to face with the North entrance. The intricate metal bent and shaped in elongated curves working their way inward and up to create the base of a tree trunk. The tips jutted out from the speared tips of the massive gate in an array of gold-metal leaves that dazzled under the late-morning sun. Noah slowed his pace as he approached the parking lot built near the entrance, Bellamy leaned against his sleek black range rover and stared down at his phone with a skewed grin.

"I'm getting annoyed with all this waiting," Bellamy lazily peeled his eyes from his phone to look up at Noah.

Noah smiled shyly and wrapped his arms the center of Bellamy's chest "I'm sorry, I was chatting with Riley."

"You kept me waiting so you could fuck around with another guy," Bellamy's tone was flat and accusatory.

"It's not like that, you know Riley is just a friend."

"Hmm," Bellamy pushed Noah off and turned to slip into the driver's seat "whatever, just get in before I change my mind." Noah bit down on the soft tissue of his cheek and walked around to the passenger's side.

The drive started in silent, Noah leaned his head against the window and watched as they descended the winding mountain roads. The tension in the car was palpable, Noah could feel Bellamy's simmering anger, like an invisible wall between them. It gnawed at him; he shouldn't have mentioned Riley. Bellamy wasn't as quick to brush off annoyances the way Riley had been, if he didn't tread lightly Bellamy would be upset the rest of the day.

Noah's breath fogged the cold windowpane as he watched the layers of trees dance in the icy wind. He stole a glance at Bellamy, whose eyes were fixated on the road ahead. The usual warmth of his aura had been replaced by an icy detachment. Noah's heart sank, he knew it was his fault that Bellamy was upset again. He really couldn't get anything right.

Unable to bear the silence any longer, Noah quietly cleared his throat. "Bellamy, I'm sorry," he finally spoke up, his voice barely louder than a whisper. "I promise Riley is just a friend."

Bellamy's grip on the steering wheel tightened, his knuckles turned white against their skin. The silence stretched on, thick with unspoken thoughts and emotions. Noah fidgeted in his seat, shifting his legs unable to find comfort. Finally, Bellamy blew out a frustrated breath, his gaze flickered towards Noah.

"Don't you understand, Noah," Bellamy's voice was laced with disappointment "It's your lack of consideration for my feelings that makes me upset. How should I feel knowing my boyfriend spends all his free time with some male werewolf that doesn't respect our relationship?"

Noah flinched at the harsh bite of Bellamy's tone. Guilt clawed at his insides, "I... I never meant to hurt you," he stammered, his voice filled with genuine remorse. "He's just looking out for me, he doesn't-"

"Doesn't what, Noah? Doesn't think I'm good enough for you," Bellamy snarled, his brows furrowed, and the white-knuckle grip threatened to collapse the wheel. "Is that it, Noah? Or what, you just like playing victim, having all attention on you. What about me? It makes me feel like garbage knowing your friend talks all this shit and you just allow it. Fuck, you probably talk behind my back all the time. Really makes me think if this is even worth it."

Noah's eyes widened as Bellamy's words echoed in the car. The weight of the accusation hung heavy in the air, Noah's chest tightened with a mix of anger and hurt. He took a deep breath as he struggled to keep his composure. "Bellamy, that's not true. That's not what I was going to say," his throat burned as tears pricked his eyes, "He's just protective, neither of you will tell me what happened between you two. He's just... frustrated."

Bellamy let out a bitter laugh, a sarcastic smile played on his lips "Oh, frustrated? And you're taking his side? Always taking everyone's side but mine. Classic."

"No, it's not like that," Noah pleaded, his voice trembled. "I listen to you. I hear your concerns. But I can't just shut out my friend because of a disagreement. That's not fair to anyone."

"Fair? That's rich. You, talking about fairness. What about me? What about my feelings?"

"I care about your feelings," Noah whispered, his voice laden with desperation. "Maybe if you told me what happened, I could understand why you two don't get along. He's a good friend, I don't want to lose him..."

"Oh, but you're okay losing me?"

"That's not what I said..."

"That's exactly what you said. You don't care that my feelings are hurt, and that I'm not comfortable with you spending all this time with him. How do I know there isn't more going on when I'm not around, am I a fool for trusting you."

The car fell into a tense silence, the weight of their argument smothered the air. The drive into Sunshine only took about twenty-five minutes but as they entered the sleepy fae town time seemed to stretch. Noah's face splotched into red patches that traveled and flared at the tips of his elven ears. His heart heavied and the disjointed electrical storm from the morning rallied within him. "I'm sorry, I'll do better," Noah broke the silent battle between them.

Bellamy parked the car in a nearby lot and turned to face Noah, a suave smile spread across his lips "That's all I ask, baby." He reached his long arm over and pulled Noah toward the middle where their lips met. "Now, tell me you love me."

"I love you," Noah meekly smiled as Bellamy teased his lips with fluttery kisses. His heart gasped for solace as it sunk deeper into the abyss, but at least Bellamy's mood had lifted.

The warmth of the coffee shop eased the flurry of emotions inside of Noah. Pink splotches covered his cheeks and neck, his eyes were strained from holding back tears, but his smile had been genuine. At least he thought it had been. As it always was, there wasn't anything Bellamy could do or say that Noah wouldn't forgive, especially when he knew it was his own fault for upsetting Bellamy in the first place. Noah knew better, he knew Riley was a sensitive topic and would have to be more cautious in the future.

"Go sit by the fire," Bellamy lifted their conjoined hands and motioned towards the roaring fireplace. "I'll place our order."

"Can you get me an orange cranberry muffin?"

"You know I can't stand the smell of oranges," Bellamy frowned. The warm smile on Noah's face faded into a ghost of a smile. "I'll get you a cream cheese pumpkin muffin."

"Thank you," Noah wasn't the biggest fan of pumpkin pastries, but his growling stomach needed something more than the half a cinnamon bun Riley gave him.

Bellamy leaned down to place a kiss against the top of Noah's head "I spoil you; don't you forget that. Now go sit."

Noah plopped down on the love seat sofa in front of the stone-brick fireplace. The scent of spicy cloves wafted from the dancing flames, holy and cranberries adorned the mantle, crystals of all shapes, sizes, and colors captured the rays of sun from the large display windows casting a rainbow aura. The cozy atmosphere enveloped Noah as he pulled a novel out of his bag and sunk into the cozy couch.

As he cracked open the novel, he lost himself within the captivating pages. Each word transported him to a different place, a different time. Reality warped within his mind, he traversed dangerous and exciting adventures with the characters and fell into awe as they fell in love and overcame daunting obstacles. He had become oblivious to the happenings within the small coffee shop built in Sunshine, Colorado.

A clear plastic cup decorated with hand-drawn gingerbread men broke his trance, abruptly returning him to reality. "Your favorite is back," Bellamy twirled the cup, the ice clinked together as it shifted around the creamy coffee.

"Eggnog latte with oat milk!" Noah's entire face lit up; rainbow hues flitted across his smiling face. "It's still September, I can't believe they have it."

"You're amazing boyfriend might have pulled some strings so they'd be able to offer it longer this year," Bellamy lowered the cup into Noah's hand, before the cup could exchange hands Bellamy bent down and snatched Noah's lips. He slid down next to Noah, placed his own cup on the coffee table and wrapped an arm around Noah. He snatched the book from Noah's hand and casually flipped through the pages. "I can't believe you're reading this garbage again."

"It's my comfort book," Noah sipped his coffee, the boldness of the freshly brewed espresso paired with the rich, sweet and creaminess of the eggnog and the nutty notes from the oat milk elated his tasted buds.

Bellamy tossed it on the table with a loud thud, "It's just a bunch of nonsense about monsters, the main characters don't even get a happy ending."

"It's not about how the story ends, it's about the life that happens in between."

"Careful, baby," Bellamy took a large sip from his own cup, the hot brew a basic roast with no additives. "That sort of wistful thinking is what destroyed your mother." Noah froze at the causal mention of his mom, spikes pierced through his heart as his stomach churned as if the milk in his espresso had already soured. He pulled his bottom lip between his teeth and kept his eyes on the fire, "Don't look so sullen." Bellamy pulled Noah closer against his chest "you don't have to worry about following in her footsteps because you have me." He took another sip of his coffee "I would never allow you to embarrass me."

Noah leaned his head against Bellamy's chest but couldn't find his voice to say anything. Layla Blumma had been many things: a witch just as beautiful as she had been gifted, a daydreamer and believer of true love, a doting and loving mom that lived her life for her only child. At least until a couple of years ago.

"Lighten up, baby," Bellamy chastised. "I know you're a bleeding heart but you're acting so pitiful today." Noah forced a smile and sipped on his coffee. He needed to get out of his funk before he ruined Bellamy's entire day.

The two chatted happily as they snuggled by the fire and sipped their coffees. Noah took a small bite of his pumpkin muffin, trying to mask his distaste for the flavor. Bellamy watched with a lazy smile, his elbow propped up on the arm rest and his cheek rested against his knuckles. Crumbs caught at the corners of Noah's mouth, "come here," Bellamy lifted his free hand. Noah leaned in closer to Bellamy "you're such a messy eater," he swiped at the crumbs. Noah bit his tongue to keep from commenting on how if Bellamy thought he was a messy eater than he'd be appalled watching Riley scarf down a meal that could feed five with leftovers.

Lost in their own little world, Noah suddenly felt a strange sensation, as though somebody had been watching him. He'd felt a similar sensation intermittently the last few months, but never in broad daylight nor within town. He decided to ignore the spine-tingling feeling for as long as possible, it felt different from the fearful gazes of other fae and humans. He couldn't put an exact feeling to how the sensation felt. Static erupted over his skin, prickling into goosebumps, it was a similar feeling to when he watched horror movies. Controlled fear. But. An even stranger part of him never wanted the mysterious gaze to leave him because if they were on him, he was safe from the killer.

In the end curiosity got the better of Noah, his eyes flicked up intending to scan the small café. But the moment his gaze lifted it fell in a direct line with an astonishingly handsome stranger. Sunbeams poured through the large glass windows and door illuminated the red tints in his dark brown hair and cascaded over his ocher skin, like a golden dawn through the autumn kissed woods. His presence had been spectacular, his intense golden gaze pierced through Noah as if threatening to capture his very soul. Though, if Noah dared to think deeply, it felt more like a promise. He knew those eyes. How did he know those eyes? The memories blurred at the forefront of his mind, a dream, he'd seen them in a dream. He'd been certain he'd always remember that dream, he remembered nearly everyone since coming into his magic. But now as he stared at this eerily familiar stranger it had been as if all other memories slipped through his grasp. Unable to hold the gaze any longer, Noah dropped his eyes to the plastic travel cup between his hands. Condensation dripped down the outsides, dampening his palms.

"You okay, baby," Bellamy sipped his coffee.

"Mmhm," Noah nodded and pulled the straw into his mouth. A three set of bells chimed, indicating that the door opened then closed. Noah glanced upwards, peering through thick white lashes, the man left but he hadn't gone far. His eyes gently shifted to look out the window where the man stood.

"We should get going," Bellamy typed something into his phone before sliding it back into his pocket. "I have class soon." Noah nodded and stood up, he swung his bag over his shoulder and followed in step behind Bellamy.

The icy breeze that endlessly lulled through the crevices of the mountain town seemed to navigate towards the man with gold eyes. His eyes stared unblinking at the statue in the center of the town, entranced by unknown visions of the heart. A lullaby of voices serenaded the waves of ice through the air, Noah froze. His heart sputtered; concern written across the gentle features of his chilled face.

"Are you okay," he reached out his hand and gently touched the man's forearm. The man's hand reacted before the rest of his consciousness returned. It clenched in full force, fingers ripped through the feeble cup, the scalding coffee exploded upwards before falling all around his hand. The skin seared hot. Noah jerked away as splashes scorched his icy hand. "You okay?" He repeated as the man's glazed eyes came back into focus.

Noah's breath hitched deep in his chest as their eyes met. The intensity of those golden eyes seared through Noah as if he had been staring into the sun itself. "You're hand," his hand hovered awkwardly in the air, part of him wanted to reach out and mend the scalded flesh but as jolts of electricity surged through his veins towards his fingertips Noah knew it'd be too risky to perform even the simplest of spells. The wildness of his magic didn't care for his intentions, it lived within him like a beast inside a cage.

"It doesn't hurt," Noah flinched at the sudden coldness in the man's tone. Almost as if he'd rather bathe in lava than be shown an ounce of concern by a devil in a fae mask.

"Noah, let's go," Bellamy groaned, his foot tapped against the slush covered sidewalk.

Noah couldn't find it within himself to be offended by the annoyance in the man's expression. Being preyed on by Freya's whispers was a disorientating occurrence, but then to be bothered by a warlock was downright disturbing. A meek smiled wobbled across Noah's lips as he fished through his bag. His eyes drooped apologetically as he pulled out a small tin. "It's aloe with marigold and calendula. It'll help the burn and any scaring." He bit down on his lip as the man continued to stare daggers at him.

"Noah!" Bellamy seethed as he hit peek annoyance over yet another delay in his plans.

"Bye," Noah said as he turned away.

As he turned on his heel Bellamy snatched his hand and half-dragged him down the sidewalk. "Fuck Noah, I told you I have class."

"I'm sorry, he looked like he needed help."

Bellamy laughed bitterly "Anyone dumb enough to fall under Freya's curse, deserves it."

"It's not a curse," Noah protested as his feet fumbled underneath him trying to keep up with Bellamy's long, meaningful strides. "It's a bewitchment, he must be suffering from a broken heart to have been affected by the fountain."

The cascading, season defying, fountain that inhabited the heart of Sunshine was crafted by a human man named Valentine centuries ago. As the tale goes, Valentine was a sailor, his only love was for the ocean itself. Freya was an enchantress, patrons traveled far and wide to hear her songs of love and passions. In her voice Valentine heard the waves crashing down against seaweed covered rocks. In her eyes he saw the glittering rays of sun rolling over a calm ocean surface. In her heart, he found the most extravagant pearl born from the furthest depths of the infinite crevices of the ocean's floor. In him, she understood the depths of the songs she sang. And in him, she realized the unbearable weight of her nature. For a siren wasn't meant to be captured by the hands of humans, they weren't meant to know the meaning of true love, an innocent love. The siren's calling was simple, ensnare the hearts of the vile and avenge the hearts of the broken.

Despite this nature Freya found herself in Valentine's embrace, the icy depths of her heart, beat for him. Their love wouldn't last, Freya would be drowned in the very ocean Valentine spent many years adoring for her bewitching ways. In his own heartbreak, Valentine stole himself away and abandoned the ocean. He traversed the many terrains of the country until he found himself in Sunshine, a woodland area home to nature fae and untouched by the progressive world.

He built the fountain in Freya's honor; in its waters he poured a vile of enchanted ocean water mixed with the tears of his heart break. Her final song, a serenade to her beloved, flows through the waters. It is said that anyone fae or human that listens to Freya's final song will be ensnared by their own heartbreak.

"Oh baby, are you feeling sorry for the guy?" Bellamy rolled his eyes and stopped in his tracks. Noah stumbled to a stop and bumped into Bellamy's chest. Bellamy snatched Noah's chin and bent his head backwards, so he was looking straight up. "Did you want to comfort him," a finger traced Noah's full lips "Maybe take him somewhere privet, wrap this pretty little mouth around his cock and suck him until he forgets all about that annoying little heartbreak."

"Bellamy..." Noah turned his head, but Bellamy's grip tightened "It wasn't like that."

"No? Then you decided to waste my time just to see if some random sap was feeling...okay?"

Noah winced as the bruising grip yanked him upward, until he stood on his tiptoes "Bell, stop it. It hurts."

Bellamy purred as he brought his lips down against Noah's "Baby, you make me crazy sometimes." Noah reached out and grabbed the fabric covering Bellamy's chest as his knees buckled. The kiss had been bruising, Bellamy possessively worked his lips against Noah's in a punishing manner. The tips of his fangs scraped against the delicate skin on Noah's lips, reopening the paper-thin slits from their morning intimacy. Noah whimpered silently but didn't fight to end the smothering smashing of their lips. By the time the kiss ended, Noah's eyes were watery, and his chest heaved trying to gulp in air like a glass of water on a scorching day. An arm snaked around his waist, Bellamy yanked their bodies flush together "Do you even realize how it makes me feel when you're constantly seducing others with these eyes," he ran his thumb over one of Noah's eyes, forcing it closed.

"I don't," Noah defended himself helplessly. Trickles of blood beaded at the slices in his bottom lip.

Bellamy leaned down and ran his tongue over the swollen cuts "You're doing it right now. Acting all innocent and sexy, it makes me want to devour you."