LEO (RYN)
He was late again. To Master Lynsander's class. It wasn't because he had overslept like the first time, but because—for the first time in days—he had actually slept. Deeply. Peacefully. He didn't need to worry that he was in a mysterious world anymore.
The mysterious ointment on his bruises had worked a little too well. After having his bath and applying it, Ryn had sunk into his bed and drifted off without the usual ache in his bones. It had magically healed him overnight.
By the time he opened his eyes, the sun was already high.
"Oh fuck this!" he cursed, scrambled out of bed, rushed to take his bath, then hurriedly threw on his uniform and darted out of his room.
When he arrived at Master Lynsander's training courtyard, the class had already formed their lines around activated runes.
"Master…" he opened his mouth to speak, but Lynsander cut him off.
"Late," he said simply. "Again."
Ryn tried to open his mouth again but stopped himself. There was no excuse, not really. He simply bowed his head. "I was weak and I—"
Lynsander scoffed. "I don't care," he responded and yawned. "I'll give you grace again, and this will be the last time."
"Really?" Ryn excitedly raised his head. He had not expected that the master would pardon him that fast.
"Yes and no."
He frowned, having no idea what Lynsander meant. "Master…"
Lynsander grinned wickedly and leaned closer to him. "Three laps across the courtyard after class," he told him, chuckling as he continued the class.
Ryn clenched his fists, but there was nothing he could do. He took his place at the edge of the formation. Sweat already lined the back of his neck—not from the sun but from the prickles of eyes on him. He visibly gulped as he looked into their faces.
He even heard some of them whisper among themselves.
"He's lucky to be fated to the Alphas."
That word—fated—Ryn hated it, especially since it came from one of the boys who had attacked him. When Ryn looked closer, he saw his half-brother smirking at him.
Quickly, he looked away and faced the master. For now, he was going to listen to Mira's warning. He was going to run from them.
After the class ended and all the students left the courtyard, Ryn remained behind and started his punishment. He had expected that Chen would stay behind and harass him, so he hid as soon as the class ended and only came out when Chen had left.
He started running across the courtyard filled with energy, but by the third lap, he felt his lungs burning. Ryn wanted to stop badly, but he couldn't. Each time he moved forward, it sounded as if his footstep was a beat in his head.
"You know, if you keep this up, you might actually pass for a warrior someday," a teasing voice came from behind—and he didn't need to turn because he could already smell him the instant he spoke.
Smoke and iron. He recognized the smell anywhere.
He turned his head and found Veyr leaning casually against a tree, arms crossed, his tousled brown hair catching in the breeze.
Ryn hadn't seen him in the rune class because it was meant for beginners like him.
"Don't have anywhere better to be?" Ryn's voice sounded harsh, and he didn't mean to be like that. But ever since the rune incident, he hadn't seen him or Sylas, and he hated that Veyr was just showing up now.
Veyr scoffed. "I did. Then I remembered you existed and decided I hadn't had enough entertainment for the day."
Ryn came to a stop, panting as he bent over with his hands on his knees. "You're unbelievable."
Veyr jumped down from the tree and headed toward him. "Unbelievably charming," he winked as he stepped closer. "I was also worried," he cleared his throat, "just a little."
"That's new," Ryn frowned.
"Well, don't get used to it," Veyr said, standing in front of him and tilting his head. "What the hell happened to your face?"He frowned.
Ryn couldn't believe he could still see the bruises. He had thought no one would notice since they were now faint. "Training happened," he lied.
"And bruises don't show up on omegas for no reason," Veyr said, his tone shifting slightly. "Who touched you?"
Ryn narrowed his eyes. "Why do you care?"
"Because if someone's picking on what's technically my fated mate," he paused and gently caressed Ryn's face, "I want to know who I'm letting Kael murder before I get my turn."
Ryn slapped his hand away. "I am not a prize to be fought over." He hated that they only saw him as their fated mate and not as Ryn.
"You're right. I'm sorry," Veyr said, but then scoffed. "You're so much more, Ryn. To me, you're the last piece of cake at a royal banquet. Everyone wants you, especially me."
Ryn rolled his eyes. Just when he had thought Veyr's apology was genuine, he pulled off another cringeworthy line. "That's the worst metaphor I've ever heard."
"I'm full of them," he grinned. "Want to hear the one about dragon mating rituals and territorial marking?"
"Absolutely not."
Veyr laughed again. "Fine, fine. But for real," he added, and his voice dropped just a little, "if anyone touches you again, let me know. I'll hex their hair off."
"Uhm…" Ryn blinked. "That's… oddly specific," he muttered.
They both stared at each other for a moment, with Ryn's heart racing fast. All he wanted to do at that moment was to fall into Veyr's arms. He knew it was the bond making him imagine things, but he wanted that comfort so badly.
"So why were you late to class?" Veyr asked, breaking the connection between them. He cleared his throat and looked away. "Did you oversleep? Forget your name?"
Ryn rolled his eyes again and sat down on the ground, panting for breath. "All of the above."
"I should have checked up on you after what happened at the rune," Veyr said and sat down beside him.
That was what Ryn had been waiting to hear from him. He stared at him, waiting for what else he had to say.
"I was busy with classes… and I was also guilty for letting you suffer alone."
That warmed Ryn's heart. He hadn't expected that Veyr would care about him. Under his mischievous attitude, he truly cared—unlike Kael.
The thought of Kael made his heart stop for a moment. He clenched his fists and heaved a deep sigh, removing every thought of Kael from his head.
"I am sorry."
Ryn's heart fluttered.
He had been expecting those words to come from at least one of the Alphas, and he hadn't expected that Veyr would say them first. Ryn swallowed the sudden tightness in his throat and looked down. "It's okay," he muttered.
"Great," Veyr stood up and dusted his robe. "I believe you're done with your laps, so I'll walk you to your hall?" he offered his hand.
Ryn took it without arguing, and as Veyr pulled him up, he lost his steps and fell into his arms—just like he had wanted.
Thump. Thump. Thump. His heart beat louder than before, and he felt chills running down his spine. If he had the chance, he would want to stay in his arms all night long.
Veyr's throat-clearing brought him out of his imagination, and he quickly pulled away. "Ouch. I didn't do that for you to pull away. I mean, I'd want you to hug me all night," he winked.
For the umpteenth time, Ryn rolled his eyes and started walking. With Veyr, everything felt less suffocating because he didn't treat Ryn like he was a broken omega.
As they walked off the courtyard together, Ryn smelled a familiar pheromone. Pine and storm. It was faint, but he recognized it. Then he saw a flicker of movement near the tree.
A tall figure was walking again. He didn't have to guess who it was.
Kael.
He was watching again, and just like always, he disappeared without saying anything.
Ryn clenched his fists tightly and looked down.
"Hey," Veyr said softly, nudging his arm. "You good?"
"Yeah," his voice came out strained. "I'm just tired."
He placed his hand around Ryn's neck and chuckled. "Don't worry. I'll walk you to your door."
Ryn nodded.
None of them said anything as they made their way out of the courtyard, passing by halls of dorms until they reached his door.
Veyr removed his hand from around Ryn's neck and smiled at him. "You should rest—and eat something too."
Ryn gave him a small smile. "Thank you for today."
Veyr nodded and looked at Ryn for a moment, then smiled again. "Take care, rune boy," he winked, and just like that, he turned and walked away, hands in his pocket, whistling under his breath.
Ryn felt the emptiness as he walked into his room and closed the door. The silence returned, but it didn't feel heavy this time. "Veyr," he smiled as he thought about him.