Broken Bond: Between Vices and Virtues (BL)
Chapter 73: Sleeping next to you [2]

Chapter 73: Sleeping next to you [2]

Knox opened his hazy eyes. He saw Azrael watching him with a satisfied look on his face. Embarrassment dawned on him. He quickly turned his head away and pushed Azrael, only for his hands to be caught in his embrace.

"Let go. Tell me what you mean instead," he persuaded the guy. Anymore than kissing would surely awaken his lower region, so he kicked Azrael and flailed his hands to free himself. Once the alpha gave him room to escape, he immediately rolled to the side and at on the bed instead, gathering back the sheets and draping them over his folded knees.

Knox asked again, "What do you mean? What scandal??"

Azrael lay on his sides, propping up his head with his folded arm. He tapped the spot next to him as he responded, "You were carried by your father when you fainted. He shamelessly announced that you’re his son, so what else could there be, but another scandal involving the noble Horace Family and their hidden illegitimate son?"

Without hesitation, Knox answered firmly, "You’re lying. You’re just making it up. There’s no way that man would carry me in his arms and admit I’m his son."

Azrael’s face changed. His jaw clenched. "Is that how you’re being treated?"

"How else do you think an illegitimate child will be treated?" Knox smiled bitterly, sporting a pained expression on his face. He looked away from Azrael and stared at the darkening sky from the glass windows of his cottage. "It’s to be expected. As you said, a noble family having an illegitimate child is a big scandal and disgrace, a stain on their honorable reputation. So, I don’t really believe that the chairman would throw all that away and claim me as his son. That’s just...a pipe dream I once had."

"It’s no longer a dream. It really happened. You can ask your brother if you don’t believe me. Also, stop looking away from me," Azrael grabbed Knox’s arm and yanked him down to the bed.

"Hey...! What—

"Are you hungry? If you are, I’d ask Roy to deliver food here," Azrael interrupted. Knox was pulled down on the bed, his body facing Azrael, and his face was just inches away from him.

His forehead creased in bewilderment. He really couldn’t understand what was going on in the alpha’s head. "I’m not hungry. I don’t have an appetite."

Azrael pulled the sheets to their chest, and replied, "Then, let’s sleep. You need rest the most."

"After all the things you said? How can I sleep? I need to see Athan," Knox tried to get up but got hurled back instead. He scowled at Azrael but the latter just wrapped him in his vice-like embrace and pulled him closer.

Mumbling against his ears, Azrael rubbed the back of his head, "I won’t do anything to you, so you can relax. You need sleep, Knox. Once you wake up, you’ll be facing another scandal that can make you lose sleep. Let that brother of yours take care of everything for now and just sleep in my arms. No buts. Take it. I’m only being nice because you’re pitiful—ow! What was that for?"

Knox glared at Azrael, "Don’t pity me."

"Right. You’re not pitiful. I’m just not used to acting nice and gentle. Still, I’m doing this because it’s you. You can cry on my shoulders instead of Athan’s. I want to know more of you, witness the different faces you can make this close, and wipe those tears and snot in your face. Allow me to do that."

Knox’s heart beat faster. The tenderness in Azrael’s voice was lulling him into sleep. He could never imagine he’d feel so comfortable showing his vulnerable side to him. He bit his lower lip as he recalled their situation again.

Knox lowered his head and whispered, "I can’t do that. I feel uncomfortable being like this. Even if it’s just in name only, you’re still tied to another. I’m ashamed of myself that I’m letting you do this. So, you should leave. If Athan visits me, you’ll be seen."

Azrael dropped his intense gaze to Knox, "Will you only be at ease, and believe me if I break the engagement with Diva?"

"What?" Knox hastily turned his head to him. Their forehead almost brushed with each other since Azrael bent his head down while Knox abruptly inclined his head to meet his gaze. With the distance between them, Knox could never mistake the resolution in Azrael’s eyes.

He was determined.

Knox gaped. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. To be hearing directly from the alpha’s mouth was sending him in shock, even though a part of him was hoping.

"I already planned it. I just can’t find the right time to make it happen. I still have—

A knock on the door interrupted Azrael. They exchanged glances as the knock doubled. Then, Knox showed a horrified expression once a voice followed the knocking.

"Knox, are you still asleep? I brought dinner..."

Athan’s voice came from behind. Azrael knitted his brows. He clearly told Roy to look out for anyone approaching the villa! Why was he so quiet?!

A gruff voice escaped his throat, "That ass—umph!"

Knox covered Azrael’s mouth nervously and whispered, "What are you doing? Stop talking! What if he hears us?"

Azrael just rolled his eyes. How could he be so cute? He thought to himself as he looked at Knox’s terrified face. He licked his palm which made him shuddered and yelped.

"Eek!" Knox pulled his hand away quickly. He bared his fangs at Azrael and was ready to punch his grinning face which infuriated him so much, but his fist stopped midway when Athan’s voice came again.

"Knox, are you awake? Come and open the door."

Knox widened his eyes at the naughty alpha who rejoiced at his annoyed face. He immediately got up from the bed and walked to the door. He nervously opened the door and only peeked his head out, "Athan, thank you. I’ll eat later," he took the tray of food from his brother and closed the door, then he quickly placed it at the nearest table and ran back to him.

He sighed in relief after Athan remained on the porch. He forced a smile and said, "Why don’t we talk while we walk? I have a lot of things I wanted to ask you."

Athan sighed, "Sure. But are you okay now? We should stop by at the resort’s clinic to check your condition."

Knox nodded his head. He had a proper sleep after he fainted, and even if he hadn’t, he doubted he’d be able to again, knowing that Azrael was on his bed and after hearing what he said. He wanted to confirm the truth from Athan.

He pulled his brother away from his cottage and went up. The stone stairs they trod upon were like boulders placed perfectly by nature. It wasn’t that hard to climb them, but it required stamina and strength to reach the top.

The villas just reached half of the stone stairs, and on the very top was a clearing, a flat ground full of trimmed grasses, and overlooking the ocean. A few meters away was a cliff, and below were waves hitting the rocks below.

It was already dark, but the entire path was decorated with round lanterns hung on the eaves of every cottage, and the stone stairs were illuminated with ground lamps placed a meter away from one another.

The clearing was as bright as the path they took because of the solar track lights that were planted on the edges of the place, circling the clearing.

Knox stood before Athan. They were both silent throughout the way. After reaching the even ground, Knox inhaled the night breeze, a bit cold that made him shiver. A coat draped on his shoulders. He looked back and mumbled his gratitude, then he asked without hesitation, "Is it true? The chairman came and...."

He couldn’t even voice it out properly. The absurdity of the matter was impeding his mouth to form words. He chuckled bitterly.

Athan responded, "He came. He carried you when you fainted. He called you his son in front of the crowd."

Silence reigned. Knox felt conflicted. He was troubled, baffled, and shocked.

After a while, his lips parted and words flowed out of his mouth, "Why would he do that? Why...now?"

Athan lifted his hand to console his brother with a hug after hearing his shaky voice, however, he hesitated when Knox looked back at him. His eyes were lost and confused, "What should I do now? Should I thank him he’s finally acknowledging me, or should I expect something I have to sacrifice in exchange for that?"

With a voice filled with distrust, Athan’s heart ached to hear those words from his younger brother. Even he was astounded after hearing his father call Knox his son as they left, but more than that, he was overjoyed.

The one thing that Knox wanted the most, was a family, for him and for his son.

In the end, his hand rested on Knox’s shoulder and patted him, then he muttered lowly in a careful tone, "Knox, I know...dad hurt you the most, but...can you give him another chance? He’s not reckless and stupid. He won’t do this thoughtlessly. You don’t have to worry about the news, and just leave everything to us. So, please, don’t hate him too much."

After that talk, Knox stayed seated on his porch for quite a while. Athan said that the other employees were making the most of that trip bar hopping in the vicinity, which was why Estrella Street was so quiet.

When he heard rustles and distant voices approaching, he decided to come in, hoping that the intruder inside was already gone. Unfortunately, Azrael was still lying on the bed, with his position facing the door, an arm beneath his head, and eyes closed in sound sleep.

Knox sighed resignedly. Still, he carefully went to the other side and gently lay on the bed. The mattress sunk from his weight, and he nervously checked if Azrael was awakened.

When he didn’t move, he pulled the blanket up to his chest and turned his back to Azrael. His eyes were already closing when he felt something warm slither in the gap of his arm and waist. Then, his back bumped into a solid surface and warmth enveloped him completely.

But instead of discomfort and anxiousness, he fell asleep comfortably.