"Thank you," Ren said, and Cilian’s face struck with disbelief.

Cilian’s hand, which had been reaching for his tea, stopped mid-air.

He turned his head slowly, his golden-brown eyes narrowing as they searched Ren’s face. For a brief second, the mask of the smug, all-knowing fox slipped, replaced by genuine shock.

​Ren kept his gaze fixed on the plate of fruit. He made sure his shoulders remained tense, and his voice sounded like it was being dragged through gravel. He couldn’t make it too easy, or Cilian would smell the lie instantly.

​"Don’t get the wrong idea," Ren repeated, his voice small and tight. "I’m only giving thanks because it’s due. You... you got us out of that island. You brought the helicopter."

​Cilian leaned back in his chair, a slow, thoughtful smile spreading across his lips. The disbelief was gone, replaced by a deep, purring satisfaction. He loved this. He loved the idea that he was finally breaking the ’Hard Heart’ Ren had obsessed over for so long.

And he was in his sane mind too. What could be any better?

​"You’re finally being honest with yourself, Ren," Cilian said, his voice dropping into that sweet, honeyed tone.

He reached out and tilted Ren’s chin up, forcing those grey eyes to meet his own.

"It’s about time you realized that I’m the only one who can truly provide for you. The only one who can keep you safe. The only one who can love you."

​Ren felt a wave of disgust, but he didn’t pull away. He let his eyes wander to Cilian’s chest, acting like a defeated bird that had finally stopped flapping its wings against the cage.

​"I just want things to be quiet," Ren lied, his voice barely a breath. "I’m tired of fighting you because I know I’m not going to ever win. I’m tired of running. If I’m going to be stuck here... then I just want it to be quiet."

​Cilian’s eyes lit up. This was exactly what he wanted to hear. To him, ’quiet’ meant submission. It meant Ren had finally accepted that the Vane Manor was his entire world.

​"Quiet is good, darling," Cilian murmured. He picked up a piece of sliced apple and held it to Ren’s lips. "We can have all the quiet you want. No more punishments, no more restraints. Just you, me, and our child in this beautiful home. Doesn’t that sound like a dream?"

​Ren bit into the apple, the sweetness tasting like poison in his mouth. A dream for you, he thought, his mind already spinning with dark, cold calculations. A nightmare for me. But nightmares end when the monster dies.

​"Yes," Ren whispered, forcing his lips to quirk into the tiniest, most pathetic ghost of a smile. "A dream."

​Cilian looked like he was about to burst with triumph. He stood up and pulled Ren into his arms, right there at the dining table. He hugged him tight, burying his face in Ren’s neck, breathing in the scent of his faint seeping Pheromones.

​"I knew you’d understand," Cilian whispered happily. "I knew you’d see the light eventually."

​Over Cilian’s shoulder, Ren’s grey eyes turned cold and sharp. He looked at the silver steak knife resting on the edge of Cilian’s plate. He wasn’t looking at it with fear anymore. He was looking at it as a tool.

​He would play the ’wifey.’ He would eat the food. He would let Cilian hold him. And while Cilian was busy celebrating his victory, Ren would be sharpening his claws for the only ending this story could ever have.

​Cilian pulled back and kissed Ren’s forehead, his expression doting and warm.

"Since you’re being so good, why don’t we go for a walk in the gardens after breakfast? The air will be good for you. And we can start planning the nursery."

​Ren nodded obediently. "Whatever you want, Cilian."

​"That’s my boy," Cilian purred.

​Ren watched him, a secret, lethal promise forming in his chest. He would wait for the right moment.

He would wait until Cilian was at his most vulnerable—at his most ’happy’—and then he would end it all. For his family. For himself. And for the ’fruit’ he refused to let grow in a world owned by a monster.

In the days that followed, Ren played his part with a chilling perfection. He was quiet, he was still, and most of all, he was obedient.

Cilian was absolutely losing his mind over it. It was like he had finally found the missing piece to his twisted puzzle.

​Whatever Ren wanted, Cilian provided. He gave Ren all the space he asked for, especially when Ren used the excuse of being too exhausted for anything physical.

​"I feel so spent from everything," Ren had whispered, looking away. "Let’s not do it for a while. I’m not going anywhere, so it’s fine, right?"

​How could Cilian say no to that? He agreed with an open heart, delighted by the simple promise that Ren wouldn’t run.

​And so, their little playhouse continued. Cilian was often out, busy cleaning up the mess the syndicate had become while he was stuck on the island.

Ren stayed behind in the manor, which was so large and yet so small at the same time that it was suffocating. He spent his time doing nothing, basically. Watching TV. Playing games, eating, sleeping. Pretty much nothing.

And then, he wondered when Cilian would take action for the bomb explosion on the plane.

Even if Cilian hadn’t told him what Mary had said, Ren knew exactly who their ​enemies were. Well, for this one, it was the Mordecais.

​Ren expected Cilian to wipe them out immediately, or maybe start sinking their shipments, but he heard nothing about it. And when he asked him, Cilian just waved it off with a stupid smile.

"Oh, come on, Ren. It was thanks to them that we had such a wonderful vacation together. Let’s give them some slack."

​At those words, Ren’s control snapped. He swung a fist, his knuckles connecting with Cilian’s jaw. "Are you out of your mind? Vacation? They’re the fucking assholes who nearly killed us!"

​The moment the punch landed, Ren froze. His heart hammered against his ribs. He was supposed to be the loving "wife." An outburst like that was a mistake.

​But Cilian just laughed.

​"Gosh, and here I was wondering where that fierce temper of yours went," Cilian purred. He leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to Ren’s forehead. "I like it when you’re sweet, but don’t suppress your anger too much. It’ll only make you hurt, you see?"

​Ren’s blood boiled. Don’t suppress my anger? If Cilian only knew that Ren was suppressing enough rage to slide a knife through his throat while they snuggled at night. Ren took a deep, shaky breath to steady himself.

​"I have every right to be mad," Ren stated, his grey eyes burning with a mix of hate for the Mordecais and the man standing in front of him. "They went too far."

​"But I don’t think taking them out overnight is possible, Ren," Cilian said, making Ren’s body go stiff. Cilian had dismantled Ren’s entire family like it was nothing, so why was this different? "They are on their guard. They know I’m out for blood. And they’re crafty guys—vampires and all."

​Ren gritted his teeth. He didn’t care about their species or their tricks. He just wanted them gone.

​"Fine," Ren said, his voice rough. "Take your time. But while you do, can you do me a favor?"

​Cilian’s face lit up. Nothing made him happier than granting Ren’s requests. "What is it, Ren? I’ll do anything," he proclaimed.

​Ren lowered his head. He let his voice soften, shifting from furious to hesitant. He made sure he looked shy, even letting a fake blush creep onto his cheeks. It was the perfect trap.

​"Why are you hesitating, Ren?" Cilian asked, stepping closer. "You know there’s almost nothing I can’t do."

​"I just... wanted to say..." Ren trailed off, looking at his hands. "Being part of the Mafia is dangerous. I know you think you’re invincible, but you could die tomorrow or the day after. And then I... I wouldn’t have anyone to protect me. To love me."

​The words hit Cilian like an arrow to the heart. He looked at Ren, completely charmed by this sudden show of worry.

​"In the case you die, what happens to everything?" Ren continued, his voice trembling slightly. "What will happen to me? What will happen to Toby, you’ve kept hidden? Will we all be chased down and killed, too?"

Cilian was motionless.

For a long moment, the only sound in the room was the low hum of the manor’s ventilation. He stared at Ren, his breath hitching as he processed the words. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

To Cilian, this wasn’t just a question about logistics or safety; it was a confession. He truly believed that Ren was finally imagining a life where they belonged to each other—a life where Ren’s biggest fear wasn’t Cilian himself, but the loss of him.

"Ren," Cilian whispered, his voice thick with a raw, terrifyingly genuine affection.

He reached out, his fingers trembling slightly as he tucked a stray lock of hair behind Ren’s ear.

"You’re worried about being left behind? You’re worried about... losing me?"