A bit helpless at his sudden confession you can only let him breathe and sigh into the sensitive skin of your neck. Goosebumps spread all over your back, from your throat to your arms and chest from the hot air he puffs out.

Of course, you know how it feels to see the person you hold so dear to your heart with another one, that's exactly what happened to you these last days with Rafayel before the spitting image of yourself vanished. It tugs at your heartstrings that Sylus has gone through the same thing, and you let out a humorless chuckle as you remember something. "Kindred spirits indeed..." you whisper tenderly above his head as you lay one arm around his muscled upper body that has shrunk into you, the other hand loosely on top of his white fluffy hair.

Is it already a dozen days since you came to this world? It feels so much longer than that. The time you spent with Rafayel will forever be burnt in your memory, and he feels much more familiar to you than only knowing him for about two weeks or so.

And now you're holding the most powerful man in the N109 Zone in your arms, the dragon that lost his soulmate. Twice. Another figure you only knew from a game before and never thought to be real somewhere.

You cradle him even closer, feeling heartbroken for him. Sylus didn't deserve this at all but what could you do?

You close your eyes, trying to listen deep into your heart and soul. If you were the same as the MC you would feel a connection with him, wouldn't you? As you do with Rafayel, right?

You try to focus on your heartbeat, thinking of nothing, and search deep inside yourself for anything that could be an answer.

And you find something, a feeling of a thin fiery thread burnt into your heart. A shiny glimmering string that fills you with warmth and faith.

You furrow your brows in confusion. What is this?

The string reacts to your irritated state of mind, vibrating gently and emanating a soothing feeling that instantly erases your muddiness like waves washing upon a shore.

Perplexed you fling open your eyes.

This is not Sylus. It's far too gentle to suit his persona. No, this feels completely different.

Could this be the connection with Rafayel? Is this the bond ...? But how is this possible? And the guilt from before is now back with full force.

You pull away from the man in your arms slightly, still not sure if you are his soulmate or not, even if his proximity makes your heart beat frantically in your chest and his attention all fuzzy and giggly.

At your words from moments ago Sylus lifts his head and his red eyes, shining like priceless gems in the dim lighting, locking into yours. "So, you remember?" a little ray of hope crosses his features, and you wonder for a second what he's talking about before your thoughts catch up and your heart sinks to the bottom of your chest.

"Not in the way you're hoping for, Sylus." you try to explain yourself, not wanting to shatter his heart into pieces. But you have no choice. Who knows how long you are going to be here? Maybe tomorrow everything will be over, and you'll be back in your world/reality/whatever? Your other self is the real main character, and you are the copycat. They all might be figures in a mobile game in your universe, but here they are real people, with real problems, feelings, and a real future. What right do you have to make Sylus fall for you if you vanish at one point or aren't the real deal?

No, you can't do this and that's why you need to be honest with him from the start.

"I just remembered your first meeting with her in the game, and not because I remember your past." you look at Sylus, the man who once was a dragon and maybe still is. "I'm not the one that your soul is bound to. I only know these things because I played them and not because I recall past lives, Sylus." after a short pause in which you observe him meticulously "I'm sorry"

Scarlet eyes only watch you without a motion before his smug grin sets in, and he leans back into the black sofa, loosening his hold around your waist. One hand raises to his face where he tips his temple with the index finger, dipping his head slightly to one side.

"What makes you so sure, Sweetie?" he has the nerve to grin at you. "what if your memory just needs a little encouragement?"

Perplexed you look at him. What does this mean now? He already used his eye on you, and it caused you only a heavy migraine and did not give you any memories of a past life.

Sylus reaches his hand towards you, palms up. „Resonate with me." soft-spoken words that tumble your world upside down.

You inhale sharply, your thoughts start to run wild.

„No, no, no!" you refuse him with an eager voice. The last time you tried to resonate, it went wrong and nearly burnt Rafayel. Who knows what'll happen when you make this kind of connection with Sylus' Evol? You aren't solely ruining an expensive dress shirt as with Rafayel, that's for sure. And not to forget the incident with your twin which left you with taking over her injury. Resonating now with Sylus' powerful energy Evol? Oh my, you prefer not to think about all the possibilities that could go wrong.

The white-haired man still smirks at you, his raised hand moving towards yours to slide along your fingers that rest on his thigh. „Are you afraid of scratching me, kitten?" Scarlet eyes twinkle with amusement and flick to you as he leans forward again. He's so close now, that your breath mingles with his, and the intense red color of his gaze fills your whole vision. „Whatever happens, it won't kill me. That's for sure."

A big warm hand envelops your smaller one and brings it between your faces as he eases back. A short look at the intertwined fingers as he softly purrs in that grumbling voice „Follow your desires, Sweetie. Let your soul be free to choose." now his intense gaze is locked on you, keeping you hostage.

Your heart starts racing in again, and your head gets dizzy. Unsure of what to do you can only retort his gaze, finding yourself lost in the crimson color of his unique eyes. „M- my soul?" you mumble confused unable to resist the strange tension that has built between you.

Another soft smile from Sylus stirs the butterflies in your belly not helping to clear the daze of your mind. „Yes, your soul. Even if you're from another universe, be another person, and have witnessed different experiences, your soul never changes, kitten. The essence of your very being stays the same, always and forever." the last words came out as a husky whisper, and you're hypnotized, drawn into the lulling of his deep timbre.

And something between your connections starts to grow, a heavy pulse overrules all your consciousness. Like the pounding of a heart echoes the sound in every cell of your being, erases all thoughts, and you hear those voices again.

"Devour him! He is yours!"

Something in you screams and your mouth leaves a desperate "No!"

Suddenly everything turns red and black, and your consciousness is pushed away, and flinging your eyes open you strangely find yourself standing in front of Sylus as he falls from the black sofa to his knees.

Heavily pants heaving his broad chest and a steady amount of blood drips down his side and tints his white dress shirt crimson red in a growing oval patch.

Confused you hurry down to him. "Sylus! What happened? Why are you injured?"

His gem-like eyes lock into yours as he shows you his signature smirk. "It worked, Sweetie. All too well, apparently." and with a small grunt he rises from the floor to his full height, and his hand reaches out to you. Still confused you grab it, and he lifts you in a gentle movement. And then you notice it.

Your injury.

It doesn't bother you anymore.

Startled you pat your side and as you feel the bandage you lift the hem of your shirt and the cotton that's wrapped around your middle, revealing only healthy soft skin underneath the wound dressing.

Perplexed you gape at Sylus and he chuckles.

"You took a huge chunk of my power to heal yourself, kitten. Unfortunately, you left your injury to me." your chin is lifted to his face as he steps closer. "Is this your way to punish me for being rude to your comrades?"

"W-what?... No!" you stutter as he chuckles again, heaving you onto his shoulder, and like a sack of potatoes he brings you out of the room.

"I can still carry you, sweetie. Don't worry!" you can hear his teasing grin in his voice.

"Sylus!" you protest behind his back, your head swaying helplessly down at his rear with every step he takes. Out of the corner of your eyes, you see some red mist swirling around the blood at his side and after a second it's gone, like the bloody stain on his shirt. At least, he is still able to heal himself, you sigh with relief, but it does nothing to erase your confusion. That resonance wasn't what you expected, nor did it feel the same as with Rafayel. What is this all about? You really need some answers to all the strange things that happen to you, but it seems these have to wait because Sylus is carrying you somewhere. You can't see where he's going, his butt everything before your eyes.

His perfectly rounded butt...

And you're hit with a sudden brazen idea. Should you dare to...? Maybe it's making him stop and let you ask him some questions. And it would be a little revenge, since he boldly whisked away from the others, even if you told him so in the end. But maybe a little punishment is appropriate here?

A broad smile lightens up your face, and you need to restrain a giggle as you take measure and...

... Slap him bravely and with full force at his adorable plush rear side.

And Sylus's reaction is delicious.

A flinch that trembles his whole body, and he freezes on the spot.

"What a feisty kitten..." he groans and continues to walk through the mansion as if nothing happened. "Guess I'm allowed to do the same then."

"Don't you dare!" you scream in panic but too late.

One of his big hands is placed loudly on one of your butt cheeks. It stings only a bit, but the message is clear. And you squirm in your hold, but Sylus's hand on your rear keeps you securely in place. "Sylus!" you scream again, and he laughs all the way to the kitchen where he sits you down on the island in the middle.

"Now be a good girl and behave. The chef has made dinner and I want you to eat before we leave."

And just like that, you've been hand-fed the most delicious 4-course menu you ever had for the next hours. Sylus makes sure you eat every bit until you think you need to burst, sprinkled with little silly banter. "Food is fuel, Sweetie, and using such a strong evol as mine is exhausting to your body," he states between your feeding, and meticulously he shoves a spoon replaced by a fork at a time into your mouth, with utmost gentle care and apparent joy.

What is with these men and feeding you, you think tired. First Rafayel and now Sylus. Are you looking so weak that they feel the need to pep you up?

It's the last thought before your eyelids get heavier with every spoon of the tiramisu he feeds you as dessert, and along with the sweet cream, a deep exhaustion fills you.

"Sylus... can't... Anymore..." you murmur weakly fighting back the urge to fall asleep on the spot. With closed eyes, you only register to be cradled in warm and strong arms and the familiar voice, smooth like whiskey caresses your ear "Then sleep. I'll wake you up when we're there."