Devil's Prisoner of Love by Prefer

Chapter 867: Orion’s Fury

Until the moment he left, her lips still burned with the heat of his kiss. Aveline's pale cheeks flushed a deep crimson.

"Orion... Orion, you!"

"What did you just call me?" Orion's tone carried a hint of dissatisfaction. He preferred when she called him by his name, Orion. Of course, his absolute favorite-but perhaps too premature-term of endearment was when she called him "darling."

"That letter..." Aveline hesitated, knowing that he had misunderstood the situation. She wanted to explain, yet when the moment came, she didn't know where to begin.

Orion glanced down at the envelope in his hand. The cover read "To My Dearest Orion," written in handwriting that was entirely unfamiliar to him.

Aveline had grown up under his watchful eye. Her penmanship mirrored his own-neat and graceful. This sloppy scrawl was certainly not hers. His expression darkened.

"This letter wasn't written by you?"

"My deskmate asked me to pass it on to you," Aveline murmured, biting the lips he had just kissed.

"You're delivering love letters for your deskmate?" Orion's temper was notoriously short, but he had always reserved his gentler side for her.

For years, Aveline had been his sole exception. She was now twelve, and while she might not fully understand love, she should at least know about the marriage arrangement between their families. The jade pendant he had given her still hung around her neck, a silent reminder of that bond.

And now, she was helping someone else deliver a love letter to him? If that was the case, then what had all these years meant? Did she truly think he was just taking care of a younger sister?

Orion's fists clenched tightly, veins bulging against his skin. His face grew colder, darker, until Aveline no longer recognized him. She had never seen him like this.

Remembering Liora's hopeful gaze earlier, Aveline swallowed hard and nodded. "She... she also said to meet her after school in the woods."

Her words were like gasoline thrown onto a fire. Orion grabbed her shoulders with an iron grip, his icy gaze sharp enough to pierce through her.

"Do you even know what the woods are known for? Fine, very well. Go tell her-I'll be there."

With those words, he stormed off, not sparing her another glance.

Aveline stood frozen on the steps, her lips still tingling with the warmth he'd left behind.

and her mind replayed his final words over

else, she would graciously give her blessing. And if she found her own true love, she hoped he

same.

thought of him agreeing to meet Liora filled her chest with a sharp, unbearable ache. It felt as though a needle had pierced

"Aveline, are you okay?"

didn't seem to have feelings for Orion and was just helping someone else deliver a

as she walked away like a

had agreed. He really

the school

faked falling on the steps to get Orion's attention, calling her manipulative. Others said Orion

Her mind was stuck on one

over, her face brimming with nervous anticipation.

He'll meet you," Aveline replied, her

"What about the letter?"

"He kept it."

how she managed

give him letters and confess to him but failed? If it weren't for you, he definitely would've rejected me too. Can you come with me later? I want to confess to him in person." "No, I need to

can go home a little later! This is my first confession. If you're there, I'll feel so much braver. Please, Aveline, help

"No."

thought of that

If you don't help me, who will? Please, I'm begging

the letter. If she

brushed her lips. When he'd thought the letter was from her, he had been so happy. She had given him hope, only to snatch it away.

you daydreaming

of the lessons, Aveline remained distracted, lost in thought. When the school bell finally rang, Liora dragged

students to confess their feelings. Some even went there

head down as they walked, her gaze falling on a discarded wrapper. Suddenly, she understood why Orion

mere act of meeting in the woods carried certain

unusually lively that day, with a crowd gathering to

so nervous. Do you think he'll reject