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 and over. He

would graciously give her blessing. And if she found her own true

same.

of him agreeing to meet Liora filled her chest with a sharp,

"Aveline, are you okay?"

appeared beside her, having witnessed the entire scene earlier. He was relieved that Aveline didn't

her dazed expression said otherwise as she

had agreed. He really

school like

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

couldn't care less. Her mind was stuck on one thing- Orion's

rushed over, her face brimming with nervous anticipation. "How did

you," Aveline replied, her tone

"What about the letter?"

"He kept it."

didn't know how she

weren't for you, he definitely would've rejected me too. Can you come with me later? I want to

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

"No."

of that

you're my only friend. If you don't help me, who

when she had simply delivered the letter. If she accompanied Liora to the confession, who

he'd thought the letter was from her, he had been so happy. She had given him

are you daydreaming

lessons, Aveline remained distracted, lost in thought. When the

confess their feelings. Some even went there

down as they walked, her gaze falling on a discarded wrapper.

if Liora's intentions were innocent, the mere act of meeting in the woods carried

day, with

so nervous. Do you think he'll reject me?" Liora