Chapter 3: Living With Him?!

Aiden’s room was no longer his.

Correction: It was still his — but now, it was also Kairo’s.

He stood in the doorway, arms folded, glaring at the two enormous suitcases that sat on the foot of the bed like smug invaders. Kairo, in his black button-up and silent swagger, calmly unpacked like this was a five-star hotel.

“You’re seriously living here?” Aiden asked, voice cracking at the end.

Kairo didn’t look up. “The contract states we must be in close quarters to build compatibility.”

“Are we Pokémon breeding?”

Kairo paused, then raised an eyebrow. “Do you want to be on top or on the bottom bunk?”

Aiden grabbed the nearest pillow and screamed into it.

⸻

Earlier that morning, the bombshell had been dropped casually over breakfast.

“You’ll be sharing a residence for the semester,” Mrs. Beaumont said as she buttered her toast. “So you can get used to each other before the ceremony.”

“The WHAT?!” Aiden had screamed, orange juice flying from his cup.

Kairo, calmly sipping black coffee, just said, “I’ll move my things in today.”

The staff nodded. The spare room had already been converted. Aiden’s home was being taken over — slowly, legally, quietly — by the Ice Prince with the eight-pack and the annoyingly perfect jawline.

⸻

Now, back in his room, Aiden flopped onto the bed dramatically, arms stretched like a dying starfish.

“This is my space. My sanctuary. I don’t want your cologne contaminating my pillows.”

Kairo didn’t even blink. “It’s not cologne.”

Aiden paused. “…Wait. That’s your natural scent?!”

Kairo nodded.

“Okay ew but also why does it smell like expensive danger and vanilla???”

Kairo didn’t answer.

He just walked over, leaned down — too close — and whispered, “I’ve always smelled like this. You just forgot.”

Aiden’s soul exited his body for a brief second.

⸻

Later that night, the house was quiet. The staff had retired. The parents were out at some charity gala.

Aiden sat at the grand piano in the music room, fingers gliding over the keys. The melody started slow — soft, almost sad — but built into something sharp and dramatic. The rhythm matched the storm in his head.

He didn’t hear Kairo walk in.

But he felt him.

“You’re good,” Kairo said softly.

Aiden kept playing. “Of course I am.”

Kairo leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching.

“You always played when you were upset,” Kairo said. “Even as a kid.”

Aiden didn’t look at him. “You don’t get to act like you know me.”

“I do.”

“You left.”

“I had to.”

“You could’ve called. Written. Sent a telepathic message. Anything.”

Kairo was silent.

Aiden’s fingers paused on the keys.

“Why didn’t you?” he asked quietly.

Kairo walked over slowly. “Because if I heard your voice… I might’ve broken the deal. And I couldn’t afford that.”

Aiden looked up at him, surprised by the rawness in his voice.

“I trained every day to be worthy of you,” Kairo said. “To stand beside you as an equal. Not just a childhood crush.”

Aiden’s heart did a weird little flip. He hated it.

“I never asked for that,” he muttered.

Kairo’s voice was softer now. “You didn’t have to.”

⸻

That night, in their shared room, Aiden lay wide awake on the left side of the bed, glaring at the ceiling. Kairo lay quietly on the right, eyes closed, breathing calm.

The bed was big — a ridiculous king-size monstrosity. But it didn’t feel big enough.

“Stop breathing so loud,” Aiden hissed into the dark.

“I’m asleep,” Kairo replied flatly.

“You just answered me.”

“You’re cute when you’re panicking.”

“I’m not— I AM NOT PANICKING!”

“You’re flustered.”

“You’re a menace.”

“You’re adorable.”

“I’m gonna scream.”

“You already did.”

“GHHHHH—!!”