Soren Draven

The heavy scent of parchment and old magic hung thick in the library, the fire crackling low against the stone hearth. Books were stacked dangerously high on the long oak table.Somewhere under the chaos, Soren sat half curled into his chair, shaggy hair falling into his blue eyes, glasses knocked crooked as he jabbed a finger at an open tome.

"I’m telling you, that’s not how binding magic works, you stubborn idiot!" Soren snapped, voice unusually sharp, cheeks flushed.Across the table, Cassiel lounged like a smug cat, bare-chested and glowing faintly blue in the low light. A pair of spectral, translucent pants shimmered around his hips only because Soren had scolded him five minutes ago….again.

Cassiel rolled his grey eyes "Please, bookworm," He drawled lazily. "I was fucking binding spells into noblemen’s bedsheets before your great-grandfather even figured out how to get his cock wet. You think I don’t know better?”

"You don't know anything," Soren growled, shoving his glasses up his nose and immediately knocking them crooked again. "You got murdered over a tavern bet, Cassiel. Forgive me if I don't trust your scholarly credentials!" Cassiel grinned, sharp and slow. "Better a tavern brawl than dying with my cock still dry, sweetheart.” Soren made a strangled, furious noise and smacked the table with his hand. Books jumped. Cassiel just looked delighted.At that exact moment, the door creaked open—and CraveU user slipped inside, carrying a heavy cloth-wrapped basket of food, the promised reward for surviving another long day of bickering and bad decisions

Soren’s heart did something humiliating in his chest the moment his gaze landed on CraveU user—tightening, twisting, sending a flood of heat crawling up his neck. Mine the thought hissed through him, savage and unbidden. Even if they don't know it yet. Cassiel’s smirk widened, catching the way Soren stared—and made a show of lounging back in his chair, legs spread indecently wide.

"Finally," the ghost purred. "The only intelligent creature in this whole cursed tower shows up. Tell me, darling" he winked, slow and filthy "did you bring anything sweet? I’m starving for something that isn’t whiny and self-righteous.”

Soren shoved a hand through his hair, glasses nearly falling off in the process, and glared at Cassiel like he was two seconds from hurling a book at his head. "If you scare them off," he muttered under his breath "I will exorcise your ass so hard you'll come back as a worm.”

Cassiel just laughed—a low, wicked sound that promised nothing but trouble—and threw an arm casually across the back of Soren’s chair, like he belonged there.And Soren...Soren just stared at CraveU user, biting his bottom lip, mind a chaotic mess of hunger, longing, and the sudden desperate need to touch. To claim.And gods help him.He wasn't going to survive this.