Helios massaged his temples with his fingers and felt the sharp pain in his head growing stronger. He had a headache so intense that he thought his head might explode at any moment. But that wasn't the biggest problem. Far worse was the fact that he was in a state that could only be described as complete exhaustion.
How many damn days had he been awake now? Four. Four days, during which he had stayed awake thanks to his tonic, dedicating his time to developing the medication for Violet.
Yes, he had reduced the dose of his daily intake. Yes, he had firmly decided not to take so much of that damn stuff anymore. And yet, here he was. Still awake, far from finishing the project. And of all nights, tonight was when that wretched evening gathering was supposed to take place.
He exhaled deeply, the frustration inside him almost unbearable. Hopefully, Thomas had arranged for another partner. Otherwise, it could very easily turn into a scene of a brutal murder. Just the thought of that intrusive, arrogant hen from the Eckhardt family made his blood boil. This woman was the epitome of stupidity, and he knew he could no longer tolerate her. Her loud, annoying laugh was already echoing in his ears.
He closed his eyes briefly and reminded himself to stay calm. He didn't want to destroy anything valuable—basically, everything in his lab.
Currently, he was testing some substances on muscle cells that the Crescent family's doctor had recently obtained for him. Helios could have taken the samples himself, of course. But he wasn't a fan of poking around in someone else's body just to collect samples. But that didn't mean he wasn't capable of doing it if necessary.
Surprisingly, he had gained some useful insights over the past two days. He had already narrowed down the selection of substances to just a few. Now, he had to test the remaining substances he knew until he knew exactly what would bind to the inactive muscle cells. After that, he still needed to figure out the right dosage for the medication.
A sharp pain shot through his head again. He pressed his fingers against the spot between his eyebrows and gently massaged it while closing his eyes. The pain was almost unbearable. He had to admit that he really wasn't feeling well.
Helios stood up, and for a moment, the world around him spun. Dizziness took hold of him, and he clung to the table as he tried to clear his head. Slowly, step by step, he made his way to his suitcase and prepared a new dose of his caffeine mixture. It was the only way to stay awake for another 24 hours. His fingers trembled slightly as he mixed the concoction. The need to stay awake outweighed everything else.
He glanced at the clock—it was 4 p.m. In an hour, he would drive home. A quick shower, a fresh suit, and then he would have Thomas style him.
The evening gathering started at 7 p.m.
He wouldn't be able to check on Davis before then—that would have to wait until the morning. But he knew there was no rush. The wounds were looking really good. There had been no sign of infection so far, and the stitches were clean. Helios was confident it wouldn't be long before Davis could manage without stronger painkillers. It reassured him that his guardian was following his instructions and actually making an effort to rest properly.
Helios sighed. Luckily, Davis wasn't as pale as he had been just a few days ago.
Alright, so he had to get through his to-do list within the next 24 hours. His body probably wouldn't hold up much longer without sleep. He would have to work through the entire night to at least jot down possible compositions for the medication. Or maybe he could develop an interim solution to help them through the week, during which he would likely catch up on most of the sleep he so desperately needed.
Sleep...
The thought of it was almost agonizing. He probably hadn't ever wished so badly in his life to finally be able to sleep. He looked at the vial in his hand and gulped down the bitter concoction in one go. Then, he waited for a moment while the effects kicked in and his mind cleared.
He also mixed something to combat the headache. He couldn't afford to let fatigue mess with his behavior when he would be surrounded by the richest people in the country that evening. Not after all the energy he had invested in the facade of the wealthy heir.
He felt the dizziness and the foggy tiredness slowly lift from him. The headache had almost disappeared, but the pressing pain behind his eyelids remained, a faint but constant reminder of his chronic sleep deprivation.
His body longed for rest. Maybe he should really stop at the last vial and allow his body the much-needed recovery.
Helios sighed and sat down at his microscope. The test run of the remaining substances took the next half hour. He made notes and quickly jotted down the insights he had gained. His assistant, Theo, would need them later. He packed the samples, the remaining substances, and his notes into his suitcase. He definitely wouldn't return to the lab that night.
He closed the lab door behind him and locked it. When he turned around, he was face to face with Dante, who, as usual, was waiting for him. It was hard to believe this man had been more or less his shadow for the past week.
"Is everything okay?" Dante asked as he studied him with his reddish-brown eyes.
Helios waved it off and turned in his direction. "Everything's fine. I just don't feel like going to that damn evening gathering," he murmured, frustration barely hidden in his voice. "Such a waste of time."
Dante responded in an unexpected way. Instead of the usual brief and businesslike reply, he gave Helios a surprising, almost encouraging smile.
His new guardian was a man of few words, but in recent days, he had really made an effort to keep Helios in good spirits and had even shown interest in the things happening in the lab. The fact that Dante was genuinely interested in his work surprised him—but Dante was not Davis. No matter how hard he tried.
Helios sighed deeply. He missed Davis. It wasn't just the physical closeness, but also the calm presence of that man that he valued so much. He missed his easygoing manner that filled the room when no danger was nearby. And he loved how alert Davis became whenever the tension rose, how he handled every situation and always knew what to do. The bond between them was more than Helios had ever thought possible.
Who would have thought he would ever be capable of loving someone as much as he loved Davis? And that, despite being married to his job, essentially.
How he wished he could rest in Davis' arms right now. He wanted that damn muscle-bound man to hold him tightly with his strong arms and give him the warmth and safety of a good nap without having to think about any obligations. But the thought quickly vanished as reality snapped him out of his daydream.
Damn.
The sleep deprivation was wearing him down. He could still remember the last time, when after taking the tonic, he locked himself in his lab for three days. Eventually, he had collapsed from exhaustion when the effects of the tonic wore off. This time, though, he had taken a much weaker dose. He just kept taking it over and over. He couldn't stop. Violet's illness had progressed faster than expected, and he didn't have time to just take a break.
Helios was fully aware of the dangerous spiral he was in. The side effects of sleep deprivation were worse than anything he had anticipated. The last time, he had been so focused that he hadn't noticed any of it. But now it was different; he was acutely aware of his physical limits.
He had to push through.
Maybe something exciting will happen tonight, he thought, as he mentally prepared himself for the upcoming event.
And all of it, just because his father had once again used him to close a damn deal. As if Helios wasn't already doing enough to ensure the family made more than enough money. But he also knew these arrangements gave him freedoms he probably wouldn't have anywhere else.
He had no responsibilities. No one expected him to run the family business or take care of the staff. He didn't have to make anyone happy, form partnerships, seal deals, or do whatever it was his father did all day long.
At least, he didn't have to do it yet.
The only thing he needed to focus on right now was mixing medicine.
Actually, he was just so irritated because he absolutely didn't want to go to that evening gathering and, at the same time, was incredibly tired. Normally, he just did what his father asked of him so that he could finally have some peace afterward.
The only thing he would probably always resist with all his might was the idea of one day taking over the company. His father, who relentlessly tried to prepare him for that day, had no idea how much Helios despised it.
Helios knew that his father cared deeply about passing the business on to him, about giving him the responsibility, but for Helios, that was the absolute last place he saw himself. Him, leading a damn corporation? No, thank you. He didn't want to handle business or make decisions about so much staff. What he wanted was much simpler: he wanted to research, conduct experiments, and mix medicine for the rest of his life—the only work that truly fulfilled him.
Maybe his father would understand that someday. Maybe, when he had enough time to think about it and realize that Helios simply wasn't the type to manage a company. But a quiet voice inside him whispered that this wish would probably never come true. He had been in the role of the heir and potential successor for far too long for anything to change now.
But all of that didn't matter now. What was the point of dwelling on all those thoughts when, in the coming hours, there was no escape? He forced himself to sort his thoughts and focus on what was important. Now, it was all about getting through this mandatory event so he could finally return to his lab afterward. The thoughts of the evening gathering, of all the people he would meet there, faded into the background. He just had to get through it, that was all. A few hours where he played the role of the dutiful heir, and then he could finally get back to the work that truly interested him.
What were a few hours of duty, really?
___
As soon as they arrived at the estate, Thomas immediately took charge of Helios. He called after Dante to make sure he showered and changed, as he would be coming along. Helios couldn't help but snort quietly as he made his way to his room.
No sooner had he entered the room than Thomas urged him to undress and get into the bath. The tub was already filled, the water steaming invitingly, and fresh clothes for the evening gathering were laid out. Helios glared at the hot water. As much as he would have liked to take the time to relax, he knew he would likely fall asleep in the warm water and possibly drown.
So, he opted for a shower, ignoring the tempting tub that seemed to call to his name. The sound of the water interrupted his thoughts as he washed. It was a brief moment of calm before the role of the perfect heir awaited him once again. When he stepped out of the shower, Thomas helped him get dressed and styled his hair. Unlike usual, his hair wasn't messy and unruly but carefully shaped. Helios looked at himself in the mirror and sighed softly. It was always an unfamiliar sight.
Each time, he had to completely change himself, play the rich heir that people expected. They didn't want to see Helios; they wanted to experience the prestige that came with his position. They wanted a Helios who radiated security, who gave the impression that the empire his father had built with his help would endure for a long time.
The investors wanted to see the genius thrive. They wanted to marry their daughters to him to get a piece of the pie. Those who were already fat with money wanted to get even fatter. But there were also those who would rather see his father's company fail. Whether out of boredom or hope of profiting from it, it didn't matter.
When Helios thought about it carefully, he couldn't help but realize that tonight could be a really good opportunity for someone to snuff the lights out on him.
But that's exactly why he had his guardians.
"Are you staying here tonight, Thomas?" Helios asked as he finally put his glasses back on.
"My presence isn't necessary at the evening gathering," Thomas answered with a slight smile. "I think I can afford to spend the evening in peace."
"So, you're finally free again, after all this time?"
"You could say that," said Thomas, the old man looking almost a little embarrassed. "I'll probably finish the book you recommended to me recently. It's more interesting than I expected."
"It's really thrilling. Just the right thing to clear your head," Helios agreed with a grin. He had recently lent Thomas a crime novel in which the murderer used a truly... creative method to kill his victims. It was a refreshing alternative to the usual scientific or philosophical works that filled Helios' bookshelf. Even he occasionally needed a book that allowed him to switch off without constantly dealing with complex topics—especially when he was sick himself.
"I never thought it would be so hard to put a book down," Thomas agreed with a smile. "By the way, your father wants you to ride in the same car."
Helios sighed and rolled his eyes. He squinted, and a sharp pain exploded behind one of his eyes. "To give me the details of this deal, or what?"
"Exactly that," Thomas said. He gave him a concerned glance. "Are you still taking that damn stuff?"
Helios waved it off. "Today, I took the last dose."
"You really shouldn't be taking any more of it," Thomas insisted firmly. "How many days have you been awake now?"
"A few," Helios dodged, trying to avoid answering the question.
Thomas's face moved directly into his line of sight. He studied him with a scrutinizing look. "Luckily, your dark circles aren't visible anymore."
"Because you covered them up well," Helios said, his tone briefly turning sarcastic. "Even though I really hate this stuff. How can women put that on their face permanently? My skin feels like it can't even breathe."
Thomas clicked his tongue disapprovingly. "If you slept more, you wouldn't look like a walking corpse. I had no choice. People would spread the wildest stories about you if they saw you like this."
"Pah. Let them," Helios snorted, crossing his arms over his chest. "If they need my help, they'll come crawling back anyway."
"By the way, Thomas," Helios said, gesturing lightly toward the table next to the chair by the window. "The formula for the tonic I gave Violet, along with all the research materials I've compiled so far, is over there. At the top is the recipe for the potential cure. Please pass it on to Theo. He should start the animal tests. I want to see the results in a week."
Thomas nodded in agreement. "As you wish. I'll take care of it."
Helios watched him for a moment. Thomas's support was invaluable, and moments like this made him grateful that he had someone he could trust.
"Thomas," Helios said in a more serious tone, which immediately made the room feel heavier. Thomas looked up and immediately gave him a concerned look. "We both know how this is going to end. I'm trying to hold on a little longer, but if I fall asleep like Sleeping Beauty again, give this to the Crescent family's doctor. He should examine Violet just like I've described here. Every four days. Her current dose lasts until the day after tomorrow, but she'll need more. Theo should prepare more and bring it to them," Helios explained, handing him two papers. "You're the only one I can trust with all of this."
"You sound like you'll be out for a long time," Thomas said, the concern in his voice unmistakable.
"It's just a guess," Helios replied with a sigh. "But I think my body can't hold out much longer. I need sleep."
Thomas sighed, took the papers, and folded them carefully. "I'll take care of everything."
Helios exhaled in relief. If he thought of everything now, at least he would be sure all eventualities were covered. "Also, in my suitcase, there are all the materials and recipes for absolute emergencies. Everything about injuries, painkillers, anti-nausea drugs, wound disinfection, and poisons," Helios explained, directing his eyes to the suitcase that innocently stood in the corner. He looked at Thomas intently. "The gardener really should try harder to work with gloves in my herb garden. The last poisoning almost cost him his fingers. Even though it's just an antidote that temporarily stops poisoning—after all, every poison has a specific antidote."
"You're always prepared for everything," Thomas said with a smile, though it seemed more tired than usual.
"I'm the only one who takes care of things like this around here," Helios said with a crooked smile, which almost sounded like self-irony. "I don't want to wake up and find a pile of work I then have to do."
He sat down on the edge of the bed and let his thoughts rest for a moment. "The main thing is that Theo does the animal testing, and I get an update on Violet's condition."
"Count on us, young sir," Thomas said with a slight bow. "I'll take care of it immediately."
"Thank you," Helios said sincerely and stood up. "Don't say a word to anyone about the tonic I took."
Thomas looked at him for a moment, as if he wanted to say something, but his words remained unsaid. Finally, he asked, "And how should I explain why you're sleeping so much?"
Helios thought for a moment. "Come up with something. Just say I need an exhaustion break or something. It's nobody's business."
Thomas seemed like he wanted to say something else, but then he just gave a slight bow. "As you wish."
"When do we leave?"
Thomas looked at his watch and nodded. "In 15 minutes. Dante should be here any moment."
"Good. I'll be down in a minute."
As Thomas closed the door behind him, Helios fell back onto the bed. He stared at his suitcase, which sat on the table next to the window. He wouldn't be able to take it with him to the party, that was clear. There were strict guidelines about what could and couldn't be brought. Weapons, substances, or other dangerous chemicals were strictly forbidden.
He snorted. The substances he kept in that suitcase could do quite a lot – including poisons, though not nearly as potent as the substances stored in his secret lab. But no one knew about the secret lab, and that was for the best. No one could ever find out.
He would have to leave his faithful companion behind – or at least leave it in the car. No, that wasn't an option. What if someone got their greedy hands on the suitcase? Just the thought made him shudder. The suitcase was far too important for him to simply leave it anywhere.
Determined, he approached the suitcase and quickly selected medications that he might potentially need. Sedatives, painkillers, other helpful substances – the formulas for them were all in his head. He labeled the small bottles with precise handwriting and placed them into a small bag that he could hide under the passenger seat of the car. Preparation was everything, after all. Nothing could be left to chance.
He also packed the hemostatic agent and some bandaging materials into the bag, carefully zipping it shut. Just as he closed the bag for the final time, there was a knock at the door.
"Come in," Helios said, carefully locking the suitcase.
Davis entered, freshly showered, dressed in a dark suit. He looked as if he were about to go out. The moment Helios saw him, it dawned on him why Davis looked the way he did.
"You're not coming," Helios said firmly, his voice resolute and without room for discussion. "Your injuries are still too fresh."
"I'm feeling much better, and it's only a few more hours," Davis countered, his voice carrying an assertive tone. "I don't have to stand the entire time and can rest soon enough."
Helios shook his head, a faint expression of concern and frustration in his eyes. "That's definitely not what I meant when I ordered you to stay in bed," he said, leaving no room for further argument.
Davis slowly approached him. Helios noticed the slight limp that still came from the deep wound on his thigh.
"You know very well that an evening like this can get really dangerous," Davis said, concern in his voice as he stopped in front of Helios. Helios had to tilt his head slightly back to look him in the eyes. Davis gently stroked his cheek, and in that moment, Helios felt the exhaustion that had been tormenting him lift, if only for an instant, from the touch.
"You look tired," Davis murmured softly.
"I've had a lot to do," Helios replied, his voice quieter as he nestled into his lover's hand. "Don't smudge too much, or Thomas will kill you."
Davis smirked, the mischievous glint in his eyes unmistakable. "The old man is probably the only one I'm actually afraid of." He chuckled softly, but Helios felt the intensity of his gaze.
Helios watched him for a moment, trying to make a rational decision. He looked better. Healthier. The journey from his quarters to this room didn't seem to have exhausted him as much as before. But Helios knew it wasn't enough to take him to the event.
"You're still not coming," Helios said firmly, as he removed Davis's hand from his face.
"I'm sorry, but I'm going to override that," Davis said, stepping a little closer. "I can't just let you go alone and sit here twiddling my thumbs until you get back."
"Dante is here. What if something happens to you because you're still not fully recovered? Your injuries are only four days old," Helios replied, casting him a concerned glance.
"I'm still a guardian. A warrior," Davis said, the pride in his voice barely disguised.
"You're my warrior," Helios whispered, his voice trembling slightly as he spoke the words. "And that's exactly why I have to make sure you don't get into danger."
Davis looked at him with an amused smile. "That's my job, Helios," he said, as if it were obvious.
"Davis, seriously. You're not coming. What if we stay longer than expected and you collapse? My father will be extremely angry. He wants to close some important deal today, and he expects everything to go perfectly," Helios said, his voice firm, leaving no room for argument.
"I want to be by your side, Helios," Davis said, and for a moment, his expression darkened. The vulnerability in his voice was hard to ignore.
Helios sighed again, this time more quietly, as if he were only just fully admitting the decision to himself. "And I would love to take you with me, really. But I can't. Your health is more important."
"I miss you, Helios," Davis said softly, his voice a little shaky as he took a step closer.
Helios placed his hand reassuringly on his cheek and gently stroked it. "The project will be finished soon, and you'll be feeling better," he said, with a hint of hope in his voice. "Besides, you're far from ready to resume your duties, let alone do other physical things," he added with a slight smile, trying to lighten the situation a bit.
Helios kissed Davis gently on the lips, as if to show him how much he still desired him despite everything.
Davis responded immediately, wrapping his muscular arms around Helios and pulling him a little closer. Helios sighed into the kiss, the warmth and closeness of Davis being a welcome distraction from the constant exhaustion and the headaches that plagued him. For a moment, the worries and the weight of the day disappeared. Only Davis and the kiss mattered.
Davis' tongue found its way into Helios' mouth, and soon their tongues were dancing together in a hot, passionate rhythm. The kiss was hungry, intense – Helios felt himself almost completely lost in it. It was almost as if he could forget himself, just through the touch, through the kiss. But he knew what awaited him if he simply gave in, if he let himself be overwhelmed entirely by the passion.
The kiss grew more intense, and without really noticing, Helios was pushed a few steps back. He was pressed against the wall, trapped between the hard surface and Davis' muscular body. Davis' hands slowly traced the contours of Helios' hips, sending a shiver down his spine. Helios' breath quickened, and he felt the familiar tingling sensation that always came when Davis touched him. It was a feeling of arousal that spread instantly throughout his entire body.
How easy it would be to just give in, to completely surrender to him.
He wanted to feel Davis on his whole body, wanted his hands to explore more, wanted to give up control, to completely let himself go to him. Thoughts raced through his mind, and he remembered the last time they had kissed so passionately. Even though it had been a while.
Helios moaned softly and closed his eyes as the urge to surrender completely became overpowering.
He wanted nothing more than for Davis to take him right here and now... damn..!
"Wait, Davis," Helios whispered breathlessly, his voice hoarse and weak, as he pushed himself slightly away from him. His cheeks burned. "I have to be downstairs in a minute."
Davis sighed and reluctantly let go of him. A final, brief kiss landed on Helios' lips before he pulled away.
Helios truly felt bad about leaving Davis like this. He would much rather spend the evening with him – peacefully, without obligations, without the upcoming gathering. But he knew he couldn't simply shirk that responsibility.
Davis' gaze traveled down his body, and he grinned knowingly at him.
"You have obligations," Davis said softly.
Helios nodded and straightened his clothes, carefully running his hand through his hair, hoping everything was still in place.
"You look damn good," Davis said with a nearly longing look as he studied Helios. Then a look of regret crossed his face. "Are you really going to be okay?"
"Dante is here, and we have enough security to break up the party if we need to. Don't worry," Helios said, trying to sound reassuring. Even though he was still struggling to suppress his arousal. With moderate success.
Davis continued to look at him, a concerned expression in his eyes. "I'll wait for you, okay?" he said softly, his voice tender, almost vulnerable.
Helios nodded, the features of his face softening. "Do that. I'll try not to stay too long. I'll come to you later," he said, smiling. "Of course, to check on your bandages."
Davis smiled at him in satisfaction.
At that moment, there was a knock at the door – probably Dante, waiting for him. Helios went to his bookshelf, pulled out a book, and handed it to Davis with one last smile. "Here, something to pass the time."
Davis took the book and nodded, but before he could say anything, he pulled Helios back to him and kissed him one last time on the lips. It was a short, passionate kiss, a silent promise.
"Don't get too bored at the party, and take care of yourself," Davis said, his voice quiet and intense. "Promise me."
"Promise," Helios whispered back. "Wait until we're gone before you head to your quarters."
Davis nodded, a small smile on his lips. Helios then turned to leave the room, closing the door behind him to focus on what lay ahead. As he stepped into the hallway, Dante was already there, ready to escort him. He was also dressed in a suit and looked good, as always. The perfectly tailored clothes fit well with his muscular figure.
"Ready?" he asked.
No.
"Of course. Let's go," Helios said instead and walked off.