The first time Edmund met Lucien, he was ten.
The golden-haired boy was strolling through the garden with his mother, though the way he dragged his feet under the summer sun showed just how bored he was.
Surrounded by a riot of colors, his beauty stood out among the blooms. Even the pure white jasmine, proud and flawless, paled beside him.
When he turned his head toward the sun, the light caught his eyes: deep violet, luminous like the amethyst gemstone Edmund's father once showed him.
"Look at that amethyst, Edmund. Don't you find it beautiful?"
Randolph had pointed to a signet ring bearing an opal amethyst, the De Luca family crest etched in silver inside.
In ordinary light, it was faint, but when turned, a coiled serpent appeared within, elegant and majestic, just like every member of the family his father admired.
"Yes, Father. It's beautiful."
He'd said it politely, not because he cared much for jewels. Gems never interested him. But the moment he saw the boy two years younger, Edmund understood what beauty meant.
Lucien was a living jewel: radiant, rare, and unforgettable. Not even the amethyst's shine could rival the light in those eyes.
"Lucien…"
Years later, the leopard whispered the name softly as he arrived at the villa where the alliance had decided to keep him. Edmund found the decision idiotic; no one could cage the Serpent unless the Serpent wished it.
Even Edmund didn't fully understand why his jewel allowed this. But if it was what Lucien wanted, he wouldn't interfere. He only wished to stay close, to ensure he was safe.
And then the devil ruined everything. His jewel had been touched, marked, tainted crimson by rough hands that were not his.
The thought still burned like acid in his chest. His teeth clenched.
'He must have forced him. That bastard. I'll crush him and every last one of his men.'
No one had the right to touch what was his without permission.
Watching Lucien moan beneath another man, surrendering to instinct stronger than reason, had been enough to make Edmund want to raze everything to the ground.
On their way to his new room, Lucien stirred. His brows furrowed before his eyes fluttered open, confusion and annoyance flickering within.
"Where am I? What are you doing, Edmund?!"
Edmund only smiled, wondering if this surprise was real or part of Lucien's games. Honestly, he could never read him completely.
"To your new place," Edmund replied. "Where you'll stay for the rest of your life."
Lucien laughed lightly, the sound ringing sweetly in Edmund's ears. But then his expression shifted, sharp as a blade.
"I expected more from you," he said, bitterness curling at the edges of his voice.
"You always find new ways to betray me."
His jewel's words cut deeper than any wound, hurting Edmund more than the sight of his body tainted by Diablo. Rage simmered in his chest, spilling over as he kicked the bathroom door open.
He set the omega down and turned his body so that he faced the cold tiled wall. The coat slid down his shoulders, collapsing onto the floor with a wet slap.
His knees trembled; from between his thighs, thick white liquid trickled down, leaving a shameful trail on his smooth skin.
Edmund's jaw tightened, his brows furrowing as anger boiled up again at the sight.
"What the hell are you doing?!" Lucien snapped, voice laced with raw emotion. "Do you want to fuck me right after that devil?"
The omega threw his head back and laughed. "Even in sex, you always end up as number two, huh?"
The sentence hit Edmund like a blade, not only stabbing his heart but slicing straight through his pride.
His composure shattered. In one fluid, furious motion, he pushed his fingers into Lucien's slick hole, making the omega gasp sharply.
"Yo-you! Ahhh!"
"Number two?" Edmund's voice dropped to a low growl.
"I'll fuck you until you can only think of me. I'll carve my name into your body. I'll be number one in your life, Lucien. And I won't do it kindly."
His fingers plunged deeper, stretching him wide, pushing against the hot inner walls as if claiming every inch.
He spread him open with ruthless precision, ensuring every trace of another man was forced out. Lucien whimpered, biting hard on his lower lip, trying to swallow back the sweet sounds rising in his throat.
The scent of jasmine—the omega's natural pheromone—rose faintly in the steamless air, wrapping around Edmund's senses, intoxicating him further.
"Shit, yo-you asshole! Hnn…"
Lucien's body trembled violently, almost collapsing, but Edmund held him firm, his strong hands anchoring the smaller frame against the wall.
He leaned in close until their bodies were flush, his warm breath fanning against Lucien's ear as he whispered darkly,
"I know you love it. I heard you moaning and cumming beneath your enemy. You didn't hold back then, did you? You'd do it with anyone as long as your body craves it."
His tone dripped with cruel mockery. "You slut."
The word hit Lucien like a spark to oil. His inner walls clamped down tightly around Edmund's fingers, and a desperate moan slipped out before he could bite it back.
"Hnn~ ahhh…"
'He loves it,' Edmund realized, a wicked grin curving his lips.
He reached for the shower knob and twisted it. A sudden spray of cold water burst down from above, shocking Lucien's body into a jolt. Droplets rolled down their skin, mingling with the remnants of sin between his thighs.
"I'll clean you inside and out," Edmund murmured, his voice low and rough, like a predator circling its prey.
"And then I'll make you my bitch. You love it, don't you? You even twitch when I call you a slut."
And indeed, something deep inside Lucien stirred at those cruel words. He hadn't expected Edmund, the refined leopard gentleman, to be even harsher than the devil.
His words were like blades, and his touch was fire. That sharp duality—his usual composed elegance now twisted with primal dominance—made Lucien's whole body burn.
He wanted to be treated roughly in bed by him.
'Should I piss him off even more? Or should I moan his name to rile him up further?'
Both choices were deliciously tempting.
A wicked smile spread on Lucien's lips as he turned his head just enough to meet Edmund's furious gaze.
"Let's see if you can even match Diablo's skill."
For a heartbeat, everything froze. Edmund's expression darkened: veins bulged at his temples, his jaw clenched hard enough to creak.
His entire body went still, like a beast holding itself back from snapping. Lucien had never seen that expression on him before.
'Did I push him too far? ...Damn, he's so hot right now.'