Heavy warmth pressed against my back, a solid wall of muscle that definitely didn't belong to my lumpy, thin mattress. I gasped, my eyes flying open to stare at the peeling plaster wall of my tiny dormitory room. A thick, heavy arm was wrapped around my waist, pinning me firmly against a broad chest. Panic flared in my throat. I twisted around, my heart hammering against my ribs like a trapped bird. Leon's face was mere inches from mine, his breathing slow and even, but his eyes were already open, glowing with a faint, unmistakable gold undercurrent. "Good morning, my little tamer," Leon's mouth moved, but the voice that slithered out was deep, resonant, and dripping with the arrogant amusement of the ancient dragon. Aurelius was playing puppeteer again. "Get off me!" I hissed, shoving my palms against Leon's firm chest. My hands sank into the soft fabric of his shirt, but he didn't budge an inch. He felt like solid stone, an immovable mountain masquerading as my rival classmate. Aurelius had hijacked his body. Realization sent a cold jolt of adrenaline straight to my fingertips. Only yesterday, Leon had been a hostile, arrogant rival who treated me like dirt under his boot. Now, his face was softened by an expression of pure, unadulterated adoration, his dark eyes swirling with a molten gold that definitely didn't belong to a human. This was the terrifying reality of our contract. The dragon could possess anyone, turning my enemies into my lovers, forcing me to navigate a minefield of shifting faces and a single, obsessive soul. Footsteps echoed down the stone corridor outside my room. Morning guards were on their rounds, checking every door to ensure the zero-tier outcast hadn't tried to flee before his scheduled execution—or rather, his trial-by-combat. If they found Leon, the academy's golden boy, in my bed, they would execute me on the spot without waiting for the arena. "You need to leave. Now," I whispered, my voice trembling with a mixture of terror and frustration. I scrambled backward, trying to wriggle out from under his heavy limb. "If the guards see you here, we are both dead." Leon chuckled. It was a dark, vibrating sound that rumbled deep in his chest. He tightened his grip on my waist, pulling me back against him with effortless strength. "Let them look," he murmured, his fingers tracing a slow, burning path up my spine. "Do you truly think these fragile mortal guards could do anything to stop me from occupying what is mine?" "I am not yours!" I kicked out, my heel catching the heavy woolen blanket and tossing it aside. Cold morning air hit my bare legs, making me shiver, but the heat radiating from Leon's possessed body was overwhelming. Desperation lent me a sudden burst of strength. I planted my feet against the mattress and shoved with everything I had, aiming for his shoulders. Grunting with the effort, I managed to slide a few inches, but Leon simply shifted his weight. With a swift, fluid motion, he flipped us over. Suddenly, the world spun. I found myself flat on my back, the rough fabric of my mattress scratching against my shoulders. Leon hovered directly above me, his hands planted on either side of my head, trapping me within the cage of his arms. Gold light flared in his dark eyes, swirling like liquid fire. Sheer pressure of his presence made the air in the room feel thick and suffocating. "You struggle so beautifully, Isaac," Aurelius purred through Leon's lips. He leaned down, his breath warm against my cheek. "But you forget our contract. You belong to me, body and soul. And right now, my body demands yours." Shivers ran down my spine at his words. Raw, primal hunger in his gaze was terrifyingly clear. He wanted me, right here, right now, on this dusty, cramped bed, completely indifferent to the danger of the academy guards or the looming trial. "Are you insane?" I gasped, my hands coming up to press against his shoulders to keep him from lowering his chest onto mine. "The trial is today! I have to prepare. I can't just... sleep with you!" "Why not?" He tilted his head, a wicked, amused smile tugging at the corners of Leon's lips. "Your magic is weak, your body is fragile, and your enemies are circling like vultures. Crawling into my arms is the safest place for you. Yield to me, Isaac. Let me take you, and I will solve all your problems." "No," I said, my voice shaking but resolute. I couldn't let myself fall into his trap. My codependency was a dangerous cliff, and if I leaped off it now, I would never find my own footing in this world. Footsteps sounded closer now, just a few doors down. Clinking of iron keys rattled against the stone walls. My heart leaped into my throat. "They are coming," I whimpered, looking toward the heavy wooden door. "Aurelius, please. If you care about me at all, you'll get out of this room." "I care only for your safety," he replied smoothly, ignoring my panic entirely. He leaned lower, his chest pressing lightly against mine, forcing the air from my lungs. "Which is why I have decided how we will handle this pathetic little farce of a duel." "What do you mean?" I asked, staring up at him in confusion. "This boy, Leon," Aurelius explained, gesturing slightly to his host's body. "He is strong by human standards. But he is nothing to me. During the duel, I will simply control his body to throw the match. I will let you win, my little tamer. You will humiliate the academy's prodigy, and your life will be spared." "You don't understand," I argued, my voice shaking as I stared up into his golden gaze. "If you throw this fight, everyone will know something is wrong. Leon is the top student in our year. If he loses to a zero-tier outcast like me without putting up a fight, the Dean will suspect foul play. They'll investigate. They might discover my taming abilities, and then we're both finished." "Let them try to investigate," Aurelius scoffed through Leon's lips, his voice laced with absolute contempt for the mortal mages. "I would burn their little academy to ash before I let them lay a finger on you. You worry too much about these insects, Isaac. You are bound to a god. Act like it." Relief flared in my chest for a fraction of a second, but it was quickly swallowed by a bitter, rising wave of resentment. If I won because the dragon threw the match, I wouldn't be surviving on my own merit. I would be entirely dependent on his whim, a helpless pet kept alive by his charity. Anger, hot and sharp, replaced my fear. I glared up into those glowing gold eyes. My eyes welled with tears of sheer frustration. It was so hard to fight him. In my past life, I had spent years begging for someone to care this much about me, to protect me, to put me above everything else. I had been so desperately lonely, so incredibly desperate to be wanted. Now, this ancient, terrifying beast was offering me the absolute protection and devotion I had always craved. It would be so easy to just close my eyes, wrap my arms around Leon's neck, and let Aurelius take care of everything. But I knew it was a lie. If I surrendered my autonomy to him, I would never be anything more than his toy. I would be trading one cage for another. "No," I spat, my voice dripping with defiance. "I reject your offer. I will not have you play puppet master with my life. This isn't a game to me." "Oh?" Leon's eyebrows arched in mild surprise. He leaned closer, his nose brushing against mine. "You would risk death over your foolish pride?" "It isn't pride, it's survival," I retorted, clenching my fists. "If I rely on your little puppet theater now, I will never be free. I will win this duel using my own wits, my own strategy, and whatever magic I can muster. I don't need your charity." Silent tension stretched between us, thick enough to cut with a blade. Outside, keys jangled right outside my door. My knuckles turned white as I gripped the front of his shirt. "You think I'm weak. You think because I was unloved and abandoned in my past life, I'll just roll over and let you control me. But I won't. I will survive on my own terms, or I won't survive at all." Aurelius let out a low, dangerous hiss through Leon's teeth. Temperature in the room seemed to spike, the air growing hot and dry. He didn't like being defied. He was a calamity-class dragon, an ancient being accustomed to absolute obedience. "You speak of independence as if it is a shield," Leon murmured, his voice dropping to a dangerous, gravelly register. "It is an illusion, Isaac. In this world, the weak are crushed. If I do not protect you, the magic of Solaris will tear you apart." "Then let it try," I snapped back, trying to ignore the way my heart fluttered at his intense gaze. Proximity was dizzying. His scent—a mix of cedar, ozone, and something ancient and metallic like hot brass—filled my senses, making it hard to think straight. A heavy knock rattled the wooden door of my dormitory. "Isaac!" a gruff voice called out from the hallway. "Wake up. The Dean's guards are outside. Prepare yourself for the arena." I froze, my breath catching in my throat. I stared up at Leon, my eyes pleading with him to hide, to disappear, to do anything other than stay pinned on top of me. Leon didn't even look toward the door. His golden eyes remained locked on mine, burning with an intense, possessive fire. He slowly shifted his weight, pressing his lower body firmer against mine, reminding me of his earlier demand. "Answer them," he whispered, his lips brushing against my earlobe, sending a shiver straight down my spine. "Or shall I welcome them myself?" "I'm awake!" I shouted toward the door, my voice cracking slightly. "I'll be out in a few minutes!" "Make it quick," the guard grumbled from the other side. "You have ten minutes before we escort you to the colosseum." Sound from their retreating footsteps faded slightly, but I knew they were waiting just down the corridor. My chest heaved as I looked back at the dragon possessing my rival. "Please," I whispered, the anger draining out of me, replaced by a desperate plea. "You have to go." "And your answer to my offer?" Leon asked, his thumb tracing the line of my jaw, his touch surprisingly gentle yet laden with an unspoken threat. "Will you submit to my protection, Isaac? Will you let me hand you your victory?" "I already told you," I said, my jaw tightening as I forced myself to meet his gaze. "No. I am going to face Leon in that arena, and I am going to win on my own. I won't let you turn my life into a sham." Leon's eyes narrowed, the golden glow within them swirling like a tempest. A dark, wicked grin spread slowly across his handsome face. Cold sweat beaded on my forehead. My mind raced through every possible scenario for the upcoming duel. I was a zero-tier mage with barely enough mana to light a candle, while Leon was the academy's top combatant, a master of fire-core magic. Defeating him honestly was an impossible task, a suicide mission. Yet, the thought of letting Aurelius throw the match felt like a spiritual death. It would prove every detractor right—that I was nothing but a helpless, pathetic weakling who needed a monster to fight his battles. "You are incredibly stubborn," Leon murmured, his fingers sliding up to tangle in my messy, sleep-muddled hair. He exerted just enough pressure to tilt my head back, exposing my throat to his intense gaze. "A dangerous trait for someone so fragile." "It's not stubbornness," I breathed, my pulse hammering against his fingertips. "It's the only way I can live with myself. If I let you fight my battles, I might as well be a corpse." "A beautiful corpse," Aurelius corrected, his voice dripping with dark affection. "But I prefer you warm, breathing, and completely mine. You think you can outsmart this boy without my help? He has years of combat training. You have... what? A few stolen books and a broken core." "I have my brain," I insisted, trying to ignore the heat pooling in my abdomen from his closeness. "And I have the element of surprise. No one expects a zero-tier to do anything but beg for mercy. I can use that." "A gamble," Leon scoffed softly, his eyes searching mine for any sign of weakness. "A foolish, deadly gamble. If you lose, they will lock you away or worse. I cannot allow my mate to be humiliated by these lesser creatures." "Then trust me," I pleaded, my voice softening as I tried a different angle. "If you truly care about this contract, if you truly want me, then trust that I can survive. Let me try, Aurelius." "Trust is a human concept," Leon replied, his voice dropping to a low, rumbling hum that vibrated against my skin. "Dragons do not trust. We claim. We protect. We possess." "Well, you're dealing with a human now," I shot back, my frustration flaring again. "And if you want a partner instead of a captive, you have to let me breathe." "Breathe?" Leon's smile widened, a sharp, predatory look crossing his features. "You think you can survive on your own breath, little tamer?" Outside, the guards began to pace again. Heavy thud of their boots on the stone floor was a reminder that my time was running out. Every second Leon remained in my room was a second closer to my undoing. "Please," I whispered, my voice cracking under the immense pressure. "Just leave. Let me face this. If I fail, you can do whatever you want. But let me try first." Leon stared down at me for what felt like an eternity. Golden light in his eyes flared one last time, a brilliant, blinding flash of ancient power that seemed to sear itself into my very soul. "You ask for the impossible," Leon whispered, his breath hot against my lips. "A dragon does not watch from the sidelines while his prize is put on display for lesser beasts to mock. If I let you enter that arena alone, I risk losing the only thing in this miserable world that amuses me." "I am not an amusement!" I protested, my face flushing hot with a mix of anger and embarrassment. "I am a person. I have a name. It's Isaac. And I am telling you to back off." "Isaac," he repeated, testing the name on his tongue as if it were a rare delicacy. Way he said it made a shiver run down my spine, a strange sensation that felt both terrifying and intoxicating. Just go, I thought, looking away from his intense gaze. I couldn't bear to look at him anymore. Sheer magnetic pull of his presence was starting to wear down my resolve. Part of me—the weak, frightened part that had been hurt so many times before—wanted nothing more than to nod, to wrap my arms around his neck, and let him handle everything. It would be so easy to let him protect me. But I knew that path led to absolute surrender. "You are trembling," Leon noted, his hand moving down to cover my racing heart. "Because if I don't defy you, there won't be anything left of me," I whispered, my eyes burning with unshed tears. "Please, Aurelius. If you have any respect for our bond, let me have this." Silence fell over the room once more, heavy and suffocating. Air was thick with the scent of ozone and the faint, sweet smell of morning dew drifting through the high, barred window. Leon's expression softened slightly, though the possessive gleam in his eyes never truly faded. He let out a long, slow sigh, his chest rising and falling against mine. "Very well," Leon said, his voice quiet but carrying the weight of a promise. "I will grant you this one chance. But do not mistake my indulgence for weakness, Isaac. If you are about to fall, if I see even a drop of your blood spilled on that arena floor, I will tear this academy apart to claim you." "Deal," I breathed, relief washing over me so intensely that my muscles went limp beneath him. "Now, please, get out of here before the guards break the door down." Leon smiles wickedly, leans down to seal Isaac's lips in a breathtaking, demanding kiss, and whispers, 'Let us see how long your stubborn little heart lasts without my breath.'

Chapter 9: Stolen Breath, Stolen Will