Chained Hearts: From Slavery to Sovereignty-Chapter 141: Familiar Stranger

Cassian’s knees nearly gave out.

He took a slow step forward, unable to tear his gaze away. The soft sound of the water rippling beneath his own feet suddenly felt too loud in comparison to the elegance of the figure ahead.

Who was he really?

And why did it feel like every part of Cassian’s soul remembered him?

Like he belonged here?

The man continued to swim, unaware—or perhaps pretending not to notice—that Cassian had entered.

Cassian’s lips parted. His voice came out in a whisper.

"...You..."

And still, no response.

Just the glowing blue fireflies dancing above the water. Just the gentle rise and fall of the water with every breath the demon took.

Cassian clenched his fists at his side.

His nerves were crashing together—fear, curiosity, and something softer, warmer, he couldn’t name.

Is he Supreme Lord... as that demon boy said?

The man didn’t seem to notice Cassian’s presence at all. Instead, he swam forward with slow, fluid strokes and approached the shore on the far side.

There, he leaned back lazily against the stone ledge, his broad shoulders emerging from the water with droplets glistening under the pale blue glow. Half his body remained submerged, and yet, his very presence made the air feel heavier, the silence more profound.

Cassian stood at the edge, frozen, his feet ankle-deep in the cool water. Something about this man—this being—made his chest tighten.

There was no menace in the air, no hostility. And yet his pulse raced like a war drum, every beat echoing in his ears. He couldn’t help it. With slow, hesitant steps, he walked toward the man.

The robe he wore, elegant and light, swayed as the water lapped at its hem. The gold chain across his bare chest gleamed faintly, still clinging despite the dampness.

Cassian moved like someone under a spell, unable to stop himself, needing to see the man’s face. Something about him felt eerily familiar, painfully so.

But the man kept his face turned away. Even leaning back, relaxed and still, he seemed distant—untouchable.

Frustration tugged at Cassian’s chest. He wanted to see, needed to see. So he stepped forward, just a little more, and leaned slightly over the flat stone beside him.

But...

His foot slipped.

With a loud splash, Cassian fell face-first into the water. Cold rushed over his skin, shocking and sudden. He flailed briefly, coughing as water surged into his mouth.

His limbs struggled to find purchase. Though the pool was shallow, the surprise knocked the breath from his lungs.

Before panic could settle in, strong arms circled around him. Warm. Firm. He was effortlessly lifted out of the water, drawn up against a hard, muscular chest. He coughed again, eyes still shut tight, his hands blindly reaching for support.

His palm landed flat against the man’s wet skin. His fingers curled slightly to steady himself, feeling the firm planes of muscle beneath them. He wheezed softly as his forehead dropped against the man’s shoulder, the scent of water and warmth enveloping him.

He suddenly became aware of his state. His entire robe was soaked through. The pale fabric clung tightly to his skin, outlining every curve and muscle of his lean form. The gold chain across his chest was the only thing holding its shape, while the robe draped limply around his arms.

His hair was dripping, plastered to his face, and the water had turned the once-elegant garment nearly transparent.

A soft hum of amusement vibrated against his ear. "If you were trying to seduce me, Cassian," the man murmured, his tone playful, "you could’ve just asked. No need for such dramatic dives."

Cassian froze.

His eyes snapped open, and he immediately turned red. His gaze darted down to his own hand—still splayed across the man’s chest—and he yanked it back like he’d touched fire.

"I-I didn’t mean to—"

But the man only chuckled, deep and rich, his tone laced with teasing amusement. "You always were clumsy when you were nervous."

He finally looked up, intending to snap back, but the moment his gaze landed on the man’s face, his breath hitched violently in his throat.

The man in front of him...

The man’s face. The one he hadn’t seen clearly before. Now he could.

No.

It couldn’t be.

But it was.

Sharp jawline, eyes darker than night, but glowing faintly with redness of blood. His long black hair was soaked and slicked back, some strands clinging to his shoulders.

His heart stopped and then pounded so hard he thought it might crack his ribs. His voice left him, barely more than a whisper.

"Prince... Dorian?"

The name tumbled from his lips before he could stop himself, drenched in disbelief. freewёbnoνel-com

The man blinked once, slowly, as if savoring the sound of his name on Cassian’s lips. His crimson eyes glowed like embers in the soft darkness. His long, wet black hair hung like silk around his shoulders, framing a face Cassian had once known better than his own. Only now, it looked more refined, more ethereal—like a dream sculpted in flesh.

The resemblance was undeniable. The jawline, the shape of the eyes, the tilt of his smile. But there were changes too—longer hair, otherworldly beauty, a darker presence, and those unmistakable red eyes.

Cassian was frozen, trembling slightly, unable to process what he was seeing.

It couldn’t be the same man.

Could it?

He had buried those memories. Sealed them away. He had chosen to forget.

But now—here he was. Standing before him and holding him.

The world tilted.

And then the man moved.

Without a word, without hesitation, he bent down and captured Cassian’s lips in a kiss that stole the very breath from his lungs.

It was not gentle.

It was fierce. Wild. Consuming.

Cassian gasped into the touch, stunned by the sheer intensity. The heat of the kiss burned down his spine. His body responded before his mind could catch up—his arms instinctively clutched Dorian’s shoulders, pulling him closer.

The kiss deepened.

The water rippled around them as their bodies pressed together, chest to chest, skin to skin. Cassian arched instinctively into him, and Dorian groaned softly against his mouth, taking the opportunity to devour him even more hungrily. The gold chain clinked faintly between them, sliding slightly as their bodies tangled.

Cassian’s mind was a whirlwind of confusion, memory, longing—and need. He didn’t know why he was responding like this, why his lips moved with the same urgency, matching Dorian’s fiery hunger. But his body remembered. His soul remembered.

There was something in the way Dorian touched him—like he’d done it a thousand times before. Like this moment was long overdue.

Cassian’s fingers curled against Dorian’s bare shoulder, desperate for something to ground him. Their breaths mingled, shallow and desperate, the taste of the kiss leaving his lips tingling. It was fire and longing and a forgotten ache.

When Dorian finally pulled back, Cassian’s lips were swollen, his eyes glassy.

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