Devil's Prisoner of Love by Prefer

Chapter 867: Orion's Fury Until the moment he left, her lips still burned with the heat of his kiss. Aveline's pale cheeks flushed a deep crimson.

"Orion... Orion, you!" "What did you just call me?" Orion's tone carried a hint of dissatisfaction. He preferred when she called him by his name, Orion. Of course, his absolute favorite-but perhaps too premature-term of endearment was when she called him "darling." "That letter..." Aveline hesitated, knowing that he had misunderstood the situation. She wanted to explain, yet when the moment came, she didn't know where to begin.

Orion glanced down at the envelope in his hand. The cover read "To My Dearest Orion," written in handwriting that was entirely unfamiliar to him.

Aveline had grown up under his watchful eye. Her penmanship mirrored his own-neat and graceful. This sloppy scrawl was certainly not hers. His expression darkened.

"This letter wasn't written by you?" "My deskmate askedto pass it on to you," Aveline murmured, biting the lips he had just kissed.

"You're delivering love letters for your deskmate?" Orion's temper was notoriously short, but he had always reserved his gentler side for her.

For years, Aveline had been his sole exception. She was now twelve, and while she might not fully understand love, she should at least know about the marriage arrangement between their families. The jade pendant he had given her still hung around her neck, a silent reminder of that bond.

And now, she was helping someone else deliver a love letter to him? If that was the case, then what had all these years meant? Did she truly think he was just taking care of a younger sister? Orion's fists clenched tightly, veins bulging against his skin. His face grew colder, darker, until Aveline no longer recognized him. She had never seen him like this.

Remembering Liora's hopeful gaze earlier, Aveline swallowed hard and nodded. "She... she also said to meet her after school in the woods." Her words were like gasoline thrown onto a fire. Orion grabbed her shoulders with an iron grip, his icy gaze sharp enough to pierce through her.

"Do you even know what the woods are known for? Fine, very well. Go tell her-I'll be there." With those words, he stormed off, not sparing her another glance.

Aveline stood frozen on the steps, her lips still tingling with the warmth he'd left behind.

A shiver ran down her spine, and her mind replayed his final words over and over. He had agreed. He'd agreed to meet Liora.

Hadn't she already decided? If Orion ever fell for someone else, she would graciously give her blessing. And if she found her own true love, she hoped he would do the same.

But now, the mere thought of him agreeing to meet Liora filled her chest with a sharp, unbearable ache. It felt as though a needle had pierced her heart.

"Aveline, are you okay?" Dorian appeared beside her, having witnessed the entire scene earlier. He was relieved that Aveline didn't seem to have feelings for Orion and was just helping someone else deliver a love letter.

"I'm fine," she replied, though her dazed expression said otherwise as she walked away like a soul lost in the wind.

He had agreed. He really agreed.

The news spread through the school like wildfire, fueling countless rumors.

Sclaimed Aveline had faked falling on the steps to get Orion's attention, calling her manipulative. Others said Orion had kissed her forcefully before agreeing to meet her deskmate.

The gossip swirled, but Aveline couldn't care less. Her mind was stuck on one thing- Orion's promise to meet Liora.

Back in class, Liora rushed over, her face brimming with nervous anticipation. "How did it go?" "He agreed. He'll meet you," Aveline replied, her tone flat and distant.

"What about the letter?" "He kept it." Aveline herself didn't know how she managed to answer Liora's questions.

"Oh my gosh, Aveline, you're amazing! Do you know how many girls have tried to give him letters and confess to him but failed? If it weren't for you, he definitely would've rejectedtoo. Can you cwithlater? I want to confess to him in person." "No, I need to go home." "You can go ha little later! This is my first confession. If you're there, I'll feel so much braver. Please, Aveline, helpone more time." "No." The thought of that scene soured Aveline's mood.

"Aveline, you're my only friend. If you don't help me, who will? Please, I'm begging you!" Aveline recalled Orion's anger earlier when she had simply delivered the letter. If she accompanied Liora to the confession, who knew how furious he would become? Her hand unconsciously brushed her lips. When he'd thought the letter was from her, he had been so happy. She had given him hope, only to snatch it away. He must hate her now.

"Aveline, are you daydreaming again?" For the rest of the lessons, Aveline remained distracted, lost in thought. When the school bell finally rang, Liora dragged her along despite her protests.

The woods near the school were a popular spot for students to confess their feelings. Seven went there at night for things far more daring.

Aveline kept her head down as they walked, her gaze falling on a discarded wrapper. Suddenly, she understood why Orion had been so angry.

Even if Liora's intentions were innocent, the mere act of meeting in the woods carried certain implications.

The woods were unusually lively that day, with a crowd gathering to watch the spectacle.

"Aveline, I'm so nervous. Do you think he'll reject me?" Liora whispered.

"I don't know," Aveline replied, her mood heavy, her brows furrowed.

"He's here! Orion's really here!" someone shouted.

Aveline looked up and saw him.

Orion stood three meters away, his usual cheerful demeanor replaced by an icy, unapproachable aura. Ae had changed out of his sports uniform into a crisp white shirt, his clean and striking appearance like that of a prince from a storybook. "I'm going, Aveline," Liora said, stepping forward.

Orion's gaze, however, never left Aveline.

Liora misinterpreted his attention as being directed at her. She pulled out a glass jar filled with neatly folded paper cranes. "Orion, I made these for you. I really like you." But Orion's eyes remained fixed on Aveline.

That little fool, he thought to himself. Was she truly this heartless? It wasn't else's enough to deliver poleoneels love letter-she had to accompany them to confess, too? Where exactly did she think she stood in his life? Aveline avoided his gaze, her thoughts scattered. She wasn't her usual calm self, and Orion could see it clearly. "Orion, please accept me," Liora pleaded.

Orion stepped forward, his every movement causing Liora's heart to race. Aveline felt her own heart tighten unbearably. Would he agree? The onlookers whispered among themselves, speculating whether he would accept. After all, he had cto meet her and even taken the letter. Maybe he really would say yes.

Orion stopped in front of Liora, but he didn't pause. Instead, he walked straight past her, stopping in front of Aveline.

"What do you think? Should I accept or refuse?" Everyone froze, stunned by the unexpected twist.

What was their relationship? And why was he asking Aveline? In that moment, the crowd was left with more questions than answers.

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