There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL) novel Chapter 232

Chapter 232: Chapter 225. Night of Suspended Time

"Happy birthday,"

Zein closed his eyes, leaning back completely to the strong and warm chest as his lips stretched into a contended smile. He reached out to stroke the platinum hair, tilting his head to look into the curling ambers.

Technically, it wasn’t his birthday. They knew now that, unless he was severely premature, Zein would have been born around spring. But all his life, Zein had always ’celebrated’ his birthday in the new year, along with the twins.

Celebrated the fact that they had survived another year.

For the past four years, he had doing it alone, staring blankly into the Deathzone. This was his fifth year without the twins, but he was no longer alone.

That too, needed to be celebrated.

"You’re late," Zein muttered, although the slight chuckle in his voice made it clear that he wasn’t annoyed.

"I’m right on time," Bassena argued.

Actually, he was there for quite some time already. He was there when Zein was still looking at the sky with a stunned expression, clutching the necklace. He watched as pain and regret flashed inside the blue eyes.

But when he was about to hold the guide, he saw Zein close his eyes, and opened them a moment later with a peaceful gaze. Bassena knew that gaze; it was one that Zein had when the guide was smiling.

And it made the esper stood there, stunned. He couldn’t bring himself over, fearing that he would break that peaceful moment. His heart was squeezed, beating fast. He wanted to embrace his most loved one, but he also wanted to feast on that beautiful sight.

At that moment, Bassena felt his eyes heating up. Gods--how much had he prayed and wished this time would come? That Zein would smile at the memory of his family, rather than drowning in darkness and guilt.

So he stood there, watching, until the countdown began.

"Shouldn’t you be the one to help me hide?" Zein rolled his eyes.

"I think they’d chase you more if we’re together. Don’t you know I barely escape them?"

Zein laughed softly. "So, even the mighty Bassena Vaski can’t win against the press, huh?"

"The world is not that easy,"

The laughter became slightly louder, and Bassena widened his smile, feeling the sound warmed his heart even more. Looking at the warm eyes and the tender smile, Zein whispered. "Kiss me."

Bassena raised his brow. "Here?"

In the middle of the crowd?

"Hurry, before anyone notices,"

There was a twinkle inside the blue eyes, a mix of mischievousness and excitement--something Bassena had never seen before. He took a second to blink and second-guess himself, before his hand moved to push the mask button and grasped the guide’s jaw.

Beneath the colorful blooming sparks, the kiss tasted wonderfully sweet. Sweeter than any candies or chocolate that Zein liked so much.

There was a feeling of tingle that spread into their skin, and drove their heart beating faster. Was it because they did it in the middle of a crowd? In public where anyone could see and take pictures of them? For Bassena, it felt like Zein’s willingness to risk being exposed was a proof that the guide didn’t mind letting the world know about them.

It was Zein’s birthday, but Bassena felt he received the gift instead.

"I think the one in Althrea is still better," Dheera muttered in the railing. That being said, she still looked like she enjoyed it very much. "Oh, where’s Captain? I want to say happy birthday to him!"

She looked around excitedly. She had forgotten about him because of the fireworks, despite they were being there to ’hide’ him from the media. But as she was about to turn around, Nadine pulled her back toward the railing.

"Do it tomorrow--I mean, later," she said with a subtle smile, and Dheera glanced back secretly.

There, she saw her Captain and the Serpent Lord, standing close to each other. A fleeting sheet of dark mist was obscuring the view around them, but it was clear to her what they were doing behind that fog.

She turned back to the front, and with a grin on her face, nodded as she looked into the sky again. "Okay, let’s do it later."

As the fireworks continued to fill the sky, a pair of crimson eyes stared at the various blooming colors from across the building. Sitting on the ledge of the window, he swirled the mana stone-infused spirit in his hand, before sipping it while shifting his gaze toward the rooftop, where he knew his kids were.

His lips curled slightly, imagining the chaos that would definitely happen tomorrow--later--in the couple’s suite. He had to attend another conference in the afternoon, but he’d let the others have their party.

Speaking about party...

He wanted to slap the older man--because what did he mean by loving him the way he was? _{fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com}