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Aiden Voss was only sixteen. He lived alone in a small, broken-down room in Nightspire. The city was always dark, foggy, and full of danger. Aiden learned to be quick and quiet so no one would hurt him.

One evening he walked fast through a narrow street. His best friend Sera was with him. Sera was seventeen. She had long brown hair in braids and a kind smile. She could heal small wounds with light magic, but she hid it because magic was forbidden.

“Aiden, you’re walking slow today,” Sera said with a laugh. “Dreaming again?”

Aiden smiled a little. “Maybe. Or just tired.”

They went to the Shadow Market. There were many stalls selling secret things: magic potions, sharp knives, strange glowing stones. Inquisitors in black masks walked around, looking for anyone using magic.

Sera spoke quietly. “Aiden, be careful with Damian. People say he is dangerous. His group, the Crimson Veil, controls the bad parts of the city.”

Aiden shook his head. “Damian is my friend. He saved me once. He’s not bad to me.”

Two years ago, some bad men attacked Aiden. Damian came and fought them off. Damian was tall, eighteen, with black hair and sharp eyes. After that day, they became close. Damian gave Aiden small jobs and always protected him. They talked a lot, ate together, and Damian listened when Aiden said he wanted to change the city for the better.

At the market, Damian was waiting. He looked calm and strong. Next to him was Thorne, his best friend. Thorne was big, nineteen, with many scars. He was quiet and strong.

Damian saw Aiden and his eyes lit up for a second. “You came.”

Aiden grinned. “Of course.”

Sera looked at Damian carefully. “What do you want us to do today?”

Damian explained. “We need to take a small black crystal from some rivals. It’s in an old building. Not hard if we go together.”

Sera frowned. “Sounds risky.”

Damian smiled softly at Aiden. “I’ll keep him safe.”

They went into the dark tunnels under the city. It was cold and smelled bad. Suddenly five men jumped out with knives.

“Blackthorn’s boys,” one said angrily.

The fight started.

Damian moved very fast. He cut his hand a little. His blood made him stronger. He hit the men hard, broke bones, didn’t stop.

Thorne made the ground shake. A stone wall came up and crushed one man.

Aiden fought too. He was brave even without magic. He pushed one man away.

Sera stayed back. She healed a small cut on Thorne’s arm with her light. “Don’t get killed,” she said.

Thorne looked at her strangely. “Thanks.”

They won the fight. They got the crystal. It felt cold and strange in Aiden’s hand.

Outside the tunnel, Damian pulled Aiden a little away from the others.

“You were good in there,” Damian said softly. His voice was low. His eyes looked at Aiden very closely.

Aiden felt warm. “We’re friends. I had to help you.”

Damian stepped closer. “Friends,” he said slowly. Then he smiled. But his smile felt different—deeper, like he meant more.

Inside Damian’s mind he thought: He is mine. Only mine. No one else can touch him.

Sera watched from far. She didn’t like how Damian stood so close to Aiden. It looked like he wanted to keep Aiden forever.

Thorne saw Sera’s face. “You okay?”

Sera whispered, “Your boss looks at Aiden like he owns him.”

Thorne just said, “In this city, that’s how some people show they care.”

Later, Aiden walked home alone. His phone buzzed.

Damian’s message:

Reach home safe. Lock door. Tell me when you’re inside.

Aiden smiled and replied:

Okay. Good night, Damian.

He didn’t know Damian was standing in the dark, watching him walk away. Damian’s hand held his phone tight.

Mine, he thought again and again.

He will always be mine.

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