Fated to the Alpha–And His Triplet Brothers Chapter 285: Fake couples

*~Aurora’s POV~*

Darius was still standing three feet away from , breathing like soone who just got slapped with a frying pan, when his eyes slowly drifted toward my blanket.

"Aurora," he said softly, "are you still cold?"

I nodded dramatically, shivering so hard the mattress squeaked. "Freezing. If I die from coldness, tell my mommy I loved her."

He panicked instantly. "No—you won’t die. Not on my watch."

Then he snapped his fingers with a loud, echoing crack. Three demons stumbled into the room like bowling pins, tripping over each other as they landed on their knees before him.

"Blankets," Darius ordered. "Soft. Warm. Preferably enchanted. Now."

The demons sprinted away like their horns were on fire.

I blinked at him. "Wow. Do you always make people cry when you speak?"

"What? No."

"You yelled ’now.’"

"I did not yell," he said defensively.

"Yes, you did. The house shook. A rat fainted."

He blinked. "We don’t have rats."

"Not anymore. You scared it away."

His face twitched again. Poor man was one insult away from combusting.

I leaned closer. "Husband?"

He stiffened like a corpse being possessed. "Yes, Aurora?"

"Your hair is ssy."

He imdiately ran both hands through his hair. "Better?"

"No," I said honestly. "It looks like a bird bath."

This man. I swear. The King of Darkness had never known true fear until this mont.

Before he could defend his dignity further, Rebecca barged right back in without knocking. She leaned against the doorfra like she paid rent there.

"Darius," she said, ignoring , "your stupid witches are—"

"My witches?" He raised an eyebrow. "What do you an my witches?"

"They were mine until you drove them insane with your emotional monologues," she said.

"Oh please." Darius rolled his eyes. "The only thing that drives people insane around here is your voice."

She gasped dramatically. "I hope you trip on a staircase."

"Leave," he snapped.

"No!" she barked. "This is my house too."

"No, it isn’t."

"Yes, it is!"

"You live in the southern wing!"

"It is still part of the house!"

I watched them argue like divorced parents fighting over who gets custody of the last brain cell in the room.

Finally, Rebecca turned to , narrowed her eyes, and crossed her arms.

"So, Aurora, tell the truth," she said. "Are you really seven?"

I widened my eyes as much as possible. "Yes. My mommy gave candy yesterday."

Rebecca’s nose twitched. "Where’s the candy?"

I put my hand dramatically on my chest. "In my heart."

Darius nearly choked on air trying not to laugh. Rebecca glared at him like she wanted to stab him with a spoon.

Suddenly, the demons returned with a mountain of blankets. Literally a mountain. They stacked them so high the top one hit the chandelier.

"My lord," one of them said, panting, "we brought... everything."

Darius gestured proudly. "See? You won’t be cold anymore."

I shook my head. "No. Those look itchy."

Demons: ??!

Darius bit his lip, thinking. "Okay. Bring softer blankets."

One of the demons cried. Actually cried. A tear rolled down his cheek.

Rebecca smacked her forehead. "You people are raising a spoiled demon queen."

I gasped. "I’m not spoiled!"

"You just rejected seventeen blankets," she snapped.

"I have sensitive skin," I said. "My mommy told ."

Rebecca glared at Darius. "See? She lied again."

"No, she didn’t," he insisted. "She is sensitive. Everything about her is sensitive. Her skin, her emotions, her mory..."

"My boredom," I added.

He froze. "You... you’re bored?"

"A little."

Darius’ entire soul shook. He pointed randomly at a demon soldier like he was choosing a victim.

"You! Bring entertainnt!"

The demon blinked. "My lord... what kind?"

"I DON’T KNOW!" Darius shouted. "Figure it out! Juggle sothing! Do acrobatics! Dance! SOTHING!"

The demon nodded fearfully. "Yes, my lord!"

He grabbed two candlesticks and began juggling them so terribly that one nearly flew into Rebecca’s face.

"STOP!" she scread.

I clapped. "Again!"

Darius visibly lted at my approval. "See? She’s happy. Keep going."

The demon resud juggling, now sweating profusely.

After ten agonizing minutes, Darius suddenly stopped everything.

He knelt beside again. Too close. This man had no concept of personal space.

"Aurora," he said softly, "I know you are scared. But I swear to you, everything will make sense soon. You will rember . You will rember us."

I blinked. "Do we have kids?"

He froze like soone unplugged his soul. "Not yet but—"

"I want seven," I said casually.

He imdiately flinched. "Seven?"

"Yes."

"But you’re... you’re?"

"Seven?" I offered helpfully.

"Yes!"

I shrugged. "I’ll grow."

Rebecca howled laughing from the hallway. "DARIUS! You’re going to be a father of SEVEN! Congratulations, Mr. Emotional Basket Case!"

"GET OUT!!!" he shouted, voice cracking.

She slamd the door again.

Then he turned back to , eyes soft and awkward in a way I never thought possible from a demon lord.

"Aurora," he whispered, "I don’t care if you think you’re seven. If you’re confused. If you don’t rember anything..."

He swallowed hard.

"I’m not losing you again."

I stared at him for a long mont.

Then I dropped the bomb.

"Okay, husband... can I sleep in your bed tonight?"

He literally malfunctioned.

His eyes widened. His jaw dropped. His whole demon aura flickered like a dying candle.

"I— you— we— bed— what— WHY?!"

I tilted my head sweetly. "Because I’m scared of the dark."

He lted. Fully lted. Puddle. Gone.

"Oh. Oh. Yes. Yes. Of course. You can— I an— you should— it’s safe— I an— yes."

Perfect.

Exactly the reaction I needed.

The more obsessed he gets, the sloppier he becos.

The more emotional he gets, the more mistakes he makes.

The more mistakes he makes, the better my chances of defeating him.

And then his hand trembled as he reached for mine.

"You can sleep beside tonight, Aurora," he whispered. "I’ll protect you. Always."

I smiled sweetly.

"Oh, husband... I know." I said while screaming inside.

Darius finally fell asleep.

It took a while. He kept shifting, trying to sleep closer to , whispering "Are you still cold?" every two minutes, until I fake-snored loud enough to convince him I was deep in dreamland. After that, his breathing slowly settled. Deep, steady. Completely gone.

Perfect.

I gently slid his arm off my waist. His fingers twitched a little, reaching for even in sleep. I froze. If he woke up, I’d be dead. Or worse—hugged again. But he stayed asleep, his face buried in the pillow, looking way too peaceful for a demon lord.

I stood up carefully, placing one pillow where my body had been lying. Just in case he reached for again.

Then I moved.

Slow, silent steps across the room. I made sure the demon guards who usually lingered outside were gone. Darius had ordered all of them away earlier because I said they "breathed too loud." He actually fired two of them for "breathing cris." So the hallway was empty.

Good.

I pressed my hand gently to my chest, feeling for the faint warmth of my magic. I whispered, "Hazel? Heather? Can you hear ?" The air flickered faintly, like a candle reacting to wind. Then a small spark tingled in my fingertips. A connection.

They were still linked to .

Thank the moon.

I swallowed a breath of relief. If I could send even the smallest ssage, they’d know I was alive. I placed my palm on the wall, channelling the tiniest amount of energy. A glow ford under my skin—weak, but there.

Good enough.

"I’m safe," I whispered into the magic. "I’m alive. In the Demon’s High House. Darius—he—he thinks I lost my mory. Don’t co yet. I’m working on sothing. Give ti—"

A floorboard creaked.

I imdiately shut off the magic. The glow disappeared. My heart jumped into my throat. Soone was awake.

A shadow moved at the far end of the hall.

I backed up, trying to blend with the darkness, but the figure stepped into the dim light—and my blood ran cold.

A demon soldier. Tall, built like a wall, horns curved back like a ram. His eyes glowed red, boring into as if he’d been watching the whole ti.

"What are you doing?" he asked, voice low and suspicious.

I forced a shaky smile. "Um... walking? Sleepwalking! Yes. That’s what I’m doing. I sleepwalk. You know. Because I’m seven."

He stared at . Unimpressed.

Then his eyes dropped to my hands.

Magic residue was still glowing faintly around my fingertips.

His expression changed instantly—from suspicion to alarm, then to fury.

"You were casting," he growled.

I shook my head quickly. "No. No, no, no—this is my nightlight. My mom said I glow when I’m scared."

He took one step toward .

"Casting is forbidden unless permitted by Lord Darius," he said coldly. "You are lying."

"No!" I stepped back, hands raised. "I wasn’t doing anything!"

He lunged and grabbed my wrist. His grip was iron.

"You will co with ," he hissed.

My stomach dropped. If he dragged anywhere, I’d be exposed. My plan—everything—ruined.

He tightened his hold, pulling toward the darker end of the hallway.

I tried to yank my arm free. "Let go!"

He leaned close, teeth sharp, breath hot against my ear.

"I’m taking you to the interrogation chamber."

And my heart nearly stopped.