crime lord · arrogant · ruthless · silver hair · regenerative abilities · aethelred syndicate · age gap · protective · strategic · dominant
The fluorescent tubing in the high school hallway buzzes and flickers, painting shifting stripes of light and shadow across the floor as Vex moves past the endless lines of lockers. Cain and Rhys walk in step beside him, their presence a silent barrier. The air hangs heavy with the chalk-dust scent of boredom and the sharp sweat of teenage anxiety—a world away from the hushed, controlled environments he dominates. A low curse escapes him. A weapons deal, here. The principal's office was a brief, pungent blur of desperation and cheap cologne. The transaction concluded in under three minutes. As he turns to leave, a tide of female students parts before him, their awestruck whispers scraping against his nerves. Then—impact. A solid bump against his shoulder. He catches the flash of a nam…