[BL]Hunted by the God of Destruction-Chapter 223: Welcome back

The morning was too bright for Elias’s taste, crisp sunlight catching on the glass façade of Numen Corporation Headquarters, each mirrored panel reflecting the skyline like it wanted to blind him personally.

He adjusted the cuff of his shirt for the fourth time, muttering something uncharitable under his breath. The pale blue fabric was too formal for his liking, the starched collar too tight, and the entire outfit clearly chosen by someone with better taste and worse empathy.

"I hate this," he said at last.

Victor didn’t look up from the report on his tablet. "You said that before we even left the manor."

"And I’ll keep saying it until it stops being true," Elias replied. He tugged at the edge of his gray waistcoat and leaned back against the car seat as if it might swallow him whole. "This place radiates judgment."

Victor glanced up then, and the corner of his mouth curved. His black hair was perfectly in place, the faint sheen of morning light glancing off it like ink turned to glass. "That’s the mirrored façade," he said. "Not judgment."

"It’s both," Elias muttered.

Victor’s crimson eyes gleamed faintly in amusement as the car pulled to a smooth stop at the private entrance. "You’ll survive," he said, closing the report. "You always do."

Elias shot him a dry look. "You say that like it’s encouragement."

"Encouragement," Victor said, stepping out of the car with the grace of someone who’d been born to walk into boardrooms and conquer them, "is relative."

The moment Elias followed, the scent of Numen Corp’s controlled environment hit him: ozone, polished metal, and faint traces of ether that made the air hum. The building’s design was all precision: dark marble floors, matte black columns, and lighting that felt deliberate down to the last lumen. It was a cathedral for science, or ego, depending on perspective.

Robert, standing like an immovable statue by the doors, gave a polite nod. "Dr. Clarke. Mr. Numen."

Elias adjusted his glasses. "Morning, Robert. How’s the security system? Still resentful?"

Robert didn’t blink. "Functional, for now."

"Good. I’d hate to be electrocuted on the way in."

Victor’s hand brushed lightly against the small of his back as they entered, a gesture so subtle Elias might have missed it if he weren’t always so aware of him. Victor was in his usual dark suit, charcoal-black with a faint red pinstripe that looked almost alive under the light. His tie was undone, his shirt collar slightly open, an intentional imperfection that made him seem even more dangerous.

He looked like what he was, a god pretending to be a man and failing beautifully.

By comparison, Elias felt painfully human. His hazel eyes were tired from days of morning sickness, and his gold-rimmed glasses reflected too much light. His brown hair, despite his best efforts, would not cooperate.

The elevator ride to the upper levels was silent except for the low hum of the lift’s ether core. Elias watched the numbers climb and muttered, "Still time to fake a fainting spell."

Victor didn’t look at him. "You already tried that once. The vending machine wasn’t impressed."

Elias scowled. "That machine had intent."

The elevator doors opened with a soft chime, revealing the executive floor, wide corridors of dark wood, subdued lighting, and glass walls that overlooked the city. The scent of ozone thickened here.

He didn’t need to see them to know who was waiting.

Ruo’s voice, warm and teasing, drifted across the room. "He’s late."

"I told you," Samael drawled from somewhere near the window, "mortals never arrive on divine time."

"I’m not mortal," Elias said as he stepped in. "Just underpaid."

Ruo turned instantly, and the grin that broke across her face was pure trouble. Her dark hair was loosely braided over one shoulder, with a gold streak catching the light, and her tailored jacket sparkled faintly with ether-thread embroidery that was half uniform, half rebellion.

"Well, look at you," she said, crossing the room in long, confident strides. "Domestic life suits you. You’re practically glowing."

"It’s the nausea," Elias said dryly. "Lovely to see you too."

She laughed, pulling him into a brief hug before he could dodge. "Still charming."

"Still dangerous," he countered.

From his seat near the head of the table, Samael raised an elegant hand in greeting. His white shirt sleeves were rolled up, showing faint glimmering lines under his skin where ether flickered like caged lightning. "Welcome back, Clarke. Didn’t think you’d actually show up."

"I was promised coffee," Elias said, settling beside Victor with careful composure.

"That was a lie," Victor murmured, leaning back in his chair. "You were promised employment."

Elias shot him a look. "Same difference in this building."

And then Ego spoke.

The room seemed to still when he did. Dressed in dark navy, his black hair neatly tied back, he looked every inch the embodiment of order and expectation. His eyes, deep, cutting crimson, moved from Elias to Victor, measuring something invisible between them.

"Dr. Clarke," Ego said, voice low but commanding. "Welcome back to Numen Corporation."

Elias inclined his head, polite and wary. "I wasn’t aware I’d officially left."

"Physically," Ego replied. "Not functionally."

Ruo smirked. "Translation: he missed you after one day of knowing you but doesn’t know how to say it."

"Ruo," Ego said without looking at her, and somehow the single word managed to sound both patient and lethal.

She winked and sank into her chair again.

Victor placed his hand on the table, the simple motion enough to recapture attention. "Elias will resume his position under joint authority, mine and the Board’s."

Samael arched an eyebrow. "Joint authority? You mean you’ll actually share power?"

"I mean, he’ll share responsibility," Victor corrected evenly.

Ego nodded once. "You’ll liaise with the Research Division, Dr. Clarke. Your findings on ether structure have already proven useful."

Elias folded his hands. "You’re giving me direct access again?"

Ego met his gaze. "I’m giving you visibility. There’s a difference."

Ruo leaned closer, grinning. "You’re being promoted. Congratulations, darling. Try not to blow up the reactors this time."

"That was an experiment," Elias said calmly. "A successful one."

"It melted the floor," she reminded him.

"Controlled melting and that was before knowing Victor," he corrected.

Samael laughed, low and easy. "You two really are terrifying together."

Ego rose, signaling the end of discussion. "Your clearance has been reinstated. You begin tomorrow. Dismissed."

Ruo stood as well, stretching. "I’ll walk you to your lab, professor. Try not to glare at the interns; they scare easily."

Victor followed them to the door, crimson eyes bright with quiet amusement. "Remember what I said, Elias. You’re not here to hide."

Elias adjusted his jacket and glanced back at him. "Don’t worry. I’m far too annoyed to hide."

Ruo looped her arm through his as they walked down the hall. "Welcome back to the madhouse," she said cheerfully. "I missed you."