rossfr00

[rossfr00]

Pairing: Prince Nuada x Female Reade (Eve)

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: Angst, Violence, Canon-Divergence, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Magic, Heavy Emotional Themes

Tags: Slow Burn Forbidden Love Enemies to Lovers Angst with a Happy Ending Protective Nuada Witch!OC Secret Meetings Canon-Divergent Ending. Emotional Intimacy Magical Bond Sacrifice Found Family Royal Politics Hurt/ Comfort Slight Jealousy Fem!Protagonist Smut

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Chapter 11

ROYAL CLAIM

The chamber is quiet. Prince Nuada stands in the center, framed by the golden glow of torchlight. Before him, upon a pedestal, rests the final piece of the crown. His hand hovers near it, fingers inches from fate.

Nuala watches from a corner, fear and conflict written across her face. She knows what her brother has come for.

She takes a breath—and slams her hand onto the console.

The alarm blares.

Footsteps echo through the corridor as the team bursts in—Red at the front, followed by Abe, Liz, and Eve.

Nuada barely turns his head. "I was wondering when you'd come."

Abe moves instantly to Nuala, shielding her.

"Really, Abraham? You presume to protect her... from me?"

Red steps forward. "Today’s your last day, elf."

But Abe holds up a hand. "Red, wait. Any harm you do to him will reflect on Nuala."

Red clenches his jaw, hesitating. His knuckles tighten around the Right Hand of Doom.

Nuada's eyes land briefly on Eve. She meets his gaze—rigid, conflicted. He doesn’t speak, but something moves in his expression. Not softness. Something more dangerous.

Without another word, he lunges.

The fight is chaos. Nuada is a storm of speed and precision, blades flashing in arcs of gold. Red meets him blow for blow, stone fist slamming through walls, cracking the floor.

But Nuada is faster—always just ahead. He lands a harsh slash across Red’s chest. Blood sprays.

Liz shouts. Heat begins to rise from her.

Before Nuada can strike again, a force slams into his side.

He crashes into a column, dust spilling around him. All eyes shift.

Eve stands where she was, hand raised, magic still glowing faintly at her fingertips.

Nuada rises slowly, his eyes sharp and unreadable. He steps forward, but Eve does too. She stands between him and Red.

Liz is at Red’s side, flames licking the air around her.

"Don’t," Eve tells her quietly, placing a steadying hand on Liz’s shoulder without looking away from Nuada.

"You stand in my way again," Nuada mutters, more to himself than anyone.

"He’s already down," Eve says. "This isn’t a victory."

"I came for the crown," he says, curt.

"Then take it and go," Abe says.

But Nuala’s voice cuts in, trembling. "There’s still the Royal Fight. Trial by bloodline."

Nuada turns his head sharply toward her, his expression twisting. For a moment, there’s silence.

Then a scoff. "You think he’d last in a proper duel? You barely lasted five minutes, and you want to invoke the ancient rite?"

Red growls, staggering to his feet. "Try me."

Nuada rolls his shoulders. "Fine. Royal Fight it is. But you won’t survive it."

His gaze flicks to Eve again. He doesn’t say anything—but she can feel it. That pull. The storm beneath his calm.

And then, with a sudden movement, he’s beside her.

Liz rises, fire building again. Abe shouts something—too late.

Nuada grips Eve’s arm. She gasps—not in fear, but in stunned understanding.

In the blink of an eye, they vanish.

Gone.

Only silence remains.

Liz’s fire sputters out. Red stumbles forward, breathing hard.

Nuala’s hand is over her mouth. Abe is frozen beside her.

Liz looks at where Eve stood, and whispers, "What just happened?"

Red exhales. "He took her" said coughing

---------

The moment they vanished from the library, Eve stumbled forward, disoriented. Her boots met ancient stone—smooth, damp, but warm beneath her soles. The air was thick, humming with power. Not dark, not demonic… but old. Unfiltered. Alive.

She raised her head slowly, eyes scanning the vast, cavernous chamber. Roots crawled over the walls like veins, glowing faintly with golden energy. The whole space pulsed, slow and steady, like the heartbeat of something vast and ancient slumbering beneath the surface.

Her breath caught. "Where... what is this place?" she whispered.

The weight of the room pressed against her chest. She took another step, barely able to breathe. Her pulse raced—not from fear, but from the sheer intensity of the energy around her. It wasn’t trying to harm her, but it didn’t care whether she could withstand it.

She turned to Nuada, breathless. "Did you bring me here to show me this?"

And then, all at once, it hit her.

Her legs buckled. Images poured into her mind—not memories of her own, but his. Softer things. A mother's lullaby in a language she didn’t know. A silver crown passed from hand to hand. Laughter under starlight. A boy dancing with his sister among falling leaves.

And not just his—his people’s also. Their forests burning. Children crying. Betrayal. Loss. Grief layered over grief.

She fell to her knees, gasping. The air tasted like blood and ash. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears. She tried to push the visions away, but they sank into her—made her feel it.

All of it.

"Too much..." she whispered, clutching her chest.

She barely registered Nuada moving, barely noticed when darkness crept into her vision—until her body gave out and she collapsed, unconscious.

—

When she opened her eyes, she was lying on soft moss. The chamber was quieter now. Dimmer. The energy still pulsed through the roots, but it had softened, as though it were watching her more gently.

She turned her head and saw him. Nuada. Silent. Kneeling not far, observing her with that same unreadable expression.

She sat up slowly, her limbs trembling from exhaustion, but her voice—when she finally spoke—was clear.

“I saw everything.” Her gaze locked on his. “What happened to your people. What the humans did. The grief. The rage.”

His expression didn’t shift.

“But you didn’t need to show me that to make me understand you,” she said quietly “I already did.”

A silence stretched between them. Thick. Raw.

“You didn’t understand,” he finally said. “Not truly. Not until now.”

She pushed herself up to sit fully. “Maybe not. But showing me this place, these memories, it’s not... it’s not the same as convincing me your path is right.”

He rose to his feet slowly, his voice lower now. “You think you know another way?”

She looked up at him. “Yes, i do, Maybe di...."

He scoffed. “Diplomacy? With men who poisoned the earth and broke their word a hundred times?”

“You're right to be angry, I also am" she said. “But anger doesn’t justify the blood you’re about to spill. Not like this.”

He stepped closer. “So what would you have me do, Eve? Sit idly by and wait for extinction? Bow and beg while they strip our bones clean?”

She stood, her eyes not leaving his. “No. But don’t become the very monster they claimed you were. Don’t prove them right.”

His jaw clenched, a shadow flickering behind his eyes.

She stepped closer, lowering her voice. “Nuada, I understand this fight. I really do. I understand vengeance. if you want war, fine—wage it. I’ll stand at your side if I have to.”

He blinked, startled.

She held his gaze. “But don’t make me spill innocent blood. Don’t make me become something I can’t live with. Let me help you, i can, but not this way... we can find the ones who deserve justice. Let me help you do it without destroying everything in your path.”

His breath came slower now. Deeper. The silence between them crackled.

Then he said, voice barely above a whisper, “You’d fight with me?”

“I’d fight for what’s right,” she answered. “With you... if you let me guide you.”

Another beat passed. Then something in him shifted. The hardness in his shoulders softened. The defiance in his eyes dulled—just a little.

She took one last step forward and gently placed a hand on his chest, over his heart. “But don’t lose yourself in the fire you’re building.”

For a long moment, he didn’t move.

And then, without a word, he reached for her.

Not forcefully. Not with hunger or command. Just... quietly.

He pulled her into an embrace. His arms circled her waist, steady, grounding. Her head rested against his shoulder. She felt his breath at her temple. Steady. Measured. Sweet. Needed.

[rossfr00]

And finally a little spicy... just a little, the Explicit one is coming 🫶

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Pairing: Prince Nuada x Female Reade (Eve)

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: Angst, Violence, Canon-Divergence, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Magic, Heavy Emotional Themes

Tags: Slow Burn Forbidden Love Enemies to Lovers Angst with a Happy Ending Protective Nuada Witch!OC Secret Meetings Canon-Divergent Ending. Emotional Intimacy Magical Bond Sacrifice Found Family Royal Politics Hurt/ Comfort Slight Jealousy Fem!Protagonist Smut

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Chapter 10

The night wrapped the BPRD grounds in a warm hush, the greenhouse glowing softly beneath the moonlight. Eve couldn't stay relax, couldn't sleep so wandered between the tall plants and their dew-kissed leaves, her fingers gliding over petals and stems. The kiss from the forest still echoed in her veins, tangled with feelings she didn’t yet understand.

A quiet step behind her broke the trance.

"I thought I’d find you here," came Abe’s familiar, deep voice. He stood by the door, holding a half-empty bottle of beer.

Eve offered a faint smile. "This place is the only one that makes sense right now."

He walked in slowly, the air between them thick with unspoken things. "Funny… you always say that when something’s wrong."

She looked away, brushing her hand over a fern. "I guess I do."

Abe took a sip, then leaned gently against one of the glass walls. The moonlight played on the curves of the greenhouse, the blue of his skin looking almost silver.

"I’ve noticed something," he said quietly. "Between you and Nuada."

Eve turned to look at him sharply, a pulse quickening in her chest. "What do you mean?"

Abe met her gaze without hesitation. "It’s in the way your energy shifts when he’s near. The way he looks at you. The silence between you two isn’t empty—it's loaded."

She hesitated, words catching in her throat. "I haven't said or done anything..."

"You don’t have to," Abe replied gently. "It’s in the air, Eve. I don’t think either of you realize how loud it is."

A tense silence settled, and she shifted her weight, unsure what to say. Then, almost as a deflection, she tilted her head and asked, "And what about you and Nuala?"

Abe blinked. "What about her?"

"You think I haven’t noticed either?" she teased softly, a small smirk tugging at her lips. "The way you light up when she walks in? Your voice softens. It’s almost... sweet."

He looked away, embarrassed but not denying it. "It’s different. She’s—" He paused, searching for the right word. "She’s light."

"And you think Nuada isn’t?" Eve asked, almost more to herself than to him. "You think he’s just darkness?"

Abe turned his eyes back to her, studying her face. "I think he’s a storm. And I’m not sure where you’ll stand when it hits."

Their gazes held, both unspoken emotions rising and falling in the air around them. Then, from the far hallway, a shout interrupted the moment.

"Yo, Blue! You said two beers!" came Red’s unmistakable voice. "I see one!"

Abe chuckled, muttering, "He’s insatiable," and turned toward the door. He stopped just before leaving. "Don’t stay here too long, Eve. You’ve got too much inside to carry alone."

She let out a frustrated breath, tugging at her coat sleeves.

Oh Nuada....Why does he keep coming back? Why do I want him to?

The questions swirled like gnats. And worse—worse was the fact that, deep down, she understood him. His rage, his pain, his disgust at the world. She didn’t agree with his methods, no, but… was he wrong?

“I’m so tired of this,” she muttered, raking a hand through her hair. “Tired of second-guessing. Of pretending I don’t feel what I feel. Of everyone watching me like I’m going to break.”

That’s when the air changed.

Her breath caught. The warmth of the greenhouse shifted, thickening, turning cold at the edges. Shadows stretched unnaturally, and the lights flickered just once—then again.

“No,” she said sharply, already sensing it. “Not now. I didn’t call—”

But it was already there. Formless at first, like smoke coiling from a forgotten fire. Then a shape. Tall. Hooded in shadow. Watching her.

"You’ve forgotten me… but your blood remembers.”

Eve took a step back, jaw clenched. “You again,” she snapped. “Perfect timing.”

“You’re unraveling,” the voice said—calm, deep, almost amused. “The cracks widen. That’s when we hear you most clearly.”

“I didn’t ask for your help.”

“No. But you asked for something. Understanding, perhaps. Release. Clarity. Even rage can be a summons.”

She laughed bitterly, her arms crossing tightly. “Great. So now every time I get pissed off, some ancient specter crawls out of my subconscious.”

The shadow shifted slightly, like it was smiling. “You are not just rage. You are desire. Grief. Doubt. And you are deeply, profoundly torn.”

Eve turned away, pacing between the pots, her movements tight with irritation. “Everyone’s got an opinion or sees something. Abe sees too much. Red, Liz, Nuala and you—you show up like some nightmare therapist.”

“And him?” the demon asked softly.

She stopped cold.

“You fear what you feel. Not because it’s wrong… but because it doesn’t fit into the world you thought you understood.”

“I’m not afraid of him,” she said low.

“No,” the shadow murmured. “But you are afraid of how right he feels. And what that could cost you.”

Eve stared hard at the floor, her hands almost trembling.

“This isn’t your place,” she said quietly. “You don’t belong here”

“Then send me away. If you truly want to.”

She didn’t hesitate this time. The incantation rolled off her tongue, short and sharp. Her power surged through the ground like roots reclaiming space.

The shadow unraveled slowly, fading into the dark, but not before whispering:

“You’ll call again. When the war inside you grows louder than the one outside.”

Then it was gone.

Eve stood there alone again. But it wasn’t peaceful. Not anymore.

Everything inside her itched, burned, twisted. She wasn’t sure who she was more angry with—Nuada, the world… or herself.

Too much stress, too much to think of, so she stepped out of the greenhouse, the warm scent of herbs and soil still clinging to her clothes like a second skin. The air was cooler now, brushing over her arms like a whisper. Eve crossed her arms tightly over her chest, not from the chill, but from the thoughts clawing at her mind.

Abe’s words wouldn’t leave her alone—his quiet observations about Nuada, the flickers of concern in his voice, the way he’d looked at her like he knew. And then the demon—whatever it was—planting seeds of doubt and desire and power. Everything had happened too fast. Her head ached from the noise in her own skull.

She walked with purpose, hoping to shed some of the static clinging to her nerves by the time she reached her room. But when she pushed the door open and stepped inside, she stopped cold.

Nuada was already there, leaning against the far wall, arms crossed, half-shadowed by the low light filtering in through the hallway. As if he'd been waiting. Watching.

Eve shut the door slowly behind her, her hand resting on the knob a beat too long and finding his presence. “Seriously?” she muttered, not hiding her annoyance.

Nuada tilted his head, his voice smooth and low. “You’ve been thinking about me.”

She rolled her eyes, letting out a dry breath. “You’ve got impressive timing. All this happened less than two hours ago.”

He took a step forward, light catching the silver of his eyes. “That’s a yes.”

“I didn’t say that.”

“You didn’t have to.”

Eve exhaled slowly, placing her hands on her hips. She was trying to stay sharp, stay distant—but gods, her body remembered the forest. The kiss. The press of his hands. The way she felt around him. That softness was gone now, replaced by a tight heat curling in her gut.

Nuada stepped closer again. “You were so warm back there,” he said, voice teasing, “smiling at the trees like they told you a secret. I thought you’d bite me for interrupting.”

She narrowed her eyes, fighting a smile. “You did interrupt.”

“Didn’t hear you complaining.”

“I’m complaining now.”

He was in front of her now, barely inches away. Eve didn’t move, didn’t flinch, but the tension between them throbbed like a pulse.

“You’re irritated,” he noted softly. “Why?”

She hesitated, then barked a dry laugh. “Take your pick. A cryptic demon who just crawled out of the air to rattle me, Abe staring like he’s onto something, you showing up like a damn ghost—”

“A handsome one, I hope.”

Eve shot him a look. “Don’t push it.”

Nuada leaned in just enough that she could feel his breath. “Why do you fight this?”

“I’m not—” She caught herself. “I don’t know. I don’t know what this is.”

He reached up, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear sweetly, his fingers lingering on her cheek. The tenderness almost broke her.

“Don’t,” she said, catching his wrist.

“Why not?”

“Because,” she whispered, her grip tightening, “I don’t know if this is real or if it’s just another weapon to you. A distraction. A card you’re playing. Whatever it is, don’t play it.”

His gaze dropped to her lips. “In that case, I should be the one cautious. How do I know you haven’t cast something on me?”

She blinked at him, caught off guard.

“I don’t know what you’ve done,” he added. “Maybe you cursed me in that forest. Maybe that smile of yours is part of some spell. What kind of fool lets himself be undone by a witch?”

She smiled faintly, one brow lifting. “Only the kind who needed to be undone.”

He didn’t answer. He kissed her.

It wasn’t soft, it was hungry. His mouth caught hers before she could take a full breath, and Eve felt herself melt for half a second before she pressed her palms against his chest and pushed. Their lips parted, breathless, but she didn’t back away. They hovered in place, breathing each other in like they needed to feel something solid.

“That doesn’t help,” she murmured, eyes flickering to his then to his lips.

“You didn’t stop it either,” he said, voice lower now, almost hoarse.

She didn’t answer, but she didn’t step back either, her eyes were fighting where to look at.

He moved first, catching her mouth again—this time slower, deeper, and Eve responded before she could think. Her back bumped against the edge of the bed, and he followed her down without breaking the kiss.

She let herself fall with him, his weight over her as her hands found his shoulders. His knee slid between her thighs, the pressure igniting a sound from her throat that she didn’t recognize. He pressed again, deliberately, and her body arched against him with a quiet gasp muffled against his mouth.

His hands moved—slow, firm, exploring her waist, her ribs, the curve of her hip. She kissed him harder, needing to feel something real, something certain. His hand cupped the side of her face, tilting it just enough to kiss deeper, and she moaned softly, arching into the warmth of his body.

But then—

She pulled back, breathing hard. Her voice trembled. “Nuada…”

He didn’t let go—his lips moved to her throat, her collarbone, leaving a trail of fire in their wake.

“Stop,” she said again, fighting against the pull in her chest. “Why are you still here?”

He paused, breathing against her skin.

“You came for the last piece of the crown… didn’t you?”

He stilled.

Then slowly, carefully, he leaned in, kissing her jaw, the corner of her mouth. Soft, almost reverent touches.

“Yes,” he murmured against her cheek. “I came for the crown.”

She looked up at him, her voice firmer now. “If you’re just doing this to get me on your side, don’t. You’re going too far.”

His thumb brushed her cheek. “To claim the crown, I only need to take it. It’s not difficult. If I were here for strategy, I wouldn’t waste time.”

He leaned in again, his voice lower. “You think I’d do this—feel this—for a crown?”

Her chest rose sharply.

“Since the moment I saw you, everything changed. My thoughts, my path… everything unraveled. You’re the reason I hesitate.”

She didn’t move. Couldn’t.

“I came for the crown,” he repeated, kissing her gently, “but I don’t want to leave without you.”

They lay still for a moment—foreheads resting, breathing in each other’s storm.

Then, reluctantly, he pulled away.

He sat up slowly, adjusting his tunic. “I have to go,” he said quietly. “The library. The last piece.”

Her heart clenched. “Of course you do.”

Nuada stood, his silhouette tense in the low light. “You don’t trust me. Not entirely.”

“I don’t even trust myself right now.”

He nodded, almost like it hurt. Then he turned to her again, gaze heavy with something unspoken. “You looked at me in the forest like you’d already chosen. Like something had shifted.”

She swallowed, voice barely audible. “And maybe it did.”

He didn’t say goodbye. Didn’t promise anything.

But before he turned to leave, he paused in the doorway. “Don’t shut yourself off. Not tonight.”

Then he was gone.

And she was left alone with the echo of his touch, the burn of his mouth, and the ache of something she didn’t yet dare to name.

[rossfr00]

Pairing: Prince Nuada x Female Reade (Eve)

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: Angst, Violence, Canon-Divergence, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Magic, Heavy Emotional Themes

Tags: Slow Burn Forbidden Love Enemies to Lovers Angst with a Happy Ending Protective Nuada Witch!OC Secret Meetings Canon-Divergent Ending. Emotional Intimacy Magical Bond Sacrifice Found Family Royal Politics Hurt/ Comfort Slight Jealousy Fem!Protagonist Smut

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Chapter 9

2 days after

The night air was crisp, sweet with the scent of pine and damp earth. Moonlight spilled between the tall trees, illuminating the small clearing where Eve stood barefoot, her coat discarded over a nearby stump. Her breath was steady, her hands moving in slow, precise arcs as she practiced a new spell—something delicate, something old.

She smiled faintly. The forest responded.

A breeze shifted. The leaves stirred in rhythm with her movements. Magic pulsed faintly through the ground beneath her feet.

Then, faint at first—almost like a memory—music drifted in from the distance. From the underground halls of the BPRD, echoing faintly through vents and tunnels, then carried by the night wind like a secret.

"You know I can't smile without you..."

Eve stilled.

She laughed under her breath. “Seriously, Abe?”

The music grew louder—muffled singing, off-key and full of feeling. Hellboy's gravelly voice joined Abe’s in drunken, heartfelt harmony.

"I can't smile without you..."

Eve shook her head, shoulders trembling with amusement. She twirled lightly, hands still glowing with faint magic, and began to sing along, barely above a whisper.

Her voice blended with the wind. There, in the moonlight, her guard slipped away. She didn’t care if someone saw her. For once, it didn’t matter.

She closed her eyes and let herself feel—safe, soft, alive.

“You sing,” a voice said.

Eve startled slightly and spun, but the tension faded the moment she saw him.

Nuada stood a few steps away, half-shadowed beneath the trees. Pale. Watchful. Regal as ever—but his expression wasn’t cold. It was... drawn, thoughtful.

She didn’t hide her warmth this time. Not fully. Still smiling, Eve took a few steps back until she leaned against a low stone wall marking the edge of the clearing.

“Well,” she said, “you keep showing up. I figured I might as well give you a show.”

His steps were slow, fluid, as he approached. “I warned you not to be alone.”

“You did. And yet here I am. Unharmed.”

He stopped in front of her, close enough that she could see the faint glint of moonlight in his eyes. They held hers for a long moment.

“You’re different tonight,” he said softly.

Eve tilted her head with a small smile. “I’m the same as always.”

He reached up, brushing a strand of hair from her face, like he always does. His fingers were light—like a whisper against her skin.

She didn’t move.

Her breath caught a little.

“What are you doing here, Nuada?” she asked gently.

He didn’t answer right away.

Then, simply: “You called me... and I came.”

A silence bloomed between them, heavy and intimate.

Eve frowned slightly. “Did I?”

Nuada’s eyes held hers. “Not with spells or words. But your voice... your magic, your presence in this forest—it called to something old in me. Something I've tried to forget.”

Eve looked at him differently then. Less guarded. “I didn’t mean to.”

“But you did,” he said quietly. “You sang, and I felt it. Like I was being led home.”

Her lips parted at his honesty. The vulnerability in his voice caught her off guard.

And then, softer than before, almost to himself: “I just want my life back.”

The confession wasn’t a demand. It wasn’t bitterness. It was grief, naked and honest.

Eve felt something tighten in her chest. A deep ache. She didn’t think. She reached out, slow and steady, and laid her hand over his chest.

His breath hitched—barely.

She stepped closer, close enough to feel his warmth. Her voice was barely above a whisper. “I’m sorry. For everything you lost.”

His head dipped slightly, eyes closing. The tension in his shoulders eased under her touch.

“I feel it too, sometimes,” she continued, softer still. “Like the world changed shape and left me behind.”

Nuada opened his eyes, meeting hers again. They were so close now, every breath between them shared, the moment pulsing with quiet intensity.

Then, without words, Eve slid her arms around him.

He tensed for half a second—surprised. And then he allowed it. Slowly, his arms wrapped around her waist, holding her with a kind of restraint that said he didn’t trust himself to hold tighter.

Their bodies aligned, tentative and warm beneath the moonlight. Eve felt the rise and fall of his chest, the quiet war inside him.

She didn’t ask more questions. Not yet.

When she finally pulled back to look at him, her hands still rested at his sides. “Maybe you don’t have to keep losing everything.”

His gaze dropped to her mouth, then back to her eyes. “Neither of us were made for easy paths.”

“No,” she whispered, “but maybe we weren’t meant to walk them alone either.”

Silence... they looked at each other deeply and in movement their lips met—softly, slowly. A brush of warmth, of something fragile and real.

He kissed her like a question. She answered with breath, with a trembling hand sliding to the back of his neck. The kiss deepened—sweet, reverent, the kind of kiss that speaks before the heart dares to.

But then—Eve hesitated.

Her lips parted from his, just enough. Her eyes opened. She stepped back—not far, just enough to feel the loss of his warmth. She held his gaze. Stillness hummed between them.

Nuada watched her, waiting.

Her eyes flicked to his lips, then back to his eyes. Her chest rose and fell unevenly.

“I can’t,” she murmured. “We can’t.”

She turned slightly, walking a few steps away. Her voice was more breath than sound. “This… doesn’t lead anywhere good.”

A beat of silence. The music still played faintly, a ghost of joy in the air.

Then—Nuada’s hand slid to the back of her neck. Firm. Controlled. Gentle.

He pulled her back to him with purpose.

And this time, he kissed her like he meant to burn the moment into her bones.

Eve gasped softly against his mouth, her hands finding his chest again. His fingers threaded through her hair, one hand sliding along her jaw, the other tracing down her spine, curling at the base of it. He pulled her flush against him.

She didn’t resist.

Her arms wrapped around his shoulders, mouth parting under the press of his. His hands moved with reverence and need—from her jaw to her cheek, down to her waist. Her skin tingled beneath his touch. He mapped her as if learning her by heart.

It was no longer a kiss of comfort.

It was fire, longing, and something deeper neither of them dared to name.

When they finally parted, her breath trembled against his cheek.

His hand lingered at her waist. Her forehead rested against his.

“Eve…” he murmured, like a promise or a curse.

She didn’t speak.

And then—he was gone.

A flicker of silver. A gust of air.

She stood alone again.

But this time, the forest didn’t feel as quiet.

And the ache he left behind burned like something unfinished.

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Nuada’s POV

The wind was colder now.

He stood alone in the high shadows of the trees, the forest quiet behind him. Her voice still lingered in his ears—soft, warm, untamed. Her lips had been softer still. And for one impossible moment, he had forgotten everything: the crown, the war, even his sister.

Only her—Eve.

He clenched his jaw, fingers curling into fists. Foolish.

This wasn’t meant to happen.

She was... human, or close enough. But there was something else inside her, something old and powerful. Something that called to him even when he tried to shut it out.

He’d told himself she was a complication. A distraction. But now her taste still lingered on his mouth, and her voice had cracked something inside him that had long been sealed shut.

He had felt her warmth—her hesitation, her pull—and still, he had kissed her again.

Because he wanted to.

Because he couldn’t stop himself.

And that terrified him more than any battlefield.

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Eve’s POV

Eve sat on the edge of her bed, the moonlight casting pale silver bars across the floor. Her hair was still tangled from the forest wind, her lips swollen with memory. She touched them absently.

“What was that?” she whispered.

She hadn’t meant for any of it to happen. Not the singing, not the openness, not the kiss. And definitely not the second one—the one where she let herself want it. Where her hands had found his chest, his neck, had pulled him closer.

She had felt it—whatever it was. That spark, that ache, that hunger buried under layers of magic and grief and old blood.

It wasn’t just physical.

It was... dangerous.

He had looked at her like she was something sacred. And then he’d touched her like she was something his.

She should have pushed him away sooner.

She had tried.

And yet…

His hands had found the small of her back. His lips had stolen the breath from her lungs. Her skin still buzzed where he had touched her—her waist, her jaw, the curve of her spine.

“I just want my life back.”

Those words haunted her now.

He wasn’t cruel. He wasn’t empty. He was filled with pain and fire and conviction. And somehow, in that moonlit clearing, she'd felt all of it in his kiss.

Eve exhaled and closed her eyes. She had never felt this before. Not like this. Not with anyone.

Not even close.

She wasn’t afraid of what he might do to her.

She was afraid of what she might be willing to do for him.

[rossfr00]

Witch of Another Time

Fandom: Harry Potter

Pairing: Tom Riddle (pre-Voldemort) x Original Female Character (Alhena)

Language: English

Rating: M / +18 (eventually)

Status: Ongoing

Genre: Romance, Suspense, Time Travel, Dark Magic, Drama, Slow Burn, Smut

Timeline: Canon Divergence – Year 5 (Harry Potter) / Tom Riddle adult era (1950s)

Tags: time Travel, enemies to Lovers, Obsessive Tom Riddle, latin Witch OC, ancient Magic, mind Magic, Forbidden Love, Mental Bond, Dark Romance, Slow Burn , Angst, Dream Manipulation, Magical Rituals, Found Family, Voldemort Redemption Arc.

🪄 Synopsis:

Alhena is no ordinary witch. Born of an ancient Latin bloodline steeped in ancestral rites and mental sorcery, she needs no wand to manipulate reality. At 25, she’s a renowned magical investigator, recruited to fight in the shadows of the war against Voldemort.

But when a mission involving time magic fractures space itself, Alhena is cast into the past—into the orbit of a man she’s sworn to hate.

Tom Riddle, 28. Brilliant. Seductive. Dangerous. A man on the edge of becoming the monster history remembers.

Alhena hides the truth of who she is, and Tom can sense it.

She despises everything he stands for.

But Tom is intrigued.

Drawn to her.

Obsessed.

He invades her dreams.

He plants thoughts in her mind that aren’t hers.

He doesn’t know love—but something in him begins to crave her presence in ways he can’t explain.

Their connection is dark, magnetic, and forbidden.

And when Alhena discovers that her presence in the past might be the key to changing the future…

She faces an impossible choice.

Stay and save the world by loving the man destined to ruin it—

Or return home and let history play out.

Coming soon!! 🤗🫶🫶🫶🫶

[rossfr00]

Title: Of Fire and Gold

Pairing: Prince Nuada x Female Reade (Eve)

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: Angst, Violence, Canon-Divergence, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Magic, Heavy Emotional Themes

Tags: Slow Burn Forbidden Love Enemies to Lovers Angst with a Happy Ending Protective Nuada Witch!OC Secret Meetings Canon-Divergent Ending. Emotional Intimacy Magical Bond Sacrifice Found Family Royal Politics Hurt/Comfort Slight Jealousy Fem!Protagonist Smut

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Chapter 8: Whispers on the Rooftop

The BPRD base was quiet at night, the silence wrapping around the building like a second skin. The battle from earlier had left the halls subdued. Most had retired to their rooms, seeking rest or escape. But Eve couldn’t sleep. Her body ached, not from the spells, but from the gnawing pull in her chest.

The night was too still.

Eve sat cross-legged on the rooftop the cool concrete beneath her barely grounding her thoughts. A faint breeze stirred her hair, the moonlight spilling silver across her bare shoulders as she tried—unsuccessfully—to meditate.

Her magic hummed, restless.

She opened her eyes slowly, sensing something before she heard it. A shift in the air. A presence.

Boots.

She didn’t move, but her voice was steady.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, eyes forward.

"I could ask you the same," came the smooth, low voice of Nuada.

She turned slowly, finding him just a few feet behind her, emerging from the shadows as if born of them. He looked tired, but sharp as ever—eyes alert, expression unreadable.

Eve rose to her feet, cautious but not startled, and walked slowly toward the edge of the rooftop. Her hands rested lightly on the metal railing. He followed, silent, every step deliberate.

"You're risking a lot coming here," she said, not turning.

"And yet," he murmured, "you're not calling the alarm."

She smirked slightly. "Maybe I'm just waiting to hear what you have to say."

He stopped beside her, closer than comfort would suggest. His presence was magnetic, as if the very air shifted around him.

Gently, he reached out—unhurried, careful—and brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear, his fingers ghosting along her cheek.

She didn’t move, though her breath caught for a second.

"You saw the elemental," he said quietly. "You felt it."

"Yes."

"Then you know. This world forgets. We remember. But memory alone cannot protect what's sacred."

She turned to face him, brows knit. "You summoned it to destroy."

"I summoned it to awaken," he corrected. "But I see now... its death affected you."

She looked away. "It wasn't supposed to go like that."

He studied her face for a long moment.

"You're not like them," he said simply. "You’ve tasted the old magic. You walk between what is and what was. You feel more than you admit."

"That doesn't answer anything."

He stepped closer, and the space between them nearly vanished.

"Do not mistake me, Eve. I hate your race. I despise what it's done to the earth, to the balance. But you..."

He paused, his eyes gleaming under the moonlight.

"You confuse me."

She raised an eyebrow. "Charming."

"You carry power like a weapon, yet you hesitate. You listen. You doubt. And still, you looked at the elemental and mourned it."

"I don't fight because I like it," she said, softer. "I fight because I have to. Maybe that's why you confuse me too."

The corner of his mouth twitched. Understanding. Recognition.

"Your sister said you're bound to each other," Eve said. "How does that feel?"

"Like breathing through someone else's lungs. Like your chest tightens when theirs does. But more than that... it's like we were one soul, split in two. And one half was made to save the earth..."

He hesitated.

"And the other to destroy it."

Eve tilted her head. "I don't think it's that black and white. You're just two ways of trying to heal the same wound."

He looked at her, deeply....

"Do you... sense her now?” she asked curious.

“Yes,” he replied, but his eyes were still on Eve. “She’s calm. Uncertain, but not afraid. She knows I’m here. She doesn’t feel me as a threat. Not tonight.”

Eve nodded slowly. “So, you want the crown... I don’t have it, i know you can feel her but i won't tell you where is she".

“No,” he said. “I’m here for you.”

Her throat tightened.

He stared at her. Something flickered in his gaze.

Then, slowly, he extended a hand toward her.

Hesitant but curious, Eve placed hers in his. Their fingers met, and in that moment, something stirred—not just warmth or sensation, but images. Whispers. A pull that came from something far older than either of them.

She flinched.

He didn’t let go.

She glanced down at their joined hands. "What is this?"

He lowered his voice. "Your blood is old. You were raised by witches... but your magic is wilder than that. The forest answered you. The elemental paused. You weren't just casting spells tonight—you were speaking to something ancient."

"And you think that means something?". She said.

His golden eyes gleamed. "I know it does."

She pulled her hand back, slow but deliberate.

"Do you always play with fire?" she asked, tone teasing.

"Only when it burns beautifully."

She rolled her eyes. "God, you're dramatic."

"And you," he said, "are still standing here."

The silence that followed was heavier than before.

"I should go," he said finally. "Your guardians are twitchy."

"Then go."

He took a step back. "Next time... don’t come alone. You won’t always be safe."

"Are you threatening me?"

"No. I'm warning you."

And with that, he melted into the shadows.

________________

The library was silent, the faint scent of old paper and dust lingering in the still air. Nuala sat in one of the armchairs, a book open on her lap but unread.

Her fingers tightened slightly around the cover.

Abe looked up from across the room. “Are you alright?”

She hesitated for only a second before offering a gentle smile. “Yes. Just... distracted.”

A pause.

She didn’t elaborate—and Abe didn’t press.

Because she felt him.

Her brother.

A flicker in her chest. A vibration under her skin. Distant, but unmistakable.

Not rage. Not fear.

Something else.

She knew exactly where he was. Who he was with. And though she didn’t fully understand it... she knew Eve felt it too. That her presence pulled something from Nuada the same way it echoed in her own bones.

But it wasn’t a threat.

Not to her.

Not tonight.

And so, Nuala said nothing. She turned a page, eyes steady, and let the moment pass in silence.

....

[rossfr00]

Title: Of Fire and Gold

Pairing: Prince Nuada x Female Reade (Eve)

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: Angst, Violence, Canon-Divergence, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Magic, Heavy Emotional Themes

Tags:

Slow Burn Forbidden Love Enemies to Lovers Angst with a Happy Ending Protective Nuada Witch!OC Secret Meetings Canon-Divergent Ending. Emotional Intimacy Magical Bond Sacrifice Found Family Royal Politics Hurt/Comfort Slight Jealousy Fem!Protagonist Smut

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Chapter 7 Ashes and Threads

The silence after Nuada’s retreat was heavy—haunted.

The only sound was the dripping of water and the wind shifting through broken windows.

Hellboy helped Eve to her feet. “You good?”

She nodded, unsteady but upright. “I just need… a second.”

Her hand was still bleeding from the ritual, but she didn’t flinch. Abe approached, gently taking her wrist to wrap it with a clean strip of cloth. His eyes were calm, though his mind raced.

“You managed to contain a god,” he said softly. “That’s not nothing.”

Eve gave a tired smile. “It didn’t want to fight. It just wanted to go home.”

From behind them, Liz stared at the seed glowing softly on the ground. “What even was that thing?”

“A Forest Elemental,” Abe replied. “One of the last of its kind.”

Hellboy shook his head, looking at the destruction. “Why would Nuada release something like that? Just to slow us down?”

Eve’s voice was quiet, but firm. “He wanted to make a point. That we destroy beauty without thinking. That monsters are only monsters because we made them so.”

Hellboy frowned. “You buying his crap now?”

She looked up at him, eyes tired but burning. “No. But I understand it.”

Hellboy went quiet.

Nuala stood near the edge of the alley, pale and shaken. She hadn’t said a word since the elemental vanished. Her fingers trembled, clasped in front of her.

Abe moved toward her slowly. “Princess… are you alright?”

She looked at him, then toward the shadows where her brother had vanished. “He was never supposed to be like this.”

The sirens of approaching city responders echoed faintly in the distance.

“We need to go,” Liz said. “Now.”

Hellboy nodded. “Back to base. Manning’s gonna have a meltdown.”

As they moved, Eve lingered a moment behind the others. She looked at the place where the Forest God had stood, at the twisted vines and silent earth.

Then she glanced to the shadows Nuada had vanished into.

Something about him still hummed in her veins—like a string tied tight but not yet pulled.

“Eve?”

Liz called from the van.

She turned, composed herself, and jogged to catch up.

The team climbed into the vehicle. Eve sat beside Abe, her head against the window, eyes closed.

She didn’t sleep.

But she didn’t speak either.

------------------------------------------------------------------

Silence settled over the BPRD as the team returned. It wasn’t empty—it was heavy. Tense. Conflicted. And for Eve, something deep in her chest hadn’t stopped vibrating since the elemental vanished.

Inside the meeting room, the fluorescent lighting clashed with the fading dampness of the recent battle. Eve leaned against the wall, arms crossed, her body still recovering from the containment spell. Liz sat beside Hellboy. Nuala, quiet and reserved, accepted the cup of tea Abe offered her with a nod of thanks.

“So... what’s the story now?” Hellboy grumbled. “An elven prince with a magical blade, fairytale monsters, and a killer seed? Someone explain what’s going on. Does he really want a whole army like in the bedtime story?”

Eve exhaled, shifting her weight. “It’s not just an army. It’s a belief system. He’s rebuilding a forgotten kingdom, piece by piece.”

Abe added thoughtfully, “He’s not driven by chaos, but by conviction. The old ways, as he sees them, are sacred.”

Liz scoffed. “Sacred or not, he still used that elemental like a damn weapon.”

Nuala’s voice was soft. “My brother doesn’t see monsters. He sees guardians. Symbols of a world that’s dying.” Her tone faltered. “But he’s crossed lines I cannot follow.”

Eve lifted her eyes, catching the grief on the princess’s face. It was real, and heavy. “You two are twins?” she asked quietly, curious, just to calm the energy in the room.

A relaxed smile formed on Nuala lips, she nodded. And said "We share a soul. In our culture, that means more than blood. I feel what he feels.”

“Physically?” Liz asked, skeptical.

“Not always,” Nuala explained. “It’s emotional... spiritual. If he’s afraid, my chest tightens. If he’s enraged... my vision clouds. And when he connects with someone deeply, I feel it... like an echo.”

Eve, who had been silent, stiffened slightly. She met Nuala’s gaze—only to find the princess staring at her.

There was no hostility in her eyes. Just... intuition. Quiet, razor-sharp intuition.

“What?” Eve asked, raising an eyebrow.

“When he’s with you...” Nuala said slowly, “there’s something different. A stronger vibration. I don’t see what he sees. I don’t hear thoughts. But there’s a wave that hits me like nothing else. It’s not anger. It’s not power. It’s...”

“Conflict,” Eve murmured to herself.

Nuala gave a small nod. “And desire.”

Eve held her gaze, refusing to flinch. Her heart, however, pounded against her ribs.

Hellboy narrowed his eyes, crossing his arms. “Okay, that's enough echo talk. I don’t like the way this is sounding. Desire? Seriously? We just met this guy and suddenly we’re all psychic soulmates?”

Eve laughed, not offended, more amused. She frowned playfully at him. “Relax, big guy. Jealous much?”

Hellboy grumbled something under his breath.

Nuala, unfazed, continued gently. “He was trained in ancient arts. His body is lethal. But his mind was forged through centuries of war and philosophy. He can read intention, study breath. Strike where others hesitate.”

“Psychic?” Abe asked, intrigued.

“Not quite,” Nuala replied. “It’s perception. And will. What he desires, he claims. What he’s denied, he hunts.”

Eve’s throat tightened. Will was a gentle word for obsession.

“And what does he want?” Liz asked coldly. “Power? Revenge?”

Nuala lowered her eyes. “Balance... at any cost. Because in his eyes, there is no redemption in this world. Only in the old ways. Only at the root.”

Eve nodded slightly. “I can almost agree with that... but doing so, he’ll leave a trail of bodies.”

A beat of silence.

Abe cleared his throat and offered Nuala a gentle smile. “Maybe you’d like to see the library. There are texts from many ancient cultures... it might remind you of home.”

Nuala gave a small smile. “Thank you.”

They left the room together.

Eve watched them go, then turned to Liz with a knowing smirk. “You saw that, right?”

Liz blinked. “Saw what?”

“Abe,” Eve said with amusement. “Crushing hard.”

Liz chuckled. “You’re imagining things.”

Hellboy glanced at them. “What are you two whispering about?”

Eve raised her eyebrows, smiling openly. “Just saying Abe might be falling for the elf princess.”

Hellboy lit up. “Right?! I noticed that too!”

Eve and Red started to jump and jingle like little girls...

Liz grinned. “You both are ridiculous.”

Still chuckling, the three of them split up—Hellboy and Liz heading down the hall, and Eve walking off on her own, the weight of earlier words still humming in her chest.

[rossfr00]

[rossfr00]

[rossfr00]

[rossfr00]

[rossfr00]

More of Sebastian hülk

[rossfr00]

So... it's been years since I saw Red Sparrow and no one has done anything about the assassin who saves Dominika in the Hotel. This Matorin guy... I know, such an invisibilecharacter.... but hat man, aaahh so much material in my mind... so I won't wait anymore and I'll upload one.... before that, here some pictures and gifs of him that i made myself..... Go ahead and fall in love tooo.

[rossfr00]

Title: Of Fire and Gold

Pairing: Prince Nuada x Female Reade (Eve)

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: Angst, Violence, Canon-Divergence, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Magic, Heavy Emotional Themes

Tags:

Slow Burn Forbidden Love Enemies to Lovers Angst with a Happy Ending Protective Nuada Witch!OC Secret Meetings Canon-Divergent Ending. Emotional Intimacy Magical Bond Sacrifice Found Family Royal Politics Hurt/Comfort Slight Jealousy Fem!Protagonist Smut

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Chapter 6 The Forest Cries

The alley behind the Troll Market opened into an industrial lot—concrete, rust, and forgotten things. The team emerged into the stale twilight, wary.

Hellboy scanned the perimeter, the Samaritan in hand. “Everyone feel that?”

Abe nodded. “Something... ancient.”

Eve turned slowly, eyes narrowed. She felt it too—like a heartbeat in the ground.

Then he appeared.

From the shadows, Nuada emerged, blade at his side, robes brushing against wet concrete. His eyes landed on Nuala—then slid to Eve, lingering.

No one moved.

“I came for my sister,” Nuada said.

Hellboy stepped forward. “You're not taking anyone.”

Nuada turns slowly, unsurprised "So many of you... and yet none truly see."

His gaze sweeps over the group slowly. Abe, alert. Liz, with fire dancing in her palms. And then her gaze bores into Eve. Too direct. Too long.

"You shouldn't be standing among them." He said.

Eve tenses. The tone of her voice is not threatening... but neither is it neutral. She grips the hilt of her dagger. Liz notices. Hellboy takes a step closer

"Last warning, man-bun. You make a move and I'll.. " said hellboy

Nuada without taking her eyes off Eve

"A child of the earth pretending to belong in a cage of fire and steel... What a waste."

"You don't know me." Eve answer coldly

Nuada softer, as if only the two of them were talking "Not yet. But I can feel what you are. And you know it too."

Abe steps forward. Liz does, too. The atmosphere charges. Nuada ignores them, raises the seed high.

"You're human, that's disgusting.... But you are a witch, a unique one, I can feel and see that you feel the same way I do about your race, come with me, make the change I feel you want to make". He said staring her so deep as if he could read her soul.

Eve just stared at him with a frown, searching for the words to speak.

Nuada smile and say "Let the forest make you remember."

And throws it against the ground. The tremor that follows rips a roar from the bowels of the earth.

Eve’s heart stopped.

“No—”

He dropped it into the nearby storm drain.

The world trembled.

Roots erupted from the earth. Stone cracked. Something massive clawed its way up—a Forest God, born from grief and wild memory. Moss, antlers, light. It cried—not in rage, but sorrow.

Eve ran.

She sprinted across debris, scaling a rusted scaffold and broken fire escape, reaching a high ledge that overlooked the square. She raised her arms, magic sparking at her fingertips, lips already moving with the rhythm of an old invocation.

Below, Liz shouted, “Eve! Do something!”

And then—Nuada was there.

He moved with impossible speed, stepping beside her on the narrow platform. Silent. Watchful.

“You know what that creature is,” he said.

“Yes,” Eve hissed, not taking her eyes off the Forest God. “ You twisted it into a weapon.”

“I didn’t twist it,” Nuada said calmly. “I awakened it. Gave it a purpose.”

Her head snapped toward him. “You used its grief.”

He studied her, unfazed. “You were at the auction. You didn’t stop me.”

Eve's hands pulsed with power. “Because I didn’t care if those people died.”

Nuada's gaze sharpened. “Then you understand. We’re not so different.”

She stepped away from him slightly, struggling to stay grounded. “You murder. I protect. That’s the difference.”

“ so human...” he said, stepping closer again. “But something in you... calls to me. Your magic. Your blood. It knows mine.”

She turned sharply. “Don’t.”

He touched her jaw, gently tilting her face toward him. Her hands shook—not from fear, but from the pull. The closeness.

“You feel it too,” he murmured. “This force between us. You know it.”

Eve’s voice was raw. “I won’t be manipulated by you.”

Still looking into her eyes, he said, “Then why do you hesitate?”

“I don’t,” she growled—and turned away from him fully, raising her arms to the Forest God.

The creature writhed, crying, lost. And she felt it all. Its fear, its loneliness. Tears spilled down her cheeks.

She whispered to it, casting golden strands of magic like threads of comfort, not to bind—but to guide. A containment ritual. A homeward path. But it demanded a price.

Blood. Will. Surrender.

She drew a blade from her belt and slashed her palm, offering her power freely, her voice rising into the air.

Nuada watched her, mesmerized.

The Forest God stilled. The roots retracted. The creature crumbled back into seed-form, glowing gently at her feet.

Eve dropped to her knees, exhausted, blood dripping from her hand.

Hellboy ran to her, gun raised. “Eve, you okay?”

She nodded, eyes still on the seed trying to go towards it..

From behind them, Nuala whispered, “Nuada…”

And Hellboy stiffened. “Wait… Prince Nuada?”

His name resounded in Eve’s head, Nuada..

At the same moment, Liz said, “Red, he’s getting away!”

Nuada was already retreating into the shadows. But just before disappearing, he turned. His gaze met Eve’s.

“…Eve,” he said softly, her name like a vow.

And then he was gone.

•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•

[rossfr00]

This edit has been playing in my head for a full day now. I figured that i should make a post with it.

edit from: c1gar3tte0_0 (on tiktok, if my memory doesn't fool me)

[rossfr00]

Nuada x Reader

Title: Of Fire and Gold

Fandom: Hellboy II: The Golden Army

Pairing: Prince Nuada x Female Reade (Eve)

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: Angst, Violence, Canon-Divergence, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Magic, Heavy Emotional Themes

Tags:

Slow Burn Forbidden Love Enemies to Lovers Angst with a Happy Ending Protective Nuada Witch!OC Secret Meetings Canon-Divergent Ending. Emotional Intimacy Magical Bond Sacrifice Found Family Royal Politics Hurt/Comfort Slight Jealousy Fem!Protagonist Smut

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Chapter 5

The van rattled along the dim, hidden roads beneath Brooklyn, unseen by the humans above. The concrete seemed to hum with ancient energy, and Eve could feel it, buzzing in her bones like a storm waiting to break. The Troll Market. She had read about it, felt whispers of its presence through her darker rituals, but never been this close.

Liz stayed behind in the van with the tech team, watching the cameras and scanning thermals. She wasn't allowed entry; too human, too vulnerable to the old magic that cloaked the place. Eve placed a hand on Liz's shoulder before leaving.

"Call if anything shifts," she said gently. "And breathe. It’s not just your body anymore."

Liz offered a weak smile, touched her belly, and nodded. Only Eve and Abe knew. Hellboy, of course, was still being an oblivious tinpot.

The stone archway to the market shimmered like a veil, and as Red, Abe, and Eve crossed through, the world changed.

It was chaos, life, shadows, and ancient bones. The Troll Market sprawled in all directions — tunnels lit with fireflies, towering beasts trading cursed objects, small fae creatures flitting between stalls with stolen goods. The air was thick with smoke, spells, and flesh.

Red, in his element, made a beeline toward a vendor shouting about cursed goblin blades. Abe wandered, scanning for signals. Eve slowed her pace, letting the place settle into her senses.

A horned demon—twice her height and cloaked in molten cloth—stepped in front of her path. His eyes glowed faint red.

“Child of the Witches of Ashmoor,” he rasped in an ancient tongue. “You walk boldly here.”

“I have nothing to hide,” Eve replied in the same tongue, her voice steady.

He inclined his head and moved aside, disappearing into the crowd. Red glanced back at her and raised a brow.

“Do all the locals know you?” he asked, tossing a toothy smile.

Eve gave a shrug. “Only the smart ones.”

They moved deeper into the market before splitting. Abe wandered toward a strange energy signature. Red was called by a commotion near a brute creature with too many eyes. Eve followed something else — a pull. A pulse in the base of her skull. It wasn’t like the one that led her to the auction. It was heavier. Ancient. Cold.

Down a dark corridor marked with unfamiliar runes, she walked, boots silent against damp stone. It led into an abandoned chamber, an underground vault carved with elven script. It was empty, quiet… until it wasn’t.

From the shadows behind a pillar, he emerged. Prince Nuada.

He wore a loose robe, but it did little to conceal the tension in his arms, the silent grace of his posture. His eyes locked onto hers, silver and sharp. Eve tensed, but didn't reach for her weapons. Neither did he.

“I wondered if one of you would come,” he said. His voice was low, clipped, controlled.

“I wasn’t looking for you,” Eve replied looking for him

"I followed the magic. Or maybe it followed me.”

“I remember you,” he said quietly the air shifted. Not just magically—personally. Intimately "You were at the auction,” said behind her.

Eve turned slowly. Her eyes met his immediately—pale gold, intense, and unblinking. Prince Nuada stepped from the shadows like a whisper made flesh, barefoot, bare-chested under an open robe, his skin marred with old scars and fresh purpose.

“And you were the one killing everyone,” she replied evenly.

His mouth twitched, something close to a smirk. “You didn’t scream. Didn’t fight. Didn’t warn anyone.”

“Should I have?”

“You tell me, witch.”

“I don’t scream for murderers,” she said. “But I also don’t waste energy mourning the powerful and corrupt.”

Nuada tilted his head, amused but also intrigued. “So, you stood among blood and ruin and chose... silence.”

“No,” she corrected. “I chose not to interfere. There’s a difference.”

He circled her slowly, gaze flicking from her face to the edge of her coat, to the faint energy that pulsed at her fingertips. “You hate them.”

“I hate what they’ve done. To the earth. To magic. To beings like me... and like you.”

“And yet, you serve humans. Fight for their order. Their system.”

Eve turned to face him fully. “Don’t confuse proximity with loyalty.”

Nuada stepped close—too close. “Then what are you loyal to?”

She didn’t back away. “Balance.”

“Balance is a lie,” he said, voice low. “The strong crush the weak. The cruel thrive. Your BPRD pretends to protect the world but answers to men who strip it bare.”

“And your solution is slaughter?”

“My solution,” he growled, “is survival.”

Something flickered between them—something ancient, electric.

He leaned in just a little more, his breath grazing her cheek. “You feel it too. The pull. The weight. Whatever ties your magic to mine… it’s not just coincidence.”

Eve’s hand shot up, flat against him “Stop.”

He didn’t move. “You’re strong. But not cold. That’s what makes you dangerous. And fascinating.”

Her eyes narrowing.

“And what then?” she asked. “You sit on a throne of bones and call it peace?”

He reached up, slowly, fingers brushing a strand of her hair behind her ear—not possessive, but deliberate. “You’re not like them. But you’re not like me either. Are you sure you know where you stand?”

Just when she stepped back, He leaned in just enough for his voice to brush her ear. “You feel it, don’t you? The pull.”

She closed her eyes for half a heartbeat. Then opened them, steady.

“I do,” she admitted, voice low. “But I don’t trust it.”

That made him smile—not kindly, but intrigued.

“You’re wise to question it,” he said. “Desire makes fools of us all.”

A charged silence stretched between them. Then she moved—not away, but to press her hand firmly to his chest, where she could feel the thrum of power beneath skin and silk.

“What were you doing at the auction?” she asked, gaze locked on his. “What exactly are you after?”

Nuada didn’t flinch. “Reclaiming what is rightfully ours. The humans tore the world into pieces and crowned themselves gods. I’ve come to take the crown back.”

Her brow furrowed. “A literal crown?”

“A crown of war. A legacy of fire and obedience. One piece at a time.”

“That’s what this is all about? Revenge?”

He leaned in again, until their foreheads nearly touched. His breath ghosted across her lips.

“It’s about survival.”

Eve felt the magic pulse between them again—urgent, almost desperate. She wavered for only a second.

Then she pushed him back.

Not harshly. But with finality.

“You want a war,” she said softly. “But I’m not your ally. Not your enemy either.”

He looked at her like she was a puzzle he wanted to solve.

“There’s something in you,” he murmured. “That calls to me.”

“I know,” she whispered, voice steadier now. “But that doesn’t mean I’ll follow you.”

"Curious. You hide among them, but you’re not one of them." He said walking towards her "You’re powerful. Wasted among mortals who would chain you the moment they see it. You feel it, don’t you? The pull toward something... truer."

She frowned and stepped back.

"Don’t confuse your cause with my path."

"I see a weapon. I see potential. Not ruled by guilt, not tamed by fear. Join the side that will survive, and thrive."

"You don’t even know me." She said

"Not yet. But I know what you are." He said firmly

Then he disappeared into the dark corridor beyond, shadows folding over him like silk.

Eve stood alone in the vault, heart pounding—not from fear, but from something deeper, more dangerous.

She exhaled slowly and turned to leave.

Eve emerged from the subterranean chamber with steady steps, not rushed—but definitely purposeful. The energy still pulsing in her chest was hard to shake, like a thread of the conversation with Nuada still clung to her skin.

The light in the market hall flickered overhead, filtered through incense smoke and dust. She climbed the narrow stone steps and turned into the main passage just as Abe came into view from the left, adjusting his glasses with one hand and holding a small, wrapped object in the other. Nuala walked quietly behind him, her hood drawn up over her golden hair.

“You okay?” Abe asked, his voice calm but tight with concern.

“I’m fine,” Eve replied, her tone more clipped than usual. “You?”

“I met someone... unexpected,” he said, casting a glance back at Nuala.

“Make that two of us,” she murmured. Her arm still tingled where Nuada had touched her. There was no mark, but something lingered.

“What about Hellboy?” she asked, eyes scanning the shadows.

A sudden thud and distant yelling answered her.

“Aaagh—got it! I got it! I don’t got it!”

They turned just in time to see Hellboy stumble around a corner, wrestling a huge, fang-covered, slug-like creature dripping in glowing slime.

“Gross!” Red growled, throwing a small explosive into its mouth. The grenade burst in a flash of salt and fire, sending the beast shrieking and slithering away into a crack in the wall.

“Why do they always drool on me?” Hellboy muttered, brushing viscera off his coat.

“Maybe because you drool in your sleep,” Eve quipped, arms crossed.

He shot her a tired glare, panting. “Where the hell were you?”

“Strolling,” she replied dryly, though the look in her eyes hinted at something else.

Abe tilted his head, studying her. “Did you find something... unusual?”

Eve glanced back at the tunnel entrance. “Maybe.”

Red noticed the weight in her voice, but didn’t press. Instead, he turned to Abe. “And who’s the hooded elf?”

Nuala slowly lowered her hood. Her expression was soft, cautious, her eyes glowing with restrained emotion.

“She’s important,” Abe said gently. “And in danger.”

Red sighed. “Aren’t we all.”

Eve studied Nuala for a moment longer. There was something familiar in her presence—like Nuada, but gentler. Quieter. Sadder.

“We need to leave,” Eve said firmly. “Something is shifting. Something big.”

No one argued.

As the four of them walked through the ruined market hall, Eve felt it again—Nuada’s presence, still lingering somewhere in the distance. Not like a threat. More like a memory burned into her skin.

She had a feeling it wouldn’t be the last time she saw him.

And she wasn’t sure if that excited or terrified her more

[rossfr00]

Nuada x Reader

Title: Of Fire and Gold

Fandom: Hellboy II: The Golden Army

Pairing: Prince Nuada x Female Reade (Eve)

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: Angst, Violence, Canon-Divergence, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Magic, Heavy Emotional Themes

Tags

Slow Burn Forbidden Love Enemies to Lovers Angst with a Happy Ending Protective Nuada Witch!OC Secret Meetings Canon-Divergent Ending. Emotional Intimacy Magical Bond Sacrifice Found Family Royal Politics Hurt/Comfort Slight Jealousy Fem!Protagonist Smut

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Chapter 4

The air inside the BPRD headquarters was thick—not with chaos, but with a quiet kind of tension. The television was on in the background, flickering with the glow of some old cartoon rerun Red had half-forgotten he liked. Bugs Bunny or something equally absurd. He was sunk deep into the couch, arms crossed, tail twitching in irritation.

Abe sat nearby, unusually quiet, fingers steepled under his chin, watching—not the TV, but Liz.

She stood by the wall, arms crossed tightly over her chest, eyes distant, her jaw set. Something trembled around her, barely contained. And Eve... Eve felt it before she even walked in.

The magic in the air had been strange lately. Tingling, off-balance, twitchy. But now, it pulsed. There was something deeper—an echo of change.

Eve leaned on the frame of the doorway, arms crossed.

"You okay?" she asked, voice casual, but her gaze sharp.

Liz flinched slightly. "I'm fine."

Abe didn’t move. His gaze was steady on her.

Eve walked slowly in, stopping a few feet away. She tilted her head. "When did it start?"

"What?"

"The nausea. The headaches. You haven’t had coffee in two weeks. You always drink coffee."

Liz hesitated, eyes flicking to Abe for a heartbeat, then back. Eve could see it—the silent exchange, the unspoken truth.

Eve softened her tone. "You don’t have to say it. I already know."

Liz exhaled, slow. "It’s too early. I’m not ready to tell him."

"I know." Eve stepped closer. "A demon told me. One of the old ones. Said something about a spark turning into two flames."

Abe nodded slightly, confirming without words.

Across the room, Hellboy snorted. "What's with the whispering? Did I miss something?"

"No," Liz said quickly, forcing a smile. "Just girl talk."

Red gave them a skeptical look but didn’t push. His attention flicked back to the cartoon, though his fingers drummed against the couch.

Eve glanced at Liz, then Abe. They were careful. And Red—well, he’d notice eventually. But not now.

The tension still lingered.

"You’ve been in a mood lately," Red muttered, eyes still on the screen. "You mad at me or what?"

"Maybe she just needs a little space," Eve replied lightly, but her tone had a subtle edge.

"You're not helping," he grumbled.

Eve stepped around the couch and looked him dead in the eyes. "You don’t get to guilt her when you haven’t asked her once how she’s feeling."

"What’s that supposed to mean?"

"It means stop being a stubborn jackass."

Red looked genuinely taken aback, mouth slightly open. Eve didn’t wait for a response. She turned back toward Liz and squeezed her shoulder.

"We're here for you. Okay? In whatever way you need."

Liz gave a small nod, grateful.

Abe stood and gently touched Eve’s arm. The look he gave her was quiet but knowing. It was time to give them space.

As they walked out together, Eve muttered under her breath, "Honestly, growing up with witches was easier than dealing with him."

Abe chuckled softly. "That’s because they taught you how to channel fire. Not walk through it."

The door clicked shut behind them, and the TV buzzed on, filling the silence they left behind.

[rossfr00]

Nuada x Reader

Title: Of Fire and Gold

Fandom: Hellboy II: The Golden Army

Pairing: Prince Nuada x Female Reade (Eve)

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: Angst, Violence, Canon-Divergence, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Magic, Heavy Emotional Themes

Tags:

Slow Burn Forbidden Love Enemies to Lovers Angst with a Happy Ending Protective Nuada Witch!OC Secret Meetings Canon-Divergent Ending. Emotional Intimacy Magical Bond Sacrifice Found Family Royal Politics Hurt/Comfort Slight Jealousy Fem!Protagonist Smut

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Cap. 3

The auction house was crawling with agents.

The lights were on again—artificial and too bright, slicing through the blood-soaked scene like scalpels. Flashbulbs popped. Evidence bags clicked shut. Radios buzzed with clipped voices.

Hellboy stepped under the velvet rope, crunching broken glass beneath his boots.

“Jesus,” he muttered, surveying the carnage. “Looks like somebody unleashed a blender in here.”

Abe knelt beside one of the victims, scanning what was left with a clinical eye. “Not a blender. Tooth fairies.”

Liz raised a brow. “You’re serious?”

“I wish I weren’t.” He gestured toward a gnawed ribcage. “They devour bone first. Small, winged. Usually travel in swarms.”

Hellboy made a face. “Cute.”

“Only if you're into flesh-eating insects,” Liz replied dryly.

Eve stood just beyond the cordon, arms crossed tight over her chest. Her eyes flicked from corpse to corpse—never long, never lingering. She’d already seen enough. More than enough.

Abe glanced over at her. “You got here fast.”

She gave a small shrug. “Walked into it. Was nearby.”

“You all right?” Liz asked.

Eve nodded. “Yeah. Just... residual energy.” Her fingers twitched. “Place is soaked in it.”

“Yeah, no kidding,” Hellboy grumbled, picking something out of his coat. “Found this jammed in a dead guy’s throat.”

It was a cracked glass vial. Faint traces of blue dust clung to the inside.

“Summoning powder,” Abe murmured, inspecting it. “Used to transport magical beings. Or… release them.”

“Like a swarm of hungry tooth fairies,” Eve added under her breath.

Liz watched her, quiet for a moment. “You seem… off.”

Eve hesitated. “I felt something earlier today. All day. Couldn’t place it.”

“You think it was connected to this?” Abe asked.

Eve’s gaze dropped to the bloodstained marble.

“Yes.”

He studied her for a beat. “And did you feel anything... specific when you arrived?”

Another pause.

“Just aftermath,” she said, voice carefully neutral.

Hellboy wasn’t buying it. “You saw something, didn’t you?”

Eve didn’t flinch. “Only the bodies.”

That wasn’t a lie.

But it wasn’t the whole truth either.

Hellboy gave her a long look, but didn’t push. Liz’s hand brushed her arm—subtle, grounding. Eve offered a small nod in return.

As the team spread out to examine the scene, Abe lingered near one of the broken display cases. Inside had been a golden artifact—half a crown, maybe. Elvish markings glinted faintly on the velvet cushion.

“Missing piece,” he muttered. “Someone knew exactly what they were looking for.”

Eve’s heart beat faster.

So he came for that. Not just revenge. Not just carnage. He wanted something. Something old. Something powerful.

Her eyes swept the room again.

And for the first time, she wondered if she hadn’t just witnessed a massacre.

But a declaration.

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Gurls, I don't know how to add the other parts of the story in each part hahaha.... but here's part 3