CHAPTER 6
Dohyun grinned.
"Fair point."
Silence settled over them for a moment, broken only by the distant rustling of leaves. Then, Taejin spoke again, quieter this time.
"You think the king will ever let him go?"
Muwon didn't answer right away. He had thought about it, of course. But the truth was… he wasn't sure.
"That depends,"
he finally said.
"On what?"
Dohyun asked.
Muwon looked out toward the palace, where Sihyun was likely kept under guard, where Yuhyun was no doubt watching over him with cautious eyes.
"On how this all ends."
The midday sun streamed through the open windows, casting warm golden light across the room. Yuhyun sat cross-legged on the bed, his back resting against the wooden headboard.Sihyun lay on the bed with his head resting on Yuhyun's lap, his body tense despite the soothing touch of his twin's fingers combing through his hair.
He was quiet, but the kind of quiet that came before a storm.
His body still felt strange, as if something had been drawn out of him, leaving behind a quiet, unfamiliar emptiness.
"Does it still hurt?"
Yuhyun's voice was soft
"I'm fine"
"Fine? You could barely stand when we got back. What part of that is fine?"
"I still walked back on my own, didn't I?"
"Barely"
A moment of silence passed before Yuhyun spoke again, this time gentler.
"How bad was it?"
Sihyun stiffened slightly. He didn't want to talk about it—about the way his body had felt drained, about how Muwon had held his wrist so tightly like he was something fragile. It made him feel weak, and he hated it.
"You never show it, but I know it took a toll on you."
Sihyun smirked slightly, cracking one eye open.
"Since when did you get so smart?"
Yuhyun sighed, flicking his forehead lightly.
"You can't fool me."
Sihyun chuckled but didn't argue. He let himself sink into the warmth of his twin's presence, listening to the steady rhythm of Yuhyun's breathing.
"I hate this place,"
he muttered after a while, voice barely above a whisper.
Yuhyun didn't respond immediately. Instead, he traced slow circles against Sihyun's temple, soothing and steady.
"I know,"
he said at last
"And I hate him too"
The words were low but laced with venom.
"I should've let him die."
Sihyun's eyes darkened
Yuhyun's hand stilled.
"You don't mean that."
Sihyun let out a humorless laugh.
"Don't I?"
He tilted his head slightly, looking up at Yuhyun.
"You saw what they did to our people. How many died because of that royal family? And now I have to save him?"
His voice shook with barely restrained anger.
Yuhyun met his gaze, his own expression unreadable.
"I know."
His fingers moved again, brushing against Sihyun's forehead in a way that almost felt apologetic.
"But we need to be careful. You especially."
Sihyun rolled his eyes.
"You always say that. What do you want me to do? Sit quietly like some obedient dog?"
Yuhyun pinched his cheek.
"Yes, actually. Just for once in your life."
Sihyun swatted his hand away with a scowl.
"Never."
"But we don't have a choice."
Sihyun scoffed.
"There's always a choice."
Yuhyun's fingers stilled.
"Not this time"
Silence stretched between them, heavy but not suffocating. Sihyun shifted slightly, pressing his cheek against Yuhyun's thigh, seeking comfort in the one person who had always been his anchor.
"You'll be okay,"
Yuhyun murmured, as if saying it enough times would make it true.
"I won't let them hurt you"
MUWON'S QUARTER
The futon beneath Sihyun was cool, but the heat rolling off Muwon's body made it hard to focus on anything else. The prince hovered over him, his weight pressing down just enough to remind him who was in control.
Sihyun's chest rose and fell in steady breaths, but his fingers clenched the sheets beneath him. The anticipation was worse than the ritual itself. He knew what was coming—the slow, unbearable pull of his magic leaving his body, the way it seeped into Muwon like a lifeline.
Muwon's hand brushed against his wrist, fingers sliding over the pulse point before trailing up his arm.
"Relax,"
he murmured, his voice smooth but firm.
Sihyun scoffed.
"Easier said than done."
A smirk tugged at Muwon's lips before he leaned down, his breath warm against Sihyun's neck.
"Then I'll make it easier for you"
The moment their skin touched, Sihyun's body reacted. His tattoos flared to life, crimson and gold lines illuminating his pale skin. Heat surged through his veins, spreading outward like fire licking at his senses. His breathing hitched as the energy shifted, moving from his body into Muwon's.
Muwon groaned softly, his grip tightening as the magic pulsed between them. His own body felt lighter, the weight of the curse mark easing as he drank in Sihyun's power.
Sihyun gasped when Muwon shifted against him, the friction sending jolts of warmth through his core. His magic burned brighter, the glowing lines along his arms and chest flickering wildly as his control wavered.
"Too much?"
Muwon asked, his voice low as he pressed closer.
Sihyun's nails dug into his shoulders, his body tensing beneath him.
"Shut up and finish it already."
Muwon chuckled, but his movements didn't slow. He ran a hand down Sihyun's side, feeling the way his body trembled under the touch. The prince was careful, precise, drawing out every flicker of energy from Sihyun's core.
Sihyun's eyes snapped shut, his breath coming in short, uneven pants. His glowing irises burned behind his lids, his magic responding instinctively to the ritual. It wasn't just a transfer—it was a connection, a binding of something deeper than either of them wanted to acknowledge.
Muwon's fingers tangled in his hair, forcing him to meet his gaze.
"Look at me," he murmured.
Sihyun opened his eyes, and Muwon felt his breath hitch at the sight. The red glow in his irises was wild, untamed, flickering with raw power. It was intoxicating.
They gaze at each other.