CHAPTER 12
"Fate does love to toy with us, doesn't it?"
The female shifter frowned. "You don't seem troubled by this."
"Why would I be?"
Vanyul finally stood, his presence commanding even in the dim light. The tattoos snaking up his arms pulsed with a faint glow—twenty horned marks, complete and ominous, symbols of his mastery over his magic.
He stepped forward, past his kneeling allies, into the mouth of the cave where the moonlight barely reached. His gaze lifted toward the distant palace, where he knew Sihyun now resided.
"Sihyun will remember me eventually."
He smirked slightly, a knowing look in his golden eyes.
"And when he does… I'll be waiting."
With a flicker of dark energy, his body shimmered and vanished into the shadows, leaving his allies staring after him.
The night air was thick with magic. The full moon bathed the palace in silver light, and Sihyun sat on the silk-covered bedding, his back resting against the carved wooden headboard. His fingers tapped restlessly against his knee as he exhaled, brows furrowing. Something was off. A strange presence lingered in the air, an energy that sent a shiver down his spine. It wasn't human, nor was it the prince's magic. It was something else—someone else.
Muwon, sitting nearby, was watching him closely. He had noticed how Sihyun's body had been tense all evening, how his dark red eyes flickered toward the open window, as if searching for something unseen. The prince had long learned to trust his instincts, and right now, his instincts told him that something was weighing on Sihyun's mind.
"What's wrong?"
Muwon finally asked, his deep voice cutting through the silence.
Sihyun glanced at him but didn't answer right away. He wasn't about to tell the prince that he felt uneasy—that would give him too much satisfaction. Instead, he stretched out his legs lazily and smirked.
"Nothing. Maybe I just don't like the way you're staring at me."
Muwon didn't react to the provocation. Instead, his gaze dropped lower, following the glow pulsing faintly over Sihyun's bare arms. The golden hue of the tattoos shimmered like molten fire, dancing across his pale skin. They weren't just markings; they were alive, responding to the full moon's call.
"They're beautiful,"
Muwon murmured.
Sihyun stilled.
"…What?"
Muwon reached out before he even realized what he was doing, his fingertips ghosting over Sihyun's forearm. The warmth of his touch sent an unexpected jolt up Sihyun's spine. He should have pulled away, should have slapped the prince's hand aside—but for some reason, he didn't.
"Your tattoos,"
Muwon continued, his voice quieter now.
"I've never seen anything like them before."
Sihyun swallowed. His heart wasn't supposed to react like this—not to Muwon. And yet, under the moonlight, with the prince's fingers tracing slow patterns over his glowing skin, something inside him stirred.
"You must be blind then,"
Sihyun muttered, looking away.
"They're just marks."
"They're more than that,"
Muwon countered, his tone soft.
"They're a part of you."
Sihyun hated this. Hated the way Muwon was looking at him, as if he meant something. Hated the warmth pooling in his chest, the way his body betrayed him by leaning ever so slightly toward the prince's touch.
Muwon wasn't sure what possessed him, but the moment Sihyun lifted his gaze—those crimson eyes burning against the moon's silver glow—he felt himself moving closer.
"Sihyun…"
The way Muwon said his name sent a shiver through him. It wasn't a command. It wasn't mocking. It was gentle.
Sihyun didn't move as Muwon leaned in, their faces mere inches apart. The warmth of his breath fanned across his lips, and in that moment, all thoughts of magic, of escape, of hatred and revenge—they all disappeared.
And then, Muwon kissed him.
It wasn't forceful or demanding. It was slow, deliberate, testing the space between them. Sihyun should have pushed him away. He should have bitten him. But instead, his body betrayed him once again. His fingers curled into Muwon's robe, and before he knew it, he was kissing him back.
For the first time, there was no battle between them—no chains, no threats, no bargains. Just the quiet hum of Sihyun's magic, the soft press of lips, and the undeniable pull between them under the full moon's watchful gaze.
The moment their lips parted, silence stretched between them. The golden glow in Sihyun's eyes slowly faded, his tattoos still pulsing faintly before settling against his skin. His breath came shallow, his mind trying to process what had just happened.
Muwon, still close, studied him with an unreadable expression. His fingers, which had just been gently gripping Sihyun's chin, hesitated before retreating. He had kissed him. No, it was more than that—he had wanted to kiss him. And now that he had, something inside him felt... different.
Sihyun blinked, his gaze flickering between Muwon's lips and his dark eyes. Then, just as the moment threatened to stretch too long, he scoffed lightly and leaned back, tilting his head.
"That was unexpected,"
he murmured, voice laced with amusement, but his fingers clutched the fabric of his sleeve as if trying to ground himself.
"You're not falling for me, are you, Your Highness?"
Muwon's jaw tensed, but he didn't look away. Instead, he reached for the Sorcerer's Chain lying beside them, his fingers curling around it thoughtfully.
"I don't think you'd want to know my answer,"
he said evenly.
Sihyun frowned at the chain, recognizing the shift in mood. His amusement dimmed, irritation flickering in his chest. He hated that thing. Hated that it was always waiting for him after every ritual, like a leash keeping him bound.
Muwon must have noticed his change in expression because he sighed, his voice quieter this time.
"You should rest, you can sleep tonight with your brother"
For once, Sihyun didn't argue. He simply exhaled and walked towards the door then calmly walked out sliding the door shut behind him
As he closed his eyes, his heart was still pounding—not with anger.