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This is the Lore of the Land.
At the dawn of the new century came a kingdom with vast riches to its name, its people were content with not wanting anything else.
They had lived their lives in tranquility, knowing that everything they needed was provided for by the ruling family. The King and Queen may have been sitting on an iron throne but their hearts were burned with an unquenchable love that spanned through each and everyone, that even visitors from the neighboring kingdoms would undoubtedly never return to their homeland.
Life in the Land was so great that when their son was born, they made sure to impart the same amount of love they had shown so that when he would inherit the throne, he'd know how to govern it with both intellect and compassion.
As it goes in a tale, the prince grew into a man worthy of the throne and its people. There was not a day that went by when he didn’t sneak past the guards just to make it to morning sport with a few kids in the village, or charm his way into helping the grumpy uncle running the bakery, maybe even tend to the gardens with the groundskeeper. Simply doing the things that his people did as a way of making sure that he did not become one of the evil princes told in fairytales -- entitled and exiled to live a lonesome life.
He was happy. Deep inside, he knew that he’s living a meaningful life filled with the little things he kept close to his heart. When he returned at night, slipping past the guards once again, the prince would retell of his day to his parents who genuinely listened to the still energetic ramblings of their son.
Life was like this in the Land. Peaceful. As if nothing could ever ruin it.
One day, the prince is giving chase to his sport mates within the village’s narrow alleyways when he collides with another young boy, sending them both off onto their bottoms on the cobbled street. He gets up fast, rushing to the young boy’s aid when he’s met with a harsh slap against his hand.
“Watch where you’re going!” The young boy gets up, dusting himself off and checking the contents inside his bag. “Good thing I cushioned the vase with clothes or else my mother would have lectured my ear off!”
“I’m sorry.” The prince ducks his head, slightly ashamed to be raised a voice at.
The young boy looks at him, and recognition flashes across his sparkling eyes. “Oh no, you’re the prince. I--I’m the one who should be sorry!”
“No! I was the one who ran into you--I--may I at least offer you a walk home? Or something that could help you in return for my mistake?”
The young boy goes to think about the prince’s offer, uncertainty swimming at the edges of his eyes until it recedes back into clarity.
“Your name, perhaps? You’ve grown into adolescence yet no one in the kingdom’s had the honor of knowing how to address you.” The young boy may have expressed his desire with confidence, but the fiddling of his thumbs says otherwise.
“Minhyung.” The prince grants his wish. “My name is Minhyung.”
There’s something that blossoms in the young boy’s eyes, and Minhyung is sure he sees his own eyes reflected in them, ignited with excitement. For what’s to come, the prince is not sure. But if he can see himself in this young boy’s eyes, then he’ll heed the call of his heart and find out where it goes.
“My name is Donghyuck.” The young boy introduces himself, softly this time, but it’s already made its impact heavy on Minhyung. “Would I still be able to take your offer of walking me home?”
The walk home is nothing short of splendid. If Donghyuck once saw all of Minhyung’s acts as a facade, now he’s become certain that these acts were far from that. They are the truth, stemmed from Minhyung’s heart and bloomed into the actions he does for his family and people. It is silly, the way Donghyuck notices his heart beat faster than ever before. He knows he is falling, but he is too prideful to admit it.
Although, what he can admit to himself is that he wants to get to know more of this perfect prince...and how he is stupid enough to bide his time with someone like him -- of no pedigree nor potential...just a young boy who wants more out of his miserable life.
Their walk does not end there. In fact, Donghyuck gets what he wished for. One walk turns into another...and another, until they can no longer count on their fingers the amount of time they have set aside so that they could walk side by side down the sleeping streets while the moonlight ventured brighter and brighter into the night sky, illuminating the path before them.
“Don’t you ever feel different?” Donghyuck asks one day. He is delicate in his query, and whether that is due to the nature of his concern or maybe he just doesn’t want to break the silence, Minhyung is not sure. It’s difficult for Minhyung to understand the question.
“As if everywhere you go, people tell you that it’s no use making an effort because they’ll never treat you the same way as others?” Donghyuck continues, and it’s not because of the moon in which his eyes begin to shine.
Minhyung is compelled to wipe a tear away before it falls down Donghyuck’s cheek. “I’m afraid I haven’t felt that yet. Who do I have to put some sense into?”
“The entire kingdom.” Donghyuck is honest, looking into Minhyung with the sadness that breaks his own heart. “Well...just my father. What he’s done to me has already stained my perception of the rest of the people here.”
“I’m sure if he learns from another’s perspective, he’ll be able to change.” Minhyung reasons, feeling something kindle from within. “Let me talk to him.”
“Minhyung, we’ve only known each other for a few months.” Donghyuck breathes heavily, clearly averse by the proposition. “While each day makes me cherish you more, I can’t possibly allow you to do this. Everybody has tried and my father’s just at that point in his life where he’d rather wallow in hate than take help.”
“Well, he hasn’t taken help from me yet.” Minhyung pleads with his eyes, hoping that Donghyuck will be willing to try for one last time.
“Why do you do this?” Donghyuck is worried, his lips quivering in an attempt to prevent himself from crying.
“It’s two things.” Minhyung simply takes Donghyuck’s hands, keeps them warm in its hold. “First is that it’s my job as the heir to make sure every one of my people is taken care of. Second is that it’s my way of saying how much I cherish you too.”
Donghyuck closes his eyes and lets the tears fall. Minhyung’s concern soars but ebbs away when he sees a soft smile bloom on the other’s face.
“You’re one of a kind, my prince,” Donghyuck says, lifting one of his hands up to press the knuckles against his lips. “I don’t know what I did to deserve you.”
“You just bumped into me, that’s all.” Minhyung pulls their hands from Donghyuck so he can turn his palm over and dance his fingers around the skin there.
“You--you love me?” It turns out that Minhyung wasn’t simply letting his finger dance idly, it was tracing out a message, one that the prince was too shy to say.
“It might be too soon...” Minhyung withdraws his finger, looking up at Donghyuck once again awaiting an answer. “But if you’ll let me, I’ll do everything for you.”
The wait seems to stretch on forever, but when Donghyuck cries once more, it’s from the overwhelming feeling of joy when he says, “I love you too.”
Things don’t happen quite quickly after that. The lovers take the amount of time necessary to prepare themselves to face Donghyuck’s father.
They make sure that Minhyung’s family knows of their entire story. Not leaving a single detail out to the King and Queen about how their son no longer spends his days living about town, but getting to know Donghyuck and falling in love. It’s a risk that they took knowing that, at the very least, one of their families would know that their relationship exists.
“I’d love to talk to you.” Are the first words the Queen says to Donghyuck, ushering him with an elegant hand towards the private gardens. As they walk past the variety of beautiful flora, Donghyuck takes the utmost effort to not make the slightest misstep. He is in the presence of royalty after all.
“Don’t worry, my dear.” The Queen chuckles, her voice resembling the light sounds of the wind chimes hanging up around the gardens. “I’d love to get to know you on my own. My husband tends to lead the conversation when he’s incredibly pleased.”
Donghyuck can feel the blush spreading across his cheeks, he furthers his head down to the ground because he does not know whether Minhyung’s parents are taking a liking to him or not.
“He’s pleased because his son’s immeasurably happy. All because of you.” The Queen pauses to bend over a bed of roses, gingerly plucking one to wear over Donghyuck’s ear. “Minhyung talks about you a lot.”
“I just really love him, your Highness,” Donghyuck admits softly, thumbing the outer petals of the rose. “In a short amount of time, he’s seen right through me and onto my core. Yet, it didn’t repel him...he said that my heart was just made differently. That it was okay.”
Donghyuck takes the rose from his ear, letting it settle on his enclosed palm. For a moment something flashes from under the petals, some sort of fire blazing through one of the veins. A trick of the eye is what Donghyuck convinces himself it was. “I won’t hurt him, you Highness. Because I know that he won’t hurt me.”
“I know.” The Queen responds with the gentlest of smiles, ushering them both back to the castle. “May I speak out of turn?”
Donghyuck nods, speechless at the way Minhyung’s mother carries herself. He’s heard the stories of them being unaffected by greed and power, but words do not bring justice to what he sees in person.
“I don’t know how to best preface this but...we are a different kind of family.” The Queen clasps her hands together, clearly nervous about the next thing she’s about to say. “I am not in the right place to tell you but I urge you to ask Minhyung about it. What you saw in the rose is no illusion.”
“W-what do you mean?”
“Ask him. Not because I want to scare you, but because I want you to be fully prepared for the extent of how Minhyung is willing to protect you.”
The Queen leaves him once they emerge from the garden. Or rather, it’s Donghyuck who chooses to stay behind for what was revealed has finally sunk in and he does not know whether that was said to test his loyalties.
Nevertheless, Donghyuck is convinced that he should talk about this with Minhyung. Upon his return, he sees him having just finished conversing with the King and grabs this opportunity to take him by the arm, excuse them both in front of Minhyung’s father, before pulling him deeper inside the castle.
Donghyuck has no idea where they’re going so he heads for the first door he sees -- tucked in a dead-ended hallway with only one lamp illuminating its way.
“What’s wrong, Donghyuck?” Minhyung asks immediately after the door is shut and locked. “Did something happen?”
“Yes, Minhyung, and if I may be a little bit more honest, it’s beginning to scare me.” Donghyuck digs for the rose in his pocket but hesitates in pulling it out.
“It’s alright. You can tell me.” Minhyung notices that Donghyuck’s hand has never come out. “What is that?”
“Will you promise not to laugh or be disgusted by me?” Donghyuck bores his eyes into Minhyung, prolonging his hard stare until the other realizes that he’s serious.
“Of course. I’ve already seen you push people away because you think you’re not worthy. It’s not true, of course. But I’m telling you that nothing can shake me.” Minhyung offers a small smile, and it immediately erases the fear Donghyuck had mere seconds ago.
He takes out the rose, smoothing out the folded petals before handing it over to Minhyung. As soon as its stem touches his palm, all the flower’s veins ignite in a web of fire.
“Oh, my mother told you to ask me about this.” Minhyung twirls the rose in his hand, seemingly unaffected yet shaken at once.
“Yes. She said something about what you can potentially do to protect me.” Donghyuck watches Minhyung’s expression, awaiting the sign that it is all just a joke. Yet it doesn’t come. “She said it like you were willing to commit a crime. Maybe she feared that I’d be scared and flee.”
“Never a crime. But she is right about one thing. If I tell you why this rose bears fire in its veins...I won’t be surprised if you leave me.”
Donghyuck furrows his brows, growing quite offended that he’d assume such a thing. “Try me.”
“There is a fire in these veins.” Minhyung begins, lifting the rose just a bit to emphasize his point. “In fact, there is a fire in the veins of this entire kingdom. From our crops to our meals, it is aided by the fire passed down from a long line of dragons--”
“Dragons?” Donghyuck’s face falls, expecting everything but the mention of the mythical creature. “But dragons have not existed for centuries now.”
“That’s what historians told you. Well, that’s what we wanted to tell you.” Minhyung now thumbs one of the petals, the fire within blazing to consume it whole. “Dragons are mighty creatures but they’re ostracized for their power. Humans feared that if they did not control us, we would take over and incite chaos over the land. So, they chained us to the deep earth and made sure that our every move was watched with doubtful eyes. If we so ever rebelled, we’d have a stake plunged into our hearts before burning us to ashes. It was devastating, to be treated like we didn’t belong.”
Donghyuck feels tears prick in the corners of his eyes. He knows that feeling all too well.
“But my father’s ancestors grew tired of it. Hence the Infernal Insurgence.” Minhyung runs a finger at the tip of the flame, taking a piece of it onto his skin and nearing it to his eyes. “Since then, we’ve used our power to go into hiding. Only to reveal ourselves to the worthy.”
“And you thought you’d hide in plain sight?” Donghyuck raises his voice, pacing back and forth within the small space. “Pretending to be human is already risky enough and your family just had the idea to rule the kingdom?! What on earth are you thinking?! If you’re found out then your family might be killed! Why did your mother have to lead me into this?!”
“Because she and father found you worthy of this secret and thought best that it came from me.” Minhyung answers, extinguishing the fire with his thumb. “This is a lot for you, and I’d respect it if you need time to think this over.”
“Think this over?” Donghyuck brisks his way to Minhyung until they’re only an inch apart. “You cannot think this over. It’s either I’m a part of this or not, and I’ll have you know that I’m very much in this with you.”
Minhyung stops playing with the fire and looks into Donghyuck’s eyes that are burning with determination. “You mean it?”
“Of course I do. I never say these things lightly.” Donghyuck closes the distance between them, encapsulating Minhyung in his arms. “Oh heavens, I’m in love with a dragon prince. Do you breathe fire in your human form?”
Donghyuck laughs the moment Minhyung hits his arm with a loose fist, putting his hands up in mock surrender and savoring this light-hearted moment they share.
He thinks these moments will become rare from now on.
Still, they need to tell Donghyuck’s family of their relationship. While it first stemmed from the need to introduce themselves as young lovers, they now needed to do this as their way of making space for the huge secret they would have to carry for the rest of their lives.
Hence why despite the obvious tremble wracking through Donghyuck’s hand, he opens the front door that leads to the inside of his home.
“Oh, you’re home! Great timing, come and help me with these vegetables I harvested from our garden.” The sight of his mother greets him first, clad in a hand-stitched apron and arms full with a huge basket, she carefully pads across the living room on her way to the kitchen.
“Hold on, mom. I want to introduce you to someone.” Donghyuck makes his way inside, being careful not to show Minhyung yet, who’s standing calmly behind him. “I’ve mentioned him once or twice but not by name...and I think it’s time that you and father finally see him in the flesh.”
“My son, look at me! You didn’t even give me a chance to freshen up!” Her voice may have a reprimanding tone, but her eyes have this playful glint to them, “Alright, where is he?”
Donghyuck sends a shy smile her way before stepping aside slowly to reveal Minhyung standing tall, hands clasped behind his back and a bright smile blooming on his face.
“Hello, it’s an honor to finally meet you,” Minhyung says, head dipping to a formal bow.
The huge basket drops from Donghyuck’s mother’s arms, eyes wide in disbelief and mouth agape as she holds her breath. Imminent that she could not fathom the royalty in front of her.
“Oh, my stars...” She finally breathes, looking at Donghyuck with pleading eyes. “You really should’ve let me freshen up.”
Minhyung chuckles to ease the tension, walking past Donghyuck to pick up the basket and the few pieces of vegetables that have fallen on the floor. “Let me help you bring this to the kitchen.”
Then a rather noisy exchange takes place when Donghyuck’s mother regains her bearings, trying to take back the basket from Minhyung’s hands because a prince should never have to do commoner’s tasks. But Donghyuck’s lover insists, assuring that he is just finding a way to get to know her more.
Donghyuck’s mother seems taken to Minhyung and is already retelling her entire day so far to him when they hear a loud slam of the door to one of the rooms upstairs.
“Well, he’s in a bad mood today.” Donghyuck’s mother cranes her head towards the sound of heavy steps coming down the stairs.
“When is he ever not in a bad mood?” Donghyuck retorts, straightening himself up because he would rather not have his father pick on something while Minhyung is here. He doesn’t want to aggravate his mood any more than it already is.
“I think things can still be turned around.” Minhyung sends a cautious smile in Donghyuck’s way before he greets his father as he arrives at the foot of the stairs.
“Who is that voice I hear? Huh? So much damn chatter in the afternoon.” Donghyuck’s father rubs the back of his head rather harshly. From the looks of it, he must’ve abruptly awoken from his afternoon rest and doesn’t take a keen liking to it.
“We’re so sorry, sir. It seems that all of us got excited as I’ve given a surprise visit to your home.” Minhyung greets him from a respectable distance, hands clasped behind his back akin to schoolboys on their first day of school.
“My god! What are you doing here?!” Donghyuck’s father scrambles to bow but Minhyung prevents him, giving the assurance that none of these pleasantries are needed.
“I am here to formally introduce myself as your son’s partner.” Minhyung returns to his posture before, only his hands are clasped tighter which makes him look a lot stiffer. Donghyuck can’t help but smile, seeing how Minhyung really wants to make a good first impression. “I hope that you will see me not as a prince, but as someone who wants to get to know his family and if I may be so bold...become a part of it one day.”
Donghyuck’s father is visibly taken aback. But he quickly composes himself with a slight smirk and says, “Ah, my son got his talons into you, huh?”
“Darling!” Donghyuck’s mother reprimands him, taking an immediate dislike to his rude tone.
“What? Clearly, I was just joking, isn’t that right, my son?” Donghyuck’s father looks at him expectantly.
“Right. You can never hurt anyone, father.” Donghyuck has to divert his growing anger by digging his fingers into his palms in an attempt to be civil.
“After all, I work hard to make sure that this family stays together. Even if you do sometimes get stubborn.” Donghyuck’s father makes his way past Minhyung and Donghyuck and onto the kitchen where his mother is now setting the table. “Come along now, I want to know more about how you managed to take a prince for yourself! Maybe you take after your mother more than after me!”
Minhyung sidles up to Donghyuck, a hand on his shoulder to give comfort. But Donghyuck only gives him a disappointed look in return, clearly affected by how quickly things shifted.
“I’m sorry. He does have his good days.” Donghyuck whispers.
“It’s alright. I mean it when I say that maybe things can still turn around.” Minhyung sneaks a gentle kiss on his cheek before walking with him to have an early supper with the family.
At the table, there are conversations over a humble spread of meals. While Donghyuck’s parents take the lead, Minhyung tries to pitch in, telling stories of his own childhood and asking questions about how Donghyuck grew up.
Whilst the parents are busy reminiscing, Minhyung’s eyes are caught on the ring finger of Donghyuck’s mother. Instead of a silver band around her ring finger as one would expect, it has nothing -- just bare skin and the faint mark of the jewelry left behind.
Donghyuck’s father notices Minhyung’s stare, halting himself from speaking as he reaches for his wife’s hand. “Curious, young man?”
Minhyung shakes his head as if awoken from a reverie. “N-no. I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to pry...”
“We can tell the story, right?” Donghyuck’s father faces his wife, whose face is now the shade of paper --thin and translucent.
The atmosphere changes along with it, growing heavy as it lays on their shoulders. Minhyung looks at Donghyuck, eyes filled with worry.
“Never let go.” Donghyuck threads their hands together, clutching tight in warning of the upcoming storm.
“Not here. Not now. It’ll be rude to the prince.” Donghyuck’s mother’s voice begins to tremble, dread lacing her every word.
“What? The prince said that he wants to be a part of the family right?” Donghyuck’s father’s grip on her hand grows tighter and tighter until she gasps in pain. “Well, he certainly has the right to know that we are far from the perfect family because you decided to get on with another man. Not only that, you even had the gall to bear a child with him!”
“Guess who that is, my prince?” Donghyuck’s father addresses Minhyung with his eyes glazed with rage. “Your lovely Donghyuck. ”
“Father, stop it--”
“No!” His father raises his voice at him. “You want to know why you don’t belong? That’s because you’re not my son--
“You were hurting me! And I had no other choice!” Donghyuck’s mother tries to reason with him, only to have her entrapped hand slammed hard against the table, rendering her gasping in pain.
“Shut up! I let you both live under my roof, eat my food and fend off the money I provide and you have the gall to go out and snatch the prince?! You really are a slut like her.”
“Don’t you dare talk about your family that way!” Minhyung’s voice echoes across the room, its stern nature taking everybody by surprise. “Moreso, don’t you dare treat your family this way! They’re not the problem, you are. ”
“What did you say?” Donghyuck’s father lets his wife’s hand go, standing up from his seat like a bear ready to attack.
“I said that if you are capable of hurting other people, then you do not deserve a place here nor anywhere else.” Minhyung matches him, standing up and looking at him dead in the eyes. A string of fire barely beating at his arm.
“Minhyung...” Donghyuck clandestinely places his hand over it, preventing any opportunity for his father to uncover the truth of Minhyung’s kind.
“You’re just like them.” Donghyuck’s father scoffs, it’s evident in the chuckle he lets out after that he is resistant to what Minhyung said. “Always coming after me for something.”
“That’s only what you think.” Minhyung stops him from rambling on, “I may not know what you’ve been through but one thing I know for sure is that you’re not supposed to unleash all the hurt onto innocent people.”
“All you are is a facade.” Donghyuck’s father scoffs at Minhyung again, “Because you’re here putting your nose in other people’s business. How would you feel if I did the same to you? Huh? Would you still stand arrogantly the way you are right now?”
Minhyung takes a while to respond, and Donghyuck sees the light of his flames seeping through the crevices of his fingers, overlapping it with his other hand to conceal it.
“Yes. Because unlike you, I am willing to face the consequences.”
“Are you willing to let this boy speak like this to me?” Donghyuck’s father turns to him, eyes wide and expectant for his loyalty.
“You honestly think I would pick your side when all my life, all you’ve ever done has made me feel alone?” Donghyuck mutters, letting go of Minhyung’s arm when he’s sure that the flames have died down. “We came to you today with respect, but you spat at it like the world is supposed to be at your feet.”
The anger in his father’s face boils like a volcano close to eruption, red flushing his entire skin, “If that’s what you think, then leave this place! Never come back! You better take responsibility for what you said because it will get back at you one day!”
Donghyuck’s mother tries to placate him, but his hands take a nearby vase and he throws it their way.
Minhyung sees it coming for Donghyuck, and he swiftly puts his body in front of him to prevent the other from getting hurt.
The vase smashes against his back, its shards ripping down the fabric and leaving thin cuts in its wake.
“Stop it! He’s my son.” Donghyuck’s mother pushes at her partner’s chest in an attempt to get him far enough so that the two young men have a chance to leave. “Go!” She tells them, “I’ll handle it! Take yourselves someplace safe!”
Donghyuck worries for his mother, even attempts to stay and help her. But Minhyung doesn’t let him, arm wrapped around his waist and ushering him quickly out the door.
The young boy screams for her, for anyone who can help them. It’s unfair that he can be saved whilst the true victim is left to fend off the oppressor. Donghyuck is completely torn and he bangs his fists against Minhyung’s chest in an attempt to break away and return back home.
But Minhyung’s grip on him is strong, rushed whispers of “We’ll find another way” being repeated onto his ear.
“Minhyung--!” Donghyuck sobs, “Minhyung, my mother--p-please, I can’t leave her! I have to help her!”
“She let you run away for a reason!” Minhyung is both honest and careful with his words. Donghyuck wishes she didn’t do that. Donghyuck wishes he could’ve been frank and said that his mother made a sacrifice. One that he had never wanted to happen.
From that moment, Donghyuck never saw his parents again for a long while.
It settles as a heavyweight dangling from his heart and as each new day passes, it becomes much harder to take away.
“Darling, are you alright?” The Queen’s voice pulls him out of yet another daze, eyes bringing back their focus onto the wonderful meal laid in front of him.
Donghyuck only nods, taking a fork from his side to resume eating. The Queen notices beyond what he shows and exchanges a glance with the King who is equally as worried. But the most concerned of them all is Minhyung, who can no longer bear seeing his beloved in such a state.
“Is it your mother, my love?” Minhyung circles around the table to be by Donghyuck’s side.
“I need to see her, Minhyung. I want to know if she’s alright.” Donghyuck pleads, voice small and shaking.
Minhyung wraps him in an embrace, consoling him with the smooth run of his hands down Donghyuck’s back. “Alright. Let’s see her.”
Suddenly, the castle rattles, sending a large echo all around its stone walls. They all follow from the dining area to the source of the sound -- at the front gates, and watch with great caution as it rattles again from the force exerted outside.
“Intruders!” Minhyung’s quick to set himself alight, ready to transform into his dragon to protect the castle.
“No!” The King stops him, standing up to signal for the guards. “We won’t reveal ourselves. No matter what it takes.”
“But father!” Minhyung opposes, never letting the fires in his veins die down -- letting it reach the edges of his eyes even. The rattles are accompanied by the slow rise of an angry crowd, voiced too mingled for them to understand their intentions. “I can hear a crowd behind those doors. They outnumber us in our human forms!”
“We will not transform.” The King repeats, pupils momentarily shrinking into slits. Despite his family’s protests, the King walks to the balcony, addressing the herd of villagers awaiting with faces etched in anger and thirst.
“What concerns my people?” The King bellows, gesturing for them to come inside but none of them accept his offer.
“You and your kind.” A voice pierces through the rest -- familiar and feared, and Donghyuck fights against Minhyung’s hold because he wants to charge at his father for being here. “I have discovered a terrifying truth. On the night my son betrayed me, there was something they left behind. Something golden, something scalding. It was an ember. Not from a candle or burning wood. But one that came from the dragons we feared all our lives.”
Donghyuck feels Minhyung hold him a little bit tighter, even when his eyes give away to simmering fear.
“Where did you learn that?” Minhyung calls from where he stands, “We all know that dragons ceased to exist since the Infernal Insurgence.”
“We have the right to inquisition and the fact that you are in denial alludes that it is true!” One of the villagers shouts from the throes of the crowd and it responds with a collective uproar that further stirs the anger within Donghyuck.
“Do you actually believe my father? A well-known wife-beater and child-abuser who claims that a minuscule ember comes from a race that is long-gone and forgotten? Have you all lost your minds?!”
“Hush, young one.” The King spreads his arms wide to placate both sides. “Despite this unreasonable outrage, I am still willing to let this go in favor of putting this through a fair trial.”
The King outstretches his hand towards Donghyuck’s father, “Give me the ember for safekeeping until then. This is my only demand for you.”
It’s clear that Donghyuck’s father wants blood and violence, but maybe the skies have looked down upon them and granted favor because he follows, letting the ember float from his hand to the King’s.
But as fate would have it, a gush of wind pushes the ember out of its path and sends it crashing to the ground, setting itself into a fiery blaze that ruptures through the air.
There’s a mix of shock and awe, quickly turning into a wave of fury from the crowd before them. The villagers try to pierce through the flames with their pitchforks but are proving to be futile. Yet that alone doesn’t deter them from continuing to penetrate it.
“Take Donghyuck to safety!” The Queen orders Minhyung, the tips of her fingers sparking alight. “Do not return unless I or your father come and get you!”
Now it is Minhyung’s turn to hesitate, “But mother! You need all the help you can get! Just let me!”
“No! You have a future, my son! Don’t waste it on us!” As they invade the castle, obviously coming for them, The Queen sends a charge of fire to the cobbled floors, filling the crevices with lava-like flames that travel towards the rioting crowd. It deters the lot long enough for the young boys to begin their escape through the backways of the castle.
Donghyuck is taken by the arm and pulled close to Minhyung’s chest, they run away from the danger. Something within Donghyuck snaps -- images of the past flooding his mind. His mother letting him escape that day. The days spent wondering what had happened and wishing he could’ve done something other than escape.
“I’ve had enough.” Donghyuck pushes at Minhyung’s chest. Harder this time. Harder than he had ever done before. “It was a mistake to turn our backs the first time. We shouldn’t do it now!”
“Are you hearing yourself?!” Minhyung tightens his hold around him. “Do you see those flames?! The second it touches you, you become ash!”
“I don’t care!” Donghyuck pushes once more, feeling Minhyung’s hold loosen. “All my life, I’ve lived under the shadow of my father. All my life, I’ve known pain and suffering. If this was how I already felt, what more my mother? Who did everything to make sure our every day was bearable. Now, I don’t see here...I don’t feel her and it breaks my heart. So it all ends here. Either we die or we completely start anew.”
Without another word, he breaks free from Minhyung’s hold and runs back to aid the King and Queen.
But as he reemerges in the wide room, his eyes cannot see anyone else but his father. Donghyuck’s steps grow heavier, more frantic -- intent on attacking him with all the strength he has in his lithe body.
It’s too late when his father sees him and Donghyuck lands a strong punch in his face, smiling when he hears a few bones breaking. When his father’s body hits the ground, he wedges a knee at the center of his chest, pressing deep to make sure he loses so much air that he cannot speak.
“You’re done ruining my life.” Donghyuck spits at his father’s face, ignoring Minhyung’s faraway call as he outstretches an arm to take an abandoned pitchfork and aim it over his father’s heart. “You’ll no longer take anything that I love away.”
“Donghyuck!!” Minhyung’s desperate call overwhelms his senses and in a split second, understands why he did so. For his father takes a small knife from the innards of his sleeve and lashes at his unprotected thigh. The pain is instant, Donghyuck cannot move his leg, rendering him defenseless as he’s helplessly maneuvered onto the ground. Now...he’s the one face to face with the sharp pitchfork.
“Not if I get to take your life first.” Donghyuck’s father raises the pitchfork, a sick smile on his lips.
Donghyuck shuts his eyes, refusing to watch his own demise and only remembering any and all good memories as his life counts down to seconds.
But seconds stretch on to minutes, forcing Donghyuck to open his eyes and see that his father had been pushed away by the King.
The two men slowly recover from their bodies colliding together but Donghyuck's father is much faster, crawling quickly towards the pitchfork.
The King catches up to him, climbing onto his back to use his weight in stopping him. A struggle arises between them and Donghyuck can no longer see who has gained the upper hand.
“Father!!” Minhyung has regained enough sense to run to the King’s rescue, his own flames bursting from his skin.
Everything comes to a standstill when they hear the sound of pierced skin. Minhyung halts in his steps while Donghyuck and the Queen watch in suspense.
Tragedy befalls them when the King’s body drops lifeless on the floor.
Suddenly, everything comes to slow motion. The Queen cries, unleashing a wave of fire to incinerate Donghyuck’s father before running to her husband’s body and screaming for him to return. The riot grows brave, charging at the Queen and Donghyuck so he grabs the scalding pitchfork to defend them both.
Yet he is unable to account for his disorientation when one of the villagers manages to stab him in the shoulder and shove him aside.
As Donghyuck fights to keep his vision clear, he witnesses the immediate death of the Queen -- with a stab to her heart in front of her dead husband.
Donghyuck lets the tears fall -- his father has ruined them all.
Now it’s Minhyung’s turn to cry, his scream powerful enough to reign terror over the villagers as he transforms into his dragon. His scales are emerald and bone, eyes filled with gold. Claws and fangs so sharp that Donghyuck can hear some of the people retreat just at the sight of it.
Donghyuck isn’t scared by any of those things, knowing that this is his lover who is forced to reveal himself out of blood and trauma. He doesn’t know if Minhyung can recognize him, but maybe it’s for the best.
For the fire he breathes sets the entire palace aflame.
Donghyuck closes his eyes once more, the image of fire being his last memory of the scene. Engulfed in the darkness, he waits for death. Yet, it never arrives. Instead, what follows is an unsettling silence that urges him to reopen his eyes.
And the first thing he sees is Minhyung’s naked figure eating at the remains of the people he killed.
This is the Lore of the Land. Brought by love and ended by hatred.
A decade later.
It’s astonishing how time renews a world.
Back then, their land was full of riches and at peace. People woke up every day knowing they had a roof over their head, clothes on their back, food on their table, and a family to love. Children roamed the streets with their handmade toys, laughter tinkering through the air knowing that they had nothing to worry about when nightfall came. Lovers could hold hands and press their lips together knowing that the rest of their life was right ahead of them.
Now, all of those things were lost.
The riches had depleted and peace had been lost the moment the Great Flames decimated a grand deal of people who questioned the kingdom’s heritage. People woke up fearing every day that they would be the next to turn to ashes. Children never dared to roam the streets in fear of the same, their handmade toys gathering dust in their closets. Lovers eloped time because the land they grew up in was no longer the land they used to love.
Donghyuck thinks this is only right. None of them deserved to live in the world Minhyung’s parents had given them.
As he overlooks their barren world from the charred balcony, he prevents the tears from falling and replaces it with a small smile that ticks at the end of his lips.
He misses his mother. The last he saw of her was on that day he had brought Minhyung home to introduce as his lover. He knew that his father would ruin things as he always did, but somehow he had hoped that things would have gone differently that day. Donghyuck realizes now that he was too optimistic. An impossible desire that led the land to its disgrace. One that led the land to where they are now.
He misses Minhyung. Since eating the remains of the traitors, he comes and goes from the castle in search of a new place they can call home. Although they still see each other, nothing can ever come close to the feeling of Minhyung’s arms around him each night.
Donghyuck wishes he could regret the decisions he made. But he can’t. Standing up to his father was the most empowering thing he had ever done. If that wielded the circumstances in which the land had no kingdom and was left with a barren castle and a recluse like him, then Donghyuck had no regrets.
But the dawn of the new world brought about new things to fight against.
Firstly, the arrow that just whizzed by his face.
This is a common occurrence, therefore Donghyuck isn’t fazed by it. It’s just one of the many people taking their chance at killing him from afar. It’s foolish, really -- how they try to resolve the predicament passed on by the previous generation by killing somebody they have no idea how he looks like, what his name is nor attempt to listen to his side of the story. All the people ever knew was that they had to kill him. To get rid of the one who burned the world, and to take the treasure he possesses.
Donghyuck looks back into the castle, towards the throne where an egg lays resting. This is the treasure they are after.
Skies forbid they’ll ever get to it.
So he takes the arrow that wedged itself in the far wall, takes the bow from the other side, and fastens it there before returning to the balcony and shooting it back to the perpetrator.
It’s sweet, seeing the small image of a man realize that he has been hit square in the heart, the fear rendering him frozen as blood begins to stain his body, the life seeping out of him as he falls to the ground.
Donghyuck watches for a few more minutes, and he can feel the stench of death waft through to his nose.
“That’ll teach you a lesson.” He mutters to himself, turning back as cries from a few villagers echo through the air. “I hope you remember it this time.”
The egg glows as it senses him near. Donghyuck heeds the call and approaches the throne, cradling the egg in his lap as he takes a seat on the aged stone.
“What is it?” Donghyuck almost coos, gently running a hand down the smooth emerald edge. The egg glows brighter in response. Golden and pulsing like a heartbeat. “You like that?”
The egg pulses again. Yes.
“My! You haven’t even been born yet and you’re gleeful at the presence of blood!” Donghyuck exaggerates the furrow of his brow, reprimanding him in a mocking way. “Don’t worry. You’ll have a taste of it soon.”
The egg seems to calm, pulsing light now a soothing hum. Donghyuck continues to caress it, mind going further and further down memory lane with each movement.
“I wish you were here.” He whispers with tears threatening the edges of his eyes once again. “You would’ve loved seeing this.”
Donghyuck pulls the egg closer, lets it press against his stomach as he savors a few more moments with it. It’s odd, how back when he was young, he thought nothing of a family. But when Minhyung came into his life, suddenly, it was all he ever wanted. It is still all he’s ever wanted even when he’s nowhere to be found.
“You’ll grow up big and strong...much like--” Donghyuck hears a pebble roll from afar. He wastes no time in getting up from his seat and heading towards a secret chamber a few paces behind the throne.
He places the egg safely inside, cradling it one last time before he seals it away from view.
As quietly as possible, he travels to the wall opposite of the sound, eyes trained to watch for a possible perpetrator while his hand knowingly makes its way towards one of the swords hung up there. Donghyuck wields it in front of him, ready to fight.
There weren’t that many times where Donghyuck’s retaliation was returned with invasions of his home. Yet these days, there had not been a fortnight where he had to defend him and the egg at close distance.
Another pebble rolls across the floor, nearer this time and with rushed mutterings that imply that whoever is hiding on the other side does not intend for their presence to be known. Donghyuck takes this chance and circles to the other side, making sure his back is pressed against the wall so that he won’t be seen immediately.
Arriving next to the entrance, he waits with the sword pressed against his chest. Holding his breath for the final moments until the perpetrator emerges in the throne room.
Donghyuck swings his sword, hitting the weak metal plate of the intruder’s armor and sending him flying back inside the hallway.
Without a moment to waste, he continues to rain down his sword onto him, hoping that the armor breaks way for skin to show.
There’s hope when he sees a deep recess form on the metal, confident that one last blow will give him what he wants when the intruder foresees this and rolls to the side, barely missing the sword.
The tip of Donghyuck’s weapon gets stuck in the rock, giving the other time to run into the throne room in search of the egg.
“You won’t find what you’re looking for!” Donghyuck forewarns, using more of his strength to pull the sword out and come after that bastard.
“Lies! I’ve made sure that what I’ve heard is the truth!” The perpetrator says, frantically moving around and feeling at the walls.
“Aha!” Donghyuck laughs derisively, “And what have you heard, you foolish man?!”
“That you hide a great treasure passed on to you as an inheritance!” The other man says, banging a fist on the walls as if he will get what he wants that way...like a petulant child. “Instead of using it to fulfill your royal duty and revive the kingdom, you hold it for your own selfish wants!”
A splash of deep green catches Donghyuck’s eye, and he slows down to take a good look at it. It was a sash, loosely draped from the man’s waist. Intricate sewings of curved lines and sharp edges make up for their long-forgotten infantry’s insignia.
“You’re a knight yet you seek for treasure that is not rightfully yours.” Donghyuck continues on his approach, waiting for the moment the knight faces him so he can look into his eyes as he kills him.
“You don’t seem to be fighting for it. I’ve been running around your walls with a sheathed sword and yet you haven’t taken your chance.” The knight mocks Donghyuck, a hint of a smile in his nasty words.
Well, if that is what he wants, Donghyuck will give it to him.
When the knight gets dastardly close to the secret chamber, Donghyuck takes him by surprise. Taking the knight by the scruff and plunges the sword there. Slowly and with every intention, he watches the blood spill over metal and skin and the man falls to his death.
“You won’t get anything here.” Donghyuck savors his deed, watches the body become pale before kicking it to the side. Hands are ready to take the egg out when he hears a chorus of heavy footsteps running towards him.
That is something he didn't expect. Granted, a stray knight would come by once in a while but never a hoard. It was possible that this was planned -- meant to distract him with the soldier he just killed so they could outnumber him straight after.
There is no way their plan will work. Despite this, Donghyuck has his sword and if he can bathe it in the blood of one person, then he can bathe it in others’. He has to think this way or else how would he survive in the end?
When a few soldiers emerge from the entryway, Donghyuck charges at full speed, clashing metal with them a few times before taking advantage of an opening to behead one of them. It’s not a clean-cut, having to push the sword across until the head rolls to the ground.
From his periphery, he can see another soldier ready his weapon to strike. Donghyuck skewers the sword onto the loose head and swings it against his face, sending the enemy off balance and giving enough time to pull the sword out and behead him too.
There’s not even enough time to savor his kills when more metal-clad bodies march through and attack Donghyuck at once. He tries to fend off every metal that rushes towards him, one of them even breaks off to find the egg and Donghyuck immediately chases him and plunges the sword through his back.
Donghyuck’s growing more confident that he can defeat them all. All he has to do is to not lose focus, bearing in mind that if he does then it’s not just his life lost but also the egg’s.
Yet as fate would have it, one of the soldiers gets lucky enough to knock him off by the feet, having him fall onto his backside. He reaches for his sword, but it gets kicked away by another soldier, rendering him completely defenseless.
“Your reign is over, Orphaned Prince.” One of the knights declares. Donghyuck gathers that he’s the leader for he’s the only one whose armor is lined with red. “Your flames die down here.”
“What makes you think I’m the one you talk about?” If there is one thing Donghyuck can control, it’s the way he dies. If that were to happen today, he’ll make sure to let the people know that he’s not the one they so want to rid from this world. He just wants their look of distraught to be the last thing he sees.
“You bear the burnt mark! Don’t deny it!”
“Oh, you mean this?” Donghyuck gestures to the ripped portion of his sleeve, exposing the batch of burnt skin which is patterned like dragon scales. “Just because it has the scales of a dragon doesn’t mean I’m one. Fools .”
“Speak for yourself when a decade ago you set fire to this very castle, killing your own family and people because you couldn’t control your hunger. That mark is what fate left you so that one day, you may face the consequences.”
“That’s a wonderful story you have there,” Donghyuck slowly crawls backward, getting as much distance as he can from the pointed swords. “But I think it lacks certain truths to it.”
In the distance, they hear a roar so strong that even its echo sends shivers down the soldiers’ spine.
They look out the window, probably wishing that they’re been hallucinating. But Donghyuck simply watches them with a smirk. “You see... I didn’t set fire to the castle...”
Far off in the skies, there is a creature. Like a bird in flight but with wings so vast that it carries enough talons to decimate an army.
“ I didn’t turn those traitorous villagers into ashes.”
It’s coming closer and closer, the image of it becoming clearer to the soldiers -- its emerald body glinting under the setting sun, golden eyes trained hungrily onto them. It roars again, flying faster towards the castle.
“ I didn’t kill my parents nor the late King and Queen.” Donghyuck can’t help but laugh because some of the soldiers are so frightened that they’re leaving their weapons to flee. Cowards.
“The truth is...it was your ancestors who let fear dictate their actions. It was your ancestors who allowed themselves to be manipulated by my father’s selfish plans and stormed the castle to eliminate the remaining survivors of a majestic race.” Donghyuck spits at the ground near them, “Yet history has turned things around to make us look like the enemy. So we took matters into our own hands. For I am not who you’re talking about. I am not the Orphaned Prince. I am his mate. ”
Then the dragon seizes the throne room, roar bellowing within and beyond those walls.
The remaining soldiers attempt to incapacitate him with their swords, attempting to kill him through the heart that sits just above the center of his torso. But as the metal meets the skin, it cleanly breaks off in two.
Donghyuck moves to stand, laughing at the predicament of the soldiers.
The dragon leans its head down, taunting the soldiers with his eyes, moving it around so he can take a good look at each of them before he bites one of the heads off.
Moments ago, Donghyuck was ready to die. Hearing the murmured voices of the soldiers about their upcoming victory. But now, he watches his mate brutally take them all apart by the heads, throwing them everywhere until he’s finished.
Now, there is silence. Donghyuck looks at the scene before him -- a mess of decapitated bodies and scattered heads, blood painting the entire floor red. He smiles at their gruesome ends.
When the dragon is satisfied, Donghyuck waits as it shifts back into human form. Scales turning to pale skin, stumped limbs elongating to arms and legs, golden eyes turning brown and the face of his beloved Minhyung re-emerges from the emerald scales.
Donghyuck wants to call out his name. Wants to touch his naked skin, hear his deep voice. But one look at Minhyung’s crazed eyes and he stops himself. He knows better than to intervene.
So he watches as Minhyung picks the nearest limb -- an arm that has broken off from a torso and sinks his teeth deep into the muscle before ripping out a piece to chew. Blood seeps out and drips onto the ground.
Minhyung continues to feast on the human flesh, taking another limb when he has cleaned the first one off until its bones.
Donghyuck thinks his mate doesn’t even notice that the blood has also stained the front of his body. From his forearms to his torso and down to his legs, Minhyung is covered in splashes of blood.
“Did they harm you?” It’s rather faint, but Donghyuck manages to hear it. Minhyung has turned to him now, eyes calmer, lips parted slightly to reveal a bloody mouth.
Donghyuck shakes his head, deciding that it’s time to come near Minhyung.
“How about the baby?” Minhyung asks again, eyes flitting from Donghyuck and towards the other side of the throne room.
“Our baby is safe in the chamber, Minhyung.” Donghyuck assures him. He gently places his hand on Minhyung’s and takes the half-eaten leg away. “Come now. I’m sure you want to see him already.”
“The people are getting braver.” Minhyung looks at the remaining bodies on the floor, tongue darting out as if he still wants to eat some more. But he resists, looking back at Donghyuck, who smiles softly in return. “I had only gone away in search of another Land for us and I returned to you being surrounded by those pathetic soldiers.”
“Minhyung.” Donghyuck warns, hands coming up to rub repeatedly against Minhyung’s arms. “I’m not going to lie and say that I wasn’t ready to die at that time. But it’s over now. They’re gone and will probably wait a few more months before they strike again.”
“Still,” Minhyung takes one of Donghyuck’s hands to press the knuckles lovingly against his lips, some of the blood staining his own skin. “We need to flee soon. Start over again.”
“I know.” Donghyuck detaches his other hand to card his fingers through Minhyung’s hair, playing with locks and scratching pleasantly at the scalp. “We should rest for now. We can talk more about it tomorrow.”
Minhyung leans into the touch, pressing his head closer against Donghyuck’s palm and the latter takes it as a sign to glide his hand down to his cheek, feeling the skin there warm-up from the prince’s heat.
Something stirs within Donghyuck -- one that he’s sure won’t be quenched until he has felt all of Minhyung’s skin. He thumbs at the peak of the other’s cheek, hoping he’ll get the hint.
“I haven’t bathed yet,” Minhyung mutters with his eyes closed.
It was clear that his mate didn’t notice that slight indication so Donghyuck trails his other hand down the side of his torso, letting it rest on his hipbone where his thumb strokes there. Getting brave, he even has his thumb pad close to the base of Minhyung’s cock where it twitches ever so slightly in response.
“I want you now. I’ve missed you so much.”
Donghyuck holds Minhyung’s face firmly there, eyes trained to the deep red as he slowly leans in for a chaste kiss. Just a peck on his lips. He can already feel the blood stains his own, reach his tongue so he, too, can taste iron..
It tastes good, it feels good. He doesn’t remember when it started to taste good but now he can’t stop tasting it every time Minhyung’s soaked in blood. It stirs Donghyuck up, even more, urging his body to press tight against Minhyung’s, the textured fabric of his garb rubbing against the other’s bare skin.
“Are you sure? I won’t take long.” Minhyung asks, but his hands are already wrapping around Donghyuck’s waist, fingers feeling at the flesh before sliding down the short distance to his ass.
“I think that’s a pointless question now.” Donghyuck lets out a whine upon feeling Minhyung’s fingers dig at the supple flesh repeatedly. “Besides, I don’t think it’s just my ass that agrees...”
Donghyuck grinds against Minhyung’s crotch and isn’t surprised that his cock has fully gone hard now. He does it again, harder this time, chuckling low when he hears him groan in response.
“You really know how to play me, huh?” Minhyung shakes his head, digging his fingers onto his ass one last time then hoists Donghyuck up easily.
Legs and arms automatically seek purchase around Minhyung, and Donghyuck resolves to dive down to capture his lips again. Passionately, this time, with the way their lips move against each other. Like a dance of flames, and Donghyuck is tasting every inch until no trace of blood can no longer be found.
Parting for air, he looks at the scene in front of him -- his disheveled lover whose eyes are now crazed just for him, and if he could see his own, Donghyuck is sure that they’re crazed for his mate too.
“Maybe you want to say that you’re just weak for me.” Donghyuck nips at Minhyung’s bottom lip, pulling it out playfully and letting it snap back.
Minhyung runs a tongue over the place where he was bitten, eyes looking at his mate’s features like he is undressing him before grinding his hips up.
Donghyuck can feel how hard he already is -- filled, stiff and poking against his soft flesh. “Come on, say it.”
He bites his lip, waiting with excitement as Minhyung shakes his head, a small smile quirking at the edge of his mouth, and surges forward to kiss him again.
When Donghyuck was the one taking the lead before, this time, it’s Minhyung who takes control, pushing his mouth to open wide so he can run his tongue around every inch inside.
When Minhyung sucks at his tongue, Donghyuck unclasps his hands from his nape to grab at his hair, tugging roughly while his hips move once again, grinding against his cock, or maybe his torso. Slowly losing his logic at this point isn’t something to be worried about, all Donghyuck wants is to feel him.
“You’re the only one who can make me admit it, my love,” Minhyung says, a mixture of a laugh and a growl as he retakes Donghyuck’s lips while he takes them towards the throne.
They sit there, and Donghyuck begins to work on undressing himself once his knees settle in between Minhyung’s legs and the armrests, throwing the tattered fabrics anywhere. They’ve no use for them any longer.
Donghyuck isn’t self-conscious of his body, even if, in front of Minhyung, anyone else should be. He is beautiful. So so beautiful.
Hands slowly begin their journey from that little bit of Minhyung’s thigh, dancing up by the fingertips until they land on his belly, right where the skin lifts to pronounce his abs. Donghyuck lingers there for a bit, savoring more the scattering of blood than the hard muscle.
Unknowing of what comes over him, Donghyuck presses his palms firmly there and smears the blood all over, covering the patches of skin that remained untouched in different shades of red.
“Mate,” Minhyung says, not in pleasure. But as a warning. Hands gripping tight on his waist.
Donghyuck ignores him, continues to indulge himself by sliding his hands higher up to Minhyung’s chest. Fingers pinching both of his nipples and chuckling when he hears the other groan.
“Donghyuck...” Minhyung tries again. “My bloodlust is rubbing off on you. I don’t think I like that.”
“Why? Scared that I’ll eat humans too?” Donghyuck has slid his hands back down, caging the base of Minhyung’s cock as if it was a sword waiting to be unsheathed. “I’m not so opposed to it...”
Donghyuck threads his fingers together, tightening its hold before sliding them up through Minhyung’s cock, stopping at the tip where he squeezes for a drop of pre-cum. He unabashedly squeals, dipping down to lap it off cleanly.
“I don’t want you to become like me.” Minhyung has turned his attention from his waist to his ass; squeezing and pulling will surely rile Donghyuck up. “I’m the only one who can eat humans. Besides, I don’t think the baby will take it well when it senses both of its parents being flesh-eaters.”
Donghyuck hums absentmindedly focused on milking his cock for what it's worth. “Alright. I won’t eat flesh. Except for one...”
Minhyung makes a sound in question, immediately breaking off into a moan when Donghyuck takes all of him in his mouth.
Donghyuck stays there for a moment, letting his throat get used to being filled so much that he has a hard time breathing. When his throat eases, he takes his time bobbing his head around Minhyung’s cock, doing this a couple more times until he confidently picks up the pace.
“Still so eager,” Minhyung comments breathlessly, hips thrusting up to meet Donghyuck halfway.
He does it for a moment until his saliva has pooled at the base and he feels himself harden that much more at the thought of it.
When his lips touch the base, Donghyuck takes his hand and moves it down towards his hole, using the saliva in his fingers to wet the rim, circling it around until he can feel it flutter open. He moans, the vibrations urging Minhyung to press the tip of his cock further in, and Donghyuck almost chokes as he feels it curl down his throat.
Now driven by instinct, Donghyuck puts two fingers inside him, wasting no time to scissor himself open. Another moan escapes him, delighted that his body is pliant in the face of impending pleasure.
Suddenly, having two fingers isn't enough and Donghyuck has to put another in, feeling the sting of the stretch. His hole clenches, clinging on to the thin form of his fingers as if it’s already the cock they have been aching for.
Alas, it isn’t. His fingers could never be a match for Minhyung’s girth. They can’t render him unable to walk as he does. They can’t reduce him into a babbling mess as he does.
Donghyuck rises until the tip, sucking and licking desperately while he removes his fingers one by one. Once he’s empty again, he moves to straddle Minhyung, taking his cock and positioning it against his hungry hole.
He thinks he hears his mate say to be careful, to take it slow, but he wouldn’t understand the desperation that courses through him so Donghyuck just sinks down fast, grinding as soon as his ass meets his groin.
“B-big!!” Donghyuck screams, back arching to surrender to the feeling of Minhyung’s cock moving inside him. He bounces this time, raising up until only the tip is left and slamming himself down. The wet sounds of their fucking begin to echo through the walls and Donghyuck has a fleeting thought that their child could hear them do this carnal act.
“Look at you,” Minhyung holds Donghyuck by his back, keeping it firmly there while he begins to really move with him, hips pistoning against his tight, clenching hole. “Do you get off on this? The sight of me all bloodied and dirty? Fucking you like a victory trophy?”
Donghyuck sinks down at the same time he grips the cock tight and claims Minhyung’s lips. “I do. But you know what? I may be your trophy, but we both know who’s truly in charge here.”
Minhyung growls, driving his cock deeper until he breaches that ring of muscle. “Is it me or am I sensing you’re becoming bratty? You don’t want me transforming while inside you, hm?”
Donghyuck throws his head back, his laugh and moans mingling in a single breath. “Is that a threat? That sounds like a threat to me.”
For good measure, Donghyuck takes a dash of blood from Minhyung’s torso and sucks it hungrily, “You think I can’t take it? Try me. ”
That seems to do his mate in because the next thing Donghyuck sees is his eyes flashing gold and his hole beginning to stretch incredibly wide at an unfathomable pace.
Skin becomes scales once again and Donghyuck tries to tether himself to Minhyung’s shoulders with his fingers but it’s proved to be futile as he cannot penetrate the hard skin. His hands frantically seek for someplace else to hold on to as his body is on the verge of falling off when he feels the familiar touch of a dragon’s claw, cradling him carefully on his back.
The fear quickly subsides and Donghyuck has returned to chasing the remaining pale skin, sliding up and up until the last of it disappears and the base of Minyhyung’s neck shrouded in emerald.
With nothing to pour his attention into, Donghyuck shifts his focus toward the way his mate’s cock is still growing -- past what any normal human can take, past what any other creature could take if he were to take Minhyung’s word for it. It grows into such girth that Donghyuck knows his hole is unfathomable to see right now -- gaping and struggling to keep itself together.
Donghyuck knows very well that one wrong move can send his insides bursting over.
“You’re so easy to rile up,” As much as Donghyuck wants to be ruined, he has to take it slow once again. “But you know what? You can’t say anything so I can do what I want.”
Donghyuck hoists himself up by Minhyung’s arms, feeling every inch of his thick cock drag against his insides until the tip is left. He clenches tight, hearing the dragon growl as the tip flares wider than the rest of his cock.
Despite the searing pain, Donghyuck admits that the pleasure he feels along with it is unlike any other. He could do this over and over again and come untouched. But that would simply be a disservice to the majestic body in front of him. So he pushes himself down, letting his cock drag upwards this time until Donghyuck can feel it breach that last ring of muscle that leads to his womb. A thought fleet by him, how incredible it was that he carried and laid an egg there before.
Donghyuck does this, again and again, keeping up the same pace to taunt Minhyung again. Like always, his wiles make Minhyung take him down to the floor, maneuvering him into all fours.
Minhyung must’ve sensed that Donghyuck’s wet heat is used to his size because he doesn’t bother going slow. Instead, he feels his cock drill deep inside, fast enough to leave a lasting imprint and hard enough to have Donghyuck surge forward until his cheek smushes against the stone.
Words evade him and are replaced by loud, broken moans. His hips shake when he tries to meet his mate’s cock halfway. Hands seek purchase on the side of his face, pushing himself back up in time for that familiar pit in his gut to make its presence known. A warning of their pleasurable end.
“In me, my prince!” Donghyuck screams with what’s left of his voice. “Fill me. Breed me, please!”
It takes a few more thrusts and Donghyuck spills wildly into the concrete. A few more thrusts and warm liquid fills him to the brim, some spilling past his hole and down his thighs.
Donghyuck’s body falls limp against the stone, limbs spread to the sides as more come slowly trickles out of his wet heat. He sighs, content with the way he’s been spent that even when his own cum sticks oddly to his skin, it no longer irks him.
In fact, he’d be happy to succumb to sleep there when he feels the insides of his thighs caressed gingerly. The touch isn't as sharp as Donghyuck expected, as it was when it was Minhyung’s talons. They are smaller, much blunter. With the texture of calloused skin.
Donghyuck realizes that Minhyung shifted back to his human form, fingers making their way softly to his core to put back the come that has spilled out. Pushing in just enough to make sure no more of his essence will go to waste.
Minhyung is careful, making sure that his fingers don’t touch his sensitive walls too deep by accident. When he’s satisfied, Donghyuck feels him kiss the plumps flesh of his ass before moving away.
“Are you hurt anywhere?” Minhyung asks, hands coaxing Donghyuck to roll over on his back before gently lifting him up.
“No. I would’ve told you if it did.” Donghyuck sighs into the concrete, “What I will tell you though is that was incredible.”
Minhyung’s chuckle mingles in the air, wisps towards Donghyuck’s ears, soothing him.
“I thought I actually tore you apart,” Minhyung pulls him close, kissing Donghyuck’s temple as soon as he rests his head on his shoulder. “Which is odd to say given we’ve done this once before.”
“It is odd, my love.” Donghyuck buries his face deep into the crevice of Minhyung’s neck. “Remember that I’ll never ask you anything that I don’t think I can take.”
“Even this?” Minhyung wounds Donghyuck tighter in his embrace. “Even when we fight for our lives every time?”
Donghyuck immediately raises his head, looking at Minhyung to see that he’s riddled with doubt. He hates seeing his mate this way, still gripped by the trauma he’s received a decade ago.
“I’d rather fight alongside you than do anything else.” Donghyuck glides the pads of his thumbs across Minhyung’s forehead, coaxing him out of the frown he has. “You love me at my worst. And I love you in yours.”
“Even if I burned a whole castle down?” Minhyung asks.
“Even if you burned a whole castle down,” Donghyuck assures him with a kiss.
“Our baby...” Minhyung looks back towards the chamber, “He’ll grow up learning this about us.”
Donghyuck remains silent, choosing to get up from Minhyung’s hold to fetch the egg from the chamber. It glows at the touch of his father, making Donghyuck smile as he returns to Minhyung’s side.
“He’ll understand.” Donghyuck fits himself in Minhyung’s arms again, “He has to know this about us because he deserves to. It’ll shape him to who he’s meant to be and hopefully...when that day comes, he’ll usher in a new world. A place much more peaceful than this.”
“You’re right.” Minhyung places a hand atop the egg, smiling at the warmth it emanates. “I don’t think I would’ve come to that conclusion without you.”
“Now, that’s a compliment I want to hear.” Donghyuck jokes, turning his head around to capture Minhyung’s lips one more time.
There are some things that history doesn’t reveal. This is one of them. A love forged by blood and betrayal, stood the test of time and insurgence, and solidified by the hope that things will be better.
This is the Lore of the Land.