Chapter Seventeen
The days blur together in a haze of frustration and forced civility.
I'm scheduled to coach affinity training three times a week, and I stand on the training field beside Dohwan, both of us maintaining a careful distance as we guide the halfbloods through their exercises.
His sudden docility grates on my nerves more than his previous antagonism—at least then he showed some fire.
Now he just stands there, letting me take the lead without comment or criticism.
He's been like that ever since I handed his ass to him in our little stand-off.
Which I guess means he's accepted his defeat.
I catch glimpses of him around the complex, always with his sleeves pulled down despite the climbing temperatures.
The sight of those covered arms sends fresh waves of irritation through me each time.
The other guards have switched to short sleeves, their bare forearms on display as they make their rounds.
But not Dohwan. He skulks around in long sleeves like he's ashamed.
It pricks at my pride and makes me irrationally angry.
The constant thrumming need under my skin doesn't help my mood.
Nothing satisfies it—not training until I'm exhausted, not cold showers, not even taking care of things myself.
The hunger just builds and builds with no release.
I know Dohwan must feel it too, probably even worse given his full fae nature, but I refuse to waste sympathy on someone who can't even look me in the eye anymore.
When my next shift at Ruby Hall approaches, I immediately put in a request for Eunho as my guard. The thought of spending hours in close proximity to Dohwan makes me want to leap through a window. Better to avoid him entirely.
I head down to the cafe early, needing coffee before I can face the day.
The sight that greets me instantly lifts some of the dark cloud that's been hanging over my head—Eunho is already there, lounging at a table near the window.
When he spots me, his whole face lights up with that brilliant smile of his.
My stomach does a little flip and heat floods my cheeks. I blame it on the damn mate bond making me oversensitive to any male attention. Still, I can't help returning his smile as I approach.
“Good morning, gorgeous.” Eunho pushes a coffee cup toward me. “I took the liberty of ordering your usual.”
“My knight in shining red silk.” I sink into the chair across from him, wrapping my hands around the warm cup. “How did you know my order?”
“I pay attention.” He winks, then leans back in his chair with casual grace. “Besides, what kind of guard would I be if I didn't know how my charge takes her coffee?”
I drain the last of my coffee and set the cup down with reluctance.
Eunho rises smoothly from his chair, gesturing toward the exit with an elegant sweep of his hand. “Shall we?”
The morning air hits my face as we step outside, still crisp despite the strengthening sun. Eunho walks beside me, his long strides matching my shorter ones without effort. When we reach the red car waiting at the gates, he opens the back door with a flourish.
“My lady,” he says with that playful smile that makes his eyes crinkle at the corners.
I slide into the plush leather seat, and my breath catches slightly as Eunho settles in next to me rather than taking the front passenger seat. The car purrs to life and pulls away from the curb.
“What's been keeping you busy lately?” Eunho turns toward me, his clothed knee brushing mine. “Besides taming fire sprites and coaching halfbloods?”
I study him carefully. His posture is relaxed, body angled toward mine with easy familiarity.
There's no tension in his shoulders, no careful distance maintained.
He clearly has no idea about the mate bond with Dohwan—no full-blooded fae male would position himself this close to another's mate, not even to needle his old rival.
The strange thing is, I don't feel the revulsion I'd expect from being in such close proximity to another male.
Instead of nausea or discomfort, I find myself drawn to the warm, woodsmoke scent of him.
He smells like a cozy hearth on a winter night, like burning cedar and comfort.
It makes me intensely aware of every point where our bodies nearly touch.
Is this the mate bond playing tricks on me? Making me hypersensitive to male presence in general? I shouldn't find his nearness pleasant—I should be recoiling. But the urge to lean closer is almost overwhelming.
“That. And exploring the city when I can, trying to learn my way around.” I deliberately keep my tone light, pushing away the confusion. “Though I spend most of my free time dodging nosy questions about my background from the other nobles.”
The rest of the drive passes in comfortable conversation.
Eunho tells me stories about growing up in Ruby Hall, painting vivid pictures of childhood mischief and sibling rivalries that have me giggling despite myself.
I find myself relaxing into the exchange, tension I didn't even realize I was carrying melting away.
The sprite pups tumble and roll, their eyes glowing with embers as they chase each other around the kennel. I lean against the fence, watching them burn off their excess energy before training begins.
Through the fence, I catch glimpses of Eunho lounging in the shade. Unlike Dohwan's rigid presence, Eunho's casual observation puts me at ease. He waves occasionally when our eyes meet, but otherwise lets me work undisturbed.
Once the pups tire themselves out, I gather them for basic command training.
“Sit,” I demonstrate, holding a treat. The youngest pup, the one who prefers Western Shepherd form, tilts its head before plopping its rear down.
“Good boy!” I praise, tossing the treat which he snaps from the air in a flash of sparks.
The sun has dipped low by the time I finish. I lock up the kennel and spot Eunho beneath a nearby pagoda, his tall frame stretched out on one of the benches as he watches the sunset paint the sky in brilliant oranges and pinks.
“I'm so sorry for keeping you waiting,” I call out as I approach.
He looks up with that easy smile of his. “Don't apologize. I was just enjoying the view.” He rises smoothly to his feet. “Ready to head back?”
We walk unhurried through the grounds, our shoulders occasionally brushing. The evening air carries the scent of night-blooming jasmine.
“Does your family still live here in Ruby Hall?” I ask, genuinely curious about his background.
Eunho laughs, the sound rich and warm. “Seasons, no. We outgrew the palace ages ago. There are too many of us. Now my siblings live with my parents or with their mates out near the edge of Ruby territory.”
When we reach the car, Eunho opens my door with his usual flourish. But this time he leans his arm across the frame, forcing me to duck underneath to get in. The movement brings me close enough that my chest brushes against his. Heat floods my face at the contact.
I narrow my eyes at him as he slides into the seat beside me. “You did that on purpose.”
His answering grin is pure mischief. He merely shrugs, neither confirming nor denying, but the twinkle in his eyes says it all.
The drive back to Halfblood Hall passes in comfortable silence, my mind still replaying the successful training session.
The sprite pups showed real promise today, especially that little Western Shepherd.
Their progress fills me with a sense of accomplishment that not even thoughts of mate bonds and complicated fae politics can dampen.
Eunho walks me to the entrance of Ember Unit, our footsteps on the pavement slow and unhurried. As we step through the doors, a blast of arctic air hits my bare arms and shoulders. A shiver runs through me before I can suppress it.
“Are you cold?” Eunho's brow furrows with concern as his eyes track over my tank top.
“I'm fine—” I start to say, but he's already shrugging out of his red button-up shirt.
“Here.” He holds it out to me. “Can't have you catching a chill.”
I reach for the offered garment, my fingers just brushing the fabric when movement ahead catches my eye. I freeze, my hand suspended in mid-air.
Dohwan paces the hallway like a caged animal, his long legs eating up the distance as he turns in tight circles. Even from here, I can see the tension radiating from his shoulders, the sharp angles of his jaw clenched tight.
Beside me, Eunho follows my gaze. His easy smile fades as he spots Dohwan, replaced by a slight frown.
Dohwan's head snaps up, and his eyes lock onto us. His nostrils flare as he inhales sharply. In three long strides, he's bearing down on us, irritation written in every line of his face.
I bite back a groan. So much for my peaceful evening.
Dohwan plants himself in front of us, his chest heaving with barely contained rage. “Where have you been? It's nearly dark.”
I curl my lip, anger flaring hot in my chest. “That's none of your business. And even if it was, I wouldn't tell you.”
A low growl rumbles from Dohwan's throat, the sound vibrating through the air between us. Before I can blink, Eunho steps forward, positioning himself between me and Dohwan's advancing form.
For a split second, I consider warning Eunho about getting between mates, but something stops me. Maybe it's the way Dohwan's fangs flash in the dim light as he snarls at Eunho. Maybe it's simple curiosity about how this will play out.
Eunho bares his own impressive fangs in response, the playful warmth gone from his face. “Back off, Dohwan. She's fine. She was with me all day.”
“I wouldn't consider that fine,” Dohwan rumbles, his voice dropping to a dangerous octave.
Eunho scoffs, his shoulders squaring. “What's your problem? She doesn't answer to—”
The words die in his throat. I follow his gaze. It's only then I realize Dohwan is not wearing his usual long-sleeved guard uniform. He's in a red V-neck, and the short sleeves fully expose his forearms where the mate marks stand out stark against his skin.
The change that comes over Eunho's face stops my breath. His expression crumples, the confident set of his shoulders falling away as understanding dawns. But there's something more than just shock in his eyes—there's raw pain there, like someone just ripped his heart out through his chest.
I stare at him, confused by his reaction. Sure, finding out about mate marks is shocking, but Eunho looks absolutely gutted. Like he's lost something precious he can never get back.
Dohwan's lips curl into a cruel smirk as he watches Eunho process the mate marks. “Get it yet?” His voice drips with satisfaction. “Now get out of my way. I have a private matter to work out with my mate.”
The word 'mate' makes Eunho reel back like he’s been hit. His head whips toward me, dark eyes wide with disbelief, then back to Dohwan. Understanding crashes over his features as he finally connects the dots—that I'm the mate those marks belong to.
Before I can say anything, Dohwan shoulders past Eunho and wraps his fingers around my wrist. The contact sends electricity shooting up my arm, but not the pleasant kind. This feels like being struck by lightning.
“Let go,” I snarl, baring my fangs. My free hand curls into a fist as Dohwan turns and tries to drag me with him down the hall. The mate bond pulses between us, urging me to submit, but I dig my heels in.
A blur of movement catches my eye as Eunho snaps out of his daze. His handsome face transforms with rage, all traces of his usual playfulness gone. He lunges forward, catching my arm just above where Dohwan grips me.
The instant Eunho's bare skin touches mine, heat explodes through my body. My vision whites out for a split second as power surges between the three of us like a live wire.
The surge of energy nearly brings me to my knees, and I have to grab the wall to stay upright. My skin tingles where both males touch me, sending sparks of electricity racing through my veins.
A gasp tears from my throat as brilliant red lines appear on Eunho's arms, glowing like molten metal.
The marks spread in intricate patterns, mirroring the ones I've seen on Dohwan.
But this time, I can see the full design taking shape—swirling flames that coalesce into a circular crest. My breath catches as I recognize the ancient fire element runes interwoven with my family's sigils.
The red light pulses once, twice, then begins to fade, leaving behind stark black lines etched into Eunho's skin. The silence in the hallway is deafening as we all stare at the marks—a perfect match to the ones on Dohwan's arms. My mate marks. On both of them.
My ears ring as I watch Eunho examine his arms with trembling fingers.
He traces the lines reverently, following each curve and swirl with a look of wonder.
Unlike Dohwan's reaction of horror and denial, Eunho's face transforms as he processes what's happened.
The initial shock and dismay melt away, replaced by pure, radiant joy that takes my breath away.
When his eyes finally lift to meet mine, they shine with such happiness and awe that my chest floods with warmth.
The mate bond thrums between us, and this time it feels nothing like the angry, resistant connection I share with Dohwan.
This feels right. Natural. Like coming home after a long journey. Suddenly, everything makes sense.
My head spins as Dohwan unleashes a string of curses that would make even a night market merchant blush. He stalks away from us, turning in a tight circle like a caged beast, his fangs fully extended as he snarls at nothing and everything.
The commotion draws attention. Doors crack open along the hallway, curious faces peering out.
More fae emerge from the stairwell and elevator, drawn by Dohwan's outburst. Their whispers fill the air as they take in the scene—Dohwan prowling and fuming, Eunho still staring at his arms in wonder, and me pressed against the wall trying to process what just happened.
“Are those mate marks?”
“On both of them?”
“Look at the halfblood…”
The full-blooded fae's voices drip with horror and disgust. But the halfbloods gathering at the edges of the crowd buzz with excitement.
“Another multiple mate bond!”
The words pierce through my daze. Multiple mate bond. The reality crashes over me like a wave. I have two mates. Two. Not just Dohwan, but Eunho too. The universe has tied me to both of them, permanently marking them as mine.
My knees go weak as the implications hit me. One reluctant mate was complicated enough. But two? And not just any two, but rivals who can barely stand to be in the same room?
I press my palms flat against the wall behind me, needing its solid support as my world tilts on its axis. Two mates. The words echo in my head, impossible to process. Two.