When Hoseok awoke the next morning, he awoke with a severe headache and Jungkook's worried shakes.

"Hoseok, you're going to be awake to your own wedding!"

Hoseok swatted Jungkook's hands away, a groan escaping his lips. Jungkook eyed him warily, looking at him in concern. He pressed his hand against Hoseok's, his concern doubling.

"Are you feeling okay?" Jungkook asked worriedly. He held up two fingers, waving them almost frantically in the air. "How many fingers am I holding?"

"Two," Hoseok mumbled, looking at Jungkook annoyed. "This isn't helping me. I'm fine—just a bit of a headache. I have to get ready. Go away."

Jungkook shook his head fiercely. "Uh, uh. No way am I letting you by yourself. Are you nuts? Look at yourself. You look like a hot mess."

"I'm fine," Hoseok insisted, pushing Jungkook as he got off his bed. "Why are you worrying so much for?"

Jungkook froze, watching as Hoseok walked towards his bathroom. "You have to look your best, right? You're not looking so hot right now."

Not looking so hot was an understatement.

Hoseok looked pale. Compared to his normally tan skin, he looked sick. His paleness wasn't noticeable, at least not to the naked eye, only if someone were to look hard enough. Still, it was weird that his skin had taken such a light color, though his cheeks more than made up for it, completely flushed red. It made sense that Jungkook was looking at him, worried.

His gaze went downwards to his neck; eyebrows furrowed as he noticed his birthmark taking a different shape. It was still the same as it had always been, but it seemed bigger somehow. Lines seemed to move down his body, lines that hadn't been there before. It seemed brighter in a way too, Hoseok couldn't quite pinpoint it.

"I doubt anyone's going to see the difference," Hoseok mumbled, washing his face. Jungkook only continued to stare at the confused human, a smile hinting at his lips. He watched silently as Hoseok went from one place to another, trying to get himself together for the wedding. From the looks of it, he remembered nothing of his endeavors the night before, just the way it had been originally planned.

"I'll call your ser—"

"Helpers!" Hoseok cut in, glaring at Jungkook. Jungkook put his hands up in surrender.

"Helpers."

Leave it to Hoseok to treat everyone as his equal, even though he's running slightly late to his wedding.

Jungkook exited quietly, motioning for the servants who'd been anxiously waiting to help Hoseok. As he walked towards the end of the hallway, he sensed a bundle of nerves approaching his way. In one fluid motion, he pretended not to notice the presence, causing him to bump into the former, who hissed loudly.

"Jungkook, watch where you're going!" Micah nearly yelled. "I'm already dressed for the wedding, and you're going to dirty it."

Jungkook made a face. "Your outfit isn't that dazzling, sir. You'll live. You have more pressing manners at hand, though. I would suggest you look over that instead of me."

"Is there something wrong with Hoseok?" Micah asked immediately. Jungkook shrugged, eyeing the King innocently.

"Apart from looking like someone ran over him with a truck, he's fine."

Micah's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "You two didn't go anywhere you shouldn't have, correct?"

The latter shook his head. "No, sir. We wouldn't have made it past all the royal guards anyhow. They look like they can detect humans from miles away. I think it's nerves and excitement."

"Good." Micah paused, smiling in relief. "That's what I wanted to hear. You should go home and change. You'll be in the front row with the rest of the Royals."

"Really?" Jungkook asked in surprise. Micah offered him a friendly expression.

"You're Hoseok's best friend," Micah answered. "Though I disapprove of your style of living, you're still family. You always have an open spot with us."

"Perfect."

With that, Jungkook walked out of the palace. Making sure that no one was actively watching him, he walked into his coffee shop, where a familiar face looked at him, the tip of his fangs poking out in glee.

"You know, Jimin, have I ever told you how much I love that ability of yours?" Jungkook whistled, causing the silver-haired vampire to burst into laughter. "No detection in or out. The boy doesn't remember a thing."

"What fun would it be if his Highness knew what he'd done the day before?" Jimin questioned, pouting in mockery. "Poor boy would trip over his own two feet because of his guilt. Besides, you know Yoongi loves surprises."

Jungkook murmured in agreeance as Jimin handed a cloak. He took it gratefully, sighing as he felt the bruises he'd gotten from the sun fade away, feeling more of his strength returning. Jimin smiled at Jungkook's relief, gesturing outside.

"I don't know why you still subject yourself to sunlight sensitivity." Jimin shook his head. "You know you shouldn't be out too much in the sun."

As they walked out, Jungkook shrugged, putting the hood over his face. "You know it takes a long time for me to get burnt extremely badly. It's not like I'll turn to ash the second I come out. Makes it more believable anyhow. Besides, I love pain."

Jimin giggled. "I can't wait to see the look on your best friend's face when he realizes he's been set up."

Jungkook hummed in agreement, turning his gaze towards the bustling palace. "Trust me. There's no one that will experience far more pleasure than me when I see his face, even more so on our lovely King Micah."

"He really thought he'd get away with breaking the pact with us," Jimin shook his head, jaw clenching. "We give him everything, and in turn, when Yoongi asks, for one thing, he declines to give it. How rude. It's taken all of our might to stop Namjoon from ripping him to shreds."

It was true. The same thing that had stopped Namjoon from killing Micah all those centuries ago was the same reason that he wanted to kill Micah now. However, Yoongi had been adamant about letting Micah live, insisting that a fast death, though painful, would not be enough. Nothing was more painful than losing the person you loved the most, and Yoongi would make Micah pay for his betrayal in the most painful way imaginable.

What astounded Jimin was that even with their rank and abilities, Micah Jung still thought that he had a chance to outsmart them. Nothing and no one was by Micah's side, not when he had designed his empire, his royalty for himself. There were also crimes against the Pureblood's own kind that they would address, and the way they'd do it would be through Hoseok.

Jimin could only jump excitedly at the thought.

When Jungkook and Jimin returned to their home, Yoongi was already waiting for them. He smiled brazenly at Jungkook, leaning against his chair. Taehyung and Namjoon sat on the opposite end, looking at them expectantly.

"The wedding's in a few hours," Jungkook informed them, grinning widely. "As Jung Hoseok's best friend, I have the privilege of sitting in the front. As someone with an invitation, I gracefully ask for a plus one, in our case, a plus three."

"I think that can definitely be arranged," Yoongi hummed, tapping his fingers lightly against the table. "I, for one, am very excited for today. Joon. Tae. Make sure that the path is paved for us to bring our gift home. Jimin and I will take care of the inside. We'll spare the innocents."

Namjoon frowned, eyes flashing red. "That hardly seems fair for all they've done. I'd like to wreak havoc."

"Stop their hearts, Namjoon," Yoongi snickered. "Cause internal bleeding. Use your haemokinesis as you see fit. I never said you couldn't hurt the guards and those standing in our way."

"Pain in the asses those guards," Jungkook murmured in agreeance. "Almost caught Hoseok and I leaving the grounds yesterday. If it weren't for Jimin being around, we would have gotten caught."

"It was a pleasure," Jimin dismissed, eyes flashing green. "The human body is an amazing thing, you know?"

The human body was an amazing thing, and it was something that all of them could agree on. For all of them, it was an energy source. For Jimin, it was the very essence of his abilities. While Namjoon and Jungkook could manipulate those of other species, Jimin was reserved for humans, which is why for anything involving the Prince, Jimin had been side by side Jungkook. While their powers weren't something that anyone but themselves knew, the Purebloods still posed a threat to those below them— everyone.

Now, Yoongi was taking back what was rightfully his.

"Poor, naive Jung Hoseok," Yoongi murmured, his tongue running through his bottom lip. "His blood was something else. I can't wait to have more of it."

"Your mark's already starting to spread around his body," Jungkook commented, causing Yoongi to smile. "I think it took some of Hoseok's energy. He looked like a mess in the morning. Almost didn't wake up."

Yoongi waved Jungkook's concerns. "The same thing happened to you when Namjoon first drank from you. Look at you now. As long as he accepts me and finishes the transformation, this won't be an issue. If he decides not to, well, guess he'll die."

"You sound so confident he'll choose to be with you," Namjoon chuckled. "That boy's been taught to hate us since he was born."

That was a fact that hadn't flown past Yoongi. He was well aware of Hoseok's feelings towards vampires, even if he willingly let Yoongi drink from him. The problem with that lay that Jimin and Jungkook were the reason Hoseok had been so open about vampires, to begin with. Jungkook smothered Hoseok's nerves, helping him feel calm, while Jimin loosened the boy up, making him more receptive to Yoongi's suggestions. Yoongi didn't fully know what Hoseok was wrapped in vampire indoctrination, but he wouldn't be surprised if, for the next few weeks, he'd try to resist.

Not that it mattered anyhow. Now that Yoongi had staked his claim on Hoseok, the insignia that lay dormant on his neck had awakened. Time had started ticking for Hoseok without him knowing. It almost made Yoongi feel bad.

Almost.

The fact of the matter was, Jung Hoseok's father had done Min Yoongi and his brothers a great disservice, and it was one that Micah would pay full price for.

Yoongi would make sure of it.

🩸

"Do you, Kim Seokjin, take Jung Hoseok as your lawfully wedded love bound to love and cherish until the end of your days?"

Seokjin couldn't keep the smile on his face as he gazed into Hoseok's eyes, expression set. There was no trace of uncertainty in his expression as he said yes, to which Hoseok looked away. He didn't know what exactly it was from today, but there was a sort of edginess he felt, even as he was standing atop with his love bound next to him. His eyes drifted towards Jungkook, who only smiled at him from the rows, a smile that was less than pleasant.

It was neither an encouraging nor discouraging one, rather one that was expectant, waiting for something to happen. Hoseok didn't know whether to be suspicious or reassured for what Jungkook expected. It could be that Jungkook was expecting Hoseok to tie the knot, but even Hoseok couldn't convince himself of that.

"Are there any objections?"

As if on cue, the doors burst open, causing silence to descend among the congregation. Micah was the first to stand, mostly in anger at the commotion. Jungkook quickly followed, his smile widening as he recognized the two coming in.

"What's the meaning of this?" Micah yelled, walking towards the front to get a clear view. "Who dares to interrupt a loving union?"

"I do, King Micah."

A shiver ran through Hoseok at the sound of the voice, his hand drifting up to touch his birthmark, which felt like it had begun to pulse. The voice was familiar, but Hoseok couldn't figure out why. Slowly, he turned towards the sound of the voice, his eyes growing wide as he met a pair of obsidian eyes.

Obsidian.

His father stood there in shock at the two intruders, his face blanching as Obsidian began to smile crookedly, while Silver stood next to him, equally as amused.

"Apologies for interrupting your beautiful wedding, Your Highness, but I believe you have someone that belongs to me, and I'll be taking him now."

Murmurs began bursting among the crowd and the only one knowing what Obsidian was talking about was the king. Seokjin had gotten in front of Hoseok protectively, but it did nothing for Hoseok as he peeked out of Seokjin's shoulder in curiosity. Obsidian met his eyes once more and pointed.

"By him, I mean you, Jung Hoseok."

a/n: on plane rn so here's an update before i yeet yeet away FR FR 🥰❤️

obsidian was yoongi, just hoseok didn't know his name! same with all the others (: