Namjoon's steps were quick and agitated when he opened the huge double door of the guest room. The double doors burst inward, slamming against the wall with a muffled thud. Hoseok and Y/n's eyes darted towards him as the voice echoed across the room.

His chest heaved in uniform motion, his face was streaked with sweat, and his eyes were wide and panicked carrying a look of urgency. Y/n quickly realised his anxious state of mind and stood up.

"Y/n–" Namjoon paused when he came closer to her. His eyes landed on Hoseok, who was now standing on his feet.

Hoseok couldn't recognise the look in Namjoon's eyes, "What's wrong?" He asked, breaking the tension.

"Hoseok-ah, will you do me a favour?" Namjoon finally managed to speak, though his voice came out as a raw whisper.

The pleading tone slipping from Namjoon's tongue made Hoseok amazed and terrified. Considering the number of times the pure blood had dominated him, he never imagined a day would come when he would sound so vulnerable, yet it terrified him as to what might be the severity of the situation.

Hoseok hummed before speaking and, along with Y/n, awaited a response, "What is it?"

"You need to... take her back to the human world," Namjoon muttered in a shakingly low register.

Y/n's brow knitted upwards, her lips parted slightly, as if she were about to ask a question, but the words got caught in her throat. She barely came up to his chin as she tilted her head back, to look up at the most powerful gumiho of the royal bloodline. Y/n tried to read the look in his dark eyes, swirling, conflicting emotions.

Hoseok's eyes widened and he asked, "Why?! All of a sudden?!"

"Because they're coming."

"WHO?!" Y/n finally spoke.

"SHADOW WOLVES!" Namjoon announced, and realisation hit Hoseok on his face as his expression turned grim.

"Shadow Wolves? Who are the–"

"Y/n, I can't explain anything r-right now. They can be here anytime. Y-you need to leave," the adrenaline made Namjoon stutter and his hands were shaky when he interjected, cutting off Y/n's sentence in the middle.

"No!" Y/n said, not a single waver in her voice that could hint at any sort of weakness. She was clear where she stood.

Namjoon exhaled. He knew it wouldn't be easy to convince her, but he was determined. He gestured for Hoseok to give them some time, and Hoseok nodded before exiting the room.

As soon as the double doors of the room closed, Namjoon's hands travelled towards Y/n's face, cupping it gently, "Y/n, please understand. They're our worst enemies. They're here for revenge. And most importantly, they know about your presence."

Y/n's eyes widened when she asked, "How?"

"We've figured they were the ones to shoot an arrow at His Majesty, which means they know when and where things were going to take place," Namjoon explained as he dropped his hands from Y/n's cheeks, "And that's why... You have to leave," The Gumiho's lips trembled while talking. He didn't meet her gaze, couldn't. He was staring at a point just over her shoulder.

"But I want to stay by your side, Namjoon," Y/n mumbled as tears welled up at the corners of her eyes.

"No! I can't let that happen. Try to understand Y/n, A LITERAL WAR IS ABOUT TO BREAK!" Namjoon exclaimed while losing his patience with Y/n's stubbornness, "I can't... I can't protect you here," he finally looked at her, his eyes bloodshot and filled with a despair that mirrored the devastation he knew was coming.

Silence engulfed Y/n's mind. It took a moment for Y/n to fully comprehend the severity of the upcoming events before she finally managed to speak, "I-If you insist... I'll leave. But promise me... that you'll be back."

"I... I can't promise you that," his voice cracked, and he swallowed hard, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill from his eyes.

"W-why?" Y/n's lips trembled as an unknown fear crept up inside her heart. A tear rolled down her cheek as she awaited a response.

"Because I-I... don't know if I'll make it or not," his chest ached with a physical pain that threatened to suffocate him. He swallowed hard, fighting back tears.

"Why?!" A question desperately wrapped in a pleading tone escaped from Y/n's mouth, "I'm not leaving then!" She cried, tears finally breaking free and tracing paths down her cheeks.

Namjoon shook his head and bit his lower lip to prevent the tears from falling. He then cupped her face in his hands, his thumbs gently wiping away her tears, "Y/n, I can't let you die here with me. You need to live, for both of us..." His voice trailed off.

Y/n clung to him, burying her face in his chest, her body shaking with sobs, "How will I live, Namjoon?! Without you, I'll be a body without a soul."

He held her tightly, knowing he couldn't give her the comfort and assurance she craved. His heart was breaking with every ragged breath she took. "I'll not let that happen," he whispered, his own tears now mingling with hers.

He pulled away, his hands trembling as he glanced in her eyes. He wanted to hold her, to breathe in her scent and etch it into his memory forever. But he couldn't. Because what he was going to do next was something he never imagined would happen.

"Shh, calm down, my love," he murmured while constantly wiping Y/n's tears from his thumbs. He gradually came closer and slowly attached their lips to hers.

Their lips met slowly and gently, there was no frantic urgency, no desperation. Instead, it was an unspoken comfort through touch.

The kiss deepened, and tears streamed down their cheeks. Their bodies pressed close, finding solace in the familiar embrace. And that's when Namjoon's hands reached towards her forehead.

Golden dust escaped beneath his hand from Y/n's forehead as he peeked inside her memories for one last time. The Spell of Silence was working and Y/n's memories were shifting and contorting. He knew what he was doing, but the thought of erasing those moments made him feel as though he was tearing apart a part of himself.

Y/n's dark eyelashes rested against her cheek as dizziness consumed her mind, her grip on his overalls became loose, and Namjoon wrapped his hand around her neck to keep their lips together for a few more seconds.

Namjoon lived through their shared memories once again, their first encounter, their bickering and fights, their mutual attraction, those stolen glances and the passionate kisses they shared before he finally let go of her lips.

Yn's knees buckled as unconsciousness took over her senses. Namjoon instantly wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer to his chest.

Tears streamed down his face and fell on Y/n's cheeks when he stared at her, admiring her beauty for probably the last time. And between his silent sobs, he mumbled, "Even if you won't... remember me anymore, you need to l-live. For... both of u-us. Till my last breath, my heart shall belong to you, Y/n," the words tasted like ash in his mouth, as if a testament to the love he was sacrificing to save her life.

┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈

At the King's quarters

The dim light filtering through the drawn curtains painted the room in soft shades of grey, highlighting the deep lines etched on Jeong Ho's face. Taehyung sat in the cushioned armchair beside the bed, his gaze fixed on the sleeping figure.

Taehyung traced the lines on his father's face with his eyes, memorising every wrinkle, every scar. He saw shadows of himself in the shape of his jaw, the curve of his brow. He knew that soon, these memories would be all he had left.

A tear ran down his cheek, as a wave of grief washed over him. His gaze shifted towards Jeong Ho's nails which were turning blue, reminding him of the whole sinister act once again.

He reached out, his hand hovering over his father's. He hesitated for a moment, then gently placed his fingers on his father's wrist, feeling the faint pulse beneath his skin.

Taehyung then retreated his hands back but before he could completely take them back, Jeong Ho lightly grasped his fingers and slowly opened his eyes, "Why are you avoiding me, son?" He asked in a rasped voice.

Slightly startled by the gesture, Taehyung hesitantly held his father's hand, "I'm not, father," he added while trying his best to maintain a calm persona.

"If you say so," Jeong Ho murmured and paused, catching his breath with a rattling sigh, "Son, do you know why your mother and I decided to name you as Taehyung?"

Taehyung shook his head, "Why, father?"

"Because... when you were born, you brought peace and prosperity... in our lives and fortune in the palace," Jeong Ho answered.

"I see," Taehyung responded in a low voice and smiled faintly while his eyes carried a look of sorrow.

"Son, I'll be... leaving soon," Jeong Ho murmured and Taehyung's grip on his wrist tightened as if not wanting to let go, "When I'm gone, promise me that you'll never abandon your royal duties, you're the fortune of the palace. This place is flourishing because of you. Stay by your brother's side, and guide him throughout life."

"Father, why are you talking... like you're leaving right now?! Don't do it! I hate this talk!" Taehyung couldn't hold it anymore, he broke down in tears, his shoulders trembling from the emotional turmoil.

"Taehyung-ah, don't cry. Seeing you cry hurts your father the most." A tear escaped from the corner of Jeong Ho's eye, tracing a path down his weathered cheek.

"Father, don't l-leave me, atleast n-not right now," Taehyung stammered between his sobs, his breaths uneven from the breakdown. He slowly put his head on his father's hand resting on the bed. The room echoed with Taehyung's sobs and the faint voice reached the ears of SeokJin patiently waiting outside, with a concerned look on his features.

MEANWHILE

The thick stone walls of the Spell Cells echoed with a cacophony of sounds through the narrow corridors. Sentries, faces grim and weary, patrolled the walkways, their weapons drawn but their eyes darting nervously, whispering and chatting among themselves in agitated tones.

These whispering voices reached the cell where Yoongi and his mates were present. Jimin's eyebrows crinkled in confusion, "What's with the ruckus outside?" He asked while glancing at Jeongguk and Jihoon.

"Who cares? We're going to die anyway," Jeongguk answered with a hint of sorrow in his tone.

Light escaping from the small window landed on Yoongi, highlighting the eye bags under his eyes, which carried a look of guilt. His gaze darted towards them, but he remained silent and instead released a heavy sigh. Silence engulfed the cell once again until the thick metallic door of the cell opened and sentries walked inside.

"Get up! His Majesty have summoned you all," one of the sentries added.

"For the final verdict?!" Jeongguk asked as soon as he stood up on his feet.

The sentry scoffed before his expression turned stern, "Let's go."

Yoongi stood up abruptly and deliberately moved forward, faceing the head royal guard. He willingly moved his wrists forward and the royal guard manacled him with spell casted shackles and heavy chains. The other three men follow the same action and together the four of them walked towards the King's quarters.

The air grew heavy, thick with anticipation and dread when they crossed the stone veranda and entered the King's quarters.

"This isn't the way to royal court, is it?" Jihoon asked the sentry walking beside him. The sentry remained silent, maintaining a cold professional detachment.

As they neared the King's room, the guards tightened their grip on the prisoner's arms. Their footsteps ceased when they reached the massive oak doors, adorned with the royal crest. Jimin, Jeongguk and Jihoon gave each other confused glances while standing infront of King's personal room.

"Your Majesty, the prisoners are here," the head royal guard announced. The door opened and Yoongi, Jihoon Jimin and Jeongguk were met with Taehyung, Namjoon, SeokJin and Hoseok along with His Majesty sitting on the bed.

✧