______________________________

The dark mage looked in the mirror, somewhat disgusted as the image ebbed and fluttered in the light. A glamour glamor spell.

“I hate glamour spells. I hate changing how I look.”

“You still look beautiful,” a deep voice purred. “He is divine.”

She looked into the dusty mirror on the wall of the dusty inn they had stopped in, at the dusty town it was in. Sitting on the bed was a lean, handsome man with a pale complexion and long unending black hair.

He was Domonkos…or at least the Domonkos everyone knew. It was only half of the story. He was only half of the Domonkos that existed.

She was his other half, the stronger half of a whole, the one who carried most of their mage powers. Their existence was due to a rare version of twins born from an Omega Magi. The most twisted version of akwusighi imaginable. But it was also story of siblings who didn’t want to lose each other. So to prevent that, they became one.

“He is more than divine. That’s why I want him by my side, Kos.” Domon her lips, looking at Minho’s face in the mirror. She caressed his image lovingly. “All I have to do is get rid of his mate.”

“And how do you think you’re going to manage the heartsickness? They do seem to love each other greatly,” Kos pointed out as he examined his nails. He shifted until he was on his side and looking at her. “And please don’t say a love spell. They don’t work.”

Domon turned to him. “I don’t want to break his heart. I want to break their bond. What’s the quickest way to do that?”

“Death,” Kos intoned, obviously bored with the conversation. “Just kill him.”

“Then my Minho will die of heart sickness like you said, fool. I will turn his love into anger then his anger into indifference. He will need protection after Toggo destroys Prae and rebuilds it in his image. To protect his children, he will accept me. I won’t give him another option.”

“You’re a seductress,” Kos said dryly. “However, you deserve happiness, Domon. You will have it.”

Domon placed the cloak over her head and looked at her image one last time, making sure her glamour spell was in place. “How do I look?”

“Just like him.”

“Good. Time to go set my trap.”

“It’ll be a multi-faceted three-point attack plan,” Minho announced before their war council.

Normally they would hold these sort of meetings in the Beam Room, but for a campaign this large, and with such an expansive hierarchy of leadership present, the Great Hall seemed like the most suitable spot. The tables used for feast and festivals were brought in and all four fireplaces were lit, making the air warm and comfortable. Kibum had ordered enough food cooked to keep everyone feed. It would go a long way in keeping tempers at bay.

“A three point attack plan? We employed a two point one at Battle at the Blood Forged Lake. We had a fighting battalion and one concentrated at the city gates,” Hwasa asked. She sat at the table with Jeongmyeong and Xiah, the Alphas of the remaining Prae villages. Across from them was the leadership of Torch, Junghee and Gwiboon, as well as Solar, Moonbyul and Wheein.

“We are wholly unfamiliar with Iustus,” Jinki answered. “We don’t know the full capabilities of the Dark Mages because they are mysterious and secluded and always have low numbers. The mercenaries are hired, but we don’t know from what regions, what their fighting styles are like, how skilled they are. The Blue Crescents are small but deadly and not trained in large scale war tactics. So to encompass that, we need to attack them in all the places they plan to be.”

“Wheph, Mott Argan and the army headed here?” Tao stated.

“Correct. Jonghyun? Yifan?” The two Bone Pact Regimental Commanders stood and joined Jinki at his side.

“You may notice one of the other Regimental Commander is missing along with his two First,” Yifan started. “Nichkhun, Victoria and Tiffany are heading up an infiltration mission. The Lark’s River runs through all of Prae and connects with the lake near Lark’s Nest and Toleran. To the south of it is Mott Argan, occupied by Iustus mercenaries. Scouts connected with  our ally Jessica have given us a number of the total occupation. The low thousands, a low level threat, however, if they travel north towards Wheph or along the river and cross north when they reach Dinfire, they would be in position to attack the Fortress directly, as well as the village. Nichkhun will amass with Lower Lord Tiger and Countess Mirae’s armies to attack the Iustus operation.”

“And thanks to the efforts of Taehyung, Hoseok and Jin, as well as their other brothers who have traveled here to fight with us, Wheph is a mess. It is under Blue Crescent occupation,” Jonghyun stated, "but the evacuation of hostages and the rebellions has caused a great deal of confusion. Eunsook, sister of the AlphaPrime, Taehyung, Hoseok, Jimin, Jungkook and Chanyeol are headed there as we speak.”

“We will wait for their armies to advance towards us,” Yifan educated. “Then using our operative Choi Jinri, a former Blue Crescent, we will initiate a VENIAT, a secret line of communication they use; only something a Blue Crescent would know. This will allow us to gain their trust and admittance inside of Wheph. From there we regain occupation without as much bloodshed.”

Jonghyun nodded. “Kyung and his guard will protect the inner Fortress and the village.”

Toghon rubbed his chin. “And our armies are equipped to handle whatever their armies bring?”

Yifan pointed at Yejin and Fatima. “As far as the Vampyres, yes and with the mercenaries and Blue Crescents, yes. The dark mages are another thing. “

“The lower level mages are manageable. There are only two know Dark mages in Toleran,” Bi-so stated in her seat next to Kyung. “One is too old to fight but Domonkos is the strongest one in Prae. Our only advantage against him would be to find someone as powerful as him. He could change the course of the battle with just a few spells.”

“Let us pray that Iseul and my mother are successful in bringing Toleran into the fold,” Minho murmured. “This meeting is adjourned. We will discuss the main battle in the upcoming days. We have just shy of two weeks until the new moon. Spend time with your families and friends, everyone. Now is the time.”

Jinki entered their room and collapsed into an exhausted heap into the large chair by his bed. Usually Minho used it to rock the pups to sleep but he would also use it from time to time. Their room had been redecorated in his absence and he wondered how Seohyun pulled it off without the rest of the Fortress knowing. Minho’s old room had been transformed into a nursery for two identical cradles with the initials MS carved into them. The room was decorated in soft colors of blue and green and hints of yellow and the wall that used to have a small window above Minho’s bed was knocked down and replaced with a floor to ceiling window, allowing so much more light into the room.

He walked over to the room and found Flora, their wet nurse placing Min Sun down to sleep. Min Soo was already tucked away in her cradle, sleeping soundly. He looked down at one daughter before gazing at the other. “Where’s Minho,” he asked, quietly.

Flora tilted her head. “He said he went to look for you, my lord. He said you disappeared after the meeting and was wondering when you’d be back.”

Jinki hummed as he rubbed his thumbs across Min Soo’s little  knuckles. “I’ll wait for him here, then. No need of us both getting lost. Tell the guards to move out, if you could. I want to spend some time with my family without interruptions.”

Flora nodded before she gathered her things. “They should sleep through the night, my lord, but if they do wake, as always I will down the hall.”

“Thank you, Flora,” he murmured as he continued to look down at his children. Minho was right, he’d disappeared quickly after their first war council, but there were several things that he needed to take care immediately. One was getting a hawk to his mother to check on their progress and two was having a private meeting with Toghon and Changmin and dealing with a whole bunch of political red tape, as if an alliance should require such a conversation in wartime.

The more important meeting followed where he invited all of the newly appointed generals to a joint meeting–an ice breaker, really–to get them acquainted with one another. It was a large group consisting of former First such as Yixing and Sehun, who were assigned over the Lycan and wolf divisions, to the newer ones like Kwon Nara, Dinfire’s First, who would handle the vanguard, to In Woo, who would handle communications between each battalion. Xiah’s entire pack was present, who would each get a short range and a long range battalion. Köke Temür, Toqto'a, and Bak Bulhwa would handle all of the Arctic North armies, while Toghon and Gi Jao’s youngest son Biligtü would serve as Junior Regimental Commander over all of them.

It was a pretty intense meeting but all of his meetings had been intense. Minho, to his knowledge, was off handling monetary issues with Gi Jao. The Arctic Wolves were not only helping them in their fight but offering Prae a loan to bankroll it. Jinki wondered what kind of financial strain it would put on Prae in the future, but Gi Jao said it was only a fraction of the twins’ inheritance. Awed and humbled, he quietly accepted the help.

Waiting for Minho to get back, he sat with his children, enjoying the quiet time with them. Their personalities were starting to show and it amazed him every time a quirk or something special made its way to the surface. Min Soo was head strong and vibrant, Min Sun calculating and mindful. They were such an interesting mix of the two of them. They both adopted Minho’s Toleran coloring with their tan skin and dark eyes, but both had a head full of raven hair and prominent cheekbones, taking after him. He sighed. He was so much in love with them, he couldn’t take it.

The door opened behind him and he felt Minho before he heard him. “Hi, love,” he said silkily, wrapping his arms around him. Jinki smiled and sank back into his embrace. He inhaled deeply and paused.

He turned around in Minho’s arms. “You smell funny.”

Something is wrong, Jinki, Caelo said.

Minho’s brow raised and he looked down between his shirt. “Olfa.”

“Why are you wearing that?” Jinki asked, frowning.

Jinki, listen to me, Caleo tried again.

“Spies. I’m still not sure of spi–”

Jinki’s frown deepened. “That’s silly, Minho. Everyone knows. They might as well get use to your scent, love.” He pushed a lock of his hair behind his ear. “I know you are scared but give them a chance to get to know you. They only know a version of you. They’ll be crazy about the real you.”

Something flashed in Minho’s eyes. It was a color he’d never seen before, like deep emerald. He sighed and caressed Jinki’s face. “You seem like a decent guy, ” Minho said. “Handsomer than I was led to believe. Too bad I’ve never cared about decent guys,” Minho said. His grip on Jinki’s arm tightened, almost to the point of pain.

“Hey!” Jinki pulled his arm out of his grip. “What is wrong with you? Why are you talking like that?” Jinki said, trying to back away.

Minho sighed. “It doesn’t matter. I’d apologize but I’ve also never been that big on apologizing. So. Yeah. Oh! Life! At least you’ll be left alive…for now. That sounded like an apology. Good. That was my apology.”

Jinki yanked himself out of Minho’s arms and backed out of the nursery and into their room. He edged towards the bed, his aim Espada. “You’re not Minho. You were wearing that olfa to trick me.”

Minho followed him, looking at him with amused curiosity.

I don't know who this is. I can’t figure it out.

Minho smirked, sarcastically. “You are as smart as they say. That only took minutes. Seconds. Impressive.”

“Guards!”

“You moved them out, remember?”

Caleo?

Yes.

Min Soo and Min Sun.

Minho tsked. “I’m not going to hurt your children. What kind of monster do you take me for? And you think I wouldn’t detect a Protegéieren spell. Your wolf has already figured it out…”

Jinki. I–I can’t move. I can’t move! It’s…It’s not an olfa! Destroy it! Whatever it is, it isn’t for you! It is for me!”

“I see the panic in your eyes. Wonderful!” Minho giggled. “Well, time for me to go to work! Of course, you won’t remember any of this. Not particularly an issue for me, but when I eventually get you under my complete control you are going to love it. Gods, to be so lucky! I am, if not anything, but a fair and benevolent, master, Jinki love. And once I have it, once I can see, and taste, and hear everything you do, once I own you, I’m going to terrorize you. You’re going to watch me woo and romance your mate, make him mine.” Minho pulled up closer and ran his tongue over Jinki’s ear. “ him while you watch.” Minho sighed. “This is going to be so much fun.”

Jinki lunged for Espada but Minho–or whoever he was–was quicker. Jinki felt something sharp in the back of his head. He closed his eyes and tried to shake the pain away.

Jinki heard a moan, a familiar one and he smirked, sneaking up to their bedroom door and listening. He’d been gone away to Nihil for a few weeks and through their bond he could feel a swirl of emotions from his mate. They were all so confusing so he’d tried reaching out to him. He was unsuccessful every time. One of those feelings must have been longing because to hear his mate pleasing himself drove Jinki almost crazy.

He’d never experienced it, watching Minho get himself off. Oh, Minho talked about it often but he’d never seen it. Sitting outside now, he reminded himself to ask him to do it more often. It was one of the sultriest things Jinki had ever heard.

He cracked the door open, slowly, trying to be as quiet as possible, because the last thing he wanted to do was interrupt Minho. He wanted to see it, see the ecstasy in his eyes as fell apart. Then he wanted to be there to help him reach those heights again.

Minho moaned again, cursing under his breath.

He peeked around the door, eager, trying to make out his bed and his lover in the dark room. Only one candle was lit but eventually Minho’s form took shape. Minho’s tan skin glistened with sweat and his head was thrown back, letting Jinki take in his long graceful neck.

He sat on the side of the bed, one arm keeping him up, the other between his legs.

Gods, that man was making him hot all over. He just wanted to–

“Domonkos,” he uttered as he came, his hand slipping, causing him to fall back into the sheets.

Jinki could feel his heart in his throat.

A tall figure, shrouded by darkness, stood up from between Minho’s legs, wiping their lips. “Such a good boy, Minho,” the figure purred, running their hands up and down Minho’s chest. Minho’s head canted to the side and Jinki was snatched out of his complete shock at the look in Minho’s eyes. They were dull, a milky grey black instead of their vibrant brown.

“Jinki,” Minho marveled, his voice lethargic.  “You’re home.” He smiled, slow and y, and Jinki was appalled to think he still could chose that adjective for his mate in a time like this.

Jinki yanked Espada out, his anger mounting as the sword cleared its sheath. “He is mine,” Jinki snarled. “I am going to kill you for touching what is mine.”

The figure snorted. “Your mate allowed me to, wanted me to. It was my name he was screaming out. Kill me?” It laughed. “I’m the only thing that’s pleasing your mate these days. Why deny him that?” the figure tapped Minho’s thigh and both of Minho’s legs fell open without preamble. “Want to watch me do what you couldn’t?”

Jinki screamed as he charged to the other side of the room. Domonkos ignored him, instead choosing to settle in between Minho’s legs. Jinki raised his sword, ready to cut the figure’s head from its vody when red bloomed in front of him and he ran up against something as hard as stone.

He fell back and Espada clanged to the floor. Jinki looked up from the floor to see Minho’s hand still glowing red.

It was Minho’s spell.

“Go away,” Minho hissed as Domonkos slid into him. “You’re ruining everything!”

The pain mounted to the point of agonizing before it simply vanished, receding as if it had never been there.

He spun around, confused. He felt as if someone else had been in the room with him and a weird smell permeated the air.

The door opened and Flora peeked in. “I heard a noise…”

Jinki blinked. He opened his mouth and then closed it. “I...I–”

“Is everything okay?”

Both Jinki and Flora looked over and saw Minho at the bedroom door, his hands full of scrolls and books. “Why are the guards two hundred feet back? Did something happen?”

Jinki shook his head. “I...don’t think so.” He moved to meet his mate at the door and unloaded the things from his hands, ushering him in. Flora checked in on the children before taking her leave through the other door.

“How was your meeting with–”

Jinki interrupted him when a feeling of pure longing and protectiveness hit him, as if he hadn’t seen Minho in days, when it had only been hours. It was territorial and feral. Something in him sensed some kind of foreboding danger, that he could lose Minho and it overtook his entire being. He grabbed Minho by his arm, turned him round and cupped his face. “I missed you so much,” he uttered, his voice breaking, with him not understanding why he felt so bad, so lonely.

“Hey, hey,” Minho cooed. “What’s wrong?”

Jinki shook his head, clearing his throat. “I...don’t know. I just feel like...I’m going to lose you. I was fine, and then I saw you and my heart. It...”

“I felt it,” Minho whispered. “I rushed back here because I thought you were in pain and you were confused and...Jinki is this about the war? Because if it is, I understand.”

“I didn’t want to scare you or shake you.” His hand slid from his cheek, to his jaw, smoothing around his neck until his fingers rested on his nape. “I just...really missed you and I really need you and–” he pressed against Minho and Minho grunted when his back hit the wall. His hands began roaming over Minho’s form, under his long wool coat, pushing it back so he could run his hands over Minho’s slim hips.

For Minho’s part, he gasped. “Jinki, we can’t! Flora might be back and the twins are in the other room.”

Jinki rolled his eyes. “The twins will always be in the other room and Flora might always be back.”

Minho seemed to contemplate Jinki’s words as Jinki began to kiss along his collarbones. He bit back a moan but still stood firm. “I’m still weeks away from being healed,” he hissed.

Jinki bit down on Minho’s collarbone, grinning. “Didn’t you tell me there were other ways, Min?” He kissed his way back up to Minho’s lips, sweet and tender. Minho opened up to insistent press of his lips and Jinki fell in; touching his tongue to Minho’s before exploring his mouth. Minho moaned and Jinki swallowed it as his hands went back to their ministrations, feeling around Minho’s waist until he could his through his clothing.

Urging him on, Minho on Jinki’s bottom lip, wrapping his hands around Jinki’s waist and pulling him closer. Minho was right, though. They didn’t have a lot of time–there were meetings later on that night, plans that need to be drafted. They were at war. But Jinki just wanted two or three hours where they could be a family, where he wasn’t the leader of Prae and his mate wasn’t on borrowed time with no foreseeable future they could guess at. He just wanted to be.

He maneuvered his leg between Minho’s, listened for the gasp and palmed him through the thin material of his pants. Minho pressed his fingers into Jinki’s hips, trying to bring them closer so that when Jinki rolled against him, he can feel every delicious shiver from his mate.

It had been so long that Jinki felt the both of them tense and ready to snap after a few moments of rubbing off on one another. Minho voiced what Jinki was thinking and it was a heady, whispered “I’m, I’m close,” seconds before he shattered and collapsed and fell apart against Jinki. Jinki pressed closer, dug deeper and with one final against his mate’s thigh, came apart at the seams.

Exhausted, from the day, from the their fooling around, from the oppressive knowledge of what lied ahead, Jinki pulled away from his mate, watching the afterglow of an for a moment, to pull him to into bed.

Minho giggled as they got comfortable. “We are sticky.”

Jinki joined in, wrapping his arms under Minho’s and around his back, and sinking his nose into his neck. ”You smell so good. I just wanted to bask in it.”

Minho snorted. “Bask.”

Silence stretched long before them and Jinki thought Minho had fallen asleep when he heard a quiet, “You think we can win this?”

“I don’t think or know…but we have to. We don’t have a choice.”

“Yeah,” Minho said quietly, before snuggling closer. “We don’t have a choice.”

Jinki waited until Minho was asleep to finally close his eyes. “It’s the only way I can keep you with me.”

Two weeks later

Taemin looked up at the gates of Prae with an exhilarated smile. “Home.” The sentry was already opening the gates as they approached, and as soon as they opened fully, a group of people were waiting for their return on the other side. He liked that. He liked that in Prae, in this system of power and egos and land grabs and territorial disputes, that when he came home, someone was waiting.

This time when his friends and family rushed through the gates, there was concern, but it was a different sort of concern. The aura was tense, their faces haggard as if sleep had not been a priority. Bi-so glanced Iseul and Danye up and down, then Taemin and Taeyeon, nodding as she realized they were okay. Although Bi-So’s committal to Natsuvi royalty was strong, and although she’d only known the other mages for days before they parted, her concern for them as just as strong as her concern for Danye and Minho.

Minho was nothing but smiles for his mother and in-laws. Jackson stood back with a goofy smile on his face, watching everyone. Taemin’s focus shifted to his brother who seemed more anxious than normal while Jinki’s gaze was locked on the two who didn’t have anyone to greet them at the gates of the Fortress.

Taeyeon hugged her eldest brother around his neck and the look of uneasiness waned from his eyes. He hugged her back and mused her hair. In return, she brandished a fist before playfully punching him in the stomach. Jinki doubled over, laughing and his aura warmed considerably. Taemin frowned at the sudden change but ignored it. Everyone was tired, Jinki more than anybody.

Kibum appeared, heavy with child, and Taeyeon gaped. “You’re so big!” she exclaimed.

Kibum’s eyes narrowed dangerously and Taeyeon was smart enough to not bring the subject up again, almost she did give his belly a rub. She was lucky she didn’t draw back a nub. He began ushering everyone in side, waddling like an overstuffed hen. “Every time someone comes back we sit at the gates like a bunch of hens welcoming home a rooster. Get inside, would you? My feet hurt.”

“To the Great Hall then?” Taeyeon tried.

“No,” Kibum whined. “Why all the formality? It’s just you guys.”

“No,” Taeyeon whined back, mocking him. “We have guest?”

Kibum turned slowly. “We do?”

Taemin thumbed back behind him at Bong Soon and Minhyuk. Kibum stared at them for a long, dry moment then kept walking. “I wouldn’t care if the gods came down here themselves. I’m not going in the Great Hall, I’m not ordering fires and I’m not standing up. To the kitchens. That way if I pop open early, you all will have utensils nearby.”

“That’s, that’s gross, Kibum,” Iseul said, her features pinched.

“So is childbirth, woman.”

The Fortress had two kitchens, a main one that was equipped to serve large banquets, feast and to keep the people occupied in its walls fed as best as possible. There was another overflow one, not quite as enormous as the main, but still big enough to fit a small party of people inside of very comfortably. True to his word Kibum found the first seat–a big sack of flour– and huffed as he sat down. Taeyeon kept close to him, asking him over and over again if he was comfortable, which angered both Jonghyun, who glared at her, and Jackson, who glared at Kibum.

Taemin rolled his eyes, hooked a hand in Taeyeon’s and Jackson’s arms and pulled them to the opposite side of the room.

“And stay over there,” Jonghyun snarled.

Taeyeon reared back, mouth parted to rip into Jonghyun like old times when Jackson stepped in front of her.. “Are you really about to argue with the mate of the man you’ve had a decade long crush on, right here, in front of me?”  ”

Taeyeon turned red and whipped around, her hands out. “I–I–I...it’s habit!” she sputtered. “It’s habit for me to cuss that mutt out and to be overprotective of Kibum. It’s habit! I’m–”

“I’m your habit now,” Jackson said petulantly. “I’m your intended!”

Jinki’s brow rose. “He’s your what?” He looked between his mage sister and her Toleran bodyguard. “He’s your what?” he repeated between clenched teeth when neither of them answered.

Iseul scratched the back of her neck. “I’m sure we told you, Jinki…” she laughed nervously. “It would only be right if you–”   

Jinki whipped around. “You knew?” When his mother nodded yes, he Jackson, pacing towards him full of warning and threat. “Who are your parents? What were you doing before you became a bodyguard? Are you a deserter or a fugitive of some village we don’t know of? What do you want with my sister” he growled.

Taeyeon smacked him on the arm. “You already know he’s an orphan! And he protected Mom! Why are you acting like this?”

“I don’t know about him,” Jinki snarled.

“I–I didn’t plan to announce it like this! I planned on coming to you personally, tonight– Jackson paused, and squared his shoulders. “Lord Jinki, I would love–“

“Get out of my face,” Jinki demanded.

“I like you all,” came a light, cheerful voice. The bickering stopped and heads rotated towards the back of the kitchen. “Hi,” she waved as they all stared at her. “Guess you forgot we were here?”

Taemin groaned and rubbed his eyes tiredly. “I’m sorry. Forgive us. We’re just really–”

“Dysfunctional?”

“I was going to say energetic.” Taemin looked at his brother. “You sent us to Toleran to broker a deal within the parameters of our alliance. We are here to present the outcome of that. May I introduce Chief Mage Bong Soon and her mate, Auxiliary Chief Mage, Minhyuk.”

“Just two of the strongest mages in Toleran,” Minhyuk added, crossing his arms and leaning against the cooler. “At your service.”

Jinki’s eyes narrowed and his gaze shifted between his family and the two strangers. “You brought me two mages.”

“We are not just any mages, my Lord. We are the two strongest mages in–”

Bong Soon elbowed him. “He heard you.”

Jinki pivoted towards his mother. “You said you were bringing back a mage army.”

“No, love. I said mages. As many mages as I could get. This,” Iseul said, looking at both Bong Soon and Minhyuk, “is what we could get.”

“They have an army and you brought back two mages,” Jinki almost growled. Taemin frowned. He’d never taken that tone with any of them, especially not their mother.

Minhyuk raised his hand. “I’m sure I’ve mentioned this already but we are two of the strong–”

Jinki ignored him. “They have an entire mage army! Some freaking 7th level dark demon mage with an entire army backing him! What good are you for if you can’t get me what I asked for?” he roared.

“Jinki!” Minho remonstrated. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

The Alpha Prime of Prae’s brows furrowed and his eyes glinted an eerie shade of green before he his heels and stomped out of the kitchen, slamming the door as he left.

Minho looked at everyone in the room, visibly stressed and embarrassed before addressing their guest. “Please excuse the Alpha Prime’s behavior. I don’t know what’s gotten into him lately but we are so very thankful that you were able to travel all of this way amidst of this fighting to help us.”

Bong Soon shrugged. “I’ve seen worse tempers on toads. I would like to take some time to discuss why we are here and how we can help? Each mage here made an impassioned plea that changed our minds about our participation in this war. We are honored to be in service of Natsuvi royalty and this clan.”

“They piled on the guilt is what you mean,” Minhyuk mumbled.

“Whenever you are ready,” Bong Soon said, glaring at her mate.

 “Let’s get some food and then we can discuss things in-depth with Minho? Hm?” Taemin finished, his eyes lingering on the door his brother had stormed out of.

Minho entered their bedroom carefully through the twin’s door. They were spending the night with Toghon and Gi Jao so it was quiet. But still he took a moment to linger over their cradles, missing them as he stared at undisturbed sheets.

“You’re back,” came a gruff voice from their bedroom.

Frowning, Minho turned towards the sound, bracing himself for fight. Slowly, he made his way over, his fingers tapping at his side, his aura both nervous and angry. It was true. Over the last couple of weeks, Jinki had been weird. Short. Quick to anger. Stubborn. Minho wanted to contribute his attitude shift to stress, but he’d seen Jinki under stress. This was not his mate stressed.

“Do you want to talk?” he tried, leaning against the partition.

“About?”

“Oh, I don’t know. How you just snapped at Jackson? Then at your mother? Then disregarded our guest? The only two who agreed to come here despite their clans obvious misgivings about joining us in this war.”

“Breaking an alliance is treason.”

“So when are you going to find the time between this war and the one brewing in your head to wage war against Toleran? Should we send Bong Soon and Minhyuk back?”

Jinki was silent so Minho entered the room and found his mate sitting on the edge of the bed, his body hunched over his knees and his hands clasped together. Minho could feel the tension in the room, thick and suffocating. Despite that, he took a seat beside him. “What’s wrong, Jinki?” he asked, keeping his voice calm and steady. “I’m worried. Do you need to take a break? Get away for a day or so? Jonghyun or Yifan can handle it. I know we’ve been working hard since we got back but–”

“I don’t want to argue,” Jinki murmured, cutting Minho off.

“Then let's not argue. Jonghyun and Kibum are together and Yifan and Yixing are watching over the sentry guards. Biligtü can answer any questions that may arise. We don’t have to rush, we can talk all night. Just talk to me. I want you to talk to me.”

“And listen to you tell me you think my behavior is acceptable? Tough . You don’t get to tell me what to ing do.”

Minho inhaled, searching for patience. “Please don’t talk to me that way.”

Jinki laughed and something was strange about it, like broken glass being scraped across stone. He looked up at Minho and Minho noticed his eyes looked different. “Can I ask you a question?” The look in his eyes was contrasted by the soft way that Jinki slid his hand into Minho’s.

Minho squeezed his hand. “You can ask me anything.”

“Are you mine?”

Sighing, Minho felt the tension leave the space. “Of course, Jinki. I am always–” his sentence was cut short when a hand wrapped around his neck, squeezing.

“Then why do I keep seeing these visions? Hm? Why do I keep seeing you in someone else’s arms?” he raged quietly.

“Jinki I don’t know what–”

“SHUT UP!” he yelled. “You’re doing this to me! With those stupid powers of yours. You’re in my head! You’re making me see things I don’t want to see! All of it, it’s so painful,” he panted. “My mother abandoning me, Iseul leaving me and letting Yoon knock me around!” Jinki pushed forward, pressing against Minho’s neck and pressing him into the bed. His hand tightened even more, to the point of pain and Minho was struggling to stay calm. But he had to. Something was wrong. Something was terribly wrong.

“Jinki. Love. Listen to me. Whatever visions you are seeing…they aren’t real. Someone is in your head. I don’t know who but it isn’t me! You have to fight.”

“It hurts,” he whimpered.

“I know, baby, I know it hurts, but please, you have to fight it!”

Jinki’s hand tightened even more. Minho felt the press against his throat, against his windpipe. He could feel his air supply being threatened, the feel of the veins in his neck and his face bulging, the pressure in his eyes. “You said you would never leave me,” he snarled. “I trusted you!”

The door burst open and the guards filled the room. Their first reaction was confusion. The Alpha Prime was attacking his mate. It wasn’t so dissimilar from their first day together but this was different. They hated each other then. Now they were almost one person. Everyone knew that. Everyone saw that.

Reacting to Jinki’s growls, one of the guards made a decision and tried to pull Jinki off of Minho. Jinki roared and flung the guard off of him, his body careening through the air and smashing into a wooden curio. Shocked, another guard tried the same thing, but Minho held out his hand, commanding them to stop.

“Find...his mother!”

Minho had to make a decision. He couldn’t breathe. His knowledge of spells was getting better, he could erect barriers with ease, contain energy, manipulate certain functions of the body but his mind was going blank under the haze of Jinki’s anger and violence. Think, Minho! Think!

Jinki let the silence settle between them. He lowered his nose into Minho’s hair and inhaled his scent, savoring it. He loved the way Minho smelled because it calmed him. It calmed him and it centered him and he just loved it. He wanted to smell it forever.

Minho blinked. That was a memory straight from Jinki’s head. Minho felt as if he’d experienced it third hand, staring down at Jinki and himself in his room when they’d first come back from The Wanderer’s village the first time.

Scent.

He slammed his elbow into the crook of Jinki’s arm, watching as his balance slipped and he fell forward. Before he could regain his balance, Minho slipped his hands around Jinki’s neck and pulled his face to the crook of his neck. “Please, Jinki, please,” he begged, hoping he wouldn’t pass out.

Jinki fought against him for a moment and Minho knew he didn’t have long. He knew Jinki was stronger than he was and he knew he only had moments before the lack of air overcame him. Jinki, please. Come back to me.

Jinki inhaled deeply, paused, and stilled. It was quiet for a long moment, with Jinki frozen over him and Minho trying not to move. Slowly, Jinki pulled back and his hands loosened fractionally, enough for Minho to breath. Minho inhaled deeply as Jinki’s eyes shifted back to brown. “Jinki,” he breathed, closing his eyes.

The relief was not shared. Minho looked back up at Jinki’s brown eyes and saw the absolute horror there.

“Jinki, no,” Minho whispered.

Jinki looked down at his hands and inhaled sharply, before falling back. Minho, seeing his fear, seeing him horrified at his own actions, reached out of his mate. “Jinki, listen. We can–”

“No!” Jinki backed away from Minho as if their touch could produce poison. “Leave! Please...please stay away from me. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I–it’s hurts, Minho. And I hurt you because it hurts.” He began shaking. “Get the children,” he warned, his eyes wide and hysterical. “Protect them from me. I...I don’t–”

Minho rushed across the room before his mate could protest and wrapped his arms around him. He shushed him. “Calm down. When can figure this out. But you have to trust me.”

“I might attack you again! I almost killed you!”

Minho rolled his eyes. “I can defend myself. I just didn’t.”

“Well that’s stupid!” Jinki roared. “If I can’t control myself, you fight me! Kill me if you have to!”

Minho shushed him again and began to rock him back and forth. “Calm down,” he repeated over and over again. “Calm down.”

The door banged against the wall as Iseul flew into the room, shoving through the guards until her eyes landed on her son. She dropped to her knees and cradled his face in her hands. “What’s wrong?” she demanded. “They said…” she trailed off looking up at Minho.

“It’s fine. I’m fine.” His hands flew to his neck, trying to cover up what was probably bruising. “Ovaldaci prevek,” he speculated, taking his time to pronounce the words correctly. “When Taeyeon was kidnapped, a dark mage performed ovaldaci prevek on her…”

“Control, I remember” Iseul murmured. Her brows pinched and she looked deep in her son’s eyes. Her eyes closed slowly and she blinked them back open. She shuttered a breath before turning to the door. “Guard!”

The same guard Jinki had tossed across the room came forward. “Please fetch me Bong Soon and Minhyuk. No one else.” He nodded and turned but Iseul grabbed his hand before he could leave. “Do not tell a soul, do you hear me?” she said lowly. The guard eyes widened but he nodded slowly before taking off.

“Everyone else,” she said, directing her hard eyes and stern tone at the other three guards in the room. “I know guards are prone to gossiping but if you can hold your tongues you will be forever in our debt. The outcome of this war may depend on your silence.” They looked at each other confused. “I am begging you.”

Minho looked up. “I understand not wanting this of this getting out, Iseul, it may create rumors but I don’t think it’s as dire as you think.”

Iseul ignored him, concentrating instead on the guards. “Is that a yes?”

A guard stepped forward. “I’m, I’m an Omega guard,” she said nervously. “I–they were going to steal me away and send me to a breeder camp, far south. Minho and Jinki, they...they didn’t let that happen. The night before I was to be shipped off, Kyung came and inducted me into the Fortress Guard. I never would have had the opportunity to otherwise. She looked at the other two guards. “None of us would say anything. You have our word. We won’t tell a soul.”

Iseul smiled. “Good.” She exhaled loudly. “Good. One of you stay near at the front entrance, and the other, to the main gate of the Magnus pavilion.” They saluted and ran off to their post.

“I don’t understand,” Minho said between clenched teeth. “Tell me what you are doing.”

Iseul sat down and took one of Jinki’s hands into hers. The Alpha looked at her, eyes wide and afraid. “This isn’t ovaldaci prevek, not like his sister experienced. This is something else,” she said, her voice shaking. “Minho, this isn’t simply control. This,” she paused. “This is ovaldaci frånfälle. It is a control that can only be cancelled with death.”

Minho frowned. “What...what does that mean?”

Iseul swallowed harshly. “That means that...that until we find the caster and kill them, this spell stays intact. It builds and they will add pieces to the spell as time goes along. But it will always start with visions. They will continue to torture him like this at their leisure. He may go days without feeling like this, may appear completely normal but it is my theory that they will wait.”

“Wait until what?” Minho said, his voice cracking, a hysteria clawing at his throat.

“Until he can do the most damage. Hurt you...or the twins...or himself. They may even use him against us.”

“What?”

“They can use me against Prae, Minho,” Jinki said, his voice small. “Mother forced the guards into secrecy because I can be used against Prae. I am a liability.”

“Jinki has to fight,” Minho stressed. “They won’t fight for me. They’ll fight for Min Soo and Min Sun and Jinki and Toghon and Gi Jao but they will not fight for me, won’t fight WITH me. He has to fight. I can defend myself. I can watch over us, and him, and the twins. Keep us all safe. I can protect this family, I can! I will...but I can’t protect Prae alone. Are you telling me there is nothing we can do?”

“We can suppress it. Fight back. Pull every dark mage counter spell I can think of but...it’s not a guarantee. That’s why this has to be a secret. If anyone finds out about this...”

Minho hesitated. He would have to commit to lying to the generals and their allies. Jinki whimpered and began banging his head against Minho’s chest. “Make it stop...please,” he pleaded pitifully and it was all the answer he needed.

“Yes. Whatever that needs to be done will be done.”

“I told you they were dysfunctional,” a voice said from the doorway.

Minhyuk looked down at them with a smirk. “So...I think we’ve found our purpose, don't you think Bong Soon?”

She sighed. “And here I was thinking he was just an . Damn! I had such an epic comeback for how he treated us! Oh well.” Bong Soon bent in half to look Jinki in the face. The Alpha recoiled. “He’s all vision-overloaded. He’s going to be all weird until we can stop them.” Bong Soon tsked. “Pitiful.” She turned towards Minho. “Did he tell you what he saw?”

Minho carded his hand through his mate’s hair. “He saw betrayal. Abandonment. He saw me with someone else, ” Minho finished quietly.

“That’s tough,” Minhyuk whistled. “Oi, Bong Bong. Would you–”

“Not another word. Get down here and help me suppress these visions, will you?”

Minhyuk saluted. “Yes, ma’am.”