= Chapter VX =

Furever Goodbye?

If You Love Her
If you need her
Tell her without holding back

“You idiot!” Taemin mumbled sitting beside Jinki. His brother called him that morning saying he left Hyejin’s place but he didn't go far. He was above the rooftop of her house, wrapped in an old blanket, his backpack working as a pillow. Taemin groaned taking off his coat and placing it on Jinki’s shoulders. “You are gravely sick. What the hell are you doing here?”

Jinki gladly accepted the coat. “I need to check on her.”

Taemin opened his bag and gave Jinki bread.

“You are hungry right?”

Jinki tilted his head and opened the package quickly to eat the bread inside.

“So no need for God food anymore?” The mischievous grin on the younger man's face made Jinki frown.

“You were the one who made her do it!”

“? Oh well no need to thank me. I was surprised to know you didn't do it before. It worked. You look very healthy.”

Jinki groaned “We didn't have . I didn't go all the way.”

“Oral only?” Taemin asked taking a bottle of juice from inside his bag and giving it to Jinki that quickly opened it. He was famished for real food now which was a good sign.

He didn't want to admit it but his session of oral with Hyejin was extremely good for his health. The effect it had on his heart however...

She looked so lovely, so beautiful and she tasted so good. Her feelings, the rush of energy he felt when she hit her . It was amazing.

“Oral was enough.” Jinki said drinking the juice “I don't want to make this serious.” If he told that to another clan member they wouldn't get it because to them humans feelings weren't important and with humans was only a tool or a mating ritual but he knew that Taemin would understand. “I only brought trouble to her and we belong to different words.”

Taemin widened his eyes “Are you perhaps saying that…”

“You told the clan about the creature and my attack didn't you?”

“I had to. Dad was so upset and things got even worse when he found out the reason.”

Jinki sighed and Taemin gave him another bread. “You told him about Hyejin?”

“I mentioned her but he thinks it's only a casual relationship.” Only something physical, only to feed.

“Did he believe that I would truly do that to someone?”

Taemin didn't answer. If his father believed that then he didn't know Jinki at all. He watched Jinki eating in silence.

“What was that anyway? Do they have an idea?”

“It didn't belong to the wolf clan. Father's informers say that the wolf clan saw the news about a giant wolf but have no idea what happened and seem as worried as us.”

Jinki paled reaching the scariest conclusion. “It was sent by the Gods.”

“Yes, I believe so.” Taemin answered gravely “Why would they even send them to attack Hyejin?”

Jinki frowned “Because they are upset, because I'm going against my father and worse, their will. They wanted to hurt me by taking her away from my path.” It was as if she was a pebble to them. To the Gods, humans’ lives seemed to not mean much.

“That doesn't make sense.” Taemin remarked “Dad says the same and even the council but I don't feel it. Why target you when so many before you refused to be with their clans. Why would the Gods care about something like that?”

“They don't want the blood to dilute even more? They want to use me as an example. To warn us to follow their will!”

“It just doesn't make sense at all to me.” Taemin insisted “There must be something else.”

“It doesn't matter.” Jinki ran a hand through his hair “Either way she was in danger and it was my fault. I brought the problems of my world to hers. She already had a hard time I can't keep hurting her.”

Taemin didn't answer, crossing his arms over his chest. The old shaman’s expression during the meeting came to his mind. He probably needed to dig more into that subject before making an easy conclusion like everyone seemed to make.

“I'm going back. I'm going home.” Jinki exclaimed. Taemin wanted his brother back, his family to be together again but not like that, not by sacrificing Jinki’s happiness.

“Are you truly going to make the initiation ritual?”

Jinki nodded.

“And leave your career as a doctor to a second plan?”

He nodded again filling his mouth with bread.

“And Hyejin…?”

Jinki stopped chewing. When he left his parents’ home because he wanted to study to be a doctor he thought that the worse thing he would ever have to give up one day to be the chief of the clan was his doctor career but now there was something else much more precious to him.

Jinki closed his eyes in pain and Taemin opened his mouth to tell him to not do it. He only wanted his brother to be happy. They would find a way. Taemin could be the chief if he had to.

“Yes. Her too.” Jinki spoke before Taemin, eating his bread as if he was just saying that he would leave his old clothes behind and not someone he loved.

“She is going to miss you.”

Jinki knew that him leaving would be yet another scar on her heart and he would blame himself every day for that but that was the right thing to do.

“Time heals everything.” It was one of those made up sentences you use for everything, hoping that the pain you feel in that moment would subside someday. It was only empty words most of the times. Some wounds hurt forever. They can be dormant with time but they are still there ready to ache when you least expect.

Taemin’s phone rang and he looked at the caller id before turning it to Jinki.

“It's your princess. Want to speak to her?”

“No!” Jinki grabbed Taemin’s arm. Why did he even gave his number to Hyejin?! It was probably when he was hurt. She must have tried to call Jinki but his phone was turned off so she end up calling his brother next “Don't tell her where I am.”

Taemin groaned. That was all so bothersome.

Hyejin bit her nails nervously her eyes on the empty bed she made for Onew. It was funny how days before she was worried about her cat not being normal and now she was worried where the man she liked - that wasn't entirely human, by the way - was.

She tried calling Jinki two times but his phone was turned off and it has been already three hours since he left. She had time to clean the bathroom, the bedroom and wash the dishes before she sat to call him. A part of her hoped that he would come back after he realized that he was being an idiot. He didn't though.

“He is still an idiot.” She said out loud. “I would do it with him because...because...” She covered her hot cheeks. It was hard to say it out loud let alone to him or anyone “We only had oral s...ex anyway.” she rubbed her head frustrated.

That was the kind of monologue she would have with her cat but now she was completely alone.

Her cat was after all the man she loved.

Hyejin grabbed her phone again. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Jinki’s brother would probably be rude to her - he did have his reasons for not liking her after all - but she didn't care. She needed an ally to find Jinki and he was the best one. Taemin knew his brother after all, better than she knew Jinki.

The thought made her sad but she still made the call.

“Yes?”

“Yes, It’s Hyejin. The one that…”

“I know who you are. You called because of Jinki right?” Hyejin perked up. He knew about Jinki’s disappearance. That was good. “He is alright. I saw him earlier today.”

She touched her chest relieved. “I'm so glad.” Could Taemin taste her feelings through the phone? She couldn't help but think about it. He probably couldn't. It made no sense.

“Did he eat? Is his fever gone?”

“Fever is gone and he ate a lot. Whatever you did to him worked.”

Hyejin blushed and she heard a weird sound on the other side something that sounded like a scold.

She frowned suspiciously “Are you alone?”

“Yes, I am. Anything else you want?”

She didn't know Taemin that well but he was probably lying and Jinki was beside him. “If you see Jinki please tell him that I need to speak with him. Tell him to turn his phone on.” That wouldn't work. Jinki was very stubborn. She needed to find a really good reason to make him do it. He might not answer to her text messages but she could at least try. “I might be in danger again and he is the only person I trust to ask for help.” That made her sound so weak and worse Taemin was probably frowning on the other side hating her more than ever. But Jinki was also listening. She was almost sure of it and he cared for her so he would fall into her trap.

“Aish, I will tell him. Bye.”

Hyejin placed her phone back on the table and waited. After a few minutes she tried calling Jinki again. He didn't pick up but the phone was this time which made her smile.

Minho stopped in the middle of the path inhaling the fresh air of the palace. He truly liked to be outside and was never made for a desk job so everytime he could he would leave his office and walk around the palace. That also made the staff work harder, afraid that he was inspecting their work, which wasn't the case at all.

He stopped beside the big tree where once he saw Hyejin and Jinki kiss from his office and even though he couldn't see the other side of it - he shouldn't step on the grass after all - he knew Hyejin was there. He did saw her from his office too.

Minho carefully stepped on the grass - he hated to go against the rules - and walked around the tree. Hyejin’s high heels were beside her and she had her humid eyes on the sky. She wasn't crying anymore but Minho knew that she was before.

“No news yet?” He asked sitting beside her against the tree. “Mister Kim is going to kill us.” It was so much like Minho to treat the old gardener so respectfully.

She smiled softly and turned to him “He doesn't answer my texts. Yesterday I asked him to give me a sign that he was alive and well at least, and he sent me a dot.” She groaned raising her hands “A damn dot.”

Minho chuckled which made her glare at him so he quickly looked away scared.

“I only want to be sure that he isn't sick anymore. That's what matters to me.”

Minho watched her in silence. He planned to ask Hyejin to go with him to Jiwoo's wedding that weekend but maybe that wasn't the right time.

“Maybe you should invite him to the wedding. You clearly need to talk. Hiding isn't a solution after all.”

Hyejin sniffed and looked at Minho apologetically “You are such a good friend.”

He chuckled sadly “Well you didn't judge me when it came to the whole fiance thing so…”

She placed her hand on his arm suddenly remembering that. She was awful. “How is it...how…”

“I told my parents I wasn't going to marry her. They are a little upset with me and I am trying to figure out a way to save our company.”

“If I can help in any way I will.”

“Do you have some millions you can spare?” Hyejin shook her head. “Then you can't.”

“You are truly a prince.” Hyejin muttered. Minho looked extremely handsome beside her. The sun illuminating half of his features making his eyes look even more sparkling than they usually did. He was wearing a suit like always but with the whole scenery, he looked more like a prince out of a fairytale than a simple man.

He watched her wondering what she was thinking and then she suddenly pulled him up, her worried eyes darting to the path on her right side.

“Damn Mr. Kim is coming this way.” She grabbed her shoes and his hand and they both fleed down the path giggling.

To the outsiders they looked like a couple and Minho couldn't stop smiling because she looked beautiful, because her warm hand holding his felt perfect.

Hyejin released his hand as soon as they were “safe” and their smiles faded.

“I should get back to work.” She said embarrassed before leaving and even though she felt his gaze on her back she didn't turn to see him.

Holding Minho’s hand was enough for her to combust into flames in the past.

Now, it didn't seem to have any effect on Hyejin.

She has fallen out of love with him and in a way it saddened her. Minho was perfect and she didn't want to hurt him but her heart was settled on another.

Someone that didn't look perfect in her eyes, someone that had as much of wrong as he did of right - someone real in a surreal way.

Her love for Minho faded as soon as she started seeing him as real and not the man she pictured in her head. It was true that Minho was a good man and he was extremely handsome but her heart didn't choose him. While she was busy trying to woo Minho she was able to know someone else and when she noticed it was too late already.

Hyejin walked soulless to where she would meet the next group she would guide.

A white furry shadow on her right made her stop but when she looked nothing was there.

She frowned. Hyejin wasn't seeing things. Onew was probably following her and if he was back to being a cat that meant that he was completely healthy.

That was enough to make her smile.

Hyejin came out of the shower and cleaned herself on the towel before wrapping it around her body. She moved a few wet strands of hair from her cheek and then her eyes fell on her wrist, on the place Jinki had fed. The scar his teeth left was barely noticeable now and she traced it feeling nostalgic.

Was she weird for wanting him to do that to her again? It made her blush. It wasn't because of the tingling sensation it gave to her when he was feeding, but more because of the intimacy of the act. She was giving her blood to him, a part of her for him to get healthier.

He hated it though and she knew that part of the reason he left was because of that, because he didn't want to feed from her, because he thought he was acting like the Big Bad Wolf and she was the Little Red Riding Hood.

That could be in bed…Big Bad Tiger and Red Innocent Hood.

She giggled and then quickly got back to her senses.

Hyejin was alone again and she missed him and wanted to kick him at the same time. He didn't answer any of her questions and she failed to see a glimpse of him ever since that day at work. She wasn't even sure if it was Onew.

Hyejin grabbed another towel for her hair and then left the bathroom.

She walked around before with Onew in the house and he probably saw glimpses of her body too. She only saw his chest it was not fair!

Hyejin’s cheeks were pink and it wasn't from the hot water. Maybe she needed a cold shower now.

She rubbed her hair on the towel and then walked to her bedroom cursing under her breath.

She only wanted to see him. If she could see him again she would kiss him. She wouldn't even hesitate.

Hyejin sat on her bed and grabbed her phone. She was texting him several times a day and he didn't answer anymore ever since that dot.

She wasn't giving up though.

Once again she started typing with all her fury.

Jiwoo, my dongsaeng at work is going to get married. You should go with me. I’m going alone after all.

She waited for an answer but nothing of course.

Stop being a coward Lee Jinki. Answer my texts! If you don't go with me to the wedding I will…

She didn't know what to threaten him with and that was what she was thinking about when her phone buzzed and she got a message back from Jinki.

I will go with you to the wedding.

Hyejin stared at her phone with a mix of relief and surprise. Jinki spent the last days ignoring her and now he easily accepted to go with her to a wedding.

Something was fishy about that.

Hyejin waited in front of the hotel nervously biting her lower lip. She completely forgot that she had her lipstick on, so for the ninth time she opened her small black bag and took a mirror from inside it to check her makeup. She looked beautiful that day and she hoped all her efforts didn't go to waste. She always heard that you shouldn't dress up for a man and should do it for yourself but that day she totally did it to leave Jinki speechless. Her hair was loose, two small braids parted from each side of her head and tangled on the back of her head. She was wearing a delicate sleeveless navy blue dress that ended in a tulle swing skirt just above her knees. The upper part of her dress was decorated with small shining white pearls that seemed like stars in a night sky. On her feet, she had black high heels. A black fluffy coat and a small purse completed the outfit for the wedding. Only Jinki was missing and she was starting to think he wouldn't show up.

He wasn't a gentleman and didn't pick her up at home. Instead, he only asked her for the address of the hotel where the wedding would be and told her to wait for him.

Hyejin eyed the end of the street sadly and then stepped away for a well-dressed couple to pass. She watched them wondering if they were also guests for the wedding and that's when Jinki grabbed her arm gently, his touch almost electrifying her.

Seeing him in front of her after only a few days was enough to make her lips part in a huge smile.

“You came.”

He pursed his lips awkwardly and Hyejin took her time admiring him. His cheeks weren't pale any longer and he seemed healthy. His hair was combed perfectly upwards revealing his forehead and he was wearing a very elegant dark blue suit - they matched! - and a black bowtie that made him look like a prince.

“You said it was formal attire so…”

Hyejin placed a hand on his chest over his white shirt and he blinked his eyes when she moved her hand over his heart.

“Are you ok?”

He could hear her heartbeat perfectly, smell her and taste her emotions - she was happy - but she couldn't do the same back to him at all. By touching him she could at least feel his warmth.

“I'm completely recovered. Only scars are left but they will disappear with time.”

“That's good.” She said relieved, her eyes observing him as if he was the only person in the world.

“Should we enter?” Jinki asked wanting to escape her loving gaze. That was too much for him at the moment.

“I'm still trying to decide if I should kick you or not for ignoring me for days.”

Jinki cleared his throat and grabbed Hyejin's hand pulling her inside before she had time to reach a verdict.

The ceremony was short but for Hyejin it felt long since she wanted to speak to Jinki that was sitting beside her but couldn't because he was shushing her all the time.

Eventually, the ceremony ended and it was time to eat.

She followed after him around the room and copied him grabbing a plate to decide on what to eat.

“I think we should talk about what happened between us.” Hyejin said in a lower voice.

Jinki flinched before he grabbed a serving tongs. “I don't think it's the right time for that.” He started to pile up a good amount of meat on his plate. “I’m hungry now. Later.”

She smiled and couldn't help it “You were hungry too back then.”

He placed the tongs back with a little too much strength and her smile faded.

“Can we just not mention that for a few hours please?” He walked away clearly upset with her and Hyejin followed him. “I'm sorry. We can talk about it later then.”

He ignored her completely and once his plate was full he got back to the table. Hyejin did her best to be quick and sat by his side.

Her plate was quite empty and she frowned. Maybe she should go back to get more food.

“They make a good couple.” Jinki remarked watching Jiwoo and her husband.

Hyejin followed Jinki’s gaze.

“They truly love each other.” Jinki added.

“How can you be so sure?”

“They are exploding with happiness.” She forgot he could taste emotions.

“Good! Means that their marriage will be a happy one.”

He shook his head “Not really. Love is not the only thing you need in a marriage. Sometimes there are other variables.”

“You speak about marriage as if it was a math equation.”

“Sometimes it is, sometimes it's very complicated.” Jinki played with the food on his plate “Not everyone has an easy path after they fall in love. Sometimes it doesn't have a happy ending, sometimes it's not about love and more about the solution that makes more sense.”

Hyejin bit her lower lip. He was talking about himself. In a way, he wasn't much different from Minho that was supposed to marry someone his parents choose for him.

Taemin said that if Jinki decided to do his initiation to be an active part of the clan he would have to marry someone from inside it. She had no idea how it worked, if they had weddings like humans did, but the solo idea of seeing Jinki beside other woman upset her extremely.

Her eyes fell on the small scar on her wrist, the one that came from his teeth. It was almost gone. Taemin talked about a marking and Hyejin wondered if Jinki would mark the woman he married, whatever it meant. Would he also drink her blood like vampires do in the movies?!

“What’s wrong?” Jinki asked and she raised her eyes to him, her fingers tracing the scar without her even noticing. He followed the gesture and frowned.

She couldn't taste his emotions but she could see the pain in his expression.

“I'm going to the bathroom.” He made a gesture to stand up and Hyejin grabbed his sleeve quickly.

“You are not going to leave, right?”

His features softened “I won't. I'll be back in a few minutes.”

She released him but her eyes followed him. In a sadistic crazy way she wanted that he marked her that night, then maybe she wouldn't be that afraid to see him go. Maybe that would make him go back to her whenever she needed him.

He didn't truly mark her but she felt already as if he did because he was always in her mind. Slowly that idea crept inside her.

She wanted to be with him and maybe marking wouldn't be such a bad thing, maybe spending her life with him wouldn't be such a bad idea.

She shook her head. Did she truly want to date a man like him?

Jinki sat by her side, back from the bathroom and she immediately turned to him.

“Taemin mentioned a marking.”

Jinki raised his eyebrows and lowered his voice “What are you talking about?”

“You know what I am talking about.” She raised her wrist to him and Jinki immediately moved his head back probably afraid of her scent and his ability to resist it.

“Be quiet.” He grabbed her arm lowering it “Not here.”

“Then tell me. How does it work? You only have to bite me? What does it mean?”

Jinki rubbed his forehead “Can't we just not talk about this?!”

“Is it like vampires? Does a human become a slave to the one who marks that person?”

“No.” He sighed “It usually happens between members of the clan, between lovers.”

Made sense. He wasn't supposed to be her lover after all.

“But you can mark humans too right?”

“Yes, it used to happen a lot in the past but not with good intentions.”

“What does that mean?”

Jinki looked around the room and undid his bowtie, that topic made him uncomfortable.

“Earth Gods used to mark humans for food, to claim them as his. That was long forbidden because it sets a parasite kind of relationship and humans weren't usually strong enough to survive long. Nowadays it's only used inside the clan between husband and wife.”

She listened to him carefully “So you can mark a human.”

“You can but you shouldn't.”

“I'm confused. If you mark a human because that human wants and as a lovers situation and not as a parasite situation then is it possible?”

He shook his head “You don't get it. It's not only done to show that two people are lovers. Marking means that you are forever connected on an energy level. You become stronger by being beside that person but also weaker if that person is hurt. It's a special connection that is hard to explain or understand. Even nowadays only the high rankers of the clans do it.”

“You mean the family of the chief clan only right?”

Jinki didn't answer but she knew she was right “So if you marry someone you will mark that person?”

“Yes, I will mark a woman from my clan. It will make me stronger as a leader, so yes. They often choose another stronger member of the clan to be marked.”

“Not a human like me right?”

He opened the button of the collar of his shirt his expression stern “Ditch whatever romantic crazy ideas you have in your head. If I ever marked you when I fed from you I would be signing your death sentence. You would either die of exhaustion of all the energy I would take from you everytime I would be by your side or sick or worse. My clan would kill you so I could mark someone else.”

Hyejin paled playing with her hands over her dress “That sounds intense.”

“It is intense. When you mark someone it's meant to be for life. If one of the members of that couple dies the other will be missing a part of himself forever. He can do it with someone else but there will always be missing something inside him.”

“That's not different from losing someone you love.” She grabbed his hand pulling it into her lap and Jinki watched her confused.

He wanted so much that she loved him before and now she was sending him these weird gestures of affection, wanting to touch him all the time, asking him about marriage and marking and talking about love...did she?

“Hyejin…”

“Actually I...I was thinking. After what happened between us, I mean when we almost had s…”

He pursed his lips stopping her. She couldn't do that to him now, not when he made his decision already.

Love wasn't the solution to that equation. He needed to go back to his world.

“We shouldn't talk about it here.”

“Then where?”

“I don't know. I just don't want to talk about it now.” Or ever. He couldn't hear the words coming out from . She wouldn't want it either if she knew what tomorrow would bring to both of them.

“You are trying so hard to run away from the subject and I hate it.” She fumed at him and yet Jinki could taste that sweet tempting emotion coming from her. She liked him, maybe like he always wished she did but wasn't meant to be since the start.

“I also hate it.” He said firmly “I hate so much that I am like this.” His bitter words made her speechless and he tightened her hand on his. “I only want to be like everyone else today.” Jinki added. “Can we do that?”

“Yes.” She felt embarrassed now and an awkward silence fell between them.

Minho laughed at a joke one of the female guides of the Palace said and then dismissed himself to grab a glass of champagne. He was tired of all the women around him. He wasn't interested in any of them after all but was too polite to be clear about it. Hyejin was the only one he could see at that wedding party and sadly for him Jinki was the only one in her eyes. Every time he looked at her she was either laughing at something Jinki said, looking at him adorably or speaking to him.

The members of the staff were all convinced that they were dating and Minho couldn't blame them. It was so obvious that Hyejin and Jinki were in love, so obvious that he wondered how Jinki couldn't see it. After all, he could even taste her emotions. Maybe he knew in the end and was trying to ignore it for personal reasons. The fact that he wasn't a human like Hyejin put them in two different separate worlds and Minho learned from Hyejin how Jinki avoided her recently. He wasn't sure about what happened between them - only that she fed him her blood - but that must have created a rift between them.

Minho smiled drinking his champagne. Maybe he was weird but seeing Hyejin dancing in Jinki’s arms, her eyes closed and a small smile on her lips also made him happy. That was way better than seeing her with wet eyes looking at him and thinking about another man.

The music’s lyrics fitted the scene in a way “If You Love Her, if you want her, more beautiful than flowers, you have to love her more…”

It was as if he was giving her up to someone else. Isn't that the most beautiful love gesture you can do?

Some love stories aren't meant to be and it seemed like his and Hyejin’s ended before it started.

The couple dancing swayed in front of his eyes and Jinki’s eyes met Minho’s. His expression was blank and Minho wondered what he was thinking. He didn't seem happy even though he was sure that Jinki loved Hyejin.

The music came to an end and the couple stopped in the middle of the dance floor. Slowly Jinki took his arms away from around Hyejin but she didn't move hers away from his neck. It was a weird scene. Even though Jinki’s hands were on her waist and he seemed to want to let her go he wasn't doing it. Hyejin said something Minho couldn't hear and he nodded his head slowly. She leaned forward and kissed Jinki's lips making him widen his eyes. It was a quick kiss before she released him and walked away leaving him alone.

She was probably going to the bathroom or something.

Minho kept looking at Jinki. He seemed lost with that kiss and eventually turned and walked in Minho's’ direction.

“You came. Thank you, it means a lot to Hyejin.” he said as soon as the Tiger god was in front of him.

“Yes, I did.” Jinki swallowed hard "She loves me."

Jinki's sudden confession wasn't entirely directed at Minho. It was as if he just reached that conclusion. Pain crossed Jinki's features and Minho frowned.

“Why are you so surprised?” Minho laughed “It's clear that she is in love with you.”

Jinki’s expression twitched in pain “This taste...It's so clear. I did it didn't I? I made her fall for me.”

Minho raised his eyebrows confused “You aren't happy? You feel the same for her right?”

“That's why I'm not happy.” Jinki his lips “I thought that I could do it, that I could belong to this world but I cant, I truly can't.”

Minho watched Jinki in silence, reading his intentions in his words. He was doing the same thing Minho wanted to do. He was letting her go. However, the situation was different. Hyejin cared for Jinki “You can't do that to her.”

“I have to. It's the only way to push her away from danger.” Jinki bit his lower lip fighting the words he had to say. It was breaking him apart but he needed to say it. “Confess to her.”

“Excuse me?”

“Confess to her, tell her you love her and be insistent about it, Hyejin sees you like a prince. She has a crush on you ever since the day she met you.”

Minho blushed chuckling embarrassed “It can't be…”

“It's true. She tried so hard to impress you, to change herself to be with you and she deserves someone that takes care of her properly, someone that loves her and you are that person.”

“What are you trying to say here?”

“Take care of her please, make her happy. I'm asking you.” Jinki bowed quickly and Minho watched him speechless. “This is all I ask of you and I am sure that you will do it with the same devotion that I would. You are the only person to whom I can ask this. Please.”

“Jinki you are here with her…”

“I only came to say my goodbyes. I'm going back to my clan tomorrow. Today is my last day with her.”

“She won't let you go, she loves you.”

“I know. That's why I'm not telling her and I ask you to do the same. After tomorrow she is all yours and she will need you more than ever.”

Minho shook his head “I can't really do this. Isn't there any other way?”

“There isn't.” Jinki’s decision was final “Only by doing this can I stop being a monster. I belong with my clan and she belongs here with you. Our paths shouldn't have crossed. A monster can never be a prince. Rules are not meant to be broken.”

Jinki followed Hyejin that couldn't stop giggling while going up the stairs to her apartment. She wasn't drunk but was elated in happiness. He could taste everything completely and it distressed him now. She was happy because he was with her, because he offered to take her back home, because she was thinking of what would happen next. Her female scent was stronger than ever and he knew she would make the question before she did it.

Hyejin reached the door of her apartment and quickly turned around, fluttering her eyes in a very seductive way as if it was needed when he loved her that much.

“Can't you stay and sleep with me tonight?”

Jinki his lips. The thing he wanted the most was to make love with her but he couldn't, instead, he would kiss her in such a way that he would forget everything around him, that he would forget about the minutes excruciatingly passing, ending the time they had together.

“No .” he warned her.

Hyejin blushed covering her cheeks “How can you say that so easily?”

He grinned. They had a few hours and he promised himself that he would make her the happiest so that he could save that memory forever so that it would be enough for him to never forget her.

“Because I'm not a prude like you.”

“I'm not a prude, I'm just not experienced!” She chuckled poking his chest “it’s all your fault.” She leaned forward making Jinki hold his breath “It could end tonight.”

It would just not the way she expected to.

Jinki parted his lips and ended the distance between them kissing her passionately.

The taste of her love overflowed inside him and he pushed her back against the door. She wrapped her arms around his neck and Jinki pulled her up in arms making her wrap her legs around his waist.

She whimpered and he broke the kiss. She looked so beautiful and so lost in love that it hurt deep inside him. He did that to her. He made her fall for him and he was going to break her heart.

“I'm sorry.” He said making her frown.

“For what? For the kiss? Are you insane? It was amazing!”

He smiled rubbing his nose against hers “Open the door. I want to kiss you on your bed.”

She squealed delighted and quickly inserted the code still in his arms.

They entered her place in darkness but Hyejin didn't care. She was in his arms and his lips were on hers and she couldn't think of anything else besides him.

That was the power of love. She wasn't scared of anything else besides losing him.

He swiftly took her to her bed and placed her gently on it. She blinked her eyes when he turned the moon lamp on.

“It's ok with no light.” She mumbled taking off his coat and hers.

“It's not. I want you to see me.” He poked her nose “And I want to see you.”

He needed to. He needed to see her smile.

Hyejin melted completely which made him grin and he grabbed her hands that moved to the buttons of his shirt.

“I don't want to disappoint you so I will be very clear about it right now. No . We are only going to sleep together, just that.”

She didn't like it and he caressed her cheek trying to convince her with his touch “Doesn't mean we can't kiss until we fall asleep...or that I can't touch you.”

“You mean touch me, all of me?”

He frowned “What are you implying?”

She swallowed grabbing his hand and placing it on her bare thigh under her dress.

Jinki moved his eyes to hers “Hyejin…”

“Don't you dare judge me. Last time you raised the bar a lot.”

He chuckled kissing her and pushing her down on the bed. “You are a ert. I was right since the start!”

She groaned but he quickly shut her up with kisses and more kisses to the point she couldn't breathe.

Hyejin clumsily was able to open his shirt and Jinki kneeled on the bed taking it off. She immediately sat up and brushed the strands of her hair away so that she could take a good look.

His eyes burned with desire when she touched him and slowly moved her fingers down his chest.

She touched him before but that was different and her caresses were sending a shiver down his spine. Her fingers hesitated over the mark of where before was a deep wound caused by that creature when Jinki protected her.

“It almost disappeared, you were right.”

“I have strong healing powers and actually that morning with you helped a lot.”

She raised her eyes to his. The morning he gave her oral . She blushed adorably. ”You were so upset about it but-...but it actually helped.”

He caressed her cheek and down to her neck making her lean against his touch. She wanted more of him.

“It did.” He was actually surprised with how much it worked. Maybe it worked like blood did. She was willing, she cared for him as much as he cared for her so the energy was stronger?! “But it was done for the wrong reasons.”

“Was it?” She couldn't take her eyes away from his chest “We both wanted it and it was good for both.”

She was right, he knew she was but still...

Jinki pulled her chin up and kissed her deeply making her fall into his arms helpless. He moved the straps of her dress down her shoulders and then worked on the zipper on her back, pulling it down, his fingers moving on the bare skin of her back.

She was so warm, so soft and beautiful and he felt amazing. Jinki broke away joining his forehead with hers instead.

“Your eyes are blue.” She remarked rubbing her nose on his.

“That's because I love you.” He bit his lower lip regretting his honesty because he feared what she would say next as much as he desired to hear it.

“I also…” She struggled with the words but before she could finish Jinki pulled her dress over her head. The gesture left her disoriented.

“I thought we wouldn't have…”

“We aren't. You need to put your pajamas on.” He leaned forward grabbing the folded pajama at the end of the bed and carefully helped her put on the big sweater. “You should put your pants too.

“I don't need pants.” She said quickly kissing him, her hands on his pants this time. Apparently, he didn't either.

Jinki pushed her softly away and stepped off of the bed taking his pants off. He climbed again only in his underwear and pulled the covers over him and Hyejin.

She snuggled closer to him and he wrapped his arms around her making both roll so that he was on top of her.

“Are you sure you want me to touch you?”

“Yes.” She answered caressing his back. Jinki smelled her neck closing his eyes. Her scent was intoxicating. She was and he wanted her so badly but it couldn't go far.

He kissed her neck and moved his hand down her body and under her big sweater over her .

Hyejin gasped when he touched her over the fabric. It already felt amazing to feel his warm body against hers but that made it all even better. He rubbed his fingers where she needed him slowly watching her reaction to it, kissing her lips softly.

She closed her eyes too embarrassed grasping his shoulder.

“Want me to make you come?” His husky voice made her widen her eyes. How could he talk about it with no shame?!

“Are you hungry?”

He stopped his ministrations and she realized she said the wrong thing.

“No. You are needy so I thought that even if we can't have that maybe you wanted….” He exhaled slowly frustrated “I'm not going to feed from you, at least not body fluids.”

“I'm sorry I didn't mean it like that." She raised her head and kissed his lips quickly “Yes. If you don't mind, I think I want more.”

He grinned joining his lips with hers and kept moving his finger over the fabric, increasing the pace only to slow it down again.

Hyejin moaned against his lips and he knew she needed more so he inserted his fingers under her underwear and this time rubbed her hot wet flash instead. It was making him go crazy but her reaction to it was even more intense. Hyejin bit his lower lip and moved her hips up against him making Jinki stop immediately and roll away from her.

She turned her head watching him confused wondering if she did something wrong.

“Give me just a moment.”

His neck and ears were red and Hyejin couldn't stop looking at his profile. He was so handsome. “What's wrong?”

“I'm hard.”

“Oh.” She covered her face and he chuckled because she was so cute. “We could…”

“No!” He said firmly “Give me one second and we can continue.”

“Will it go away with one second?”

He didn't answer because of course it wouldn't go away but he needed to remind himself of the decision he made, of how he couldn't have with her.

He sat slowly on the bed and turned to her. She was going to sit too but he pushed her down again.

Jinki moved his arm under the covers and down her tummy and under her and restarted what he was doing before. Hyejin spread her legs giving him more access and covered her face embarrassed because he was watching her, his eyes burning in desire.

“It feels good right?” He asked closing his eyes briefly.

“Yes. Can you taste it?”

“Yeah…” He leaned down kissing her, that sweet energy of her pleasure mixed with love making him go crazy. It was by far the best thing he ever tasted and it came from her. He was sure he wouldn't ever taste it again and the thought made his chest ache.

“Jinki...” Hejin grasped his arm, a silent moan escaping her lips and she came on his fingers.

He didn't move, watching her ride her , still moving his fingers, now more slowly, feeling the stickiness between her legs.

She couldn't tear her eyes from his too. They were blue and shining so much, probably because of the rush of energy coming from her.

Jinki slowly took his fingers from inside her and waited for her to recover her breathing.

“Should I help you now?” She asked covering her face with the covers.

“No. I'm fine like this.” He was far from being fine though. “Next time.”

He stared at his fingers that smelled so good, so like her and he felt an urge to them like the monster he was but Hyejin peeked from under the covers and smiled at him.

He was sure she wouldn't judge him if he did it but he didn't want her to think he did it only to feed himself. He did it because he loved to see her happy because she was now satisfied, even if he didn't give her what she truly wanted.

“Lay beside me.” She asked cutely her voice not matching her actions because she pulled him briskly to lay by her side. She wrapped her arms around him in a way that pained his heart and rubbed her head against his chest.

Jinki hugged her back and kissed her when she raised her lips to his.

They kissed for a while until he could taste the desire grow inside her again, until it was almost too painful for his inside his underwear.

He gently pulled her down to rest in his arm by his side and caressed her cheek and neck.

“We should sleep.”

He didn't want that night to end but it didn't matter what he did, time wouldn't stop for them. It never stops for anything or anyone no matter if you are human or a half god.

Even time follows certain rules.

Hyejin woke up to an empty bed and her first thought was that Jinki once again left her. She got up and quickly run to the door of her apartment. A sound on her back made her turn. Jinki was placing side dishes on the table.

“Are you going somewhere?” He asked with a blank expression certainly knowing what she was thinking but pretending not to. "You better not go out looking like that."

She raised her hands to her hair realizing what he meant. Her hair was a mess probably due to their actions the previous night and the wonderful night of sleep she had and also she completely forgot to take off her makeup too.

Hyejin shook her head and sat at the table fixing her tousled hair and following his every move. She looked horrible but he looked amazing even though his hair was back down now and he was only wearing the pants and shirt from the previous night. In her eyes, he still looked like a prince.

“You made breakfast?”

He frowned “Cooking is not really my thing but since I woke up early I decided to do it.”

The truth was that he barely slept. At first, it was because he was , then he couldn't take his eyes away from her and then his chest started to ache. The pain increased with the light coming from outside the window of her bedroom announcing that it was morning. As soon as he could he got up and started to distance himself from her.

Animals do it all the time. As soon as their babies are ready to face the world they simply abandon them. Hyejin wasn't his baby though, even though he was close to an animal.

“Is something wrong?” Hyejin asked watching him suspiciously but Jinki smiled brightly at her and sat by her side.

“I'm so hungry! Let's eat!” He didn't wait for her to try his food and started eating instead.

They never had breakfast at her place together before, not while he was in his human form and Hyejin struggled with a topic to talk about. There were many things she wanted to ask him though but she was afraid he would react like he did the previous day. He seemed so reluctant to talk about himself and his clan to her.

“About marking and what we talked yesterday…”

He choked on his food and covered his mouth closing his eyes in discomfort.

“I know you don't want to talk about it.”

“It's not that. Do you really need to know more about my world?”

“Of course.” She remarked “If we want to make this work I must.”

He didn't answer, his expression a mystery to her and Hyejin embarrassedly ate her rice.

“I mean that if we perhaps date I need to know more about you.”

“Why would you date someone like me?” He asked placing his chopsticks on the table, a gesture that made her nervous.

“Because…” She took a deep breath “Yesterday I wasn't able to tell you my feelings but I think I made them clear and you can taste them, right?” She wondered how love tasted like. “Emotions must have different flavors, like happiness is probably sweet and…”

“It's like cotton candy.” He interrupted.

“Yes and sadness probably tastes sour?”

“Hum, kinda…” It truly depends on the reason for the sadness sometimes.

“And love…”

He stood up with a heavy heart.

It was time. He had to do it before it was too late, before she opened her heart to him and blamed him forever for breaking it completely.

“I have to go.” Jinki rubbed his neck and grabbed his coat and bowtie from over the chair he put it that morning.

“Where?” She quickly stood up and stepped in front of him. “I'm not working so I can go with you.”

“No, I'm going to visit my brother.”

“Then I can go with you to the bus stop.”

He thought about her offer. He wasn't actually going to the bus stop but she could accompany him to their kissing spot. He would like that last memory.

“Sure.” He grinned and then poked her check “First you should wash that face. You look like a failed painting.”

She quickly ran away to the bathroom and he laughed out loud watching the way her sweater moved over her legs. God, she was perfect.

She missed his ert gaze on her and Jinki sighed and started collecting the dishes he used.

He placed it in the sink and washed them while she got ready. On the table only remained her dishes.

That was the scene he saw everyday before he revealed to her that he was a man also. That was what happened before he came into her life and that was what would happen after he left, well until she got together with Minho.

A rush of jealousy hit him and he groaned. He needed to learn how to let her go.

She was never his to start with.

“We kissed for the first time here!” Hyejin remarked squeezing Jinki’s hand. They reached their kissing spot and it was time for him to say his last goodbyes.

“No.” Jinki shook his head. “I kissed you the first night we met when you were unconscious. That was our first kiss.”

She widened her eyes and covered her lips which made him laugh “On your forehead because you were injured!” he poked her there. “What were you thinking?”

Hyejin pursed her lips pretending to be upset but ended up smiling. She was the cutest and he couldn't take his eyes away from her.

"Then our first real kiss was here."

It was hurting so much but he moved his fingers on hers preparing himself to let her go.

“Later you can sleep at my place again.” She told him offering the purest of the smiles. “We can live together until we decide what to do.”

He didn't say anything so Hyejin kept talking “We can get to know more about each other and maybe slowly it won't feel wrong for you to be with me anymore. I mean physically...you know…”

He chuckled his eyes falling on her hands in his that he caressed softly.

In his life, he has seen many valuable things. His parents were collectors after all. His house was filled with some of the oldest more valuable objects of ancient Korea, and he didn't mean it only money wise. His mother always used to tell him that more than money, culture, tradition and the people were the real treasures you could save.

He agreed with her and at that moment he knew that he was holding the most precious treasure he ever saw.

Jinki had the power to make Hyejin happy and that was what he was going to do even though at first, he was sure she would hate him and wouldn't understand.

“You are special Hyejin!” He said softly raising his eyes to her. She watched him smiling probably thinking that he was back to the old Jinki trying to seduce her with sweet words. “It doesn't matter what happened in the past, how people you loved left you behind. We don't know their reasons after all, sometimes you just have to step away from others for them to follow the right path, to fulfill their destiny.” her smile faded because she thought that he was talking about her father, but he was talking about himself instead. “I'm sure everyone that gets to know you grasps how special you are. You are worthy, not a fake rock. Even if the moon has no light it still is beautiful in its own way. The sun has light but people can't look at it, they look at the moon instead, they write about it instead, they feel inspired by it instead. That's way more important than having light, isn't it? So continue to be like the moon, special in your own way.”

“Why are you saying that?” She asked biting her lower lip nervously. “It sounds like a goodbye…”

“No.” he chuckled his lips, looking away from her so that she couldn't see the pain in his eyes “I just wanted you to know that you are important even if life keeps hurting you. Just that you deserve to be happy. I want you to be happy!”

He kissed her forehead quickly and before he lost his courage he released her hands “I have to go now.”

“No. I can accompany you to the bus stop.”

“It's alright. Go back home. It's cold and you didn't bring a coat.”

She groaned feeling stupid because she forgot to bring one.

“Then we will see each other later?” her voice trembled, her eyes hopeful on him, her fingers searching for his. “I'll make dinner.”

What was he doing?! He could feel his heart breaking into pieces.

“Jinki?”

He couldn't lie to her, he didn't dare to, so instead he kissed her.

His arms wrapped immediately around her pulling her to him, all the desperation and love he felt was printed in the kiss and he could feel the fireworks exploding inside her.

Jinki slowly released Hyejin that barely had time to answer the kiss. Her cheeks were pink and she was in a daze.

“Later then.” She mumbled cutely, weak on her knees with that intense kiss. He would have smiled if he didn't felt like crying instead.

“Later.” Maybe their paths would cross someday. Destiny was a funny thing after all.

Jinki caressed her cheek one last time and tried to memorize every inch of her face. Memories should be enough for him to keep going, it had to be.

Without giving himself a second time to think that through Jinki left and walked down the street. He knew she was watching his every move so he didn't dare to look back even though her taste and scent were slowly fading into the distance he was placing between them.

He concentrated all of his energy in walking straight ahead, his hands inside the pockets of his pants where he clutched the bowtie with all his strength. It didn't matter where he would go as long as it was far away from her, as long as it made her safe.

The vision in front of him started to become fuzzy and he touched his cheek cleaning his tears.

He didn't cry like that in a long time.

Minho closed another book and placed it on his desk.

He was exhausted because he spent all night inside the study back at home searching for books about tales of the old Korea. He stood up ready to go grab a cup of coffee and that was when he saw Hyejin outside of his window marching to his office.

He wasn't surprised since he expected her to show up as soon as morning came, as soon as she realized what Jinki has done.

He took a deep breath and prepared himself to face her. She looked awful, probably still wearing her clothes from the previous night - an old black hoodie and black leggings and her hair was caught in a ponytail. She didn't even wear any makeup. She wasn't there to work for sure.

Minho waited and like he predicted Hyejin entered his office without even asking for permission of his secretary that didn't arrive yet thankfully.

Now that she was up close he could see her teary eyes and her pale tired face.

Hyejin probably waited all night for Jinki to come back.

"His phone is turned off." Hyejin stated "I waited for him even though deep down I knew it and didn't want to believe it."

"Why don't you sit down so we can talk?"

She ignored him. “He left! He truly left didn't he?”

Minho rushed to close the door of his office and then helped Hyejin sit on the chair in front of his desk but she refused to do so standing up almost immediately and pushing him away making his back hit the cabinet behind him.

“Where did he go? I need to see him!”

“He went back home. He is going to officially enter his clan.”

She cried, tears falling down her cheeks and sat on the chair again.

It was over. Soon he would be married and have cubs with another woman, living happily with the ones like him while she was alone brokenhearted in love with him.

“I HATE HIM!” She screamed frustrated hitting Minho’s desk that was astonished looking at her.

That was a side of Hyejin he never saw but he was sure Jinki did.

Hyejin complained touching her hurt hand and leaned forward hiding her crying face on her lap.

Minho kneeled beside her and caressed the back of her head, trying to calm her down the best he could.

“I love him so much.” Hyejin mumbled “And he did this to me.”

“I know. I told him that but he said he needed to protect you.”

Hyejin raised her head to look at Minho. ”He discussed it with you?” She seemed furious and Minho feared for his safety “And you didn't warn me?”

“I couldn't. He asked me not to.” She hiccuped and Minho caressed her back “He loves you Hyejin. He is doing this because he thinks it's the best. He asked me to take care of you. “ Minho sighed “It's ridiculous because he actually thinks you can love me. He was blind to see how much you care for him.”

“I'm going to kill him! I'm going to kill that furry idiot!” She repeated cleaning her wet cheeks.

Minho chuckled “I'm sure he would be scared if he heard you. I would but…” Minho used the back of his hand to clean her cheeks too “maybe you should calm yourself down and think about the reasons that made him do this. Maybe he was right, maybe this is for the best. You two are from different realities. It's like the Moon and the Earth! He has rules to abide, rules that don't stick to you.”

“If it hurts like this then it's not protecting me! He should have stayed! We would have done it together! Whatever it was we would face it together! That's protecting not abandoning like my father did!”

She stood up and before Minho had time to stop her Hyejin ran outside.

Minho watched her cross the grass in the direction of her favorite tree where months before she kissed Jinki passionately. She completely ignored the sign saying to not step on the grass and was breaking one of the palace’s rules that they knew by heart now.

Minho sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Jinki asked him to make Hyejin happy and he thought about it the whole night. There was only one way that he could make her happy and it wasn't the one Jinki wanted for sure. She didn't love Minho and she wouldn't love him, not when she had feelings for Jinki.

Heyjin was in such a state that she didn't notice the pile of books on top of Minho's desk. He spent the whole night researching and thinking about that whole situation. Somewhere in one of those books Minho would find an address, a clue, something that showed the path back to Hyejin’s happiness, back to where the Tiger clan chief was, to where Hyejin’s Jinki was.

If Minho was truly a prince in that story then he would do the right thing.

He was breaking the rules of the story by pushing the princess to another man but some rules are meant to be broken once in a while when the happiness of someone you love is at stake.