Archive of Our Own

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It’s so dark and overcast the morning of the Promise Ceremony that Park Jimin is sure it’s got to be some kind of bad omen.

He isn’t afraid, exactly. He was born and bred exactly for this moment. It’s something he’s been preparing for since his birth and he’s ready to play his role. He’s more than ready. He’s never thought otherwise. And he’s definitely curious.

It’s just the rumors are getting to him. The things he heard back home, the murmurs in the corridors, the whispered words outside his chambers. Things he’s chosen to ignore. To pretend he didn’t hear. It wouldn’t matter anyway if they were true or not; Jimin’s fate has been sealed. So he’s forced himself not to think about it.

But now, standing in front of an oversized mirror as servants flutter around him, piecing him together for the ceremony, well.

He’s thinking about it now.

He can’t stop thinking about it.

Because soon, it will either be his life.

Or his death.

And if there is any truth to the rumors…

Maybe it won’t make a lick of difference, but Jimin makes sure to tuck two daggers beneath his waistband when the servants aren’t looking anyway. Just in case.

Observing himself in the mirror, Jimin tilts his head to the side, strands of blonde hair falling into his eyes as he does so. They’ve dressed him according to the north’s customs, the finest black leather wrapping around his hips and thighs tightly, a thick black belt cinched at his waist through a silver buckle where his flowing black tunic tucks into the waistband. They’ve left his shirt ties loose at the neckline, allowing the collar to fall open at his throat where chain after silver chain is draped heavily against his collarbone. Matching earrings dangle from his ears, barely visible beneath his long blonde hair they’ve let fly freely like he always likes. He eyes the heavy black boots they’ve covered his feet in, which he supposes makes sense for the snow-covered grounds in the north and the freezing temperatures.

Jimin isn’t sure how he’s going to survive the climate here, if he survives this ceremony. He’s used to the warmth in the southern region, the sandy beaches and salty air. Even on cloudy days like today it would still be warm out at home and Jimin can’t picture living any other way.

Which is another thing he’s really not let himself think about. He’s been here for only two days, having not left this cabin since his arrival. But he had to tiptoe through the snow already piled on the ground up to the cabin doors on his thin shoes and has been up each night listening to the wind howl through the trees and rattle the windows of his temporary home, so he figures it’s going to be something he’s never experienced before.

He’d considered studying his new home once his mating had been arranged, even managing to locate a few books on the area but his first dive into the pages of one of the coldest places on their continent had Jimin backtracking almost immediately, deciding maybe going in without prior information would be better. Maybe it would make him less nervous.

Although now, as he stands here on his final day as an unpromised omega, Jimin wonders if that was a bad idea. Because he’s incredibly nervous now. Nervous about what he doesn’t know.

Nervous about what he does.

He resists the urge to push his hands through his hair since his fingers are still being fitted with rings and instead wills himself to stop thinking about it too deeply and just get through the next steps. He’s already made it through the hardest part: saying goodbye to his home, to his life. He’d made the grueling month-long trip here. He’d even managed to make peace with all of the change.

Now, he just has to keep going.

Once they are finished here, the ceremony will begin. Armed guards are stationed along the path Jimin will make from here to the castle, a long standing tradition the kingdom of the north insisted he honor. All pack members will be out as well to greet and celebrate him, to honor the soon-to-be mate of their king and head alpha, to send him well wishes and welcome him here.

Welcome him to the north.

The north.

Also known as the land of the dragon.

Because the people here are ruled by the last dragon shifter known to mankind.

The dragon king.

And today, Park Jimin will be promised to him as his mate.

Well.

If he’s deemed worthy, that is.

Jimin’s been told countless times now that the Promise Ceremony is for the dragon king to decide if the omega is the right one for him.

If he’s determined unfit, Jimin will most likely be killed on the spot.

The king is decisive and ruthless, according to legend. Today could really go either way.

“It’s time.”

Nodding at the royal guard at the door, Jimin wills himself to take a deep breath, to ignore the absolute chaos in his stomach and instead goes to follow orders.

But before he can take another step, a woman approaches with a bundle of fabric carefully laid across her forearm.

Jimin pauses, watching as she stops before him, her head bowed, her body dipping into a brief curtsy.

“For you,” the woman says quietly before rising again. “From the king himself.”

Then, she unfolds the garment, holds it open in invitation and steps forward.

“He’s asked that you wear this for your ceremony,” she says softly as she moves behind Jimin to carefully slide what appears to be a coat up his arms and over his shoulders. “And to keep you warm on your walk.”

The coat is beautiful as it settles over him, thick black fur lining the insides warmly and matching the black leather wrapped around the outside that seems to shimmer beneath the firelight of the cabin, small bits of fabric hanging loosely all along it. The length is down below his knees and when the woman comes around to his front again, she cinches the three belt buckles closed at his waist to keep him cocooned in softness and safe from the cold outside. She hands him a pair of black gloves wordlessly and then steps away again, leaving an open path to the door.

And when Jimin tugs the gloves on, the sleeve of his coat catches his eye and he realizes it is shimmering.

Shimmering with dragon scales.

At first glance it appears black but when he moves it again, a green hue shines brilliantly, reflecting all over him and Jimin is mesmerized, having never seen a dragon scale before let alone hundreds all at once. They are stunning.

His reverie, however, is broken almost instantly.

“Please follow me,” the guard says sternly from the exit and Jimin looks up just in time to see the door being pushed open.

And then a gust of wind bursts in furiously.

With a shiver, Jimin follows. He manages to slip his arms back through the sleeves of his coat without anyone noticing and pulls the daggers free from behind his back, hiding them just inside the hem of each of his sleeves. Just as a precaution.

He realizes that it’s begun to snow as he walks out behind the guard, hearing the sounds of feet shuffling in behind him, flanking him on all sides. His safety seems to be everyone’s top priority which makes him a little nervous but he supposes the king’s potential betrothed should be kept under lock and key until they’re accepted or even mated. Especially this king who may or may not be incredibly volatile and unpredictable.

He holds his head high as he goes, catching glimpses of onlookers behind the row of guards and decides he shouldn’t appear weak or meek. He isn’t either of those things anyway but the cold wind is making it hard to stay strong, his cheeks burning with the chill. He presses his lips together and presses on.

It’s silent as he goes, apart from the crunch of steps on icy snow, no fanfare or cheering or anything he’d expected to come from the townsfolk here like he’d been told. He thought this walk would be a celebration but it feels more like a walk to the gallows if anything and dread begins to seep into his already frozen core. He doesn’t want to be afraid but the more emotionless, unaffected faces he sees, the more worried he becomes.

If things are this bleak out in the villages, Jimin wonders just how dark the castle must be.

He can just make out the towering grey structure through the increasingly thick falling snow straight ahead down the path, taking in the sharp pointed peaks and spires, noting the highest points are hidden behind cloud cover with just how high up they go. The rocky mountains that sit as a backdrop to the structure only add to its size, the lines and ridges just as drastic as the castle itself.

Jimin only has a moment to take it all in.

Then he’s being guided up cement steps.

He pretends not to notice the dark red stains that have dried along them beneath his feet.

He’s ushered in through oversized wooden doors and once he’s within the walls, the doors are slammed shut and a metal beam is settled into place in front of them.

Jimin resists the urge to gulp. He feels trapped suddenly, his heart kicking up nervously in his chest but there is no time to panic as the guards continue to move him along. There is a black carpet rolled out in front of him, leading toward another set of double doors that are propped open and within, Jimin can make out what appears to be a throne room, all draped in deep plum curtains surrounding a massive high back chair at the center that glitters with the jewels and gems that frame it.

And sitting in that chair is a dark, shapeless figure Jimin can barely make out.

Still, he continues to walk, following the carpeted path and the lead of those surrounding him.

And just as soon as he passes the threshold, he suddenly feels it.

Power.

Dragon power.

It feels like it radiates off of the walls around him, feral in its wildness and thrumming through the cement floor like an electric current and Jimin has to take a deep breath to keep his knees from buckling. He’s never felt anything like this before, the intensity of it almost overwhelming. It takes everything to continue putting one foot in front of the other, his whole body wanting desperately to drop to the floor and surrender to this incredibly mighty being but Jimin won’t let himself. He won’t surrender like that. Not now.

He forces his focus to stay trained on the figure, all dark cloaked and dark haired with his head bowed and Jimin tries to make out anything he can, the nerves beneath his skin buzzing with something he can’t define.

And then, the figure lifts their head.

And brilliant green eyes meet Jimin’s.

They practically glow from beneath the black fringe that brushes over them, watching as Jimin comes closer, holding his gaze just as fiercely, never wavering, hardly blinking. Jimin doesn’t let himself cower under the stare but he does let his eyes race over the face of the man that’s meant to be his mate. Silver hoops line one of his earlobes, the other holding three simple studs, all of which are dusted over by the black fur sitting atop his shoulders that’s sewn into the cloak wrapped around his neck, hooked in the center by a thick silver chain. There is a thin diamond-encrusted crown sitting neatly in his raven hair, though it doesn’t glitter the way diamonds should with how dark it is in the room.

He’s….

Gods above, he’s beautiful.

Jimin hadn’t anticipated him being as stunning as he is, those emerald eyes bigger and rounder and prettier than they have any right to be, and it catches Jimin off-guard, so much so that he actually stutters in his steps.

He catches himself instantly, straightening and holding himself sure but he still feels completely wrong-footed here. He was certain the dragon king would be utterly terrifying in his features, not completely mesmerizing.

He’s barely moved, his face holding no emotion and still his presence is all-consuming, suffocating the room with this energy Jimin didn’t even know could exist in the world. It’s so heavy and physically demanding it feels like he could reach out and touch it if he wanted to.

The guards ahead of him come to a halt and Jimin follows suit, feeling a little faint but keeping his chin high.

“Presenting Omega Park Jimin of the southern region.”

At that, Jimin bows, his head swimming a little.

And when he stands again, the room is absolutely silent and absolutely stifling, just waiting to see what will happen next. The man on the throne is still looking at him impassively, still not moving and for a fleeting moment, Jimin wonders if his death will be at the very least quick and painless.

He lets either dagger still tucked in his sleeves slip down enough to quickly grasp them if needed.

And then, the dragon moves.

Jimin’s heart pounds viciously against the inside of his ribcage before it promptly drops into his stomach.

The dragon king cuts a massive figure as he stands from his throne, his cloak falling around his broad shoulders and pooling to the ground around his boots, his eyes sharply taking in Jimin’s frame.

Shit.

Forget what Jimin said about this man not being terrifying.

The energy that seems to vibrate all around them becomes even thicker as he makes his way down the steps in front of his throne, the heels of his boots clicking against the cement floor with every step and Jimin holds his breath in fear.

And then the smell of smoke envelops him.

It doesn’t take long for Jimin to realize it’s coming from the dragon himself.

It’s almost like campfire, heavy and deep sneaking into the back of his throat, but it’s so much more than all the times he’d made a fire while out hunting back home. There is something beneath the scent, something slightly metallic and vibrant and electric, something that makes Jimin’s omega stand at attention fiercely in a way it’s never done before.

The dragon looms over him, his emerald eyes practically blazing with just how brilliant they are as they race all over Jimin’s form, noting everything from his hair to his neck to the coat he’s wrapped in, all the way down to his boots and Jimin’s omega practically begs him to fall to his knees, to present to this all-mighty alpha like they should, feeling the king’s strength like a physical presence.

But Jimin refuses to look away or bend the knee, chin high as the king continues to inspect him, not a single thought betrayed on his face but Jimin is sure he can smell the omega’s fear radiating off of him. All he can do is stand as still as possible and wait.

The dragon king leans in then, imposing as he draws nearer, no longer looking at Jimin’s face but instead-

Leaning in toward his scent gland.

Panic spikes up the back of Jimin’s neck but he stays still, completely enraptured by this king, by this energy around him, closing his eyes and swallowing harshly as hot breath whispers across his skin, his omega practically salivating under the attention.

Without a second thought, he tilts his head, allowing for better access, accepting the dragon’s attention, wanting it even.

And then, as quick as it came, it’s gone.

And Jimin opens his eyes to find the king looking toward one of his men, catching the tail-end of a simple nod.

And then the dragon turns and walks out of a doorway just behind the throne.

Jimin is so stunned, he can’t seem to catch his breath, his insides twisting themselves around and around and he gasps for air instantly.

And then, he’s being ushered out of the room through another door without a word from anyone.

Maybe he’s lived to see one more day here in this snowy realm after all.

Jimin is moved around the castle for the remainder of the day between clothes fittings and meals before he’s guided up the longest and steepest set of spiral steps he’s ever seen where he’s closed into his new bed chambers for the evening. No one speaks directly to him, simply making sure his needs are taken care of, but he catches threads of conversations between servants and is able to sort out he’s been deemed worthy by the king and their mating will happen during his next heat in a few weeks’ time.

He doesn’t try to make conversation with anyone either. He’s used to this kind of thing. Being an omega, and a non-shifting one at that, he’s used to being treated like a decorative object, something that can be shelved until there is a need for him.

Jimin hadn’t expected it to go any other way here if he lived past the Promise Ceremony. If anything, this feels more familiar to him.

So when his doors are shut for the night, Jimin breathes a sigh of relief. It’s a bit exhausting wandering around in silence all day with people he doesn’t know and he’d rather just keep to himself.

And he actually manages to fall asleep just fine.

The problem is that sleep doesn’t last.

Because Jimin is awakened at some point in the night by that familiar energy practically suffocating his room.

And metallic smoke burning the inside of his nose.

He sits up almost instantly, on high alert as his gaze whips around his bed, checking every corner, every piece of furniture, using the faint glow from the still falling snow outside of his window for some semblance of light, heart sprinting at top speed as he searches-

And it doesn’t take long to find him.

Fear spider-walks its way down Jimin’s spine as a silhouette emerges from the shadows, stepping up to the end of the oversized bed and standing completely still, broad and tall and terrifying and Jimin frantically reaches behind him beneath his pillow to locate one of the daggers he’d slipped under there before he went to sleep.

The shadow doesn’t speak and Jimin’s eyes finally adjust to the darkness just to make out dark fringe-

And then a pair of emerald eyes begin to glow.

Scrambling back in his bed toward the headboard, Jimin brandishes one of his daggers out in front of him, which suddenly feels ridiculous in the situation he’s in but it’s all he’s got and he’s not about to go down easy. He has exactly zero combat training but he’s not going to let that deter him.

“Are you here to kill me?” he breathes, holding his weapon as steadily as he can even as his hand shakes.

The shadow tilts its head.

“Because if you are,” Jimin continues, his words coming out a lot less sure than he’d like them to. “You should know I will fight back.”

“Why would I kill you?”

Jimin startles at the sound of the voice. He wasn’t even sure the dragon king could talk considering he hadn’t spoken a word to him so far and for some reason, it makes Jimin’s skin prickle.

“I don’t know,” Jimin admits. “It just seemed likely since you snuck into my room in the middle of the night.”

“I wanted to see something.”

Again, Jimin feels thrown, his brows knitting together. “See what?“

“You sensed me.”

Swallowing hard, Jimin nods. “Of course I did.”

“In the throne room. You sensed me then too.”

“I-“ Jimin pauses. “I saw you in the throne room. You are kind of hard to miss.”

“You sensed my dragon.”

Jimin has absolutely no idea what to say to that so he just stays quiet, waiting.

The dragon king shifts. “Answer me, omega.”

The sentence is a demand and it irks Jimin.

“Did you ask me a question?” he snaps back. “Because I didn’t hear one.”

He swears he sees those green eyes glitter with something, though he can’t quite define what it is.

Anger, probably. Which Jimin should know better than to provoke a dragon but alas.

“Did you sense my dragon?”

“I don’t know what that means,” Jimin barks back because this feels like a stupidly tedious conversation for an alpha king to be having with a lowly omega in the middle of the night. “I can feel the power radiating off of you, if that’s what you’re asking. I’m sure you’re no stranger to people feeling that.”

The dragon is silent then, his gaze never leaving the omega and for a moment, Jimin wonders if maybe being a little mouthy was a bad idea. Maybe the king will choose to kill him after all.

“So it’s true, then.”

Blanching again, Jimin stares at the dark figure. “What’s true?”

And then the dragon king is turning away from him.

And heading for the window.

“Hey, wait a second,” Jimin says quickly, scrambling to kick the sheets off and get out of bed. “Where are you going, you can’t just come in here and-“

“Get back in bed, omega,” the dragon demands without turning around, reaching for the latch between the windows.

“My name is Jimin,” the omega bites back, finding his footing and marching over to the dragon. “And where are you going? Why did you even come here?”

But the king doesn’t say anything else, simply pulling the windows open, hoisting himself up on the ledge-

And diving out.

Heart jumping into his throat as he gasps, Jimin runs to the windows, leaning out as his panicked gaze flickers all over. He knows his room is incredibly high up in one of the towers of the castle and panic seizes in his chest. He finds a balcony right outside but still no king in sight. He leans out further trying to see over the concrete railing, attempting in vain to search the ground he can’t even see from here, sure he’s about to find something awful.

And then, just above him through the quietly falling snow, a huge creature glides across the sky.

And Jimin’s mouth drops open.

He can hardly make out anything more than the outline of a massive dragon, oversized wings beating against the cool air as the animal dips low, turns and then disappears around one of the spires of the castle, vanishing into the night without preamble.

It takes a while for Jimin to find his breath again, his heart racing in excitement. He knew the king was a dragon shifter, he knew dragons could fly, but seeing it? Actually seeing it? He’s never laid eyes on a dragon before, let alone watch one fly across the sky. He didn’t know it would be like that.

His pulse is pounding, questions instantly running through his mind as he stares at the empty space the dragon was just in.

Questions that keep Jimin up for hours even after he makes it back inside his room.

Jimin had always planned to be a good, docile omega. He planned to be amenable to his future mate, do as he’s asked, not ask any questions and just fulfill his duties, bearing children and raising the family he knows all alphas expect. It’s how he was taught, after all. He never had any illusions about his status.

The problem though, is that Jimin has a bit of a temper. And a stubborn streak he’s never been able to kick.

The head omegas in the compound he grew up in used to always tell him he was too curious. Too interested in things, never able to let anything go. They used to tell him it won’t serve him well when he becomes someone’s mate.

He hates to admit it now that they were right.

He’s finding that those ideals and all his plans to be a good little omega aren’t quite holding up now that he’s expected to mate the dragon king. He isn’t quite as happy as he thought he would be with just a simple life as a mate who does as he’s told.

Because seeing that dragon coast across the night sky in the falling snow…

It’s made Jimin more than curious.

That and the feeling Jimin gets the minute he’s in the same room as the alpha. All that electricity.

All that power.

Jimin doesn’t think he can be content with not knowing more.

So he’s more than thrilled the next morning when he finds that his room is unguarded, his breakfast placed neatly on a small table next to his door. No one around to monitor him.

No one around to tell him no.

So Jimin eats quickly.

And then goes on a mission.

He prowls the castle like an assassin for most of the morning, diving into corridors the minute he sees or hears anyone coming and hiding out beneath stairwells until footsteps fall away. When he emerges from a hiding place in the early afternoon and runs straight into someone who simply gives him a polite nod and continues on their merry way, he pauses.

Which is how Jimin finds out that apparently no one is actually watching what he’s doing here. He thought he’d be locked up and closely guarded regularly but that appears to not be the case now that he’s within the walls of the castle.

Which is great news for the inquiring omega.

So he roams openly after that, the scent of smoke following him through every hallway like the king himself walked this exact path just moments ago. It’s not as heavy as it is when Jimin is in the same room as him but it’s always there. Always present.

Never letting Jimin forget who rules this place.

The castle feels cold and quiet save for the guards stationed at every exit, all of which are alphas. Jimin thought he’d be more unsettled being around so many of them since he grew up solely with omegas and betas around, wholly protected from any alpha. But these guards and every alpha he’s been in contact with here show little to no interest in him so Jimin sees no reason to be afraid. Besides, he always has at least one dagger with him at all times. He can protect himself if needed.

The hallways are all relatively dark with no sunlight pouring through the big windows like they do back home. Which Jimin at first attributes to the thick barred grates sitting overtop of them and drilled into the stone around the sides before he realizes it’s simply the sunless days that cause the darkness.

It’s also not as bustling and busy within the castle walls like Jimin is used to which seems… strange.

He isn’t even sure how to explain it but it feels oddly quiet.

And dull. There isn’t a lot to do. Most of the doors Jimin tries to open are locked and the ones he manages to get into hold nothing exciting beyond simple furniture and a rug here and there. The palace is extremely large so Jimin figures it will take him some time to get through every room but he’d been hoping he’d find something worth exploring by now.

By midday, Jimin decides he’d better head back to his room in anticipation of some sort of food being delivered to him for lunch, wandering down yet another empty hallway for one more attempt at finding something to do. He pauses at one of the huge bay windows that sits at the end with a small bench pushed beneath it, peering up through the bars into the grey sky.

The snow outside has stopped but it still looks cold and dreary out and Jimin stares forlornly at the clouds, hoping desperately that maybe a certain gigantic being will suddenly appear again. Maybe in the daylight he’d be able to get a better look at all the details he’d missed in the dark.

What he finds instead is the sounds of people talking and shouting just below him. With a frown, he kneels onto the bench, peering down into the courtyard he’s standing above and realizes this must be where the north’s army trains with just how many people are roaming about. This is the most people Jimin has actually seen on palace grounds so far.

All kinds of things seem to be going on down there with heavy boulders and burlap sacks filled with something heavy piled high on either side of the area that several folks are carrying back and forth for strength training. There are targets lined up in another section with a few people aiming with their bows up and arrows cocked, practicing their shooting and Jimin’s heart actually jumps a little at the sight. He’d done a bit of bow hunting back home for sport, simply something to pass the time while he waited for his mating orders but he’d enjoyed it well enough. He wonders if he’d ever be allowed to go down there to practice too. Just to keep his skillset up.

Omegas weren’t allowed to fight back in the south which Jimin always thought was ridiculous. It appears to be the same here which is a little bit of a disappointment. He’d sort of figured it would be this way but he’d secretly held onto hope that he could at least learn to fight. To train with the warriors. He thinks he could be quite good if given the chance.

But that chance doesn’t appear to be coming as he looks on to a courtyard full of alphas.

There is a sword fight going on in one corner with several warriors making a half circle to cheer on their fellow fighters, while another set are practicing in full suit and armor.

But what draws Jimin’s attention is the group at the center.

Most people seem to be in this area, all shouting and cheering on the two in the middle who are circling each other with their bare fists cocked, squaring off for a fight with apparently just their bare knuckles.

They are both shirtless, wearing only snug leather pants tied in the front and tucked into heavy boots, and they both look ready to tear each other apart.

And as they circle back around, Jimin catches the face of one of the fighters.

And his breath is suddenly lost to the cold wintery air.

Because the man down there, half-dressed and ready for a fight, is the dragon king himself.

His sculpted body has Jimin’s eyes going a little wobbly, every hard line dug into his skin like it’s hand-carved, his muscles rippling down his back as he shifts his stance and takes a swing that’s dead on, his dark hair damp with sweat and pushed back up and out of his eyes like he’s run his big hands through it several times.

Jimin swallows harshly, tracing a bead of sweat dripping down the dragon king’s neck, trying not to think the thoughts his brain so desperately wants him to-

Which is when he sees them.

Scales.

Dragon scales.

A cluster of them lay down the back of the king’s neck, trailing down his spine in a single line and disappearing into his leathers with ease. Matching sets dust each of the dimples in his lower hips and when he turns, Jimin catches more glimmering along his collarbone line, dipping into each indent and following to the base of his throat before they part ways. The sun isn’t out today but the scales still shimmer black to green at every turn without any light hitting them.

Jimin’s fists close around the bars of the window, practically vibrating with the need for more.

Gods, he wants to be closer to this king. He wants to touch that body, to feel those scales, to do all of the things he’s never been able to during his heats. He may be a virgin but he’s not wholly uneducated, sex being one of those things omegas from his home receive the most information about to come prepared to please their alphas. An untouched omega is considered an expectation but knowledge is power and elder omegas in the south have always made sure they equip the next generation for things like mating.

And up until now, Jimin thought he had a basic understanding, especially during his heats when he wanted nothing more than for a nice smelling alpha to come take care of him. He always thought he really understood what it meant to want someone like that. He thought there wasn’t much to it. That it would mostly be based on instinct.

But standing here now, thighs quivering as he watches his big strong intended mate sweat it out in the courtyard with his pretty scales on display and his powerful body moving so precisely, Jimin is starting to feel like he has no damn idea at all.

Logically, he knows the dragon king is going to take him in just a few weeks’ time during his next heat. He knows they’ll mate then and become one.

But logic isn’t connecting with his omega right now.

Logic isn’t the warmth that’s curling in his gut.

Logic isn’t desire.

And that’s all Jimin can feel right in this moment.

Desire.

Maybe he should be more afraid than anything but frankly, he’s not.

He wants to know so much more about that man.

And he doesn’t even know his godforsaken name.

It becomes a bit of a habit for the next few days to stop at this very window and watch as the warriors train. In fact, Jimin spends quite a number of hours on this cozy bench, resting his forehead against the bars and just observing. Maybe he’s torturing himself a little but he can’t quite help it. It’s all he really gets to see of his future mate anyway since it’s not like they cross paths or speak. The man he’s supposed to become a pair with so soon seems to be a ghost in the castle when he’s not out in the courtyard.

And goddamnit, Jimin is desperate for any information about him.

He’s a little disappointed he hasn’t gotten to see the king transform again. He’s still holding out hope, crossing his fingers that one of these days while he watches the fighters, the alpha will simply become the dragon and fly off into the sky in the daylight. But so far, nothing.

So this is how he spends his morning hours now and the rest of the day is spent wandering. On his fourth day, he stumbles across a massive, multi-room library which is frankly a godsend since he’s starting to get terribly bored doing literally nothing all day every day beyond getting his thrills in the morning watching the dragon king train. He finds all kinds of things to read and even a reading nook all set up with a few large chairs and sofas with relatively good light from outside and decides this will be his new afternoon activity from now on. He’s hoping a loose schedule might help the mind-numbing silence he finds himself in with no one to talk to or entertain him.

It’s mostly a quiet first week in the dragon’s castle. He seems to have no responsibilities and no one expects a thing from him. And he’s starting to get just a little bit restless.

It’s not until day six that something actually interesting happens.

Jimin’s curled up in an incredibly comfortable red chair reading in the library when the door bursts open.

And in walks the dragon king himself.

Jimin is so startled, he slams his book shut in his lap and lets it fall to the floor as he stands, his knees locking into place at the look on the king’s face.

He looks livid.

“What are you doing in here?” he demands, green eyes practically burning as he storms toward Jimin.

“Sorry, I’m sorry,” Jimin says, rushing to stand, heart in his throat as the king gets closer. “I thought it would be okay for me to read in here-“

“This is my study,” the dragon snaps, stepping into Jimin’s planned exit path and towering over him furiously. “Who gave you permission to be in here?”

“No one,” Jimin says, trying not to cower, eyes flicking to the left then the right, hoping for a way to sneak by and get out of here. “I found it on my own.”

That only seems to infuriate the dragon more. “How did you get in? The door should be locked.”

Now, that makes Jimin feel a little indignant. “I didn’t break in, if that’s what you’re implying,” he says a little more forcefully than he probably should. “The door was unlocked every time I’ve tried it.”

“Well that ends now,” the dragon king says authoritatively. “This is where I conduct business and no one is allowed in here, least of all you, omega-”

“Stop calling me that,” Jimin cuts in angrily, his fists curling at his sides as he stomps his foot. “I have a name and I’d appreciate if you used it. I’d give you the courtesy of using your name if I knew what it was. It’s common decency I’d expect even from a dragon.”

The king looks momentarily like he’s going to fly into a true rage and Jimin recoils, panic spiking up his neck that he might actually be in real danger for talking back to someone so powerful. He damns his temper to hell, knowing when he gets frustrated he forgets his place and he wishes he could have kept his mouth shut, gods what is going to happen-

And then the dragon’s face clears a little, his head tilting curiously to the side.

“You don’t know my name?”

And maybe Jimin should take the win here but frankly, the question annoys him.

“Of course I don’t,” he bites back, planting hands on his hips. “No one knows it outside of the northern hemisphere. Didn’t you know that?”

The king nods. “Yes but I figured someone would have told you when you arrived.”

“No one talks to me here.”

Again, the dragon king looks utterly confused. “My staff doesn’t respond to you?”

It’s like they are having two different conversations.

“I haven’t been spoken to,” Jimin tries to say slowly, irritation coloring all of his words. “There didn’t seem to be a reason to talk to people who don’t want to talk to me.”

“They don’t speak unless spoken to by leaders,” the king says simply, looking at Jimin like he should have known that. “Seeing as you’ll be Head Omega soon enough, they will show you the respect you deserve.”

The response Jimin is ready to fire back dies quickly on his tongue, his brows furrowing. “What? What do you mean Head Omega?”

The king blinks at him. “Were you not made aware you’d become my mate either?”

“No, I mean… I mean yes, I know that,” Jimin huffs in annoyance. “But I’d assumed I’d just be your… I don’t know. Your omega and nothing more?”

The way the dragon’s green eyes sharpen has Jimin back on edge, his stomach twisting worriedly. “My omega will not only be mine but the omega of the people I lead.”

That… actually shocks Jimin. From everything he’s ever been told, this king is a tyrant. He’s violent and vicious and a singular ruler. He kills easily and is quick to anger and his moods can be volatile and unpredictable. That’s all Jimin’s ever heard about this dragon king. So to hear otherwise gives him pause. And besides that, based on all of his education on arranged pairings and matings, he’d always been told alphas see their mates more as possessions. Not once had there been any discussions around leadership.

It sends Jimin’s nerves into a tailspin for a whole different reason.

“Oh,” he says a little stupidly before deciding maybe this is his chance to take full advantage. “Well. That I didn’t know.”

The king looks annoyed but not in a murdery way at the very least so Jimin pushes on since this is only the second time he’s gotten to speak with this man.

“Is there another library like this somewhere else? I don’t have much to do and reading is helping.”

The king doesn’t hesitate. “No.”

Jimin huffs and forces himself to stay calm. “Well then can I keep coming here?”

“No.”

Jimin cracks his neck in irritation. “Okay… Can I come down to the training area then?”

“No.”

Jimin tosses his hands up in the air in exasperation. “Can I do anything at all? I’m bored. The least you can let me do is practice my shot. I even saw extra bows I could use down by the targets. I’ll stay out of everyone’s way, I promise, just let me do something.”

The dragon looks mildly surprised. “You’re a bow hunter.”

It’s not a question.

“Uh, no,” Jimin shakes his head before pausing. “I mean. Kind of, I guess. I don’t know. It’s mostly just to pass the time.” He straightens slightly, hoping to sound more sure. “But it would be nice to have something to do.”

The stare he gets in return is dubious at best. “You’re requesting permission for target practice simply to pass the time?”

Scrubbing a hand down his face, Jimin huffs. “Yes. That’s what I’m asking.”

“Well the answer is no,” the dragon says plainly. “You’re not to leave the castle walls. And you’re not welcome to use this room either. That’s final.”

Anger is bubbling up in Jimin’s chest now. “Then what am I meant to do?” he grinds out from between clenched teeth.

“You have freedom to move about as you please anywhere else that isn’t locked.”

“But I don’t have anything to-“

“I don’t have time for tedious conversations,” the dragon glares down at him, face darkening. “You should be able to figure out something as simple as filling your days on your own. Now get out of my study.”

Oh Jimin is boiling, fury racing through his veins like hot lava, returning the king’s ire with a glower of his own. “Why are you treating me like a prisoner?”

“Prisoners don’t have access to the hallways like you do,” the king replies, but his patience are clearly wearing thin.

Jimin, however, doesn’t care.

“So that’s all I do here? Just walk around and do nothing?”

“Until we mate, yes.”

That gives Jimin pause. “What happens after we mate?”

The dragon’s eye twitches. “You were supposed to come here fully prepared with an understanding of our customs. Does the south not educate their omegas?”

And the rage is back in full force. “Don’t you insult my home or my people,” Jimin snaps dangerously. “We might not be ruled by a violent dragon but we aren’t stupid.”

To Jimin’s immense shock, the king actually gives him a smirk.

And then, even more surprisingly, he leans in toward Jimin, right into his space, and tilts his head to the side condescendingly. “Those aren’t your people anymore,” he says carefully, his green eyes gleaming almost wickedly and Jimin can’t help swallowing thickly. “And I suggest you get used to this violent dragon because he’ll be your mate soon enough.”

The scent of smoke fills in around him in a way Jimin wasn’t at all prepared for and his vision swims, feeling a little lightheaded as so many things twist around in his stomach, fear and worry and, shamefully, want all swirling together in a dangerous mixture. For one horrifying second, he sways forward, his gaze dropping down to the king’s lips before he finds himself again, shaking his head slightly in hopes of clearing his thoughts.

Blinking slowly, he finds those green eyes.

They glint back at him.

“Careful, omega,” the king croons low in his throat. “You’d better get back to your rooms before you collapse right here on the floor.”

His head doesn’t clear exactly but a thought floats through long enough for Jimin to catch it and he tries to glare hard up at the dragon. “You did that on purpose with your scent.”

He doesn’t know what it’s called but he’d been warned about this back home. How an alpha can overpower an omega with just the way they manipulate how heavily their scent releases around them, overwhelming the omega enough to make their heads go fuzzy. Jimin’s heard other omegas talk about being scent drunk or like they’re drowning in an alpha’s pheromones and he’s been warned to be careful of it.

Although he isn’t sure how he’s meant to do that since it’s clearly entirely out of his control.

“I’m sure I don’t know what you mean,” the king smirks. “Now leave.”

He even has the courtesy to finally step out of the way to clear a path, flicking a hand out toward the door.

And frankly, Jimin wants to get the hell out of here anyway.

So he goes.

He can feel the dragon behind him, herding him to the door but he feels so sluggish, he decides it’s best for him to go anyway. And lie down.

And just as he’s over the threshold, he turns carefully back around, brows furrowed.

“At least tell me your name?”

The dragon king tilts his head to the side in consideration momentarily.

And then he slams the door without another word.

His name is Jeon Jeongguk.

That’s what Jimin finds out from the maid that brings him breakfast the next morning. He feels a little guilty for scaring her since he’d stayed perched next to his door waiting to hear someone drop his food off like they seem to do each morning, but he needs information.

Because he can’t let what happened yesterday happen again. He needs to know all he can about the king so he can stay ahead of him at all times.

And knowing his name was step one.

Step two is finding that goddamn dragon and giving him absolute hell for sending Jimin into an omega stupor yesterday, to the point where he had to lay down for the rest of the afternoon.

So Jimin storms through the hallways, heading straight to his window that oversees training. He’s going to find his way down there today if it’s the last thing he does. Even if he has to knock out the guard that most likely stands in front of the doors the lead out to the training yard to do so, he will.

But when he peers out into the wintery cold, he finds himself overlooking an entirely empty area. There are no warriors out today, no shooting or fighting, no nothing. The entire courtyard lays silent as light snow flurries down around into the dirt. Frowning, Jimin turns back around, unsure of how to proceed. The fighters are always out during this time. Jimin watches them daily.

Whirling around, Jimin spots another servant making their way down the hall with a set of linens in their hands and he races toward them.

“Excuse me,” he says quickly, still surprised with how servants respond to him here as the man pauses in his movements immediately and gives Jimin a nod. “Can you tell me where the warriors are? None of them are in the courtyard.”

The man doesn’t hesitate. “They’ve gone to battle, sir. They took off early this morning.”

Brows furrowing, Jimin’s thoughts race. “Where? They were just here yesterday.”

“I apologize, we are not privy to additional information,” the servant says with a sorrowful bow of his head. “We’ve just been told they’ve gone.”

Jimin’s heart begins to pick up speed at the implication. “Was the king with them?”

It’s the servant’s turn to look confused. “Of course. He’s commander in chief of the army.”

“But…” Jimin tries, his thoughts now taking off at warp speed.

Because if something happens to Jeongguk, that could be exceptionally bad for Jimin.

Because they aren’t mated yet.

Jimin is only his intended as of now.

No title.

No standing in this place.

If Jeongguk is killed…

What happens to Jimin?

“When will they return?” he finds himself demanding to this poor servant who clearly doesn’t hold the information he needs.

“I’m sorry, I don’t know that either,” the man replies with a deep bow.

Jimin huffs, feeling a little guilty with being agitated but this could be very bad for him if things go wrong.

The servant seems to take his questions as genuine concern and lowers his voice.

“I’m sorry if this is overstepping but please know, you shouldn’t worry for his highness,” he says gently, kindly. “I don’t believe we are at war. Sometimes the army just has to go out on certain missions. And his highness always returns no matter what.”

He says it with such certainty, Jimin wants to be comforted.

But he’s not.

With his luck, this will be the one time the king doesn’t return.

It’s four long days before Jimin hears anything of the warriors coming back. He spends those days pacing, trying and failing not to anxiously await any word of his fate, his stomach churning constantly. He even tries to go back to the study just to occupy his mind with reading since Jeongguk isn’t here to chase him out of it but the doors are now firmly locked and don’t budge, even when Jimin rattles the handles.

So it’s four days of actual torture.

Jimin wakes on the fourth day to heavy snowfall outside of his window, a thick layer already on the ground from the overnight storm and he wistfully looks up into the white sky, wondering how dangerous it is for a dragon to fly in conditions like these.

His stomach sinks even further with just that thought alone.

It’s quiet for most of the morning with the castle moving like normal but late evening just after dinner, something shifts.

Jimin notes more servants bustling about than usual, more staff activity than he thinks he’s ever seen before and he spots a servant he’s spoken to before hurrying down the hallway with haste.

“What’s going on?” he asks quickly, hopefully and the girl actually grins at him.

“Our king is returning any moment,” she beams. “We’re preparing for his arrival.”

Relief floods Jimin’s insides instantly and he thanks her profusely before taking off toward the front doors. He finds the flow of the staff seems to be toward the throne room and he falls into the crowd, carefully making his way there as well, desperate to get his eyes on that dragon, to confirm he’s alive and well and not dead somewhere leaving Jimin as an unpromised omega once more. Maybe it’s selfish but Jimin has to know the alpha is okay. That Jimin still has an alpha.

And maybe it’s also just to see the alpha again. Just to get a look at him.

It’s been four days after all.

Jimin’s gotten used to getting to see him every day. Even from a distance.

So he makes his way into the throne room. He starts shuffling carefully through the small crowd when he realizes the people are actually parting for him. Making space to allow him through first. To allow the dragon king to see his intended first and foremost.

Jimin’s face feels a little warm with embarrassment but he nods his thanks as he goes, bowing his head in gratitude as he’s carefully maneuvered to the front, standing just ahead of the throne. It’s different seeing the two sets of double doors from this view, the set leading into the throne room already propped open like they were on his Promise Ceremony day with the front doors ahead of them still shut tight, likely to keep everyone safe from the snow storm swirling around outside. Though Jimin notes the large beam that locks them in has already been removed.

Lacing his fingers together at his waist, Jimin tries to stand tall and still but the longer he stands here, the more he begins to feel a little self-conscious being at the center of it all and the very first person the king will see when he comes in. It feels a little presumptuous, even with the knowledge that they will be mates soon enough. Like he believes he’s more important around here than he actually is.

But it’s not like he can leave either. He needs to see him. He needs to see that he’s okay.

So he waits.

And just as the wind begins to pick up outside, rattling the windows and beating against the stone walls angrily, Jimin is suddenly sure he can hear the sounds of footsteps outside. A lot of footsteps. Like an army is heading toward the castle. Which he supposes is exactly what’s happening.

And then the oversized doors are creaking open.

Wind and snow whip through the crack angrily and then the large shape of the dragon king appears between the solid oak doors, his hands flat on either one as he shoves them open with gloved hands. His dark fringe is damp with snow and it hangs down into his face as he marches inside, his heavy cloak dragging against the ground where it hangs wet and worn off of his shoulders.

He looks big and imposing and a little bit terrifying, storming into his castle with a fury so potent Jimin is sure he can taste it on his tongue.

And when brilliant green eyes land on him, it takes everything in Jimin’s power not to cower in fear.

The dragon continues forward, not stopping even as the servants cheer for him and the rest of his warriors pour in around him, his gaze locked on Jimin fiercely and for one long, horrifying moment, Jimin thinks he’s about to be killed right here in the throne room. He even takes a panicked step back as Jeongguk approaches, glancing around to see if there is somewhere he can slip away to, somewhere he can hide. In his haste to get here, he hadn’t brought one of his daggers and he’s deeply regretting that now.

But then the dragon is upon him and Jimin’s heart is in his throat.

“Please,“ he murmurs, having no idea what else to say, terror ripping through his chest as the alpha grabs him by the wrist-

And then yanks him toward the exit behind the throne.

Stumbling over his feet, Jimin manages to right himself to follow properly. Not that he has a choice really; the dragon’s grip on him is iron tight but he figures he’d better not put up a fight, especially not in front of the rest of the palace onlookers.

The king drags him down several hallways Jimin has never seen before in silence, unlocking different doors and turning around corridors for what feels like forever. Even when Jimin manages to ask meekly where exactly they are going, Jeongguk doesn’t answer, simply continuing on their path until finally, they make it inside what appears to be…

Oh no.

It’s the king’s quarters.

Jimin can tell by how grand it is, similar in color to the throne room with dark purple drapes hung all along the walls and expensive gems and jewels lining the upholstery, chairs and couches and even a vanity all glittering expensively. He can’t even see every room from just the entrance but he can tell exactly where they are.

So when Jeongguk slams the door shut behind Jimin and finally releases him, the relief is short-lived as the dragon slides several locks closed along the frame, effectively sealing them both inside. Fear renews itself straight up Jimin’s spine and douses him in a frozen chill as he takes in his situation of being trapped in a room with this powerful alpha with absolutely no way out.

And then, the dragon turns to him.

And begins removing his wet cloak.

Jimin can’t speak, dread clogging his throat as the man undoes the clasp at his throat and lets the damp garment fall to the floor. He then peels off the vest layer beneath, letting it fall down around his arms and pooling atop the cloak.

And then, even more shockingly, he begins to loosen his tunic from the confines of his leathers.

And then tugs it up and over his head.

Jimin’s eyes go wide for a whole different reason, taking in that sculpted frame for a delicious moment before a horrifying realization crosses his mind.

And apprehension grips him all over.

He takes a step back, his hands coming up and out in front of him in a weak attempt at a plea, his thoughts racing with terror. His heat isn’t for another few weeks and if this alpha means to take him now, Jimin is far from ready.

Oh gods, he’d been warned about this by the omegas in his compound. He’d heard horror stories about it. It’s why they never allowed alphas near their home so they could keep omegas pure for their eventual arranged matings.

“I-I’m not,” he stammers, clearing his throat as the alpha looks at him. “I’m not in heat. It’s not time yet.” He swallows around his suddenly aching throat. “I’m not-… please, Jeongguk.”

The king’s brows raise and, to Jimin’s surprise, his mouth curves up at one side. “Ah. So you know my name now.”

Jimin nods eagerly, hoping to reroute this situation quickly. “Yes. I-I learned it. I’m trying to learn all I can. So I can be prepared on our mating night, of course.”

Jeongguk stares back at him for an unbearably long moment.

Then his brows drop and furrow in what can only be described as annoyed embarrassment.

“I’m not going to take you right now, omega,” he says like that should have been obvious, though his cheeks look a little red under the realization. “That isn’t how things are done here.”

“Oh,” Jimin breathes, relief flooding his insides as his eyes skitter across the stone floor. “Okay. Then what…”

His words die once more in his throat as his gaze lands on the wet pile of clothing the king just released from his person, and realizes there are stains all around them.

Red stains.

Blood stains.

They are faint, mixing in with water from the snow and Jimin only just recognizes that Jeongguk came in covered in blood which he couldn’t see along the black leather and his heart is suddenly in his throat for a whole different reason.

His eyes meet Jeongguk’s once more, his pulse pounding in his neck viciously-

To which the king fucking rolls his eyes at.

“I’m not going to kill you either,” he says, sounding entirely irritated. “I need your help.”

“You- what?”

That wasn’t at all what Jimin was expecting.

“Your help,” Jeongguk says more firmly. “You’re the only one I can trust to do this and I need it to be done quickly.”

Jimin just stares back at him.

“You… you trust me?” he says, so shocked he can hardly even comprehend that.

The glare he gets in return could level a nation, Jimin is sure of it.

“You’re the only one I can trust because you’re the only one who wouldn’t benefit from my death as of now,” Jeongguk says like this should be obvious. “If I’m killed, you have no standing here. Your position as my intended would mean nothing.”

“I’m aware of that,” Jimin replies shortly. “But I don’t see how that matters since you’re standing here alive and well.”

The dragon smirks. “Would you call this ‘well’?”

And then he turns.

And Jimin actually gasps out loud.

At first, all he sees is blood. It’s red all over and still dripping out of the wound, not having dried up or closed yet, and there is something sticking out from the center, though it’s so soaked in blood and Jimin can’t make out what it is.

It’s sitting in between the dragon’s shoulder blades, just centered enough that the alpha surely isn’t able to reach it with his hands at any angle and Jimin clasps a hand over his mouth.

“What happened?” he murmurs, stepping a half a pace back in pure shock.

“What does it look like?” the dragon snaps. “I was shot by an arrow obviously. I tried to grab it out by the shaft but it snapped off. And I can’t get it on my own so I need you to pull it out for me.”

Jimin’s knees wobble at the thought. “Does it hurt?”

“Of course it fucking hurts,” Jeongguk barks, planting his hands on the door. “And I can’t shift with it in me like this so I need you to yank it out. Once I can turn again, it will heal on its own.”

“How… how are you walking around right now?” Jimin wonders out loud, a shaky hand reaching toward the injury before he snatches it back again. He doesn’t know what to do but he’s certainly not touching it before he knows more. “You were moving just fine-“

“I never show weakness to my people,” Jeongguk says firmly. “This also isn’t killing me. Or at least, it won’t as long as you pull it out.”

Jimin winces. “I don’t know if I can-“

“Yes you can,” Jeongguk demands. “Do it now. It’s a piece of an arrow. You just need to get a good grip on it and pull.”

“But I- I’m not a healer!” Jimin cries a little hysterically because he doesn’t want to do this. He’s never dealt with blood or injury or anything like this before beyond skinning a rabbit. He feels sick just thinking about it. “Can’t someone else do it? They’ll be able to get it out cleanly and fix it-“

“No,” Jeongguk snarls, turning back around to cut a furious brilliant green glare at Jimin. “I never show my back to anyone. It makes it too easy for them to slit my throat. You’re the only one.”

“Jeongguk, I don’t think-“

“Yes you can. Do it.”

“No, I can’t-“

“Omega.”

“Please, Jeongguk-“

“Omega.”

The word resounds around the room like a bomb going off and Jimin freezes again, that fear returning from before as the dragon looms over him.

“I said do it,” Jeongguk growls, low and dangerous. “I’m your king and you do as I say. If you don’t respect my orders, I will kill you.”

Gulping, Jimin’s knees feel like they are about to give out. He knows he doesn’t have a choice here and he knows damn well Jeongguk will end him easily if he needs to.

And seeing as Jimin has made it this far, he’s not going to die today.

But goddamnit if it doesn’t piss him off in the process.

“Fine,” he bites back in return. “I’ll pull it out. But I want something in return.”

Jeongguk’s eyes darken to a fiery jade. “Don’t test me right now, omega.”

But Jimin knows he holds the cards here. The power. Jeongguk needs something.

Well, so does Jimin.

“I want a key to the study.”

Jeongguk doesn’t even flinch.

“No.”

Jimin clenches his jaw. “Yes.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“No.”

Jimin crosses his arms petulantly over his chest. “Then I guess you’re going to live forever with a fucking arrow in your back. Good luck with that.”

Jeongguk does actually look murderous then, stepping right up to Jimin in a way that feels intimidating but the omega doesn’t cower.

He won’t.

The dragon needs him, after all.

“I will kill-“

“Yeah yeah, you’ll kill me,” Jimin glares back at him. “I’m sure. But then who is going to pull that thing out, huh? Because if I’m dead, you’re fucked.”

They stare at each other for so long, Jimin considers sitting down on the floor to wait it out.

But then Jeongguk huffs.

And that single sound tells Jimin he’s won.

“I will agree,” the dragon says slowly, “to leave the door unlocked for you.”

Jimin pops a brow at him.

And then smiles sweetly.

“Hm,” he hums before tilting his head to the side. “No.”

Jeongguk opens his mouth again but Jimin beats him to it.

“I want a key. I want assurances that I can come and go as I please and not depend on you to let me in or not whenever you feel like it.”

Jeongguk does not look amused. “And what’s stopping me from taking the key back and killing you the second the arrow is out?”

Jimin actually snorts out a laugh at that. “Wow you are really bad at negotiating.”

“I don’t negotiate with anyone,” Jeongguk shoots back darkly. “I don’t have to.”

It’s Jimin’s turn to roll his eyes because honestly, this alpha isn’t fooling anyone. He may be an all-powerful dragon shifter but that’s not going to change the fact that he needs Jimin’s help right now.

And Jimin isn’t going to let him forget it.

“Well I’d suggest you learn quickly so you can make a deal and get that thing out of your back. Otherwise, who knows what could happen. My terms could change at any moment. In fact, let me think about what else I want-”

“Fine,” Jeongguk grouses, looking more than unhappy about this. “You can have a key to the study. But don’t touch my desk. And if I find you anywhere near the safe, I swear I will kill-“

“Fucking hell, shut up,” Jimin shakes his head in annoyance. “I don’t care about anything else in that room, I didn’t even know there was a safe so way to show your hand there. All I want to do is read the books you have, okay? That’s it.”

The dragon glowers down at him for a long, grueling moment. And then he grumbles, “You better be worth all the trouble you’ve caused already.”

Jimin has no idea what the hell that means but he decides to let it slide now since he knows he’s already pushed his luck.

So he sticks his hand out, palm up and returns Jeongguk’s furious stare. “Key first.”

With an irritated sigh, Jeongguk steps around him and walks in toward the rest of the rooms that splinter off, disappearing into one for a moment before Jimin hears soft rustling.

When he returns, he’s holding a black key between his fingers.

“Here,” Jeongguk snips, planting the key into Jimin’s still outstretched hand. “Happy?”

“Extremely,” Jimin beams at him, tucking the key safely into his pocket. “Now turn around and let’s get that thing out.”

He forces Jeongguk to straddle one of the lower profile chairs he spots in the room so he can get a better reach, guiding the dragon to press his chest to the back of the chair and wrap his arms around it to give Jimin a flatter plain to work with. The alpha makes small sounds of complaints and grumbles, clearly displeased with their setup here but Jimin ignores him in favor of observing the wound, trying to determine how to go about this.

“Do you have some towels? And maybe some water? I think I need to clean around it before I’ll be able to do much with it.”

He watches the dragon’s back heave another annoyed sigh before pointing a finger toward a side table. “Towels are in the dresser over there. There’s a pitcher of water by the bed.”

“Okay,” Jimin replies, following orders and pulling a few towels free from one of the drawers before wandering deeper into the rooms. It’s not difficult to spot where the bed is seeing as it takes up one single room all on its own with its oversized stature and glittering headboard.

It’s a little uncomfortable being in the king’s bedroom but Jimin can’t pretend he hasn’t wondered what it looks like in here. If he’ll ever get to see it again. If he’ll be joining the dragon here after they mate-

“Hurry up, omega. I have things to do.”

“Has anyone ever told you you’re annoying?” Jimin calls back but he does get a move on, grabbing the water pitcher and heading back into the room where the alpha is still perched on the chair, though he’s now resting his chin on his fingers where he’s curled them up and over the backrest.

“No one’s dared to,” Jeongguk smirks, green eyes glinting.

Jimin gives him a derisive look. “You know, as scary as you try to pretend to be, it doesn’t work all that well when you’re begging for my help.”

Jeongguk’s eyes flare wide with fury. “Begging?”

“Yes,” Jimin says easily, stepping around the alpha and setting his things down on the table beside the chair. “And whining.”

He waits for a retort, smiling to himself for poking the dragon just a little because he does have the upper hand right now. Sue him if he wants to enjoy it a little.

Instead, Jeongguk seems to just release a huff. “Just be quiet and get to work.”

Snorting softly, Jimin carefully dips the edge of one of the towels into the pitcher and then begins to clean the wound as gently as he can. Even after all the blood is wiped clean, the injury still looks awful, the now visible silver of the arrow sticking up and out at an unnatural angle. It also ruins the line of the scales that sit down Jeongguk’s spine which has Jimin wincing with sympathy. He wonders if it hurts to have his scales cut into like that.

“It’s really deep in there,” Jimin mutters, peering around the other side of the wound with a grimace.

The alpha sighs heavily but doesn’t say anything and Jimin gives the back of his head a curious glance before going back to work.

“Okay, I think I can try now,” he says mostly to himself. One of the corners of the arrow is sitting up and out and Jimin thinks if he wraps a towel around it, it’ll give him a good grip.

He’s going to try.

“You ready?”

The alpha adjusts, laying his face down against his hands still wrapped around the chair, the muscles in his back shifting as he goes. “Do it.”

“Okay.”

Then Jimin lays the towel down over the arrow and the wound, wraps fingers around it and pulls.

It doesn’t budge.

“Fuck,” the alpha mutters into his fingers and Jimin’s heart pings guiltily. “Pull it harder.”

“I’m trying,” Jimin snips back, giving the arrow another fruitless tug. “It’s really embedded in there.”

“Are you not strong enough?” the alpha barks, though it’s garbled from where he sits. “Because if you’re not, this is useless.”

“Shut up,” Jimin snaps back, clenching his teeth with effort. He wiggles the arrow back and forth and Jeongguk jerks beneath him.

“Don’t do that, just yank it,” he demands.

“I can’t, it’s stuck-“

“Just get a hold on it and pull-“

“I’m trying-“

“Come on, omega-“

“Be quiet-“

“Pull it!”

“Fine!”

And Jimin does.

With all his might, he wraps his entire fist around it and wrenches the arrow free.

The thing is a lot bigger than Jimin thought it would be and he only just realizes it may have been causing more damage than Jeongguk had led him to believe, having been sunk deeply into his back. Jimin stares at the point of the arrow with worry, brows pulled together as he looks back down at the gash between Jeongguk’s shoulder blades.

Which is when he realizes blood is now gushing out of it.

And the dragon hasn’t moved.

“Jeongguk?” Jimin asks tentatively, picking up a clean towel and dousing it in water before pressing it to the open wound again. “Are you okay?”

He doesn’t receive a response so he rests a hand on Jeongguk’s shoulder, giving him a light shake. “Jeongguk?”

There is still no reply.

And with the movement, the alpha’s arms fall down from where they were curled beneath his cheek, dropping limp at his sides.

Panic seizes in Jimin’s chest.

“Oh gods, no,” Jimin mutters, pressing firmly to the wound as he continuously shakes Jeongguk’s shoulder. “No no no. Hey. Jeongguk, hey, wake up, yeah? Wake up. Jeongguk, wake up!”

But the alpha doesn’t, his body limp against the chair and Jimin darts to the other side of him, trying to get a look at his face even as he keeps pressure on the wound. Jeongguk’s eyes are closed, his lips parted, his cheeks ashen and Jimin swallows down the fear licking up his throat.

“Jeongguk, please!” Jimin cries, shaking him again before tapping him on the cheek with his fingertips. “Please wake up, fuck!”

He taps again on the dragon’s cheek.

And again.

And again.

More firmly.

“Jeongguk please,” he begs.

And then, with great effort, he lands a smack on the alpha’s face with a flattened palm.

Jeongguk’s eyes flutter open.

“Ow,” he mutters, managing to glare up at Jimin for a moment.

And then his eyes close again.

“Oh thank fuck,” Jimin gasps. “Shit, you’re alive, right? Not dead?”

“No,” Jeongguk mumbles. “But you might be. Soon’as I wake up, m’gonna kill you for that slap.”

Jimin laughs a little manically, the sheer relief flooding him making him feel mildly insane. “I thought you were dead. That arrow was fucking huge. I thought it may have scraped a major organ.”

“It didn’t,” Jeongguk shakes his head, his eyes still firmly closed. “Now be quiet. I need t’sleep.”

Jimin presses a hand to his still racing heart and takes a deep breath. “Okay. When will you shift so you can heal?”

“Not right now,” Jeongguk manages to grumble in annoyance and Jimin swallows hard. “Later. After sleep.”

Jimin isn’t a healer. He doesn’t know what the right thing to do is. But seeing as it’s not like he can force Jeongguk to shift, there really isn’t much of a choice.

He stares down at the giant lump of a dragon draped over the back of the chair. It looks ridiculously uncomfortable.

“Uh,” Jimin starts, flicking his eyes toward the door, eyeing the multiple locks clicked into place.

Which is when he realizes he can’t leave. Well. He could but he shouldn’t. Not when Jeongguk is in such a vulnerable state. And if Jimin exits, he’ll have to unlatch all of those locks and won’t be able to seal Jeongguk in safely.

Besides, he needs to keep checking that wound and keep it clean until Jeongguk can shift.

So.

He’s here until the dragon is healed, he supposes.

“Should we maybe get you into bed? It might be more comfortable.”

He waits for a response but he doesn’t get one, though he does note Jeongguk’s back is rising and falling with consistent breathing so he’ll take that as a win.

“Jeongguk?” he tries again.

Nothing.

Jimin isn’t sure if he can lift the alpha on his own. He isn’t even sure if he should try. It seems like a bad plan.

So instead, he bends down and grabs the chair by the legs.

And begins dragging it.

“Gods above, why are you so heavy,” he wheezes, watching the chair barely move along the floor. He tries again, pulling with all his might only for the thing to hardly budge.

“What’re you doing?” Jeongguk mumbles, though he doesn’t lift his head and Jimin huffs.

“Look, can I please just move you to your bed really quickly? I’ll even help you.”

“No.”

“Please?” Jimin implores, starting to panic again. “It will be more comfortable. You can actually rest then.”

He assumes the silence that follows is his answer and he resigns himself to just tending to Jeongguk like this.

But then the dragon shifts.

With great effort, he lifts his head carefully from the chair and squints up at Jimin. “Fine. I can make it on my own, though.”

He carefully peels himself off of the chair then, easing up onto his feet.

And the minute he releases his hold on the chair, he sways dangerously to the left.

“Oh shit!” Jimin cries, dashing forward to catch the alpha around the middle and taking his weight onto his side.

“I can do it,” Jeongguk complains, but it’s weak and he manages to sling an arm around Jimin’s shoulder in the process.

So Jimin decides to ignore him, instead channeling all of his focus into keeping the dragon upright and keeping himself from collapsing and they ever so slowly make their way to the bed.

It takes a small eternity and Jimin’s soft encouragement when Jeongguk grumbles little sounds of protests but when they finally make it to the bed, he manages to tip the king onto his front and shuffle him up enough to lay flat against the mattress. Jimin even manages to shove a pillow beneath his turned cheek and then observes the situation.

“Okay,” Jimin nods. “Are you cold? Do you need a blanket?”

“Mm,” Jeongguk mutters with a light shake of his head. “Dragons run hot.”

“Is that why you’re always shirtless in the courtyard when it snows?” Jimin mutters as he walks back out to where they’d just come from, gathering the towels and the water pitcher to bring back to Jeongguk’s bedside. “Okay. Now I think you can sleep.”

“Thanks for the permission, doctor,” Jeongguk grouses in return and Jimin can’t help but snort a laugh.

He can’t explain it but the snark makes him feel a little better. Like the king really is going to be okay.

It’s a relief truthfully.

“Sleep well,” Jimin says softly, before returning to the front room.

Jeongguk doesn’t respond as he leaves.

Jimin decides to go snooping the minute the dragon starts snoring in the other room.

Mostly because there isn’t anything else to do but also because he kind of feels like he needs to. He’s got unprecedented access and no one to stop him.

Unfortunately, his search proves fruitless. He finds some jewels and a few pieces of furniture that have to be worth a fortune but that’s not really what he’s interested in nor will things like that help him in any way. He realizes the items he’d be interested in are most likely in the study if Jeongguk’s reaction to him being in there is anything to go by. Which the omega is kicking himself for now. He should have gone nosing around the minute he got inside that room but he’d been so distracted by the books.

Hopefully, it’s all still there when he’s finally able to return now that he’s secured a key.

The snow outside continues to fall, leaving the rooms in a soft white glow long after the sun sets and gives Jimin just enough light to be able to clean Jeongguk’s wound properly. It stopped actively bleeding hours ago and is already starting to look a little less angry. The alpha attempts to roll over several times, of which Jimin has to stop him with a hand to his shoulder and soft words spoken, all of which the king seems to respond well to. Going off of intuition alone, Jimin is going to assume the dragon is going to be just fine.

What he isn’t so sure about is where he’s going to be sleeping tonight, especially as his eyes begin to droop. He supposes one of the sofas is going to have to do since he has minimal options. He even manages to find a large dresser that houses multiple pillows and blankets to choose from so he figures he can make it work. He’s feeling dead on his feet with all the stress of the day but he figures he’d better stay up for a little longer. Just to make sure Jeongguk is okay.

He waits another hour, spending most of it watching the ground below cover completely in white before he decides to do one more round of checking Jeongguk and then head to sleep himself.

He sits down beside the sleeping dragon on the edge of the bed and carefully peels back the towel he’d laid there earlier, wiping carefully around the gash once more just to make sure it’s clean. It’s all he really knows about wound dressing. Keep it clean, keep checking on it. Otherwise, what else is there to do?

He lets his eyes wander down the line of Jeongguk’s scales along his spine again and down to his hips. They appear much more rough up close, almost like tree bark and they aren’t shimmering or changing color like Jimin’s seen them do in the courtyard, probably due to the dark storm outside and lack of natural light at the moment.

He runs the pad of his thumb over one of them, just to feel the jagged edges, only to gasp in surprise. The scales aren’t rough to the touch as expected but soft, the surface of them uneven but the texture not nearly as hard as Jimin had anticipated. He feels another with his pointer finger just to confirm and then leans in to inspect them closer. He realizes the scales on the coat he’d received before their Promise Ceremony are more coarse than these and he wonders if that’s what happens when they are no longer a part of the dragon. If they have more life to them when they are still attached to living, breathing skin.

Jimin doesn’t know. But he’s absolutely fascinated. He wonders just how his coat was made. How the scales were gathered. Who put it together.

He has so many questions.

“Hm, J’min?” Jeongguk croaks out sleepily, turning his head toward the omega on his bed and cracking a single eye open.

Jimin sits back quickly and then freezes briefly in surprise.

It’s probably extremely silly.

But it’s the first time the dragon has ever said Jimin’s name.

Something warm lodges itself in his chest.

It’s the softest he’s ever seen this man and it’s really like seeing someone totally different.

“Hey,” Jimin replies quietly. “Go back to sleep, yeah? Your wound looks like it’s already healing.”

Jeongguk nods tiredly, turning his head back the other way.

And Jimin begins to get up from the bed when-

“You should sleep.”

Pausing, Jimin nods even though Jeongguk isn’t looking at him. “I will. I just wanted to check on you one more time.”

“You should sleep here.”

“I will,” Jimin agrees, laying a clean towel over Jeongguk’s back before he stands. “I’ll be on the sofa in the front room if you need-“

“You should sleep here,” Jeongguk cuts in, reaching a hand out to pat the empty side of the bed beside him. “The sofa isn’t comfortable.”

Frowning, Jimin stares at Jeongguk’s sculpted back. “Oh I don’t think… I mean, you should rest-“

“Jimin,” Jeongguk grumbles, clearly trying to sound stern though it misses a little with how sleep-rough his voice is. “Just lay down.”

And honestly, it’s an enticing offer. Jimin is exhausted and the sofas look terribly stiff.

And besides, they’ll be mated soon anyway. So it’s fine.

He’s going to decide right now that it’s fine.

Because he doesn’t fight it.

“Okay,” he murmurs, slowly circling to the far side of the bed. He kicks off his shoes but decides to keep the rest of his clothes on in some small effort for modesty.

And then, he slides beneath the covers.

It’s quiet in the room, save for the even breathing of the king beside him.

Jimin’s last thought before he falls asleep is that Jeongguk’s hand stays resting on top of the covers.

Right over Jimin’s heart.

“Wake up, omega.”

It’s a harsh hand shaking his shoulder and a low, familiarly annoyed timber of a voice that wakes him the next morning.

“Hm?” he hums groggily, not opening his eyes yet with how heavy his lids still feel.

“Wake up,” Jeongguk demands again, giving him another jostle. “You need to go and I need to shift.”

Cracking open one bleary eye, Jimin can just make out the shape of the dragon king looming over him, still shirtless, and apparently back to being a jerk. Sunlight pools in behind him, his figure glowing softly in the morning light.

“How’s your back?” he asks, his voice coming out quite gravelly.

“Fine,” Jeongguk snips shortly. “Get up.”

Jimin waits for a fraction of a second, hoping the dragon will turn around so he can get a look himself but Jeongguk doesn’t budge, if anything standing his ground more firmly like he knows what Jimin wants.

Though, frankly, the omega is less worried now. The color is back in Jeongguk’s cheeks and he’s standing upright with no problems.

With a sigh, Jimin rolls onto his back, scrubbing fists into his eyes before he forces himself to sit up. “Are you always this grumpy in the morning?”

“Yes,” Jeongguk replies simply. “Now get up.”

Jimin glares down at the comforter before stretching his arms out and then swinging his legs over the mattress and looks up to cut a glare at the man standing over him. He’s ready to grumble something in return because he just woke up and being bossed around first thing is not something he appreciates.

However, what he planned to say promptly dies in his throat as he takes in the shimmering scales along Jeongguk’s skin beneath the morning sun.

Jimin’s never gotten to see them in the sunlight and his lips part in shock. They are beautiful, glittering in the light gorgeously.

Something warm blooms in his chest that he can’t even begin to explain.

“What are you staring at?”

And just like that, Jimin’s reverie is shattered.

“You need to go,” Jeongguk implores once more. “Now.”

“I’m going, geez,” Jimin grumbles, standing on tired legs and slipping his feet into his shoes. “And you’re welcome by the way for all the help yesterday.”

Huffing, the dragon rolls his eyes. “Go. I’ll lock the door behind you.”

Jimin goes as instructed, taking a few steps toward the exit before he pauses in realization.

“Wait,” he says, turning around and almost running into the king who is far too close, apparently trying to herd him out swiftly. “Are you shifting from there?”

He points at the double doors just across the room that clearly lead out to the balcony.

Jeongguk stares back at him. “Yes.”

Jimin’s eyes flare wide excitedly. “Can I watch?”

“No.”

Jimin is undeterred. “Please? The sun is out and everything!”

The king’s brows furrow. “Why does that matter?”

“Because I’ll actually be able to see you clearly,” Jimin replies, his heart beginning to race.

Jeongguk looks at him in confusion and Jimin huffs impatiently.

“The night you broke into my room. You shifted and flew off and I could only make out the shape of your dragon in the snow but it wasn’t clear.” He gestures toward the sunny sky, grinning. “But with the sun out, I can see better. I really want to see you in full dragon form.”

Tilting his head curiously to the side, Jeongguk looks genuinely surprised by the request.

“But I need to lock the door.”

His words have much less bite now, seemingly more shocked than anything which feels encouraging.

So Jimin racks his brain quickly for a solution.

“Okay how about this,” he says, bouncing on his toes. “How about I go back to my room and you fly by my balcony?”

“I don’t think-“

“I yanked that arrow out of your back so you owe me,” Jimin barks, feeling the opportunity slipping through his fingers and he’s frantic to get it back. “And I need to make sure you’re fully healed. This will solve both problems.”

One of Jeongguk’s brows pops irritably. “I thought giving you the key to my study was what I owed you.”

Jimin’s hand flies immediately to his pocket, suddenly worried the key may have slipped out while he slept.

He finds it immediately with his fingers and exhales before tossing a firm stare at the king. “I still need to see that you’ve healed. It’s only fair.”

Jeongguk’s eyes begin to narrow and Jimin is preparing his next counterpoint when the dragon simply says, “Fine. But hurry because I’m not waiting.”

A smile spreads across Jimin’s face and he excitedly darts forward. “Ah, thank you!” he cheers, giving the king’s bicep a squeeze before he flips around and hurries toward the door. “I’m going now! I’ll be there!”

And with that, he pulls the door open and races out to the corridor.

He manages to find his way through all the doors Jeongguk had pulled him through the night before, thanking the gods above that they are all unlocked still, and winds his way back into the castle, up the multiple sets of stairs and back to his own room.

He flies inside and without any finesse, flips the locked hook and yanks his windows open wide. Then he hauls himself out onto the balcony.

The sun may be out but it’s still extremely cold with the wind whipping about and Jimin crosses his arms over his chest in a weak attempt to stay warm. He should have thrown his coat on but he can’t go back inside now. He doesn’t want to miss anything.

So he waits.

The skies are quiet save for the wind and Jimin peers over the edge just to make sure Jeongguk isn’t flying around below or obscured by a spire or pillar. When a few more minutes pass, Jimin begins to worry that maybe something went wrong with the shifting. Maybe Jeongguk wasn’t healed enough to be able to do it. Maybe he’s hurt and Jimin doesn’t know.

A couple more minutes and now Jimin is a little angry. Maybe that ass of a king decided he couldn’t be bothered to do a simple flyby for his intended. Maybe he just lied to get Jimin out of his rooms.

Goddamnit. Jimin really should have-

And then, just over the horizon, Jimin sees him.

And every thought racing through his mind promptly goes quiet, awe taking over instantly.

The dragon glides around a spire, looking almost small from so far away, a spec in the sky growing with every inch it gains and Jimin watches raptly, clasping his hands together at his chest to keep from doing something truly stupid like waving. His eyes strain to see every detail, waiting until those beautiful scales become clearer as the dragon flies closer and closer.

And then, to Jimin’s shock, the massive creature does a barrel roll in the sky. Just flips himself over 360 degrees, his massive wings curling to guide him around evenly before he’s upright again, coasting along the wind. It’s so unexpected, Jimin actually laughs out loud, watching as scales shimmer brilliantly in the morning sun, creating iridescent waves all down the dragon’s body of brilliant greens and purples and blues, the most beautiful thing Jimin has ever fucking seen.

Jeongguk dips then, careening straight toward Jimin’s small balcony and even as his stomach dips in fear and he takes a step back, his heart practically launches itself into the stratosphere with excitement, truly able to see every feature of this massive dragon in all its glory. Green eyes glow brightly from the black scales hiding their color in the shade from the sun, accented gorgeously by tiny little spikes all around his eyes and fanning up the sides of his massive head toward true thick horns that protrude from his skull and peak into dangerously sharp points.

Jimin can’t look away.

Every pointed edge and ridge along the dragon’s body thrills him, noting the four tree trunks of feet and the tail that flicks out behind him, spikes descending in size straight down to the pointed end that looks vicious all on its own. He scans every feature he can, grinning hugely as Jeongguk comes closer and closer-

And then promptly drops straight down and out of sight.

Jimin rushes to the edge of his balcony again, peering over to see just where the dragon has gone, finding nothing for just a moment too long as he turns this way and that, trying to catch a glimpse.

And then the dragon is racing straight up in front of him, his underbelly mere inches from the omega’s face.

Jimin actually does cheer out loud this time, wind swirling up into his cheeks with the dragon’s speed causing even more chaos in the air around him, the rush so exhilarating he can’t keep quiet anymore, shouting incoherently and throwing a fist up to the sky as Jeongguk flies higher and higher.

Then he flips backward and comes floating back down.

It’s gentler this time, not as aggressive but Jimin still feels that brilliant buzz surging through him again anyway, watching the dragon come toward him in all its beautiful glory.

“Wow,” Jimin breathes as Jeongguk sails across his vision once more, catching the sunlight along his huge wingspan, putting on the most incredible show Jimin has ever seen.

Then, to his immense delight, the dragon actually carries itself just across the way to the roof that sits beside Jimin’s balcony. It’s not so close that Jimin could reach out and touch but it’s damn close for a human to check out a dragon’s more defined features with ease.

And when the dragon settles himself onto his back feet first and then rests his front feet next before his wings lay themselves against his sides, Jimin’s breath actually catches.

He could have guessed just how huge this creature was from the sky but seeing him sitting on his feet, Jimin actually doesn’t think he had any true idea the size of him. If Jimin had to guess, he’d say the top of his head would barely reach the dragon’s knee. He pictures himself standing in between those enormous front feet and thinks it would be similar to standing next to the castle itself. Just a very small human next to a very large building.

The king then turns its bulky head and sets its green eyes right on Jimin.

And even as a bit of fear licks itself up his spine, Jimin can’t ignore the thrill racing up along with it. Jeongguk in dragon form is something entirely different to his human form but holy hell, Jimin can feel the power humming thickly from this being. It practically vibrates in his bones with how heavy it is, the presence overpowering even from a distance.

The dragon continues to stare him down and Jimin can’t help it.

He laughs.

Bright and excited, he throws his head back and laughs to the skies, feeling more free than he thinks he ever has before.

And then he beams at his future mate.

“Show off!” he calls, giggling delightedly when the dragon tilts its head. “Fucking hell, that was awesome!”

Emerald eyes blink back at him and for a brief moment, Jimin wonders if maybe Jeongguk can’t really communicate with him in this form. Maybe he can’t hear him over the wind whipping around. Maybe he can’t understand him like this.

But then, the dragon king does something that has Jimin almost falling over entirely with just how absolutely charming it is to see; he bends one of his front legs down and dips his head low.

Like he’s bowing.

Like he’s quite proud of his little performance.

Like he’s pleased with Jimin’s praise.

Jimin’s insides practically glow with just how happy he is and he doubles over with more laughter, more than delighted with this private show he’s getting. He wishes he could touch, just run a hand along those scales and those spikes and feel the tip of that tail even if it pricks him. He’s getting greedy now, he knows, but he wants to feel so badly.

He just feels so overwhelmed. Like he just witnessed something truly incredible.

It’s a bit silly maybe but his eyes prickle at the corners, even when he can’t stop smiling. He’s had a pretty simple life up until this point and never once had he dreamed of seeing a dragon fly in the sunlight like this.

It’s absolutely magnificent.

“Thank you,” he says with a wet chuckle, placing a hand over his heart. “Truly. Thank you, Jeongguk.”

The dragon stares back at him for a long moment.

And then he nods once more. Not as extreme as the bow, not nearly as low but Jimin knows what it is anyway. It’s an acknowledgement. It might even be an understanding.

And then the dragon takes off again.

Jimin knows he’s leaving now to go take care of whatever else he needs to take care of. He’s clearly healed and fine to be flying around like this.

But Jimin still stays to watch him for as long as he can. Up until Jeongguk vanishes and is completely out of sight.

Jimin spends the rest of the day running his fingers gently over the scales of the coat he was gifted, the remanence of exhilaration still humming in his veins long after the dragon disappears over the horizon.

Jimin, unfortunately, goes back to his routine in the coming days. He watches the warriors in the morning complete their training and then spends the remainder of the day in the library (the feeling of shoving his new key into the lock and turning it without fear is unbelievably satisfying on the first day, he has to admit).

His days may be quiet but he still can’t help checking the skies every so often, just in case.

Just so he doesn’t miss it if a certain dragon decides to fly by his window again.

But what happens instead is the king decides to show up unannounced in the study.

Which probably isn’t quite fair to say since it is his study but still, Jimin does feel a little annoyed by this.

Especially when Jeongguk marches inside, already scowling at Jimin’s figure in the oversized red chair.

“Well hello to you too,” the omega says, syrupy sweet and overdone. “Nice to see you as always. And look at that, you really are healed completely. I wouldn’t know since I never see you.”

Which might be a lie since Jimin watches him every single morning and has already confirmed the wound in his back is entirely gone, not even leaving a scar behind, but still.

Huffing, Jeongguk narrows his eyes at him but doesn’t say anything. His gaze flicks toward his desk and back again and Jimin rolls his eyes.

“I didn’t touch anything,” he snaps.

Which is also another lie.

Jimin did look through the items on the desk but honestly, there wasn’t even anything interesting in there. Just a bunch of papers with maps on them and a list of names Jimin assumes has something to do with population or city size like most regions document.

Beyond that, he’d kind lost interest since nothing had to do with the king or dragon shifters.

He’d also looked for the mysterious safe Jeongguk had mentioned but found nothing in the library.

So he’d simply gone back to reading.

“Get out,” Jeongguk says then, green eyes steely and serious.

It’s interesting. For as much as Jimin knows he should be at least a little afraid of this man, he also just can’t quite take him seriously now. Not when he’s seen him vulnerable and maybe a little bit soft.

And not when he’s made it this far. Honestly, their mating is very soon. At this point, Jeongguk killing him would just mean the king has to start back at square one with finding a mate to create more dragon shifters. The cost/benefit analysis Jimin has done makes him think he’s relatively safe from being murdered at this point.

So instead, he chuckles lightly, delicately closing the book still open in his lap. “I don’t think so.”

Emerald eyes blaze. “I don’t care what you think. I need to work.”

“And you also made a deal with me that I can use this library whenever I want.”

“Except when I’m working.”

“You actually never put that in your terms.”

“I’m putting it in now.”

“Ah, no.” Jimin shakes his head easily. “I know you’re unfamiliar with the concept but that’s not how negotiations work.”

Jeongguk takes an aggressive step forward, opening his mouth to clearly level some sort of empty threat but Jimin beats him to it.

“And don’t bother claiming that you’ll kill me if I don’t comply because I know you won’t. It wouldn’t benefit you to do so.”

Then, he grins winningly at the dragon.

“Now, why don’t you have a seat and get to work. And I’ll continue to read quietly in this chair and not bother you a bit.”

The king looks a little dumbstruck at Jimin’s brazen attitude, brows pinching in the center like he’s unsure how to proceed.

Jimin just smiles at him. He even considers announcing he’s no longer afraid of the dragon king just as a cherry topper but decides that would welcome more trouble than it’s worth.

So instead, he simply waves a hand toward the desk as he opens his book again. “Go on then.”

The dragon glances at it but doesn’t move toward it.

“But,” he tries, clearly unsure how to proceed. “It’s… it’s distracting with you in here. And I can’t have distractions while I work.”

Jimin gives him an amused look. “How on earth would you know if I’ll be distracting? You’ve been in here for like thirty seconds.”

“I just know,” Jeongguk mutters. But then he begins to walk over his desk, still seeming unsure so Jimin takes it as a victory, surreptitiously watching the king approach the desk like it might be an explosive device about to go off.

When he glances back to Jimin, the omega pretends to be deep in his novel and not monitoring the king’s movements, even though that’s exactly what he’s doing.

He also has to keep himself from laughing because it is a little funny. Jeongguk looks terribly confused, like he isn’t sure if he’s doing the right thing or not and it takes him a ridiculously long time to finally sit down.

Then, he looks up at Jimin as if checking to see if this is actually okay.

And Jimin, forcing his glee into a dormant state, gives him a single approving nod.

And then goes back to reading, hoping Jeongguk will follow suite.

Which he does.

Jimin gives a light shake of his head and lifts his book up to his face to hide his fond grin.

The silence that falls only lasts about five minutes though.

“Do you come here every day?” Jeongguk asks suddenly.

Jimin peeks over his novel. “I do.”

The king gives a quick once over at the bookshelves behind Jimin’s head before looking back at him. “Just to read?”

Jimin nods. “I don’t have anything else to do.”

Jeongguk doesn’t seem to like that answer. “What did you do during the day when you were in the south? How did you fill your time?”

A pang of longing suddenly fills Jimin’s chest. Not because he wants to go back home because he’s not sure if he does. He never felt truly safe there. But it was all he knew before this.

“Um. Well, I was in charge of certain things in the omega compound I lived in like cooking breakfast and making clothing. Although, I hated sewing. I tried to get out of it as much as possible.” He huffs a soft laugh. “But the weather is almost always sunny down south so I spent a lot of time down on the beach or in the water. Or practicing with my bow since every other week I was in charge of bringing home meat.”

Jeongguk looks more confused with every new sentence Jimin speaks.

“There were no alphas to provide for you?”

Jimin gives him a curious look. “Of course not. Alphas only provide for their mates. Besides, it would be too dangerous to have alphas around that many unmated omegas.”

The king’s features don’t change. “Why would it be dangerous?”

“Because they can’t all control themselves,” Jimin replies with a furrowed brow. “Obviously.”

It’s common knowledge that most alphas are unpredictable around unmated omegas. It’s why Jimin had been guarded only by betas on his journey here. It’s why everyone he’s encountered within the castle walls have been betas and omegas, save for the guards. Jimin just assumed the guards here are the good alphas that are either mated already or have proven themselves as respectful. He’s certainly never felt threatened by any of them.

He’s not thought about it much beyond that but looking at Jeongguk now, Jimin wonders if he’s missing something.

The king looks a little bit angry as he speaks again. “Alphas should be able to control themselves.”

Jimin blinks at him. “I… guess that’s true. It’s just a fact that a lot of them don’t.”

“We don’t tolerate that here in the north,” Jeongguk replies darkly. “We have laws for that. And if those laws are broken, we have punishments worse than death.”

“We have laws too,” Jimin tries to argue, though it’s weak. Even he knew when he lived in the south that those laws didn’t make a difference. It was all about keeping omegas separate from alphas since it was unlikely those laws would ever have any meaningful impact. “But some things are just biological. It’s not like-“

“No,” Jeongguk cuts in, low and furious. “It’s not just biology. Alphas are expected to control themselves here. It’s not a suggestion. If an omega cannot expect to be safe in an alpha’s presence, then that alpha shouldn’t be free to roam unhindered.”

Jimin gets the distinct feeling they are walking into worrisome territory here, though he isn’t quite sure why. So he tries to just move past it.

“I see,” he says carefully, which only makes Jeongguk look like he wants to argue more.

And then suddenly, the dragon king looks cautious.

“Do you feel safe here?”

Jimin stares back at him.

And then snorts.

“Uh,” he says, trying not to laugh. “I mean, my future mate has threatened to kill me a handful of times, so...”

Jeongguk actually flicks his hand dismissively like that concern isn’t real as he rolls his eyes. “I’m serious. As an omega, do you feel unsafe in this castle?”

“What do you mean ‘you’re serious’?” Jimin gives an amused, if not confused, chuckle. “Were you not serious about killing me all the times you said you would?”

“Of course not,” Jeongguk replies simply before his brows furrow. “Did you think I was serious?”

“Of course I did.”

The dragon kings looks a little alarmed at that. “Why would you think I’d actually kill you?”

Jimin stares back at him incredulously. “Because you said you would? Multiple times.” He shifts in his chair. “Besides, it’s not like it would be that farfetched.”

That appears to offend Jeongguk. “It wouldn’t be farfetched for me to kill my future mate?”

Now Jimin is getting annoyed. He doesn’t know why Jeongguk is acting like he doesn’t know what his reputation is.

“Well, there have been others before me, right?” Jimin all but snaps. “And you didn’t mate them. So the assumption-“

“Is that I killed them?”

The king looks utterly shocked by that notion but Jimin isn’t buying it.

“Yes,” he replies pointedly. “They never returned to their homes and were never heard from again. As far as anyone knows, they arrived here, weren’t up to your standards and therefore you had no use for them.” He narrows his eyes at the king. “I’m not sure why you’re so surprised by that. You kind of have a reputation of being…” He trails off, searching for the right word. “Violent.”

The dragon exhales sharply. “I am violent when the situation warrants it. Meeting an innocent omega isn’t one of those situations.”

“So what happened to them then?” Jimin asks dubiously.

Jeongguk glares at him. “They live here in the north now.”

Jimin raises two condescending brows. “Sure they do.”

He actually hears Jeongguk’s jaw click when he clenches it in frustration.

“They do,” he replies simply. “There were three of them before you. My alpha didn’t react to any of them which isn’t their fault. My staff asked if they’d like to return back home. They all said no. Two of them are mated now, living in the village just outside the palace walls. One of them is expecting.”

Jimin blinks back at him, his mind feeling like it whirs to a halt.

He has no idea how to process that information.

He’s not even sure if he believes him or not, he’s just.

Confused.

“But I saw blood stains,” he says dumbly. “On the front steps. A lot of it.”

Jeongguk still looks defiant, still holding Jimin’s gaze. “Like I said before,” he replies slowly. “I am violent when I need to be.”

A shiver races down Jimin’s spine at that, from fear or something else he can’t quite tell. All he knows is it feels like his entire body reacts then.

“Oh,” is all he can muster. He swallows thickly when Jeongguk doesn’t look away.

This moment is too charged and Jimin breaks the stare, looking off to the books around him and trying to compose himself because gods, what is happening to him? He usually only gets these kinds of feelings when he watches Jeongguk train in the courtyard.

He tries to ignore it.

“Well.” He clears his throat, trying to get a handle on himself. “That’s good to know then.”

Silence hangs in the library like a heavy weight and Jimin has no idea what to do next. He can’t exactly go back to reading his book all casually now. Maybe he should just go back to his room.

But then the king sighs.

“I shouldn’t have threatened to kill you.”

And Jimin’s gaze snaps back to his intended.

It’s so unexpected and even Jeongguk looks unsure of himself, staring cautiously at Jimin.

“It’s… easier. When I need things done. If someone defies me, it’s simpler to make the threat to move things along.”

And Jimin can’t help it.

A smile begins to grow on his face.

And then he snorts out a laugh.

“Wow,” he giggles, shaking his head. “You threaten murder to get things done?”

To his slight relief, Jeongguk kind of looks like he wants to laugh too. He doesn’t, but his lips quirk in a way that makes it clear he’s not allowing himself to.

“It works,” he shrugs, allowing a small smile when Jimin laughs harder. “Why mess with a system that isn’t broken?”

“Shit, no wonder you have the reputation that you do,” Jimin cackles, his chest feeling a little lighter. “That explains so much.”

And then, to Jimin’s unbelievable delight, Jeongguk actually laughs. It’s brief, just a little huff of air as his shoulders lightly shake but it still makes Jimin’s heart do a little somersault in his chest. He’s never heard the king laugh before.

It’s a really nice sound.

Jeongguk even tosses him one more gentle smile before he puts his head back down and actually tries to do some work.

Grinning to himself, Jimin follows suite, opening his book back up.

The quiet that falls after that is much more relaxed, the atmosphere one of understanding and Jimin feels less like bolting and more like cozying up in here. He vaguely wonders if he can have dinner delivered here, maybe enjoy a meal with his books.

Maybe even have the king join him.

That might be a little too much to ask right now but Jimin still thinks about it.

He’s still smiling softly when Jeongguk speaks once more.

“So since we cleared up the whole killing thing,” he says gently and Jimin looks up to find green eyes on him. “Can I ask again if you feel safe here? Because I’m serious about alphas controlling themselves. That’s an expectation here. Including me.”

Jimin thinks about teasing him but Jeongguk looks so genuine, it doesn’t feel like the right move.

And besides that, looking at this big ferocious dragon king that might be violent when necessary but merciful when not, asking his future mate if he feels safe, well.

Jimin’s heart suddenly feels unbearably soft.

“I do feel safe,” he says with a quiet smile, and even as he says it he knows it’s true.

Maybe it’s stupid of him. Maybe he’s delusional about this savage alpha.

But Jimin has the sudden, all-consuming understanding that Jeon Jeongguk would never hurt him. It’s not even a feeling or something hopeful, it just… is.

This dragon king will protect his omega mate, no matter the cost.

Jimin knows it to be true.

Jeongguk nods then, just once, holding Jimin’s gaze for so long, heat begins rising in Jimin’s cheeks. He doesn’t know why but having this knowledge, knowing this dragon will do what it takes to keep him out of harm’s way, it changes things.

It’s like Jimin is just now realizing there is so much more to this king than rumors of aggression and tyranny. More than just a gorgeous body Jimin’s been admiring for weeks now. There are layers to this man.

And Jimin wants to peel them all back and understand them completely. Understand him completely.

He’d been so fascinated with the dragon aspect of Jeongguk that he’d failed to realize the entire person that is the king of the north and Jimin is suddenly desperate to know absolutely everything about him.

Which is when a second realization hits: this person is about to be his mate.

His alpha.

His omega is starting to recognize Jeongguk as such.

A warmth spreads through Jimin’s sternum so intensely it feels like his entire body blushes from head to toe.

And he can’t stop smiling.

It’s not until later when Jimin is alone once more in his room, still riding high on a happy little cloud that he realizes the implications of something Jeongguk said.

That his alpha didn’t react to any other omega.

Only Jimin.

His omega practically lulls him to sleep while it purrs happily away in his chest.

The next morning, Jimin opens his bedroom door to find a quiver and a bow leaning against the wall.

Frowning, he kneels down to examine it, only to find a key hanging off of a thick string slung around one of the many arrows, a small slip of paper stuck haphazardly to the quiver itself that reads:

For practice when you’re bored of the books.

-JK

Jimin’s heart all but slams against his ribcage in understanding as a smile spreads along his lips.

He glances around, wondering if the king had placed these here recently or if maybe someone else did it for him. When he doesn’t spot anyone, he carefully pulls the key off of the arrow and examines it, curious to find out just where it might be to. He ghosts his fingers along the bow then, noticing how new and perfectly made it is like someone had just freshly hand-crafted it.

Reverently, Jimin carefully slings the strap of the quiver across his chest, an excited thrill shooting up his spine at the mere thought of using it. He clutches the bow in his hand and then pauses, unsure exactly where he’s going to be allowed to practice his shot with it. He eyes the key still in his hand and decides to walk toward the hallway just across from his room, the one that holds several doors that had all been locked when Jimin had first tried them.

It doesn’t take him long to find one of the doors now propped open.

Carefully, he pushes inside to find a very large, very empty room, with huge barred windows on one side and-

And a big round shooting target with a small red circle at the center on the other.

Adrenaline rushing in his ears, Jimin turns to be sure and shoves the key into the lock of the door, just to check.

It turns easily.

And Jimin realizes that Jeon Jeongguk, vicious dragon king of the north, has just gifted him a room to practice his bow skills in.

Something brand new alights in his chest.

In a new twist, Jimin starts to see Jeongguk a lot more often than before. Daily, almost. Mostly in the study, though there was one fond occasion where Jimin had gone roaming down a hallway he’d not yet been in, finding the king exiting one of the many rooms and startling only slightly when he’d spotted Jimin.

Though, not in a negative way.

“Good afternoon, Jimin,” he’d greeted him softly and the omega almost stopped breathing hearing his name out of the king’s mouth like that.

“Hi,” he’d replied a little dumbly. “Um. Thank you for the bow.”

Jeongguk had simply nodded, flicking a gaze down Jimin’s frame as if searching.

“You’re not shooting today?”

Jimin had shaken his head. “No. I’m a bit out of practice.” He’d glanced down at the floor. “And a little bit sore in the arm.”

The king looked more relaxed than Jimin had ever seen him.

“I see,” he said easily. “Only one dagger?”

Startling momentarily, Jimin had raised his brows. “What?”

The king had flicked his gaze down to where Jimin had tucked his blade into his pocket. It had become a habit that he’d yet to break, keeping a weapon on him at all times just in case.

“You had two in the throne room your first day. But I’ve only noticed one since.” The dragon had tilted his head to the side curiously. “Did you lose one?”

Jimin’s eyes flared wide with indignance. “No I didn’t lose one,” he’d snapped. “One is just easier to carry around in case.” He narrowed his eyes. “Two are easier when I’m planning to gut someone like a fish.”

Jeongguk had actually grinned, something Jimin still wasn’t used to. “Is that what you planned to do to me at our Promise Ceremony?”

“If you tried anything,” Jimin had said, pointed but a little mischievous. “I wasn’t going down without a fight.”

Jeongguk had simply raised a judgmental brow. “And somehow I’m the one considered violent.” He paused then, tossing a glance up to the top of Jimin’s head where he’d thrown half of his hair up into a little sprouted updo. “Um. Your hair looks nice today.”

And then he’s scurried off.

And for whatever reason, this short conversation had Jimin flying high all day. He isn’t sure why. Something about Jeongguk teasing him made things feel different between them. Better, maybe. Like they actually were finally getting to know each other.

And then there are the afternoons in the study. Sometimes, they don’t speak at all. Sometimes, Jeongguk simply comes in and gives Jimin a quiet nod before going to work at his desk. Sometimes he asks Jimin a simple question about his homeland or how his bow practice is going.

Once, Jeongguk has dinner delivered to the room for them both.

Twice, Jimin has unlocked the study to find Jeongguk already there, seemingly waiting for him, a ghost of a smile on his face as he nodded in greeting.

And maybe it’s just normal. Maybe this is how all arranged matings start; slow and a little irritating and then progressively get better. Or maybe this is uniquely Jeongguk’s way of getting to know him.

Maybe it’s their impending mating night that’s made things feel different since it’s so close now.

Jimin doesn’t know.

All he knows is that something feels like it’s changed.

He’s a little surprised to find that he actually kind of likes the king. Beyond just his good looks and the fact that he’s a damn dragon shifter, Jimin is starting to feel something for Jeon Jeongguk.

Something real.

And he’s excited to see what will be next.

He’s excited to see what his future in the north with the dragon king will hold.

The problem, however, is that the dragon king is unpredictable.

It’s been so many days of comfortable interactions and casual conversations that Jimin forgets entirely that he’s dealing with a volatile ruler who can turn at any moment. It doesn’t even cross his mind the morning he wakes up feeling warmer than usual.

It’s not like he’s burning up or anything. He’s got a bit of time before it’ll hit but it’s usually his first indicator that his heat is coming on. That it’ll only be a matter of days now.

So when he unlocks the library in the afternoon with the intent to inform his future mate, he’s not at all expecting to feel the dark, furious energy that fills the room. The metallic smoky scent he’s become accustomed to has turned sharp and bitter, like the smell of lightning striking metal. He actually pauses at the threshold, unsure if he should proceed, his omega recoiling with discomfort, instinctually wanting to get away.

Although it doesn’t make a difference since the king himself spots him instantly.

“Omega,” Jeongguk growls in greeting, only sparing him a glance before looking back down at whatever it is he’s working on at his desk.

Jimin blanches. The king hasn’t called him omega in quite some time. It feels so wrong and Jimin’s heart sinks.

“Hi,” he says carefully, deciding whether or not to enter all the way. He stands with his hand on the doorhandle for a beat too long.

Which makes the dragon huff in annoyance. “I don’t have time for your distractions today. Are you coming in or not.”

It’s less of a question and more of a demand but it makes Jimin roll his eyes all the same, deciding to slam the door closed behind him just to piss off the king.

Which is does immediately.

Green eyes snap up to him, glowering fiercely. “Don’t do that.”

Jimin smiles at him, syrupy sweet and overdone, strolling closer. “My apologies, your highness. May I ask what’s got you so grumpy today?”

“That’s none of your concern,” Jeongguk bites back, looking progressively more agitated as Jimin comes closer. “Are you planning to be quiet while you’re in here? Because if not, you need to get out of my study.”

Undeterred, Jimin marches right up to Jeongguk’s desk and slaps his hands on the desk, leaning in just to be annoying. “Don’t you mean our study? Since I have a key and all.”

Jeongguk leans back then, emerald gaze blazing as he inhales to clearly give Jimin a tongue-lashing-

But then he pauses.

And his eyes flare wide.

And Jimin grins.

“What?” he tries to ask innocently but fails. “What is it, my king?”

Jeongguk looks momentarily stunned. “I… When? Now?”

“No not now,” Jimin shakes his head like Jeongguk is just a stupid little baby alpha. “A few days from now probably. You’ve got time to prepare yourself your highness, don’t worry.”

Jeongguk huffs and looks away, though Jimin notes how he can’t seem to keep himself from leaning closer. “Why is it that you’re only any semblance of respectful when you’re being a brat,” he mutters under his breath and Jimin laughs brightly.

“Well I came to tell my alpha I’m about to go into heat so we can complete our mating but he was in such a bad mood, I almost didn’t.” He pouts theatrically. “And wouldn’t that have been a shame?”

Jeongguk regards him for a long moment. “It’s not like it’s not obvious. Your scent is…”

He trails off then, only to take a deep inhale.

“Strong.”

Jimin’s omega preens at that even as he rolls his eyes at the dramatics. “No it isn’t.”

“Yes, it really is,” Jeongguk murmurs, clearing his throat and refusing to meet Jimin’s eyes. “When will it happen?”

“I told you, a few days-”

“I need specifics,” Jeongguk cuts in harshly. “A few as in three? Or four? Or less?”

Jimin huffs. “I don’t know. It’s always different but when I feel warmer I know it’s within a week’s time.”

“A week?!” Jeongguk barks, standing from his chair. “You’re going to smell like that for an entire week? Gods above. I need to re-assign all of my guards for the time being, then. And you’re not to leave your chambers either until it’s time.”

Jimin snorts derisively. “Yeah, that’s not happening.”

Jeongguk cuts a glare at him. “That wasn’t a recommendation, omega. It’s an order.”

“Oh, my bad,” Jimin replies apologetically, even pressing his hand to his chest. “I should have been clearer: I don’t take orders from you.”

They glower at each other then for a long moment.

And then the dragon heaves a sigh.

“Jimin,” he says in exasperation, pinching his thumb and forefinger to the bridge of his nose and closing his eyes. “Can you please just do as I ask? It’s for your safety.”

“Well calling me by my name was a good first step,” Jimin praises lightly, beaming when Jeongguk rolls his eyes. “But actually asking would also go a long way.”

He laces his fingers at his waist and pretends to be waiting very patiently as Jeongguk stares back at him, annoyance clear on his face.

Jimin smiles pleasantly at him.

“Jimin,” Jeongguk says, slow and condescending, stepping out from behind his desk and making his way over to the omega as he speaks. “Can you do me the favor of staying in your room for the next week? Please? I would be oh so grateful if you would do this one small, miniscule thing just for me.”

He pauses to press his hands together at his sternum in a prayer gesture, his lips resting on his fingertips for a moment before he leans closer, right into Jimin’s space.

“Because you smell like fucking sex right now and it’s going to drive every alpha in this castle absolutely insane.”

Well.

Jimin wasn’t expecting him to say that.

Heat floods his cheeks at those words, rapidly spreading down his neck and his chest to warm his stomach dangerously and he swallows harshly, trying and failing to hide just how affected he is.

By the look on Jeongguk’s face, he’s failing.

“I thought,” he tries but the words come out hoarsely and he pauses to clear his throat which only makes the king’s smirk deepen. “I thought you said alphas should control themselves around omegas.”

“They should,” the dragon concedes with a light shrug but Jimin can tell he’s not won anything. “And my guards will. But you need to understand the position I’m in.”

Maybe he should be holding his ground better than he is but right now, Jimin is hanging on every word the king says. He’s captivated, his omega fully salivating under the alpha’s attention.

“What position is that?” he asks breathlessly.

Jeongguk’s emerald gaze sharpens a tick, holding Jimin’s stare fiercely. “The position of needing to kill anyone that even looks in the direction of my omega while he’s in heat.”

Jimin’s chest heaves with the effort to breathe properly, his heart beating so fast he can feel it all the way down in his toes. He tries to find his words, his mouth opening and closing several times before he stops trying altogether, instead finding his eyes on Jeongguk’s plush lips.

“So you can see just how difficult this could get,” the king murmurs, his voice dropping low.

He reaches out then, brushing the tip of his finger along a stray strand of hair resting along Jimin’s temple. The omega holds himself still, desperate to feel those hands on him.

And when Jeongguk takes that strand and tucks it neatly behind Jimin’s ear, he almost folds entirely, trembling beneath the touch. Those rough fingertips drag down the shell of his ear and to his jawline before the palm of Jeongguk’s hand cups Jimin’s cheek delicately.

It feels like so much and not enough all at once. They’ve hardly touched, hardly been in one another’s space more than is necessary and yet Jimin feels like he might actually die if he doesn’t get more of this.

“Jeongguk,” Jimin breathes, a terribly desperate sound but he can’t quite help it. He wants to ask, wants to beg actually for the dragon king to take him back to his quarters with him, to stay together until Jimin’s heat hits. He still has a shred of pride and he forces himself to stay quiet.

But his gaze must look pleading and pathetic with the way Jeongguk gives him a sympathetic look.

“You will be moved into my chambers in a few days,” the dragon king says and Jimin is a little gratified to hear the true disappointment in those words, like he also wishes it could be now. “I have to tend to some business first and I need you to be safe until you can be with me.”

“Can’t whatever business it is wait until after?” Jimin asks petulantly. Because he feels petulant. He feels like he’s been waiting for this and he’s once again being forced to wait when he shouldn’t have to.

“No,” the king says simply.

Jimin glares at him. “Is no your favorite word because you say it an awful fucking lot.”

Jeongguk smirks. “No.”

Huffing, Jimin resists the urge to stomp his foot. He knows he’s being unreasonable, he always gets this way when his heat is coming but frankly, he’s been through enough cycles to know his next one is going to finally be the best one since he won’t have to go through it alone anymore.

So forgive him if he’s a little bit anxious to get things moving along. They can’t officially mate until he’s in heat, his hormones needing to be at a specific place for the mating bite to take. But can’t they still do… other things?

“I will have someone fetch you in a few days,” Jeongguk promises, his big eyes going a little soft like he’s endeared.

Jimin doesn’t want him to be endeared. He wants him to want the way Jimin wants.

Which… Jimin is realizing suddenly that maybe he doesn’t. Maybe Jeongguk doesn’t see Jimin like that at all.

Jimin had always been taught alphas want omegas no matter what and especially when they’re in heat. But seeing how Jeongguk seems more agitated with the timing of Jimin’s cycle rather than the actuality of it…

Suddenly Jimin is irritated for an entirely different reason.

And maybe a little hurt.

Just a little.

“And I’ll have the guards reassigned to stay on the outside of the castle. So you can at least practice your shooting.”

“And come here,” Jimin lobs back sharply. “I’m going to come here while I wait too.”

Jeongguk looks like he wants to argue but Jimin holds his chin up, defiant.

The dragon stares back for a minute longer before he blinks. “Fine. But please just here and back. No wandering down new hallways or exploring. Just for now.”

Jimin is about over this babysitting conversation. “You know, if you just took me back to your chambers now, you wouldn’t have to worry about a thing. I wouldn’t go anywhere.”

“I know,” Jeongguk grits out. “Which would be a problem all on its own.”

The sting of rejection aches at the back of Jimin’s throat, his heart plummeting into his stomach at those words.

Wow. This alpha really doesn’t want him. Jimin thought… but maybe it’s all been mixed up in his head. Maybe this is one of those things Jimin had a different understanding of that’s not actually true.

Maybe he’s been thinking about this alpha in a way that’s not even been on the dragon’s mind.

The thought cuts deep and Jimin swallows around an aching throat, refusing to acknowledge the way his eyes burn at the corners.

“Well I certainly wouldn’t want to inconvenience the king,” he bites out, forcing himself to hold that emerald gaze for a moment before turning away and heading to the door. “Apologies for making stupid assumptions-“

There is suddenly a hand around his bicep pulling him back.

And it’s not gentle either.

Gasping, Jimin is turned around and suddenly very in the dragon king’s space as another big hand wraps around his arm, securing him in place. He’s now eye-level with a very defined collarbone and he reaches his hands up to steady himself on firm pectoral muscles. He blushes from head to toe at the touch even as warmth spreads in his lower belly because gods above, this king is so fit it makes him a little dizzy.

And then he’s looking up into blazing green eyes.

“Jimin,” Jeongguk whispers, so much closer than he’s ever been and the omega holds his breath because the king’s scent is so heavy this close, it’s overwhelming. “You do understand why I can’t have you in my chambers right now, right?”

His gaze is so intense and his scent feels like it wraps around Jimin like a blanket and the omega tries to subtly press his thighs together because the warmth in his belly is quickly turning to liquid heat.

“Because you don’t want me,” Jimin murmurs, trying to remain furious even as his hormones are saying otherwise. “Obviously.”

He swears he sees bright green fire alight in those eyes as he says it but he doesn’t backtrack, holding his chin up, daring the king to disagree.

Hoping he will.

Praying he will.

And when Jeongguk’s features darken, Jimin leans in.

“Gods above,” the dragon growls low in his throat, gaze holding strongly. “You think I don’t want you?”

“I think you’ve made it clear-“

“You think I- Jimin,” Jeongguk cuts in straight away, the hold he has on Jimin tightening a fraction like he needs him to listen. “You think I don’t want you like that? You think I haven’t been thinking about this exact moment since the second you walked into that throne room?”

“How would I know?” Jimin tries to whisper furiously but it comes out much softer than he intended. “It’s not like you’ve told me anything.”

Jeongguk’s eyes narrow.

And then he inhales softly.

“I can’t have you in my chambers right now,” he says slowly, carefully. “Because I have a very tight control on myself. I pride myself on it.” He leans in then, close enough that Jimin can feel his breath on his lips. “And my control has never been threatened the way it is when I’m with you. When I see you. When I catch even a hint of your scent. So you can imagine the strain I’m under now when you smell this strong. This… this good.”

Jimin swallows thickly, his body thrumming under all of this attention from his alpha. The dragon isn’t even doing anything with his scent, he’s not trying to drown him in it but it’s still happening. It’s still overwhelming him.

“You already make me crazy,” Jeongguk says, a little breathlessly, a little desperately. “And I can’t trust myself right now. Not until you’re ready.”

“I am ready,” Jimin implores. “Please, Jeongguk, I-”

“You’re not,” the dragon says gently, his hands loosening their grip enough to smooth up Jimin’s arms, over his shoulders and under his jawline where Jeongguk’s big hands spread to cup his face tenderly. “Not yet. You won’t be until your heat hits. That’s normal.”

And then, to Jimin’s complete awe, he can see just a tinge of pink dust the king’s cheeks in a light blush.

“Just please give me a little grace until then. Because you aren’t making it easy for me.”

Gnawing at his bottom lip, Jimin wavers between continuing to argue and pretending to continue to argue so he can keep Jeongguk’s hands on him like this. The dragon king does run hot, his touch warm on Jimin’s skin and it’s so nice, he kind of just wants to stay like this because he can tell now that Jeongguk isn’t going to budge. He’s going to make Jimin wait.

And it probably says a lot about the omega that in and of itself excites him.

It’s like Jeongguk can read his mind because he smirks lightly, one of his thumbs brushing along Jimin’s cheek sweetly and the omega’s eyelashes flutter under the touch. “It will be worth the wait.”

“Okay but,” Jimin murmurs, firming up his grasp on Jeongguk’s chest where his hands are still planted. “Will you promise me one thing?”

He can see the dragon debating whether to agree, the wheels turning visibly in his mind.

But when he sighs lightly, Jimin knows he’s got him.

“One thing,” Jeongguk agrees.

“I know you always say alphas should control themselves,” Jimin says carefully, holding Jeongguk’s emerald gaze. “But when my heat comes, please promise me you won’t hold back. That you won’t control yourself. Please let go. With me.”

The way Jeongguk’s whole body stills has Jimin holding his breath, anxiously waiting for his answer.

“You don’t know what you’re asking,” Jeongguk says quietly. “Jimin-“

“I do know,” Jimin says confidently, because fucking hell he wants this big alpha so badly. He’s desperate for him.

“You don’t,” Jeongguk argues instantly, shaking his head. “I know you don’t.”

“Then show me,” Jimin says, just this side of pleading. “I’ve waited so long for this, promise me.”

He can see the debate going on behind those eyes, the worry and uncertainty but more than anything the want that bleeds into those green irises and Jimin curls his fingers into Jeongguk’s tunic, clutching hopefully.

The dragon king stares back at him for what feels like hours.

And then he whispers, “Fuck, Jimin.”

And leans in to press a delicate kiss to Jimin’s lips.

It’s gentle, careful like he’s trying to hold himself back while simultaneously not being able to stop himself and Jimin makes a soft, surprised sound, sparks of pleasure crackling along his lips. His eyes flutter closed and his fists tighten even further, needing this man to stay right here and keep kissing him because it feels so fucking good.

And when Jeongguk begins to pull back, Jimin doesn’t let him, rising up on his toes and following, keeping their mouths sealed together for just a little longer, their chaste kiss lingering.

Jeongguk gently guides him back down onto his heels by the hands still cradling his face but he doesn’t go far, instead resting his forehead against Jimin’s as he heaves a breath.

Jimin ducks back upward just to steal another kiss because he can’t help himself. Now that he knows what that feels like, he wants more and more. He settles back again, bumping his forehead into the king’s and Jeongguk huffs a soft laugh. His mouth tilts upward in a small smile even as his eyes remain closed and Jimin waits, excitement thrumming through his system, his omega practically singing in delight.

“I… promise,” Jeongguk breathes, chuckling again when Jimin gives a little squeak of approval. “Stop that, listen.”

“You kissed me first,” Jimin murmurs back teasingly, grinning when Jeongguk sighs.

He straightens then, holding Jimin’s gaze even as his fingers curl into the hair behind Jimin’s ears and clears his throat.

“I promise that I won’t hold back when your heat begins.” He pauses, taking a deep breath. “But only if you leave right fucking now and go back to your room because my sanity is slipping.”

A thrill races up Jimin’s spine at those words and he moves in for another kiss but Jeongguk holds him at bay, giving a little shake of his head and a serious glare.

“I mean it, Jimin,” he says sternly, though Jimin can see his resolve is on shaky ground. “Go now. I can’t have you this close right now. I have things that need to be done and I can’t focus with you here.”

“But-”

“Please,” Jeongguk cuts in before he can start. “I will keep my promise to you. Just please. Go.”

And maybe it’s counterintuitive. Maybe Jimin is thinking about this all entirely wrong. Because even as he’s being told to go, told to flee and not stay here for more raindrop kisses and whispered words, he still feels so powerful. So wanted. Like Jeongguk is forcing him to leave for reasons beyond both of their control right now and if it were otherwise, Jimin wouldn’t be going anywhere for a long time.

So he gives in.

With a little smirk, Jimin nods in Jeongguk’s grasp, eyes flicking between those brilliant emerald irises for a long moment before he finally releases his grasp and steps back.

He can visibly see the way Jeongguk’s body sags once he’s out of reach, like the tether pulled taught between them threatening to snap has finally been given a little slack and he can actually breathe again.

It makes Jimin grin.

“Don’t break your promise,” he says, lightly threatening as he backs toward the door. “I won’t forget.”

“I know,” Jeongguk nods in agreement. “Keep yourself safe.”

Jimin gives him a single nod.

And then, without looking back, he slips back out of the door.

Jimin decides to give the king exactly what he asked for and doesn’t leave his room for a full two days. He simply stays hidden, aggressively following instructions to the letter just to make a point. He has a sneaking suspicion that this is worse for the king as much as he claimed it was for the best. Like not seeing Jimin might put him on edge more than actually seeing him would. And the thought of that alone makes Jimin feel a little vindicated.

But he’s also incredibly impatient. Two days is an awfully long time for him to be alone in this dark room and by the end of the second day, he’s unbearably restless.

He’s already decided that he’ll go back out into the castle anyway but when Jimin wakes on day three, his nightclothes are damp with sweat and his heart is pounding anxiously. He opens his eyes, trying to swallow around a dry throat and instantly, he feels his poor omega whimpering in his chest, forcing Jimin to curl in on himself.

Which tells him his heat is just hours away.

So much for a week like he’d assumed. His heats have always been unpredictable that way.

The cramping hasn’t started yet but his body is beginning to overheat in the way that makes him want to remove all of his clothing and just lay on top of his covers on his bed and wait for it to consume him.

Except this time, Jimin realizes, it will be different.

This time, he won’t be alone.

This heat will be the one he gets to spend with an alpha.

His alpha.

Jeon Jeongguk.

The thought of him has Jimin’s stomach swooping in anticipation, his head going a little fuzzy with eagerness to be with his alpha, his soon-to-be-mate, gods just the thought of him-

Jimin squeezes his thighs together when his body gives a little impatient shutter, a rush filling his lower half with something familiar. He hasn’t started leaking slick yet but he can tell it will be soon if the way goosebumps race out from beneath his skin at the mere thought of the dragon king is anything to go by.

So Jimin decides to take his time getting himself ready for his day. He bathes carefully, scrubbing himself down from head to toe and then goes about applying just the lightest bit of color to his eyelids and cheeks. He then spends the remainder of the morning carefully pulling the top half of his hair back into four loose braids, delicately twisting and tugging until he’s satisfied. He lets a few wisps of hair fall free along his brow line, curling them lightly with his fingers and letting the rest of his strands fall loose around his shoulders.

Blinking at himself in the mirror, he thinks he looks rather nice. Pretty, even.

Hopefully enticing enough for a certain king to want to finally take him to his chambers and mate him.

A burst of heat flares up in his lower belly at that thought and Jimin gets dressed in a daze, mind racing with just what could await him as soon as later today.

He floats his way to the study after that. He doesn’t even bother to check the courtyard since it’s midday anyway, deciding he’d rather have Jeongguk find him reading, give him a little surprise that Jimin is out and about, still following orders even though the king would prefer he stay in his chambers.

He kind of can’t wait to see the look on Jeongguk’s face, giddy with the thought of it as he settles into his usual chair to wait. It takes some time for him to be able to focus up on the novel sitting open in his lap, anticipation still swirling through him but he forces himself to read in fits and starts, finding himself listening intently for sounds of footsteps in the hallways.

But after several hours with no sign of the dragon, or anyone else for that matter, Jimin starts to feel a little uneasy.

Which is probably silly.

The king does have responsibilities, after all. He probably had a meeting or other work to tend to. Maybe he’s even left the palace for something like he’s done in the past. Surely he’ll be here soon.

But as night falls, Jimin has a sinking feeling that the castle feels much quieter than usual.

Slipping out from the library, he goes searching for a staff member, which takes him longer than he’d expected since usually there are a few bustling by at any given moment. When he finally comes across someone, it’s a young beta man he’s never seen before. Which isn’t that unusual but it still makes Jimin’s insides squirm.

“Good evening,” Jimin greets the servant who practically jumps out of his skin before bowing deeply. “Ah, no need for that. I just wanted to ask, it seems so quiet around here. Have the warriors gone on another outing?”

The young man’s eyes dart around like he’s trying to avoid Jimin’s gaze. “Y-Yes sir,” he stammers, glancing quickly over his shoulder. “They left early this morning.”

Brows furrowing, Jimin tilts his head to the side. “Oh.”

The beta’s eyes widen. “I-I mean they left earlier today. Went out just before noon. I don’t know to where.”

Jimin’s heart is now thundering anxiously in his chest. The more he speaks with this man, the more unsure he feels.

“I see,” he says carefully. “Have they gone off to fight again?”

“I don’t know,” the servant says a little sharply, tossing another frantic look over Jimin’s shoulder. “They don’t tell us what they’re doing.”

Well, Jimin knows that’s simply not true. The last staff member he spoke with when the warriors had gone to battle seemed to at least know that much.

He looks the man up and down with a narrowed gaze and realizes he’s not wearing the standard robes he’s seen the staff in. He’s also a little unkempt which is entirely unusual for the perfectly coiffed servants Jimin always comes across. In fact, he doesn’t look like staff at all.

He appears unarmed but for one panicked moment, Jimin subtly reaches for the dagger tucked into his back pocket, just to be sure it’s still there.

In case he needs it.

“Okay,” he replies, trying to remain neutral and calm. “Thank you for your help.”

The man is barely listening.

“You’ll be in the study tonight then, right?” he asks, still peering this way and that like he’s waiting for something. Or someone. “Like all night?”

And that’s when Jimin knows something is actually wrong.

Like really wrong.

Hair stands up sharply on the back of his neck and his palms begin to sweat but he knows he can’t show any fear or tip this guy off.

“Mhm,” he replies amiably, subtly closing his fist around the handle of his knife. “Think I’ll just read for the rest of the night.”

“Uh-huh,” the beta nods, huffing like he’s frustrated. “Um. Well I better… get back?”

Even he sounds unsure of himself, like he’s supposed to be playing some part he doesn’t even fully understand but Jimin doesn’t question it, simply nodding along.

“Sure. I’ll just be going back to the study now.”

“Yeah, great,” the beta replies, flicking a gaze up at him briefly before he starts to shuffle off. “Um. King should be back soon. Probably.”

“Great,” Jimin replies, swaying back toward the door to the study as he watches the beta hurry off.

He waits until the man is around the corner, out of sight.

And then Jimin turns and sprints back to his rooms as fast as he can, climbing the stairs two at a time as he goes.

He darts inside and seals the lock closed before grabbing one of the spare chairs and shoving it beneath the doorknob. Then he whirls back around, quickly spotting one of the dressers and beginning to shove that in front of the door as well. He has no idea if it will hold for long but he figures any reinforcements will have to do.

Maybe he’s overdoing it, maybe he’s overreacting but he has absolutely no idea who the hell the guy he just spoke to in the hallway was, he has no idea what his intentions are.

And he has no idea where Jeon Jeongguk is right now.

Jimin hasn’t been this scared in a long time.

He needs to get out of this castle. Now.

Throwing open the closet door, he finds the coat Jeongguk had given him and tosses it around his shoulders before diving for his other dagger and securing it inside his sleeve to be sure he has both. He then slings his quiver across his chest and clutches his bow in hand, preparing to at least have something to protect himself if anything happens-

Which is when he hears it.

Footsteps thundering down the hallway.

For one brief moment, he thinks it might be Jeongguk and his warriors coming to save him.

But then he hears voices.

“-fucking rookie almost blew it all to hell,” a voice growls in annoyance. “Giving that omega a head start.”

“He could have slit his throat right then and there and we wouldn’t have to hunt him down now,” another voice replies just as gruffly. “Fucking pussy couldn’t even do that.”

“Should have never trusted a beta rookie with an alpha’s job,” the other replies. “Betas always screw everything up.”

“Now to be fair,” a third voice joins in now, a little higher than the others and somehow even more frightening. “If the rookie had killed the omega, then we wouldn’t get to have our fun first. I mean, we’re even going to get to have a bed and everything now.”

The voices laugh then, harsh and cruel and it makes something in Jimin’s stomach churn in disgust.

And then the footsteps stop.

And a fist comes down hard on the door three times.

“Oh little omegaaa,” the voice draws out, saccharine sweet, accompanied by snickering laughter. “Are you in there, pretty?”

Jimin stands stock-still, pulse racing.

Another three raps on the door, somehow even louder.

“Omega, open up for us,” the voice croons through the door. “I promise you won’t regret it.”

More sadistic laughter.

More silence from Jimin.

He looks around, his throat dry with fear and he realizes in a panic that he’s trapped in here. There is nowhere to go. There is only one way in and one way out.

He stares at the door, starting to wonder how long this little game these alphas are trying to play will go on for.

Wondering how long he can hold them off with his measly chair and dresser.

A heavy thud lands against the door.

Much harder and louder than the knocking and the door visibly rattles.

“Omega!” Another voice sounds now. “Open the door.”

Maybe it’s fruitless to stand in silence but Jimin hopes maybe they’ll think he’s gone somewhere else. Maybe they’ll think he’s escaped-

“Sweet little omega, we can smell you. We know you’re here.”

Laughter follows then, like this is one big jovial game.

And Jimin’s entire body goes cold all over.

But then another thud lands on his door.

And another.

And then muffled words he can’t hear clearly.

And then another thud.

Followed by the distinct sound of wood splintering.

And Jimin’s heart is in his throat, a bead of sweat trickling down his brow as fear threatens to choke him, watching as the door to his bedroom shakes violently again and again with every new assault. He doesn’t know if the alphas are just breaking down the door with their bare fists or something more but he can already tell his system isn’t going to work.

The wood isn’t going to hold for long.

And panic begins to wrap itself around his chest in thick, angry bands, squeezing tighter and tighter.

He has no idea how many alphas are behind that door. He thinks he heard at least three but he doesn’t know for sure and he’s not confident he can pick them all off with his bow fast enough before they are all inside.

He’s trapped like a fucking rat.

With another loud bang, the wood of the door actually cracks right down the middle and Jimin tries to muffle a terrified whimper as the alphas on the other side of the door cheer.

Which is when another shot of alarm moves straight down Jimin’s spine because the sound of all of those voices-

There are more than three.

Jimin can tell.

And he can’t just stand here and wait for them to get in.

Pulling an arrow free from his quiver, Jimin pulls it taught, aims at the door and holds his breath.

“Come on baby! Open up for us! We just want to talk!”

A round of laughter follows those words and then more jeering.

“We just want to get to know our new omega!”

“You’ll love it once we get started!”

The voices are blending now through the ringing in Jimin’s ears as they taunt him through the door, still beating it down to get to him. He blinks, realizes his vision has gone a little blurry only to find tears falling down his cheeks.

He’s so fucking scared.

So scared and he has no idea what else to do.

And then the wood in the middle cracks in two and splits apart enough for Jimin to see a man on the other side just over the wardrobe.

An alpha. Someone Jimin has never seen before.

He grins sadistically the minute he sees Jimin standing on the other side, his eyes glinting dangerously like he’s caught his prey.

And Jimin doesn’t hesitate.

He takes aim and sails an arrow right into the man’s shoulder.

“Ah!” the alpha cries, stumbling back into the small crowd of alphas behind him. “The little bitch shot me!”

“Get him!” another cries with vengeance.

And then the alphas are rushing the door.

There is no way Jimin can take them all on, not with just his bow and he’s not willing to risk waiting for them to get all the way in to even test that theory.

So instead, he turns toward the window.

He can hear the wardrobe scraping along the floor as the alphas push together and he knows he hardly has any time. He quickly shoves his bow back into his quiver and then flicks open the latch on his windows and hoists himself out just as he hears his dresser crash to the floor, breaking the chair down as it goes.

And Jimin lands on the snow-covered balcony, his boots crunching against the ice beneath.

It’s practically a blizzard out here, wind whipping the falling snow angrily all around him and he glances back to find the alphas are now tumbling down inside of his room, spotting his open window instantly and crawling over each other to get to him. He quickly pulls the pains shut, though he knows it’s only going to buy him about a second of time.

And then he turns and looks around.

He refuses to fall to the hands of these men.

He won’t die like that.

He can’t.

He peers over the ledge, gulping at the long, horrible drop below him, hardly even able to make out the snow-blanketed ground below with just how high up he is. He staggers back, whipping his head this way and that, trying to figure out just where he could possibly go.

The closest flat surface he could even attempt to jump to is the one he’d watched the dragon king settle onto just days ago, smooth enough to land on but far enough that Jimin is almost certain he won’t make the jump.

Which is when his window is thrown open behind him and a hand is reaching out to snatch him by the arm.

Jimin manages to rip himself out of the grasp and within a nanosecond, decides he’ll take the jump over this.

Or at least die trying.

So he runs.

Racing to the edge just as an alpha is climbing out of his window, Jimin leaps up onto the balcony ledge.

And then takes the dive toward the other roof.

“NO!” an alpha booms behind him just as Jimin throws a hand out to the building across from him, which seems strange since they clearly wanted him dead but the thought is there and gone in an instant.

His fingertips brush the concrete top of the building and for one hopeful moment, he thinks he’s made it.

His feet catch nothing.

And then he’s freefalling.

“Shit!,” he cries, his stomach swooping with the feeling of dropping right out of the sky and he flails, hopelessly trying to find purchase with any limb he can manage, his whole body tumbling down faster and faster in the whistling wind around him and he knows with sudden, horrifying clarity that this is it.

This is how he’s going to die.

He’s falling faster now, gravity pulling him down violently and still he kicks his feet, desperate to find purchase on something, anything.

This is truly it. This is the end. He can feel it and he wishes so badly it wasn’t-

And then he’s suddenly on his stomach.

He didn’t even really land properly, he just is quickly in position, face-first laying down and no longer crashing through the air unhindered and it takes him a moment to gather his bearings.

Opening his eyes, Jimin blinks into the wind and snow which are swirling faster around him now, momentarily stunned that the fall didn’t actually hurt him and he splays his fingers out beside his head to feel a hard, scale-like texture beneath him. And when he turns his head…

Holy shit.

Holy fucking shit.

He’s on the back of a dragon.

He’s flying through the wintery sky on the back of a dragon.

He’s flying on the dragon king himself.

Jeon Jeongguk fucking caught him mid-air and now Jimin is flying on his back.

The shocked gasp that leaves his lips doesn’t even begin to express how insane this feels.

Christ, Jimin is really up here and he can hardly take it all in, panic and fear and excitement all crashing through him in intense waves and he tries to focus, tries to find something to steady himself.

Jimin keeps himself low on his knees as he looks around in awe, the snow forcing him to squint as the dragon whips them through the skies, his huge wings beating against the wind on either side of the omega. He can see the dragon’s massive spiked head right ahead of him, though it’s still relatively far away from where Jimin is sitting low on the king’s back almost near his tail.

“Gods above, okay, wow,” Jimin mutters cautiously to himself even as his entire being vibrates with the knowledge that he’s riding a dragon right now. With great care, he slowly crawls up closer to the neck area, spotting a few spikes he can grab onto that might make this feel less like he might careen off at any moment.

Staying low, he creeps his way upward, feeling like he’s not only fighting the storm around him but the dragon’s movements as well, careful to keep his weight as close to the scales beneath him as possible. He supposes he’s lucky he didn’t land on a spike when the dragon had caught him, although he has a theory that Jeongguk did that strategically so as not to hurt him. The thought alone sends another thrill straight up Jimin’s spine.

When he finally reaches his destination, he carefully curls hands around each spike, spreads his knees and then leans a little more comfortably back before he looks up and out ahead, squinting into the storm. The snow bites at his cheeks and fingers and the wind makes his ears ring but even with the chaos around him, he still feels something settle deep in his system. In his soul.

Like he’s exactly where he’s meant to be.

Like flying on the back of a dragon has always been where he belongs.

It’s the strangest feeling in the world to be somewhere he’s never been before and feel like it’s where he should have been all along.

He’s still a little scared to be up here like this but that fear is being drowned out rapidly by the all-consuming feeling that he should have always been doing this. Dragon-riding just like this.

So he settles in, doing his best to see through the storm, trusting the king to take him to safety. He wonders if Jeongguk can feel him moving around, wonders if he knows Jimin is secure now-

And then the dragon makes a sharp turn.

“Ah!” Jimin yelps, clenching all of his muscles and tightening his grip as the creature he’s riding does a full loop around and heads back in the direction they’d come from, dipping a little lower as he goes. Jimin can’t see anything through the snow, his eyes straining to spot anything beyond the dragon’s head-

And then the castle is back in view.

“What the-“ Jimin mutters just as his balcony appears before him. Right there. The one he’d just jumped from.

Freezing, he thinks for a moment maybe Jeongguk is going to deliver him back there and panic begins to spiral up his throat.

Especially when he sees the alphas he’d just escaped still there, still crowded into his room. They’re all watching the dragon now, all eyes on the massive monster in the sky and even from afar Jimin can see the terror on their faces.

And before Jimin can start to consider jumping right off of this animal and take his chances once more before he’s sent back to the clutches of those sadistic alphas, the dragon roars so loudly and so savagely, Jimin actually yelps in shock.

From back here, Jimin can see its massive maw open wide.

And Jimin watches in shock as blue fire bursts forth, pummeling the balcony and Jimin’s room with a ferocity so great, the entire thing is engulfed in an instant. He can hear shouting and screaming even over the wind but can hardly see anything, the fire burning brightly in the falling snow, ash and rock tumbling down the sides of the castle in black angry bits. He can feel the heat of the fire even through his coat, his frozen cheeks beginning to warm beneath it.

And maybe it’s wrong.

Maybe it makes him a bad person.

But Jimin watches those alphas burn up in blue flames and thinks good.

He’s glad they’re all dead. He doesn’t even want to think about what could have happened if he hadn’t jumped.

If Jeongguk hadn’t saved him.

He reaches back and pulls his bow out from his quiver, a little surprised it made it this far in all the chaos but pleased none the less. He tugs an arrow free as well.

And then takes aim.

He knows it’s unnecessary. It’s not going to do anything beyond burn up in the flames.

But he needs to do it for himself anyway.

So he does.

Jeongguk flies them by once more as he turns again, coasting beside the now fully blue spire.

And Jimin shoots an arrow straight into the fray.

Jeongguk doesn’t take them back to the castle.

And Jimin is grateful for it.

He holds on tight as the dragon sails upward into the snow, climbing higher and higher into the stormy sky and then turning into the mountainside. It’s noticeably colder but Jimin simply burrows further into his coat, his fingers beginning to ache where they stay wrapped around spikes, but still he hangs on. He has no idea where they are going but he knows wherever it is, it’s going to be with Jeongguk and that in and of itself makes Jimin already feel safe.

The dragon coasts swiftly through the snow, spinning them up toward the mountain top, away from even the possibility of anyone being able to climb up here and find them. The further they go, the more curious Jimin gets.

After a small eternity, the creature tilts and turns, slipping gracefully through cracks in the mountainside and taking a few more sharp turns.

And then Jimin can see it.

A small flat surface jutting out.

Which leads to a small opening in the rock.

Interest piqued, Jimin waits patiently as Jeongguk lands gingerly on the flat edge, careful to tuck his wings in as he settles on all four of his feet.

And just as Jimin considers how he’s meant to get down from here, the dragon leans carefully to one side, drops his shoulder and props one of his large front legs out to the side.

And then waits.

Maybe it’s inappropriate at a time like this.

But Jimin actually giggles.

Because it’s very silly.

The dragon king essentially just made him a slide as an exit off of his back and Jimin can’t help laughing at how cute it is.

Still, he makes his way down quickly so as not to keep the king waiting, careful not to nick any scales with his boots. He lands a little clumsily on his feet, the quiver still slung across his chest rattling against his back.

And then he stands, unsure of what to do next, shivering as the snow continues to swirl angrily around them.

The dragon straightens, green eyes staring Jimin down.

Then he tosses his head toward the mouth of the cave pointedly. It’s hard to read the expression of a dragon if Jimin is honest, but he assumes he’s being told to go inside. He hesitates, curious if Jeongguk will follow or shift back or something but then a particularly awful gust of wind blasts him in his freezing cheeks and he stumbles a little where he stands. So the decision is made for him.

He turns and heads right into the rocky opening on the mountainside.

It’s dark as he makes his way in and still very cold but at least the wind isn’t trying to knock him off a cliff anymore so he counts it as a win.

And just as his eyes adjust to the darkness, he realizes there is a door etched into the rock.

And when he reaches for the handle, it opens with ease.

Jimin pushes inside carefully, not sure exactly what to expect. It’s a little bit lighter inside which he realizes is because of the large window on the opposite side, the bright falling snow outside adding a little illumination to what Jimin can just make out is a small, cozy little bedroom.

There is a large bed pushed up beneath the window and a little table beside it with an unlit oil lamp. Just in front of that is a small sitting area with a couch and a chair and even a rug beneath it, all of which faces a dark fireplace with a tea kettle hanging above it. To the left is a small cupboard with a short countertop perched above it.

Jimin can’t make out the color of anything in the semi-darkness but he assumes this must be where Jeongguk comes when he needs to be alone or needs to find safety since he’s clearly the only one who can get here. It’s slightly warmer in here than it is outside though not by much and Jimin begins to wonder if there are matches somewhere so he can at the very least light a fire.

He’s just tugging his quiver off of his shoulder to get more settled when the door creaks open behind him. He startles, whipping around just in time to see a hand sneak in through the doorway, grab what appears to be a black robe hanging inside the frame and then disappears again.

And then moments later, Jeongguk comes barreling inside wrapped snuggly in his robe and covered entirely.

 And even from here, his green eyes are blazing.

“What the hell were you doing?!” he demands instantly, storming up to get right into Jimin’s space without preamble. “Were you trying to kill yourself?!”

Jimin is so surprised by the outburst, he actually guffaws out loud, taking a step back. “Excuse me?”

“Gods above, I leave for a few fucking hours and you try this?” Jeongguk barks. “What were you thinking-”

“I was thinking I didn’t want to get murdered!” Jimin shouts back indignantly. “And where the hell were you while I was trapped in my room, huh?! Where were you?!”

“I was busy protecting you!” Jeongguk snaps back, throwing his hands up. “I didn’t know you were going to try something like this, are you insane-”

“I didn’t try anything, I was cornered!” Jimin actually stomps his foot this time in frustration. “I wasn’t trying to die! You really think I’d do that?”

“I have no fucking idea!” Jeongguk storms toward him again, making Jimin stumble backward enough to bump up against the wall behind him until the dragon is towering over him, close enough to shove a finger right against Jimin’s chest. “I don’t know what you’d try and pull-”

The alpha cuts himself off then, freezing entirely before his eyes suddenly go very wide. His gaze races all over Jimin’s face like he’s searching for something.

And then he leans in and takes a deep inhale.

“Are you in heat?” he demands, low and almost dangerous, his green eyes so brilliantly bright they’re almost blinding.

With the mad dash to get out of the castle and away from danger, Jimin’s body had all but gone into survival mode, his heat falling to the back of his mind as he’d jumped from his balcony and taken a ride a dragon.

But now?

Now his entire being seems to remember with Jeongguk’s words.

He’s suddenly engulfed in fire, his stomach twisting harshly as his mouth goes completely dry. He tries to speak, his lips opening and closing twice before he stops trying, instead attempting to take a calming breath through his nose.

Which is a mistake.

Jeongguk’s scent practically drowns him, electric smoke smothering him in the most exquisite way and his legs wobble with the effort not to fold on the spot even as his omega begs him to, begs him to fall to his knees in surrender, to plead with this alpha to take him right here and now, to mate him, to breed him-

“Answer me, omega,” Jeongguk growls, but his pupils dilate even as he says it and Jimin knows he doesn’t need an answer.

Sweat forms along his brow as his lower belly cramps, the wall against his back feeling far from the right kind of friction and Jimin tries to shift against it-

Which is when he feels it.

The dampness between his cheeks.

It’s officially begun.

And when Jimin tries to speak again, to explain, to apologize, to beg, to do anything at all, the only thing that comes out is a small, awfully pathetic whimper.

“Oh fuck,” Jeongguk snaps out from between clenched teeth.

And then he’s gathering Jimin’s face in his hands just like he did back in the study only days ago and hauls him forward.

But unlike in the study, this kiss is anything but gentle.

Jeongguk presses him back into the wall as he kisses him, lips sealed together for only a moment before he’s prying Jimin’s mouth open and sweeping his tongue inside, relentless in his pursuit to explore Jimin’s mouth with lips and tongue and teeth like Jimin’s never had before. He grabs onto Jeongguk’s waist, gripping harshly to keep him close and Jeongguk takes the initiative to step right against the omega, pressing their bodies together from chest to thigh.

Jimin moans outright into the kiss, the warmth of the dragon’s superheated body against his like this something he’s been dreaming about for so long he’s almost too overcome. His omega is practically salivating in his chest over this big alpha being on them like this, ready and willing to submit like a good omega should, his cock swelling in his leathers at the contact.

“Damnit, Park Jimin,” Jeongguk breathes against his lips, roughly clamping his fingers around Jimin’s chin, holding him back for a moment as his eyes race all over the omega’s face. “You said it would be a week.”

“I- I know,” Jimin stammers, dizzily gasping for air in the break between kisses, though he keeps his grip on Jeongguk just to make sure he doesn’t go anywhere. “It’s unpredictable, I can’t-”

“And you tried to jump from your balcony before we could have this?” Jeongguk cuts in, annoyance clear even as he dives back in to find Jimin’s tongue with his own. “Before I could mate you, huh? You tried to end it all-”

“I did not!” Jimin manages to bark out when his mouth is free, though his thoughts are still all jumbled when Jeongguk takes the moment to drag open-mouthed kisses all along Jimin’s jawline and down his neck. “I wasn’t trying to kill myself, I was trying to survive because you weren’t there- oh gods-”

The dragon king buries his face right into Jimin’s scent gland so deeply it actually makes Jimin feel a little faint. The heat from his breath makes the raised skin on Jimin’s neck feel so sensitive and he cries out when a tongue laves over it for one long lingering moment. Jeongguk’s fingers are still gripping his chin, turning his face away to get better access to his neck and when his sharp teeth graze his scent gland, Jimin actually does let out a sob, his hips kicking themselves forward to find friction against this big dragon, cock begging for some kind of touch where it sits heavily between them.

“Jeongguk, please, gods, please,” he begs, his system entirely on overload with just how fucking good it feels to have the king’s hands on him like this. His body is running hot and cold all over and his fingers feel weak with where they’re holding onto Jeongguk’s robe. He needs more.

So much fucking more.

“I should have been there,” Jeongguk growls into his scent gland and Jimin whimpers, his lashes fluttering closed. “Should have killed every last one of those alphas with my bare fucking hands.”

It’s probably twisted that those words do such intense things to Jimin. He’ll blame it on his heat for now but he knows it’s more than that. He already knows Jeongguk being possessive of him is something he craves.

The king uses his grip on Jimin’s chin to turn his face back toward him, to press his forehead right against Jimin’s, his eyes closed.

“Should have done it like I did to the others.”

Jimin swallows audibly, still trembling all over now with just how euphoric it feels to have Jeongguk scenting him like he was.

“What others?”

“The others who threatened your life,” Jeongguk replies simply. “I don’t tolerate threats.”

It takes Jimin a moment to understand that, to comprehend what Jeongguk is saying to him.

“What… what do you do?” Jimin whispers.

The dragon pulls back then, still with his fingers clutched around Jimin’s chin, holding his gaze, his own irises blazing with intensity.

“I kill them, Jimin. Every last one of them. There have been many who’ve tried to put together plans of attack on you and I’ve taken care of all of them.”

He leans in then, his breath hot on Jimin’s lips.

“Because you are mine. And I protect what is mine.”

Gods, it should be fucked up. It shouldn’t be something that makes his blood feel unbelievably hot in his veins.

But then a wave of need rushes through him heavily and Jimin almost collapses right then and there. He can’t stop it.

Not when he wants it this badly.

“Jeongguk,” Jimin says urgently, pulling at the king a little frantically, rutting his hips into a firm thigh. “Do you remember what you promised me? Do you remember?”

The way the dragon closes his eyes tells Jimin everything he needs to know.

“I remember.”

“Then please,” Jimin begs, breath ragged where his chest shakes with how badly he needs. “Please do what you promised. Don’t hold back.”

Jeongguk’s green eyes flutter open and he stares Jimin down for one long moment.

Then he pushes Jimin up further against the wall, crowding him all the way in before he uses his grip on Jimin’s chin to tilt his face up.

And then he smirks.

“Open your mouth.”

Jimin blinks, confusion coloring his thoughts but he does as he’s told, slowly parting his lips.

Jeongguk leans in and spits right into it.

A ripple of pleasure thunders through Jimin’s insides and his eyes roll back with how fucking good it feels, obediently swallowing when Jeongguk pushes his jaw up to close his mouth around it.

And then the king pulls him in again.

Jimin’s practically shaking as their mouths crash together once more, kisses wet and hot and desperate, tongues finding each other again and again. Jeongguk’s not gentle and Jimin doesn’t want him to be, his whole body responding under those fierce touches, arching into the king’s waiting hands.

The dragon makes quick work of the buckles on Jimin’s coat, tugging them free one by one until he can shove the thing right off of the omega’s shoulders, letting it pool to the ground at their feet.

Then he’s bending slightly and scooping Jimin up by his thighs.

“Oh!” Jimin gasps as his legs curl around Jeongguk’s hips, ankles hooking at his lower back and arms clutching around his shoulders.

“Fuck, Jimin,” Jeongguk growls into his neck before he takes one long, deep inhale, soaking in the omega’s scent again. His big hands squeeze beneath Jimin’s thighs like he’s trying to control himself but then he’s adjusting, situating one hand beneath Jimin’s ass so he can use the other to roam beneath Jimin’s light tunic, pushing the fabric up to run warm fingers up the bare skin on his back.

“Please,” Jimin whispers again, bringing both of his hands around to clutch at Jeongguk’s cheeks, raining more kisses down on his future mate. “Please, I need you so badly, please.”

“I know you do,” Jeongguk replies, still kissing Jimin deeply as he carries him over to the bed, his fingers crawling up Jimin’s stomach now and ghosting along one of his nipples. Jimin keens under the touch. “I know how badly you need it. I can smell it on you.”

“Jeongguk-” Jimin cries out as a thumb and forefinger tug gently at his nipple, his body spasming harshly under the touch. “Fuck.”

“So sensitive,” Jeongguk grins into their kisses. “Knew you would be. You might have a mouth on you but I knew once I got you like this you’d be putty in my hands.”

Jimin can’t even deny it, as much as he wants to, his body betraying his bratty nature in favor of arching further into Jeongguk’s touch, scrambling to get his tunic off so Jeongguk can have better access. His omega is practically salivating within him, begging to be taken by this alpha, to become one with him and Jimin lets himself revel in it.

“Please,” is all he can manage as Jeongguk buries his face in Jimin’s neck once again, easing him down onto the comforter as he does so. “Please, Jeongguk, I can’t-”

“Yes you can,” Jeongguk snaps, both hands now dragging themselves down Jimin’s flanks as he sucks a lingering kiss into Jimin’s scent gland. “Be a good boy and have some patience.”

His glorious dragon body covers Jimin entirely, making him feel so safe and protected by his big strong alpha settled between his thighs. It feels so goddamn good.

A whimper leaves him as big hands move along his bare torso.

“Your skin is so soft,” Jeongguk croons, feeling careful fingers all along Jimin’s frame. He leans back then, sitting on his folded knees.

And rests his fingers on the strings of Jimin’s leathers.

The omega presses his lips together to keep himself quiet, his whole body vibrating with the anticipation of what comes next, terrified if he makes a sound, Jeongguk will stop just to punish him.

And by the look in those emerald eyes, Jimin knows Jeongguk understands exactly what he’s doing.

The dragon smirks as he carefully pulls the ties open, peeling the sides down gingerly and Jimin bites his bottom lip hard, watching raptly as more of his skin is revealed, desperate to free his hard cock from the confines of his tight pants-

Which is when Jeongguk releases the fabric in his hands altogether in favor of grazing them down Jimin’s thighs.

A frustrated whine escapes Jimin’s throat and Jeongguk pauses in his movements, raising a condescending brow.

“I thought you were going to try and be good for me,” he says with an air of disappointment.

“I am,” Jimin tries to argue though it comes out a little frantic and breathless, his body gently writhing without his permission. He plants his hands at either side of himself and curls them into the sheets. “I’m trying really hard.”

“I know,” Jeongguk beams, sliding himself down the bed and almost all the way off as he slips a hand under one of Jimin’s calves and presses it upward to make him bend his knee. “But you’re failing miserably.”

“You do know I’m in heat, right?” Jimin snips, glaring at his future mate when Jeongguk bites back a smile. “It’s not like I can help it. My omega is screaming at me to submit to my alpha and said alpha is being a fucking prick about it.”

That actually gets a laugh from Jeongguk who, Jimin notes, is slowly tugging the boot off of his foot before he releases Jimin’s leg and picks up the other to do the same.

“Well then,” Jeongguk chuckles lightly, dropping Jimin’s final shoe to the floor with a dull thud before crawling back up his body. “We wouldn’t want to deny your omega what it wants, now would we?”

And then he curls his fingers into the waistband of Jimin’s leathers and pulls them down his thighs.

Cool air hits his bare skin and Jimin tries his best not to make a sound or move a muscle, holding his breath in hopes that the dragon king will do something, anything to him, touch him, feel him, hell even just breathe near him would probably be enough to have Jimin’s ass leaking like a faucet all over again. He stays as still as he can, closing his eyes and praying that something will happen.

So when a lovely weight falls over him again, all heavy and firm and delicious, Jimin whimpers out a moan because even that gentle touch feels amazing on his feverish skin. He wishes Jeongguk were naked too, bare against him but the soft fur of the robe feels nice as well.

“Just for the record,” Jeongguk’s rich voice filters into his ear, hot breath following and Jimin shudders an anxious exhale, his whole being feeling like a livewire. “When I said be patient, I didn’t mean be still.”

A hand curls along his cheek and a thumb tugs at his bottom lip.

“And I certainly didn’t mean be quiet.”

A moan falls from his mouth the minute his lips are parted and Jimin’s eyes fly open in panic, fear racing through him that he’s made a mistake and Jeongguk is going to take all of this away.

Instead, the dragon king smiles sweetly at him.

And then leans back, grabs Jimin by his naked waist-

And flips him right over beneath him.

“Oh gods,” Jimin groans, his front hitting the mattress gently and he scrambles to prop himself up on his elbows but Jeongguk is faster, pressing a hand to the back of Jimin’s head to keep his face buried in the pillow.

“Stay,” Jeongguk demands, which is entirely unnecessary because Jimin is more than happy to obey, not struggling at all. He’s been waiting for this, after all.

Waiting for his alpha to manhandle him like he’s dreamt about.

“My pretty omega,” Jeongguk murmurs, gliding his hands down Jimin’s back. “So fucking pretty just for me.”

The compliment sends shivers of pleasure down Jimin’s spine, his omega preening under the attention and he turns his face to rest his cheek on the pillow, hands curling into the fabric on either side of his face.

“For you,” he agrees breathlessly, cheeks feeling warm when a soft chuckle sounds behind him.

He feels Jeongguk move, nudging Jimin’s legs apart to settle between them.

And then hands wrap around either of his hips.

“Present for me, omega.”

A shot of adrenaline bursts through him at the command and Jimin scrambles to comply, shuffling himself up onto his knees and keeping his head down, his ass high in the air and offering his most sensitive area directly to his alpha, his hard dick hanging heavy between his legs. His omega practically screams in delight at this, slick thickening and leaking out of him in droves, knowing their alpha’s eyes are watching. He wants so badly to be worthy of this alpha. This dragon. His omega already recognizes him as their mate.

He jumps when two big hands curve over either of his ass cheeks, whimpering into the pillow when they gently pull each one outward. He turns his face into the sheets when warm breath ghosts over his entrance.

“Already so wet for me?” Jeongguk says and even without looking, Jimin can tell he’s smirking. “Pouring slick just for your alpha?”

“Please, Jeongguk, I-” Jimin garbles into the pillow. “I’m trying to be patient but I can’t-”

“Baby,” Jeongguk breathes.

Jimin stills, his heart goes absolutely haywire in his chest.

Did Jeongguk just use a pet name for him-

“I’m going to give you everything you need,” the alpha continues like he hadn’t just shocked Jimin to the core. “How could I not when you smell this fucking good?”

And then the alpha flattens his tongue right over Jimin’s hole.

“Ohh, fuck,” Jimin shudders, gripping his fingers into the sheets and pressing his sweaty forehead into the pillow. “Fuck fuck fuck.”

“Hmm,” Jeongguk hums against his skin and the vibrations have Jimin arching harshly, every nerve-ending in his body lighting up. “How do you smell this good here too, huh?”

He licks over Jimin’s entrance again, fingers pressing into the soft flesh of Jimin’s ass and the omega sobs into his pillow, the pleasure so good it has tears springing to his eyes. “Please, J-Jeongguk, gods, please-”

His hands scramble across the sheets, trying to find something to hold onto as his lower belly pulses harshly. His back is arched so deeply that his chest is now brushing against the mattress, hardening his over-sensitive nipples and he frantically reaches back to grab at the dragon, grappling at anything because he can’t sit still, not when his body is buzzing like this.

“Oh f-fucking hell, J-Jeongguk,” he sobs, his eyes rolling back as a soft tongue slips inside of him, followed by lips closing around his entrance and sucking. Jimin’s fingers manage to find their way into Jeongguk’s hair blindly and he grips hard as he gasps. “Please please, I can’t, fuck-”

And then Jeongguk’s tongue goes even deeper.

And Jimin releases a helpless cry as he comes all over the sheets below him. His entire being writhes under Jeongguk’s ministrations, cock spurting out beneath him as slick gushes out of him and into Jeongguk’s waiting mouth. The alpha reaches down to grip Jimin’s neglected dick and the omega squeals as another wave of his orgasm hits just from that single touch, his stomach tightening up as he pushes back into Jeongguk’s face, wordlessly sobbing out his pleasure.

“You taste so fucking good,” Jeongguk garbles reverently from behind him, stroking Jimin’s cock in time with the way he licks and sucks over his entrance, prolonging his orgasm with every new touch and Jimin can hardly breathe, completely consumed in bliss. “Why do you taste so good, gods I knew you were perfect from the start, I knew it, Jimin.”

The omega can hardly comprehend anything being said, simply letting himself drown in how fucking good it feels, and when Jeongguk gives a little twist to his cock with a flick of his wrist, Jimin comes again, slick drooling out of his overstimulated hole as he weakly moans into the pillow.

When he finally collapses onto his belly after Jeongguk’s wrung him almost dry, Jimin is sure he’s going to pass out right here and now, his eyes closing and his whole body slack against the sheets, everything a little hazy around him. He feels Jeongguk crawl up the bed beside him, the soft fabric of his robe feeling so nice on Jimin’s skin, and when a big hand runs down his bare back, Jimin hums contentedly.

“Thank you,” he whispers, smiling softly when he hears a gentle laugh beside him.

“Of course,” Jeongguk murmurs and Jimin feels him lean in briefly to press a kiss to Jimin’s temple. “How do you feel?”

And just as Jimin is about to say that he’s tired and thinks he’ll rest, a rush of heat instead suddenly courses through him.

And his eyes flutter open.

Jeongguk is already grinning at him.

“Insatiable, are we?” he teases straight away and glides his hand up Jimin’s spine again, though this time it feels like a trail of fire is left in its path and Jimin is suddenly very awake.

He turns onto his side, shuffling forward to get closer to his alpha, tossing a leg up and over Jeongguk’s hip and curling into him, the cloth of the robe warm on his skin.

Which… makes his omega a little angry.

“Why are you still dressed?” Jimin demands.

Jeongguk looks taken aback momentarily before he snorts. “I knew you’d be like this during your heat.”

Jimin ignores him, tugging at the robe. “Take it off. You should be naked too.”

His head is beginning to swim again, thoughts going to the most base level and he frowns at Jeongguk’s covered chest. “It’s not fair,” he mutters, his throat aching in frustration. “Take it off. And why haven’t you knotted me yet? You’re supposed to knot me when I’m in heat. And mate me. You said we would and we haven’t-”

“Jimin,” Jeongguk cuts in with a light laugh, ignoring Jimin’s furious glare up at him. “Your heat just started. We have time to do all of those things. I told you that you need to be patient.”

To his annoyance, tears actually well up in Jimin’s eyes, his irritation beginning to feel overwhelming. “You promised,” he says petulantly, still trying to undress the alpha. “You said you wouldn’t hold back. You promised me.”

Jeongguk carefully curls his hands around Jimin’s wrists and tugs his hands off the robe, wrapping them up together in his own, keeping the omega at bay momentarily while he speaks, even when Jimin squirms unhappily. “I keep my promises, Jimin. If you can be good for me, I will give you whatever you want.”

“I am being good,” Jimin snaps, blinking back tears. “It’s you who isn’t being good to me.”

“Really?” Jeongguk replies in faux concern. “Were those three orgasms I just gave you not enough?”

“No,” Jimin says sulkily. “Not even close.”

Emerald eyes flash dangerously and Jeongguk cocks a brow at him. “We’ll see about that, omega.”

And then he’s moving.

Jimin’s heart drops as Jeongguk release his hold on him and carefully curls backward, climbing out of the bed with his eyes still locked on him. Jimin’s omega begins to panic, watching their alpha leave them here in their heat like this, and he’s about to apologize, to beg for forgiveness and ask him to come back to the bed, when Jeongguk stops where he stands.

And then, to Jimin’s immense relief and complete delight, Jeongguk’s fingers tug at the sash on his robe and lets it fall open.

Jimin’s mouth follows suite, taking in the strong, gorgeous dragon he’s about to be mated to with hungry eyes. He’s seen Jeongguk shirtless before but he’s never seen him bare like this before. The divots of his fit stomach are framed beautifully by the scales dusting his hips, prettily wandering down his adonis lines right down to the prize that Jimin, frankly, can’t take his eyes off of.

Jeongguk’s cock is thick and long with a slight curve to the left, already firmed up and standing proudly against his lower belly, the base of it still soft where his knot will eventually grow. Jimin licks his lips in anticipation, his body temperature ratcheting up just from looking alone and when Jeongguk drops his robe to the floor, Jimin actually gasps.

All of Jeongguk’s muscles seem to ripple when he moves, his biceps bulging and firm thighs flexing as he stands tall, naked and beautiful for Jimin to drink in.

And drink in he does, mouth watering as he takes in the dragon king. He doesn’t even think twice when he rolls onto his stomach and props himself up on his elbows, locking eyes with this big alpha as he asks, “Can I have it in my mouth?”

Surprise crosses the king’s features for a moment before his gaze darkens.

“Do you think it will fit?”

Jimin doesn’t know.

But gods above, he’s determined to find out.

Reaching out a hand, Jimin watches raptly as Jeongguk steps forward, allowing him to wrap his fingers around it as soon as it’s close enough.

“It’s so big,” he says with a round eyes, staring down this gloriously sized dick as his lower belly gives a pulse of want. “I want to taste it.”

Fingers curl beneath his chin and Jimin lifts his gaze to meet his alpha’s, biting down on his lower lip under that heated stare. “Can I?”

“Fucking hell, Jimin,” Jeongguk growls, nodding as he wraps his other hand just beneath Jimin’s grip. “Open your mouth.”

Jimin does so, keeping his eyes locked on Jeongguk as the king feeds his cock through Jimin’s lips.

It is big. Bigger than Jimin even realized. He only gets the tip of the head in before he’s scooting his tongue to the underside and opening further, hopeful that he can open his throat and get it all the way in. He’s never done this before but he wants to so badly, his body begging him to taste his alpha’s cum, his ass already leaking at the sheer pleasure of taking his alpha’s cock like this. He moves down the shaft until it breaches his throat and his eyes begin to water even though he’s hardly halfway. His hand moves down to the base, brushing over the loose skin where Jeongguk’s knot will form, and the alpha shudders beneath the touch.

“Shit Jimin,” the king says, low and rough in his chest, his gaze lidded where he still holds Jimin’s. “You’re doing well. Better than I thought you would.”

Jimin preens under the praise, pulling back enough to bring Jeongguk’s cock to his lips again before sinking back down. He blinks, seeing the king’s thighs are trembling and he realizes then that Jeongguk is holding himself back.

Which makes Jimin mad all over again.

He pops off with a gasp, his vision blurring with tears as he glares up at the alpha.

“I told you not to hold back,” he growls. “Don’t be gentle with me. I want it rough.”

He knows he’s being a brat and he knows it’s going to piss Jeongguk off.

And maybe that’s why he does it.

Because when Jeongguk’s lip curls in a sneer, Jimin’s pulse begins to race in excitement.

“You think you can take it rough from me, little omega?” Jeongguk snarls, his grip on Jimin’s chin tightening.

“I know I can,” Jimin challenges in return, his hand back on Jeongguk’s cock and giving a light tug. “Give it to me. All of it.”

The smirk Jeongguk gives him has Jimin’s hips rutting furiously into the mattress.

“On your back, Jimin.”

Frowning, Jimin goes to argue but the king isn’t having it, ignoring him in favor of wrapping an arm beneath Jimin’s shoulders, grabbing his hand from beneath him and using that to flip him over.

Jimin yelps as he’s tossed around, his dick giving a pathetic drool of cum onto his already damp belly at the utter delight he gets from being manhandled like this and when he drops his head back, he realizes it’s hanging off of the side of the mattress.

But the dragon king doesn’t give him time to adjust, instead curling hands into Jimin’s hair beneath his braids, propping his head at the exact angle he needs and shoving his cock back into Jimin’s mouth.

And then he uses it like a toy.

“If you wanted me to fuck your face, that’s all you had to say,” Jeongguk growls, pushing himself all the way into the back of Jimin’s throat before tugging him back by his skull to the point where the head of his dick is almost out of Jimin’s mouth.

And then he thrusts back in again.

Jimin gags this time which only makes slick gush out of him in a thick wave, his cock so hard it’s almost painful. Jeongguk tastes so good on his tongue it makes him salivate, closing his eyes just to feel the weight of the dragon king in his throat. He can do nothing but take it and he does, every nerve-ending prickling with pleasure every time his king groans.

Jeongguk keeps one big hand cradling his head to keep him at the right angle as the other wanders down Jimin’s body, stroking along his collarbone and dancing down between his pectorals. Jimin moans around Jeongguk’s big dick in his mouth when those same fingers pluck deliciously at his nipples, pinching and tugging each of them in turn. Jimin’s own hands come up to run along his sizzling skin, his whole being hot to the touch.

“Spread your legs for your alpha,” Jeongguk demands breathlessly. “Let me see you. Put on a show for me. I know you’re desperate for it.”

Jimin does as he’s told because he is desperate for it, hands trembling as they sooth their way down his stomach and to his hips, letting his knees fall open. He strokes his hands all along his lower belly and down his sticky thighs still covered in his slick, his hard length heavy against his pelvis. When Jeongguk’s bigger hands follow his, trailing down his naval and ghosting over his cock, Jimin’s hips jump in anticipation.

“Finger yourself,” Jeongguk breathes, wrapping his fingers loosely around Jimin’s length even as he continues to thrust into his mouth. “Get yourself ready for my knot.”

The groan Jimin releases in reply has Jeongguk’s thrusts stuttering and his grip on Jimin’s skull tightens. “Fucking hell, Jimin, your mouth.”

The praise goes straight to the omega’s dick and he dips a hand down between his thighs to his entrance. It’s still soaked from when Jeongguk’s mouth was on him and he sinks his fingers back in, two easily and then three without any resistance. He hears his alpha make a small hum of satisfaction and then he feels a firm grip on his cock, stroking him in time with his fingers.

He can’t speak but he also can’t stop the helpless little sounds he’s making around Jeongguk, his back arching and his own hips thrusting as Jeongguk jerks him off.

“Look at you,” the king croons, tightening his grip and Jimin garbles a moan. “You’re fucking gorgeous like this. Just needed your alpha to touch you like this, didn’t you? That’s all you needed to be a good boy.”

Jimin is nodding frantically, moving his own hand faster as he fingers himself, rolling his hips up to meet Jeongguk’s hand. Spit has begun to drool out of the corners of his mouth and his jaw aches with the effort to keep sucking and licking but gods above does he love it. He feels incredible, Jeongguk playing his body like an instrument and Jimin can already feel another orgasm approaching. He wriggles on the bed, moaning around Jeongguk’s cock and the alpha’s hips stutter.

“Oh shit,” Jeongguk breathes, his hand moving faster along with his thrusts. “Shit, Jimin, baby, I’m gonna come. I’m gonna- can you take it?”

Squirming eagerly on the bed, Jimin scrambles to double down on opening his throat and his mouth, desperate for his alpha to come all over him, his nipples pebbling in excitement at the idea of it alone and he tilts even further backward, arching himself into the perfect angle to take it all.

“Fucking perfect,” the king whispers.

And when Jeongguk comes with a low groan, it’s more than Jimin thought it would be, only some of it making it down his throat while the rest fills his cheeks and spills out of the sides of his mouth, dripping all over his cheeks and face. Jeongguk pulls back then, finishing with a hand on his cock and sending the rest across Jimin’s neck and chest.

“Fuck yes,” Jimin cries, running his free hand through the cum on him, rubbing it against his sensitive nipples and along his burning skin. He wants to be covered in it, covered in his alpha’s smokey scent, desperate to belong to him like this, his orgasm rippling through him with his fingers still deep in his own ass and coating his fingers with so much slick.

And when Jeongguk falls to his knees behind him, Jimin hums in satisfaction as the alpha drags a hand through his own cum all over his omega and drags it down Jimin’s neck, all along his jawline and then-

Jimin tosses his head back with a sob as Jeongguk massages his cum right into Jimin’s scent gland.

It feels unreal, so wild and real like he’s being truly claimed by his mate, like he’s being sworn to. Jimin’s body shakes beneath the touch, every part of him burning brighter than the sun with every push of Jeongguk’s firm fingertips into his neck.

He wants this alpha to claim him.

And he wants to claim this alpha as his.

Without a second thought, Jimin reaches his hand upward, pressing his slick-coated fingers to Jeongguk’s parted lips.

And the alpha takes them into his mouth without a second thought.

Jimin watches in upside-down awe as the king sucks and licks his fingers reverently, stroking his tongue all along them and between them, tasting Jimin’s slick like he’s having a holy experience.

And when he’s done, he kisses his way down Jimin’s wrist, his forearm, his bicep and then he finds his lips.

It’s deep and messy and wet and Jimin moans into it, reaching back to sink his hands into Jeongguk’s hair, to pull desperately at the strands and beg him for more, to get his tongue as far into Jeongguk’s mouth as he can manage, to become one with this man. He can taste them both mixing in his mouth and he’s almost delirious with need.

“Please, please fuck me,” Jimin groans against Jeongguk’s lips. “Fuck me now. Knot me. Mate me, alpha. Please.”

Jimin’s omega howls in gratitude when they feel Jeongguk crawl over them, never breaking the kiss as he scoops Jimin up and plants him back on the bed the right way with his head on the pillow. He settles between Jimin’s thighs as they continue their desperate kisses, his huge cock pushing against Jimin’s hip and the omega scrambles to get his hand between them, to line up that glorious length to his entrance.

And Jeongguk lets him, lets him take the lead because he can’t stop kissing Jimin, can’t stop rubbing his thumb into Jimin’s scent gland, can’t stop holding so tightly to him even as the heat is almost unbearable between them.

“Fuck me, alpha,” Jimin demands. “Make me yours.”

“Goddamnit, Park Jimin,” Jeongguk growls.

And then he’s wrapping a hand around the back of Jimin’s neck, the other securing around his lower back, and in one swift motion, Jeongguk hauls him upward, forcing him to fold his knees on either side of Jeongguk’s hips as he straddles his lap.

“Like this, omega,” Jeongguk whispers, gripping the back of Jimin’s neck harshly as he uses his other hand to line himself up. “Just like this.”

Jimin feels the tip of Jeongguk’s dick at his opening.

They both inhale together, Jimin opening his eyes long enough to find emerald staring back at him.

And as they exhale, Jimin finally, finally sinks down.

“Ohh gods, oh gods,” Jimin says helplessly as the pressure inside of him builds. “Fuck, Jeongguk.”

“Yes,” the king replies reverently, carefully guiding Jimin down, his length nestling inside of him.

It feels even bigger within him, like he’s being split in two and the breath is punched from his chest as he’s filled to the absolute brim, like it will never end.

And then his ass settles right onto Jeongguk’s thighs.

Jimin didn’t know it would be like this. That it would feel like this. He knew how badly he wanted to be fucked when he was in heat, he always remembers that feeling but he didn’t know it would be like this. Like he’d be stuffed full and reveling in it. He can hardly speak, hardly breathe and he fucking loves it.

“Okay?” Jeongguk breathes into his neck, nosing at his jawline.

Jimin nods, unable to form words, resting his forehead against Jeongguk’s for a long, breathless moment. The alpha doesn’t move either, letting him adjust, letting him just feel and Jimin is grateful for the moment even as his omega is pleading with him to do it, to fuck himself back on this alpha’s length, to be bred and mated and taken because this is their alpha. They are both certain of it.

But Jimin takes his time anyway and Jeongguk lets him. The king runs a hand up his back soothingly and then he carefully tugs the wraps from Jimin’s braids, gently loosening the twisted strands to let it fall freely down to his shoulders again. His fingers run through the soft blonde fringe, taking great care to scratch his fingers lightly along Jimin’s scalp.

It feels so nice and it calms Jimin’s body, relaxing him enough to welcome the intrusion inside of him.

And when he’s ready, he lifts his head, locking his eyes on those gorgeous green gems sparkling back at him.

And then he carefully lifts himself up on his knees, just enough for that dick inside of him to slide along his walls.

And Jeongguk guides him back down with the arm around his waist.

“Oh,” Jimin whimpers, biting viciously at his bottom lip as he’s filled again, the tip of Jeongguk’s dick feeling like it’s sitting in Jimin’s stomach. “Oh f-fuck.”

“That’s right,” Jeongguk encourages, gripping both of his hands onto the dips of Jimin’s waist, using the leverage to pull Jimin up again and then right back down, pushing a moan out of him as he’s seated once more. “Take it, omega.”

Jeongguk meets him on the next drop with a thrust of his own and Jimin gasps. “It’s s-so big.”

The smirk he gets in return has Jimin blushing from his cheeks down to his chest.

“Nice and big just to please my omega.”

Jimin’s breath is ragged as he’s pulled mercilessly onto that big, hard cock, his arms clutching tighter around Jeongguk’s bare shoulders. “Fuck, fuck-“

“Knew you’d take me so well,” Jeongguk growls in his ear. “Knew you’d be made just for me.”

“Mm- oh shit,” Jimin moans on a particularly deep thrust, reaching a point inside of him that has stars shooting across his vision. “Oh there, right there.”

“Yes, baby,” Jeongguk murmurs, moving him faster now up and down on the king’s cock. “Just like that. Bounce on it just like that. Cover my cock in your slick.”

And Jimin does, flexing his thighs to help him move quicker, his skin prickling with pleasure as new points are reached inside of him. He’s holding onto his alpha for dear life now, making all kinds of noise but there is nothing else he can do, not when he feels this fucking good, this fucking unbelievable.

“A-Alpha, gods,” Jimin murmurs urgently when his stomach begins to tighten again. “I’m gonna-”

“Do it,” Jeongguk demands, redoubling his efforts to thrust even harder. “Come all over my cock, omega. Let me see you.”

“Shit,” Jimin breathes, shuddering through yet another orgasm, though this one feels even more glorious, his vision going a little blurry around the edges. His slick gushes out, squelching around Jeongguk’s dick and Jimin moans softly, secretly reveling in the filthiness of it all.

But his alpha doesn’t stop. He doesn’t even slow down. Jimin lets himself be bounced up and down as he catches his breath again, his cock drooling helplessly between their bodies as Jeongguk moves him with ease, using his big hands to handle Jimin just the way he likes.

And just when Jimin starts to regain his footing, his heat returning in full force for another go, he feels it on a downward drop.

The feeling of something thicker and wider at the base of Jeongguk’s hard dick catching on his rim.

The alpha’s knot.

“Shit,” Jimin gasps, his omega practically screaming with excited anticipation and he scrambles to meet his lover’s thrusts. “J-Jeongguk-”

“It’s coming baby,” Jeongguk growls. “Are you ready?”

“Yes,” Jimin nods frantically. “Yes I’m ready, I’m ready, oh fuck-”

He can feel the knot getting bigger every time it bumps against his ass and Jimin rides harder, desperate for it to be inside of him, ready to take it, ready to be given it.

“Gods Jimin, my omega,” Jeongguk murmurs, his thrusts becoming erratic, his breath hot on Jimin’s collarbone. “My perfect omega, fucking hell-”

“Mate me,” Jimin demands, sweat trickling down his chest between his pectorals. “Do it when your knot is inside me. Please, Jeongguk.”

The alpha only stutters for a breath, lifting his head, his eyes wild and blazing as they meet Jimin’s in one fleeting moment but Jimin knows what it is. He’s checking on his omega. Making sure this is real.

And it is real. More real than anything Jimin has ever experienced.

So he nods, urging his alpha to do as he’s asking, unhooking his arms from around Jeongguk’s shoulders to allow him full access to the omega’s neck. He tilts his head just enough to show his scent gland, to offer himself to his alpha, to bare himself to his mate, to show he’s more than ready.

Jeongguk groans low and wanting in his chest.

And then he reaches up to curl his fingers into Jimin’s blonde hair.

And with one final thrust, he pushes his knot right past Jimin’s tight ring, at the same time giving a sharp tug to the back of Jimin’s skull to force his head to drop back.

And without another word spoken, he sinks his teeth right into Jimin’s neck.

And Jimin’s vision whites out entirely.

He absolutely howls in pleasure, his body spasming with so many things all at once and he panics to name them all, overwhelmed and drowning in every emotion he can’t even define, his whole being feeling like it’s about to implode-

And then everything goes suddenly, blissfully, beautifully calm.

Jimin is floating on a warm cloud of pure euphoria, the world around him a golden, glorious haze and for the first time since he’d started having heats years ago, his omega is quiet and content.

Because, Jimin suddenly realizes with such clarity it’s almost startling, this is where he belongs. Where he’s supposed to be. Just like when he was on the back of Jeongguk’s dragon form, albeit so much more deeply and profoundly, Jimin knows he’s where he’s meant to be. That he’s with his alpha. That this dragon king was meant to be his, that the universe made sure they found their way to each other. That there has never been another plan for him.

This is his alpha.

This is his person.

Jeon Jeongguk is who he belongs with. Who he belongs to.

It’s everything. This man is everything.

He opens his eyes to find nothing but blurred vision, happy tears streaming in droves down his face. He’s vaguely aware of the hand still in his hair and he looks down to find Jeongguk’s equally damp eyes on him, his lips a little red, the corners of his mouth stained with Jimin’s blood. His lips tremble as he holds Jimin’s gaze, stroking his hand through Jimin’s hair so lovingly.

“Jimin,” he whispers brokenly, tears slipping down his cheeks as he leans in. “My… my omega.”

“Your omega,” Jimin agrees with a blinding smile, taking Jeongguk’s face in his hands to press a sweet kiss to his alpha’s lips. “Always yours.”

“Always mine,” Jeongguk agrees, releasing a shaking breath as he lets Jimin kiss him. “Will you return my mark?”

Jimin smiles impossibly wider.

And then uses his grip on Jeongguk’s face to tilt his head.

Because there is no hesitation here.

Jimin knows he belongs to this alpha.

And now this alpha will belong to him too.

He noses along the raised skin of Jeongguk’s scent gland, momentarily taking in just how good he smells, somehow even better now that Jimin carries his bite.

He smells like he belongs to Jimin.

And when Jimin fits his mouth to the space and clamps down, it’s the most natural thing in the world.

“Yes,” Jeongguk sighs softly as his teeth sink in.

It seems impossible for things to feel even more connected now, like more puzzle pieces are slotting into place but gods, it really does. It feels exactly right to claim this alpha as his in such a permanent way.

And when Jimin is finished, he pulls back long enough to smile at his newly minted mate, to press a gentle kiss to his cheek. To hear him whisper Jimin’s name one more time so reverently it makes Jimin’s heart ache a little.

Then the omega lays his head down on Jeongguk’s shoulder.

And promptly falls asleep.

Jimin stirs awake to a soft, insistent pressure on his neck. He feels cozily warm, his body covered in blankets and the pillow beneath his head feels like silk against his cheek. Blinking his bleary eyes awake, he realizes the feeling is his mate licking over his still fresh bite with his tongue.

Rolling onto his back, he cracks one eye open, waiting for his vision to clear as he takes in the shape of the king above him.

“Jeongguk?” he rasps out, his voice sleep-rough and his throat dry. “What’re you doing?”

“Keeping your bite clean,” the alpha pauses to reply easily, brushing Jimin’s hair off of his forehead. “I didn’t want it to get infected.”

“Oh.” Jimin takes the moment to stretch his arms up from beneath the covers. “How long have I been out?”

“A few hours,” Jeongguk replies, tutting when Jimin’s bicep blocks his mark from him. “Put your arms down, I need to finish.”

He scoots back in as soon as Jimin finishes, making the omega giggle.

“It tickles,” he laughs, squirming beneath the touch. “I think it’s clean enough.”

“I need to be sure,” the king insists, continuing to lave his tongue over his own teeth marks. “I don’t want it to have any problems.”

“What about yours?” Jimin chuckles. “Do I need to clean it too?”

“Mine is fine. It’s yours that needs tending to.” To make his point, he presses a hand down on Jimin’s chest to keep him still while he goes back to it.

So with a sigh, Jimin indulges his mate and sinks back into the mattress, which isn’t difficult since it does feel awfully good to be tended to like this. He looks around as best he can from where he’s pinned, taking in the way the cave now glows to life around them. A fire is now roaring in the fireplace with a smattering of other candles and oil lamps lit and placed around for low lighting.

Jimin notes he’s still naked but entirely clean now. Jeongguk must have taken a cloth to him down while he slept. He sees that the comforter from before is no longer on the bed now, replaced with a quilt stitched together with mismatched patches of fabric. It’s soft under his touch.

“Did you change the sheets?” he asks in light amusement even though he knows the answer already.

Jeongguk hums an affirmative, still on Jimin’s neck. “I didn’t want you resting in the mess.” He presses a kiss over Jimin’s mating mark, making the omega shiver. “How do you feel?”

“Amazing,” Jimin sighs, warmth blooming in his chest as he says it with how true it is. His whole body feels so relaxed and satiated, his omega finally feeling peaceful and content.

His heat had promptly stopped the minute their mating had completed, which is of course normal, and Jimin is a little bit grateful for it since now he can bask in being newly mated with a clear hear. He reaches up to rest his hand over top of Jeongguk’s, sighing happily.

“No pain?” Jeongguk asks softly, still nosing at his mating bite.

“None.”

“Not even on other parts of your body?”

The question makes Jimin blush all the way to the roots of his hair. He moves lightly, noticing little twinges here and there. “I suppose I might be a little bit… sore.”

Jeongguk snorts into his neck and Jimin throws his hands over his face. “Don’t laugh!”

“I’m not,” the king replies, still laughing. “You were incredible, if that helps any.” He runs the backs of his fingers down Jimin’s cheek gently.

The omega blinks at the rocky ceiling of the room, still feeling embarrassed but also so unbearably happy it kind of drowns it out.

“I think this is the nicest you’ve ever been to me,” Jimin says with a grin. “Is this all it would have taken this entire time? Just a mating bite and suddenly you’re the nicest king ever?”

Jeongguk lifts his head at that, tilting it to the side in thought. “Honestly? Yeah.”

Jimin bursts out laughing. “Good to know then. I should have gone into heat sooner, I guess.”

Jeongguk shakes his head, frowning a little. “It’s better that you didn’t. It would have been much too dangerous.”

Jimin raises a questioning brow. “Oh, unlike this time where it was super chill and easy?”

But Jeongguk doesn’t laugh. His eyes turn to steel in almost an instant, his mouth set in a line.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t there,” he says seriously, brushing a thumb along Jimin’s brow in a careful, sweet touch. “I should have been. It’s inexcusable that I didn’t protect you. I should always be there for my mate.”

It’s probably the newly formed bond but emotion suddenly rises in Jimin’s throat at those words. He’s never heard Jeongguk speak like that before and he feels a little overcome.

“It’s okay. I got out of it fine.” He swallows around the lump in his throat and tries to make light of the situation because Jeongguk still looks upset. “Besides, I got a dragon ride out of it all, didn’t I? And by the way, I’m definitely going to want to do that again so if you have others you give rides to, I’ll be skipping the line since I have mate rights now.”

Jeongguk’s body goes suddenly still, his gaze sharpening and Jimin thinks maybe he shouldn’t speak anymore because he really doesn’t want to aggravate his newly minted mate. Not when he feels so good inside.

“You’re the only one allowed on my dragon,” Jeongguk says slowly, searching Jimin’s eyes like he’s trying to get him to understand something without words.

And Jimin nods, because he thinks he does understand. “Ah, because I’m your mate now, right?”

But Jeongguk doesn’t agree right away like Jimin assumed he would. In fact, he swallows harshly, his green eyes brightening.

“No,” Jeongguk murmurs at length. “Do you… Jimin, do you remember sensing me in the throne room?”

Jimin blinks. “Um. I remember you asking me if I sensed you the night you broke into my room.”

Jeongguk seems like he isn’t sure how to continue this conversation, his gaze darting between Jimin’s eyes for so long, the omega is starting to get nervous.

The king’s brow finally furrows, deep in thought. “How did it feel to ride my dragon?”

Jimin huffs a soft, incredulous laugh. “It was incredible, obviously. I felt so free and surprisingly safe. Like I belonged up there.” He smiles softly. “Which is maybe a silly thing to say. It’s crazy though, I actually shot an arrow from up there and it’s probably the most accurate one I’ve ever done, especially from a distance. Although, I guess my target was bigger but I swear it’s like it landed right in the center of everything.”

Just the memory has him beaming a little, reliving the thrill like that. The last twelve hours really have been the most incredible for him.

He glances up to find emerald eyes staring back at him softly, filled with something like pride and Jimin stares back in amusement.

“What?”

Clearing his throat, Jeongguk looks away, though the smile still lingers on his lips.

“When you were making your way to the north,” Jeongguk says gently, his fingers trailing lightly down Jimin’s chest. “I came to you.”

Jimin frowns. “What do you mean?”

“I mean I flew to see you,” Jeongguk replies simply, his gaze on Jimin’s neck. “I stayed a good distance away, of course. I didn’t want anyone to spot me. Especially not you. But by then, I’d had three omegas presented to me and my alpha hadn’t reacted to a single one. I couldn’t have a fourth show up with the same result.”

He sniffs lightly, giving a little shrug. “Our customs are set in stone. The king is supposed to be delivered omegas until one fits what’s needed. But I couldn’t stand it. I didn’t even know what I was supposed to feel. I was told I’d know it when I felt it. But I was getting so impatient. I couldn’t keep sitting on my throne and waiting for the right one to appear.”

Jimin stays quiet and still, curious where this story is going.

“So I went to your camp one night,” Jeongguk continues carefully. “I figured maybe if it wasn’t you, I’d convince someone to intercept your traveling party and send you back home before we all had yet another round of disappointments. I told myself I was doing everyone a favor, but honestly it was all based on selfish motivations. I didn’t want to sit through another Promise Ceremony just to end up alone again.”

He pauses then, looking up into Jimin’s eyes with such severity, Jimin actually holds his breath.

“But on my way there. On my way to you,” Jeongguk whispers, green eyes shimmering. “I felt… Jimin, I wasn’t even close to you yet. I was still miles away, still making careful time and staying above the clouds to avoid anyone seeing me and even from so far away, I could feel you. I could feel this… this electricity.”

Jimin freezes where he lays, his eyes widening.

That’s what he felt too. In the throne room.

Electricity.

“It only got stronger as I flew closer,” Jeongguk breathes, almost reverently. “By the time I was close enough to land and change back, I was overwhelmed by it.” He smiles. “And then I saw you.”

Jimin inhales sharply.

“You were sitting by the fire all alone, your hands clasped in your lap, watching the flames.” He tucks a lock of hair behind Jimin’s ear with gentle fingers. “You were doing nothing at all, just sitting there quietly. And I’d realized in that moment I’d never seen anyone more beautiful in my life. I knew you were the one for me.”

“But,” Jimin cuts in, brows knitting together in confusion. “I didn’t sense you then. Why didn’t I feel you?”

“Because I made sure to stay far enough away,” Jeongguk says easily. “My dragon senses go a lot further than others. I couldn’t risk you sensing me yet. I didn’t even stay long after I confirmed it was you. That you were the one.”

“I thought it was just your dragon power I felt,” Jimin replies. “I was sure all that electricity everyone else could feel it too.”

“They can’t,” Jeongguk shakes his head. “Actually, no one can feel that kind of connection. It’s strictly a thing that happens between dragons.”

He pauses then, grinning down at Jimin’s bare chest. “Well. And a dragon’s rider.”

Jimin nods in understanding momentarily before he pauses, shifting a little. “But I hadn’t been on your dragon yet then. I hadn’t even seen your dragon.”

Those gorgeous green eyes search Jimin’s carefully before he replies.

“When I was younger,” Jeongguk says carefully. “I was told stories. It’s ancient history now, more legend than anything. When there were more of us, most dragons mated one another to keep bloodlines going. But there were stories of warrior dragons from hundreds of years ago going to battle. And the strongest of them carried riders.”

He chews at the inside of his bottom lip and Jimin stays quiet, listening. “The legend goes that those riders were their dragon’s mates. That fate stepped in, brought them together to create the strongest of bonds, even more so than those between dragons. The mating between a dragon and a rider created so much power that they were unbeatable. No one stood a chance against them.”

He glances away, huffing a soft laugh. “Honestly, when I first started shifting, I could have never imagined carrying anyone in my dragon form. It felt much too intimate to do that.”

He turns back, smiling softly as he runs his thumb across Jimin’s bottom lip.

“But then I felt you that night in the forest,” he breathes reverently. “And I knew right then. I knew you’d be my mate and I knew you’d be my rider. I could feel it.”

Jimin feels tears spring to his eyes. He can’t explain it, the emotion bubbling up in his throat but he doesn’t move, biting down on his bottom lip to keep it from trembling even as the tears slip down his cheeks.

Jeongguk brushes them away.

“I was so afraid you wouldn’t feel it. I’d only ever been told this story like it was a fairy tale. I didn’t know if you’d know right away like I did.” He swallows thickly. “I wanted you to feel it so badly. I came to your room that night to make sure. I could tell you sensed me the same way but I also knew you didn’t know what it meant.”

Jimin releases a soft sob without meaning to. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Jeongguk offers up a devastatingly sad smile. “Because I was scared to death.”

The way Jimin's heart aches at those words, his chest pulling tight and he stares up into his mate's gentle features. For someone as strong and scary as the dragon king, it still catches Jimin off guard at just how young he looks with is with his big bambi eyes and adorably round face. 

He reaches for his mate, resting a hand to his cheek. “Jeongguk-”

But the dragon shakes his head, taking Jimin’s hand in his own and pressing a kiss to his palm.

“The theory is that my kind began dying out because of these bonds.” He pauses, brow furrowed. “Well. Not so much dying out as being murdered.”

Jimin’s blood goes cold. “What?”

Jeongguk shakes his head. “Our enemies didn’t like it. Other shifters didn’t like it. Even non-shifters had their concerns. They couldn’t have an army of dragons and riders winning every battle, every war. They had to be stopped. So they started with the riders.”

Swallowing thickly, a rush of panic seizes up in Jimin’s chest.

“It’s why I had to keep you safe,” Jeongguk says soothingly, noticing Jimin’s fear instantly. “I couldn’t let on what I knew. Not to you and not to anyone else. I had to protect you. But it also meant I couldn’t get close to you.”

Jimin’s heart feels heavy in his chest. “Why not?”

The smile he gets in return is sad enough to make fresh tears well up in Jimin’s eyes.

“I’ve been alone for a very long time, Jimin. It didn’t feel real to me. You didn’t feel real to me. I was sure you might disappear at any moment and this would all have been a dream.”

It suddenly all feels so unbearably clear, Jimin can hardly process it but he pushes on because he has to know. He needs to know. “You didn’t want to get too close only to have it all ripped away.”

Jeongguk nods, gratitude clear in his gaze. “Exactly. So I focused instead on what I could control. Which was keeping you safe.”

“That’s what you left the castle for?”

Nodding, Jeongguk pushes his fingers through Jimin’s hair tenderly. “There were always threats to any of my potential mates but after our Promise Ceremony, it got so much worse.” He pauses, almost like he’s worried to continue but Jimin encourages him with a small nod. “There are people out there who want their omega family members to mate with the last dragon shifter. For both the bloodline and the royal status. So when you were seen walking to our Promise Ceremony in a coat made of my scales, it’s like the entire region went crazy. Word spread fast and threats began to mount.” He looks a little sheepish then. “I probably should have thought that through a little better. I wasn’t thinking when I made it.”

Jimin glances to the coat he’d worn now hung neatly on a hook near the door, he can’t help but ask.

“Did you make one of those for every omega presented to you?”

Jeongguk gives him an incredulous look. “Of course not.” He tosses a look over his shoulder too, huffing a soft laugh as his gaze runs all over his creation. “I don’t know what came over me. It was like I was possessed making that for you. My alpha was screaming at me to protect you, to cover you in my scales so that everyone would know you were mine.”

His eyes lock on Jimin’s mating bite. “I had to protect you. There wasn’t another option.”

A tidal wave of emotion comes over Jimin again and he smiles through it even as more tears fall, his heart feeling unbearably full. “You’ve…” he tries, blinking blearily up at his mate. “You’ve been protecting me all this time. You’ve kept me safe. You’ve… you’ve killed for me, Jeongguk-“

His voice breaks on the last syllable and Jeongguk immediately gathers him into his arms, shushing him softly with delicate kisses to his cheeks and whispered words in his ear and Jimin lets himself fall apart, sobbing quietly into his mate’s chest, overwhelmed with so many things he can’t even name them all.

When he finally manages to breathe and pull back enough to see him again, through damp eyes Jimin manages a small smile as brilliant green eyes stare back at him.

“You’re mine, aren’t you?” he whispers, bringing his fingertips to Jeongguk’s cheek, quietly in awe. “You’re my dragon.”

Jeongguk’s eyes narrow a little. “I’m your alpha.”

Huffing a soft, watery laugh, Jimin shakes his head. “Of course you’re my alpha.” He leans in, brushing a kiss to those soft lips. “But you’re also my dragon. Right?”

Jeongguk lingers a minute, tenderly taking Jimin’s mouth in a careful kiss again and again before nodding. “I’m your dragon.”

And Jimin’s eyes fill with fresh, happy tears all over again.