Mixed Blood

30: Crossroads: Part 1

Finally, it was the time for the soulmates to go to the palace. Each of them was sent a royal car to ride toward the palace. Each of them bid their parents goodbye before leaving.

"Bye mom and dad. See you tomorrow," Chan told his parents.

"Good luck with Prince Seokmin," his parents replied.

"I'll be going now, mom, dad," Minghao mentioned.

"Have fun and just go with the flow," his parents advised.

"I'm going to the palace now," Seungkwan said to his parents.

"Go get your soulmate," his parents cheered.

"I'm off to get bitten. See you tomorrow," Mingyu excitedly bid goodbye.

"Just don't bother Prince Wonwoo too much, okay?" his parents sighed.

"Mom, dad, I'm off to the palace," Jihoon stated.

"Someone's getting laid tonight," his parents teased and Jihoon could only look at them disgustingly.

"Mom, dad, I'm going to Seungcheol's place now," Jeonghan informed.

"Don't worry too much. Everything is going to be alright. We are sure of that," his parents tapped his shoulders and back.

While the soulmates were on their way, the Paragons were waiting for them in the palace's living room with the King. They already instructed the palace guards and helpers to let any of their friends from Rose Quartz in anyway. After all, the only Rose Quartz people who were invited to the palace were their soulmates.

"So, where are your soulmates? It's almost five in the afternoon," the King asked.

"They said that they are on their way," Seungcheol took a glance at his phone.

"By the way, dad. How about you? You don't have any soulmate since, you know, mom decided to go on ahead first," Jun inquired, referring to their adoptive mom.

"Oh, don't worry too much about me. I already experienced three Super Blue Blood Moons and countless Blood Moons. I can already manage myself," the King reassured. "Though I still need to confine myself in my room throughout the night."

"Uhm, hello?" a tiny voice broke their conversation.

Turning their heads toward the direction of the voice, Jun exclaimed, "Haohao! You're here!"

Jun stood up and lead Minghao inside the dining room. Minghao sat beside Jun.

"So, by the way of things, I assume you are Junhui's soulmate?" the King faced Minghao.

"Ah, yes, your majesty, I am Xu Minghao and I am Jun's soulmate," Minghao's voice softened as he reached the end of his sentence.

"Please, just call me dad or uncle. You are my son's soulmate after all," the King insisted.

"Oh, okay," Minghao snuggled to Jun's side.

A few minutes after Minghao, Mingyu and Seungkwan arrived at the scene.

"Good afternoon, everyone, especially to my soon-to-be dad!" Mingyu enthusiastically greeted. Wonwoo could only facepalm himself.

On the other hand, Seungkwan did an overly-exaggerated curtsy, "Good afternoon, your highness."

Wonwoo and Vernon fetched their respective soulmates and let them sit beside them.

"So, you must be Wonwoo's soulmate and you are Hansol's," the King faced the two alternatively. The two simply nodded in confirmation.

A few moments passed and then Jihoon and Chan arrived together. Soonyoung and Seokmin rushed to meet their soulmates and led them to the dining table.

"I believe you are Soonyoung's and Seokmin's soulmates, respectively," the King greeted the two.

"Yes, your highness," Jihoon slightly bowed while Chan could only nod in response.

"Please, just call me dad or uncle. Like I said, you are my son's soulmates so don't be a stranger to me."

As the King ended his sentence, Jeonghan appeared at the dining room's cased opening.

"Come in, come in. You must be Seungcheol's soulmate," the King immediately greeted as soon as he laid his sight on Jeonghan.

"Ah, yes. Nice to meet you, your majesty. I am Yoon Jeonghan," Jeonghan slightly bowed his head as he sat down beside Seungcheol.

"Just call me dad or uncle. Whatever suits your fancy," the King flashed a gentle smile. "So it seems that everyone is here already. I guess we should start dinner now so that you can go inside your respective rooms for the night. The earlier you go inside the rooms, the better."

Dinner was served by the palace helpers. Afterwards, the King instructed all helpers and guards to eat dinner as well. All remaining palace personnel were human as the vampires were given a leave due to the special circumstances.

As they were eating, the King happily conversed with the soulmates. This seemed to eased the soulmates down as they began to respond more enthusiastically to the conversation. The King and the soulmates got to know each other more as dinner progressed.

When everyone had already stopped eating, the King spoke once again.

"My sons... I think it is time for you to go to your respective rooms since it's your first Super Blue Blood Moon. The Moon's effects will be greater." — he faced the soulmates before continuing his statement — "As for you guys, don't worry too much. You are all in good hands. My sons will not harm you in anyway."

As the soulmate pairs were about to leave the dining area, the King added a few words, "By the way, Seungcheol and Jeonghan, I wish you all the good luck."

The King's statement prompted everyone to look at Seungcheol and Jeonghan. In their faces were looks of worry and concern.

Sensing that the other soulmates already knew about the situation, Seungcheol reassured, "It's okay. I am not dying that easily."

And with that, each soulmate pair proceeded to the respective Paragon's bedroom.

"I was really worried, Ji. I really thought you won't show up just like you said," Soonyoung hugged Jihoon from behind.

"As much as I want to be your cause of death, I don't want you to die via blood starvation," Jihoon answered.

"Dino-ya, do you really want to do this? I can manage without your blood, you know," Seokmin was worried about Chan since he was the youngest among the thirteen.

"It's okay, Kyeomie. I already decided that I really wanna do this," Chan leaned on Seokmin's shoulder.

"Make yourself comfortable," Vernon awkwardly told Seungkwan as they entered his room.

"I'm already comfortable since you are my second home," Seungkwan held Vernon's hand.

"Are you gonna bite me now?" Mingyu asked Wonwoo while they were cuddling in bed.

"Soon, Gyu... soon," Wonwoo snuggled his head on the crook of Mingyu's neck.

"Are you nervous, Haohao?" Jun was sitting on the edge of his bed with Minghao on his lap; his arms wrapped around Minghao's waist.

"No, not really. I trust you even with my life," Minghao leaned backwards toward Jun's chest.

On the other hand, Seungcheol and Jeonghan were sitting face to face on Seungcheol's bed.

"Should we do it now?" Seungcheol scratched his nape.

"I think we should do it now. We can't afford doing it during the Super Blue Blood Moon. Who knows what will happen to you. And I don't want to even imagine it," Jeonghan clasped Seungcheol's hands.

"Okay, here goes," Seungcheol leaned into Jeonghan's neck.