Snow

Chapter 17

"Do you have to leave again?" Taehyung quietly asks as he and Jungkook sit beneath the peach tree together.

"I am sorry, Taehyung." Jungkook mutters and looks at the beautiful man sitting beside him. "But, I will return as quickly as possible. I have to ensure the stability and future of Frioria; then, I have to dismiss the army." Jungkook gently explains as he places a peach blossom in Taehyung's hair.

"Can I go with you?" Taehyung turns and looks at Jungkook with shimmering eyes.

"No." Jungkook quietly answers and watches as Taehyung's eyes dim.

"Why?" Taehyung whispers and reaches his hand out to hold Jungkook's hands. "I am not weak anymore."

"I know that you are not weak. You were never weak. But, it is dangerous outside of the forest. You are the safest here." Jungkook softly explains as he wraps Taehyung's soft hands in his rough hands. "You have seen enough pain. I just want you to be happy and safe."

"I did not want to live just to be locked away in a pretty cage." Taehyung bitterly mumbles and looks away from Jungkook, sliding his hands out of Jungkook's grasp.

"I will not be able to protect you out there, not when everything is still so unstable. In Vortier, there is a curse that causes people to cough up blood and die gruesome deaths. In Frioria, people are starving to death. The ground is still frozen and will take time to thaw. Dying people are dangerous, not by any fault of their own. They want to live. They are afraid of dying. Their fear is what makes them dangerous. I have seen firsthand what people's fear of death can do to others." Jungkook whispers toward the end and looks at his parents.

"As have I. I know the cruelties of the world." Taehyung mutters and glances at Jungkook.

"Do you really want to face it again?" Jungkook quietly asks and looks at Taehyung.

"I want to be with you. I want to be with the person who saw me dying in the snow and saw that I was worth saving. I want to be with the person whose touch is gentle and healing. I want to be the person who risked his life to save me. I want to be with the person I bonded with. I know humans do not have bonds. I know that you likely have a human you love, but you are the only person I feel truly safe with. I know my bond is a burden. I do not mean to tie you to me because of my bond, but-"

Taehyung is cut off when Jungkook suddenly hugs him and tucks his face beneath the larger man's chin. "There is no human I love. Your bond is not a burden. I am not trying to keep you here to stay away from you. I am afraid of seeing you in pain again. I am afraid of seeing your eyes lifeless when they are sparkling so brightly. I am afraid of being the reason you die." Jungkook whispers as a tear trickles down his face.

"What if I just help in Frioria? I can avoid the curse in Vortier." Taehyung mutters as Jungkook holds him in his warm embrace. "I can help with rebuilding Frioria. You have been saving hellhounds. I can help teach the humans how to take care of the hellhounds. Maybe I can bridge the gap between the hellhounds and humans."

"Very well, but you will stay with me at all times while we are in Frioria," Jungkook responds as he tightens his embrace around the beautiful hellhound.

"Promise?" Taehyung asks as he pulls away from Jungkook and looks into his stunning eyes.

"Promise." Jungkook smiles and gently tucks Taehyung's blonde hair behind his ear.

Taehyung instantly smiles and hugs Jungkook. As they hug, the wind rustles through the peach tree, and petals softly rain down. 

"Oh, Hoseok got married last month," Taehyung tells Jungkook as he rests in Jungkook's arms.