TFL | MW [✔]

11. [End]

Wonwoo lazed about in bed, waiting for Mingyu to return. He'd woken slowly, a pleasant ache across his body and his heart singing. He'd never imagined he could feel such happiness again, not after everything. It lit up his whole world, giving everything a glow.

He glanced down at his hands, which were still slightly reddened from his use of magic the day before. The return of his fire magic had taken him by surprise, but it had felt right.

When the door finally opened, he sat up, eagerly anticipating breakfast. But Mingyu returned empty-handed, and Wonwoo had to bite back a grumble of disappointment.

"Yana will bring breakfast shortly," Mingyu said, coming inside. But before he reached the bed, he veered off toward the window and stood there with his back to Wonwoo.

Worry curdled in Wonwoo's stomach.

"Is something wrong, Mingyu? Has something happened?"

The alpha turned to face him, trying to smile though it fell flat. "I just spoke to my father."

The fear was like a physical blow, and Wonwoo curled up as if to protect himself. "Is it my uncle? Do I have to go with him?"

Mingyu crossed the room in two strides, climbing onto the bed next to him. "Never, Wonwoo. I promise you."

Wonwoo found himself tugged into a hug, the alpha's arms wrapped tightly around him.

"Siwon's actions yesterday were those of a desperate man. My father told me the reason for his desperation."

Mingyu's hand cupped his cheek, drawing his eyes up. Wonwoo's heart thumped in his chest as he waited to hear what his husband would say.

"Siwon has been deposed. He is no longer king of Morona."

Wonwoo grasped the alpha's shirt in his hand, unable to believe what he was hearing. "Deposed? How? By whom?"

Mingyu pressed their foreheads together, holding Wonwoo tightly as if to keep him from falling to pieces.

"By one of your brothers."

"Mi—"

"Not Minwoo. Of that, my father seems certain."

Wonwoo's thoughts tumbled over each other.

"But Yeonjun and Soobin are dead..."

"Perhaps one of them lives," Mingyu whispered, his hand curling around the nape of Wonwoo's neck.

A tantalizing hope sparked within Wonwoo.

"We... we never saw a body. Not for either of them," he whispered back, that vague wisp of hope crystallizing into something he could grasp in the palm of his hand.

"Whoever it is, they have control of the castle, and Siwon has fled. He seeks aid from his allies to help him retake his throne."

Wonwoo clung to Mingyu for a minute more and then forced himself to pull back and straighten, brushing the tears from his cheeks.

"It is not his throne. It was never his throne. He stole it, and he cannot be allowed to retake it."

"I wish I could promise you that will not happen, but I cannot. My father will not choose a side until he sees the situation more clearly. What weighs against Siwon is that his allies are mainly among the alliance, and after the failed sieges of Stormshield, they will struggle to amass a sizable force without time and persuasion. Meanwhile, whoever now rules Morona controls the Strait of Moro, and with winter coming, that is a valuable bargaining chip."

Mingyu spoke sense, of course. But Wonwoo hated feeling so powerless, knowing so little. All while having that tiny kernel of hope inside him just waiting to flourish.