Highness (Jeongcheol)

Prologue

Seungcheol

There were a lot of things Seungcheol found awkward—witnessing other people's PDA, being forced to mediate the family drama of his patients, spotting for strangers at the gym—but morning-afters had to be some of his least favorites.

"So"—Jessie leaned against her car door, seemingly in no rush to actually use it, her green eyes sparkling with mischief—"we gonna do this again sometime?"

"Um..." Seungcheol ran a hand through his dark-brown curls. Fuck. He hated this part. He hadn't wanted to do breakfast at all, but she'd been there, at his apartment, and he'd felt like an asshole just kicking her out, so he'd suggested grabbing something to eat. He'd asked to take separate cars, claiming he had something to do afterward. He supposed he could make that a true statement by stopping by Joshua's on the way back home.

His little brother had been acting strangely lately. And that guy Seokmin he'd been hanging around with... Seungcheol didn't like it. Didn't like him.

Jessie smirked at his hesitation. "Uh-oh. Don't tell me. One-time thing?"

Seungcheol bit his lip, giving her a sheepish smile. "It's not you, it's me?"

He shouldn't have slept with her. She was nice enough, sure. They'd had classes together in high school, and he'd always thought she was cool—funny, smart, totally hot. But really he'd just been looking for some stress relief, and she'd been in the right place at the right time to provide it.

Jessie laughed at him, her good humor proving she was too good for him in the first place. "No worries, King. I know your reputation."

"Uh. Reputation?"

But Seungcheol didn't get a chance to find out what his reputation might be because the next thing he knew, he was facedown on the pavement, Jessie was screaming, and his arm was being held behind his back at a painful angle.

"Hello, Seungcheol." Seungcheol didn't recognize the voice—deep and raspy, with a hint of an accent.

He tried to struggle out of the man's hold, but his grip was like iron. Seungcheol didn't manage even an inch of leeway.

"Do I know you?" Seungcheol finally grunted, giving up his efforts.

The man holding him down chuckled. It wasn't a nice sound. "I wanted to send my regards to Seokmin and his little human toy. Be a good big brother and pass along the message, won't you?"

That was...what? Seungcheol had questions, so many questions, but before he could voice them, he heard a crack and then...

Pain. Searing pain.

Seungcheol screamed. His arm. The man had broken his fucking arm.

He was flipped onto his back before he could even attempt to catch his breath. He stared up at—at what?

The stranger looked like a man, more or less—one with a handsome face, his dark hair grayed slightly at the temples. But his eyes were terrifying—fully black, not even a hint of white around the edges.

A monster's eyes.

He smiled down at Seungcheol, and a pair of honest-to-God fangs glistened in the morning light.

Seungcheol whimpered. He hadn't even known he could whimper. "What—what the fuck?"

In answer, the man bent his head down, and the pain in Seungcheol's arm was forgotten in favor of the sharp, unbearable burning at his neck. The man was biting him. And it fucking hurt.

Seungcheol didn't have a chance to scream again. As soon as it had started, it was over. He heard a growl, snarling sounds, and then the monster was gone, Seungcheol's injured body dropped unceremoniously on the pavement.