Inception (Ateez Ot8 x Reader)

Chapter 50

Unknown POV

The days were getting shorter and while temperatures were steadily dropping, some days, like today, were still saturated with a blistering heat. Sweat accumulated over my brow as I stood next to an open window in the late king’s study. It wasn’t unusual to find me here, not even with the current king away and even if someone were to find me here, they wouldn’t question me. Not unless they were asking for trouble. I surveyed the empty courtyard. Not a soul lingered in this sweltering heat. It was days like this when Serith seemed more preferable. I’d much rather brave the cold than the heat waves this God forsaken kingdom endured. A soft knock behind me drew my attention, I turned just as a guard opened the door and slipped inside silently. The silver badges on his uniform cast rainbows across the ceiling above us as the sun caught them. He shut the door behind him, saluting me before I waved it off.
“What is it?”
I questioned him while turning back to the window.
“Sir, I have news from our scouts in Merene. The girl, she’s been mated.”
A smirk curled my lips at the news, eyes observing the world beyond the castle walls when a wagon emerged from the line of trees down the driveway.
“To who?”
“Er, King Yeosang, sir.”
Merene’s pride and joy then. That was unexpected. I drifted my gaze down to where two people descended the front steps of the fortress. The two of them engaged in conversation as they waited for their ride. My eyes burned taking in the sight of the middle-aged woman laughing heartily with an equally amused, gray-suited lieutenant. Since her arrival, he’d taken it upon himself to care for her. No doubt as a courtesy to the woman’s late husband. How ironic she’s been made to live in the same home that her husband’s murderer inhabited. I chuckled at the thought.
“Should I give the order to deploy for Merene?” The soldier behind me asked hesitantly.
“No.” The statement was absolute as I watched the fellow soldier open the door to the caravan before offering a hand to the woman to help her up. “They’ll come to us. I’m sure of it.”
All it would take is one perfectly planned maneuver for the King of Merene and his new mate to find their way to me. After all, I had the greatest bargaining chip I could have ever asked for. I watched as she disappeared into the carriage, Seokjin right behind her before he closed the door, and they were out of sight. I’d have them come to me before long, but first I needed Seokjin out of the way.

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I ran my fingers over the mark on my hand. The inky color was a startling contrast to the rest of my unblemished skin. A surge of warmth flooded me any time I looked at it. The comfort I felt when I touched it was similar to being held by any of them. It was strange to see it colored now, but not unpleasant. It made the tangible connection between Yeosang and I pulse steadily. It was like a part of him lived within it, a constant reminder of the bond we shared, reinforced ten times over. If I thought the initial bond was powerful, it was nothing compared to what we shared as mates. I brushed the mark again, basking in the emotions following the action, when two hands laid over my shoulders. I looked behind me, smiling as I met Yeosang’s gaze.
We’d spent a long afternoon under the willow trees. As much as the day allowed before the sun had dipped too far on the horizon.
Yeosang had suggested we fly back to the castle before it got too much darker. By the time we’d made it back home, it was dark and the only light to keep us company was the glow from inside the castle walls where curtains had been left open. Fog swirled along the ground at our feet, getting thicker as the temperature began to drop. Goosebumps rose on my flesh, the extra layer Mingi insisted I wear seeming to do nothing now that Merene’s typical temperature returned. Yeosang released me long enough to unbutton his dark overcoat. My protests dying as he slid it off his torso and draped it over my shoulders. Instead, I curled my fingers around it, tugging it tighter to myself as I looked up at him.
“Let’s get you inside.”
I searched the drawn castle windows in front us, looking for any sign of the others inside. Meeting them again after being officially mated was both exciting and terrifying. I knew the bond between me and the others hadn’t severed. If I searched deep enough, I could still feel my tether to them and Yeosang had confirmed it himself. It was my first indication that I wouldn’t have to choose between any of them. If they still wanted me, I wanted them too. I took my first steps toward the castle, clenching Yeosang’s coat tighter to steady myself even though my heart pounded painfully in my chest.
I’d only made it a handful of feet before the front doors swung open. I halted, staring at the man frozen inside the doorway, candlelight behind him illuminating every inch of his tall, lean physique. In the span of a breath, he met my gaze and broke into a run. Long legs skipping three stairsteps at a time while I snapped out of my daze. Before he could clear the last few steps, I sprinted for him. Tears blurred my vision, pooling in my eyes as I reached for him. Our bodies collided, his arms wrapping around me and lifting me to keep us upright as my tears spilled. Light citrus and soft jasmine swaddled me as I buried my face into Yunho.
He was pressed against me so tightly I could feel the fast beating of his heart, his hands clutched at Yeosang’s overcoat as he held me, drawing me closer. A stuttered breath escaped him as he laid his cheek on top of my head.
“Thank God.” He murmured, turning his head to breathe me in deeply as he set me back on my feet.
Beyond his hold, I could see Yeosang watching the two of us silently. A small smile on his face before he turned his head towards the castle entrance. I lifted my face away from Yunho just enough to look up. My eyes locking with San first as he stepped through the threshold, pink hair glowing in the warm yellow glow behind him. He stepped to the side, allowing two more through the doorway. Jongho quietly observed while Hongjoong leaned against the frame right behind him.
“I suppose congratulations are in order.”
I quirked a brow as Yunho and Jongho turned to face him.
“Congratulations?”
“You’ve found yourself as part of the dragon lineage, spitfire. I’d say that’s worth celebrating.”
I stifled my laughter, finding Yeosang’s gaze. He rolled his eyes but couldn’t fight the growing smile on his face. Another head popped into the doorway behind Hongjoong, the thick head of blue locks appearing almost black in the dim surroundings. Mingi towered over the king in front of him but made no move to push past Hongjoong.
“Come inside.” He beckoned to everyone. “Wooyoung made dinner and I’ve been sent to fetch the household.”
“Have you all been waiting on us to eat?” I asked, looking up at Yunho.
“Well to be fair, a few of us had some sobering up to do before we could even stomach the thought of dinner.”
The news wasn’t all that surprising, but I still frowned knowing that while I’d been perfectly happy in my bubble with Yeosang, the others were left anticipating the aftermath of our time together. The soft tap of a finger against the wrinkle between my eyebrows shook me out of the depressing thoughts, my eyes drifting up to meet San’s soft gaze.
“Don’t worry about it now. We’re all more than happy to know that our bond is still intact.”
“He’s right.” Mingi chimed in. “No more worrying about choosing or hurting one of us. Our dragons have decided it’s better to have you, mated you may be, than not at all. You’re stuck with us.”
I slid an arm around Yunho’s waist, my free hand reaching for San who took it within the span of a heartbeat. His warm palm pressing to mine as he intertwined our fingers.
“That doesn’t sound all that bad. I can’t imagine it any other way actually.”
The relief that came after weeks of stressing about the decision I’d be forced to make was infectious. For the first time, there was no cloud hanging over my head, gnawing at my conscience and making me feel guilty. I’d made my choice, and I was lucky enough that it didn’t lead to more heartbreak. No. Instead, I would be allowed to love these men unconditionally. All of them. The smile that split my features was carefree, my glee contagious as even Jongho cracked a smile upon seeing me bounce between Yunho and San excitedly.
No more hiding my emotions and no more feeling remorseful. It was time I started taking steps towards my own happiness like my parents had hoped I would.

Dinner was a lively affair. The atmosphere light and relaxed. I sat between Wooyoung and Yeosang. The former piling food onto my plate in servings that were way more than I was capable of eating, but I humored him anyway. Mingi kept flinging vegetables my way when he thought no one was looking until Yunho leaned over and scraped the rest of his greens onto Mingi’s plate. It was my first dinner with them where conversation didn’t seem forced, and everyone was in a good mood.
Jongho and San kept each other company. The brothers getting along amicably over discussion of Serith and Aiwralia. Beside them, Hongjoong engaged with Seonghwa though their conversation was too hushed for me to pick up any followable conversation. Though Seonghwa didn’t act any differently than he usually did, somehow I got the feeling that he shared in his comrades joy even if he didn’t outwardly express it. A low hum from my left caught my ear, Wooyoung swallowing the swig of wine he’d had in his mouth before turning to me.
“May I see it?”
He held out his hand, drawing my attention downwards.
“See what?”
“Your mark.”
A quiet mutter of realization left me as I offered him my hand. He held it between his, thumbs running the length of my fingers as he mapped out the now colored mark. A corner of his lips lifted as he nodded.
“It suits you.” He complimented it, glancing up at Yeosang with a flicker of mischief I barely managed to catch in his dark irises. “I think I would still prefer to see it in gold though.”
Yeosang reached around me, smacking Wooyoung in the shoulder as the younger man cackled, not bothering to evade the slew of physical and verbal attacks coming his way.
“You cheeky little shit.” Yeosang muttered, garnering a wide-eyed stare from me.
“Did you just curse?” I asked in disbelief.
Yeosang’s cheeks colored while Mingi burst into laughter from across the table.
“Contrary to what he has you believe, my lady, Yeo curses as much as any of us. Maybe even more so.”
“He’s just sneakier with it.” Wooyoung snickered.
“It’s not sneaky, it’s being polite. A gentleman shouldn’t curse in mixed company and especially not in the presence of women and children.”
“What does that make me then?” I teased him.
Yeosang leaned into me, one of his fingers looping around a strand of my hair. He was close, nose touching mine as those honey orbs swept over my features.
“You’re not just any woman. You’re the one I’m spending the rest of my life with. If I can’t be myself around you, then who can I?”
I stared at him as a slow smirk quirked the edges of my lips. With a light hum, I looked away, reaching for my wine.
“I think Woo is right.” I mumbled into the glass. “You’re rather sneaky.”
Hongjoong chuckled further down the table. I flit my gaze to him over my glass as he propped an elbow onto the table and laid his chin in his hand.
“You’re just easy to fluster, spitfire. Makes it fun for us.”
“No one teases me nearly as much as you.”
“A shame on their part.” Hongjoong winked. “The way you flush under my words would be enough to tempt the holiest of men.”
I set my wine down, pinning Hongjoong with a dubious expression.
“Are you saying you consider yourself to be a holy man?”
Yunho’s laugh bubbled out of him before he quickly smothered it with a fake cough. I glanced at him, catching his amusement as he covered his smile with a hand. My gaze drifted back to Hongjoong who couldn’t help a smug grin from forming as he leaned back into his chair.
“Me? Of course not. I’ve sinned enough to damn me for several lifetimes.” He pressed his tongue to his cheek as he raked his eyes over me. “And I plan to commit many more when it comes to you, spitfire.”
The utter nonchalance was what threw me the most. Despite knowing his intention was to fluster me, I couldn’t help my reaction. My cheeks brightened seconds before I ripped my eyes away from him. Ugh, he was absolutely shameless. The men around me broke into laughter, minus Seonghwa, though I was pretty sure he cracked a smile before it was gone in the next second.
“He jests, my love. I imagine you’ll get used to it eventually.” Yeosang chuckled.
I wasn’t too sure, but if I were being honest with myself, I didn’t really want to either. I liked how they made me feel, even in their teasing. The warmth that spread through me, the way my heart beats a little quicker, and when my skin heats up with the simplest of touches. It made me feel alive in a way that I hadn’t even realized. Prior to them, I was just surviving. My life had controlled me without me even noticing that I no longer held the reins. I wasn’t driving but riding and it took me meeting the eight of them to understand that.
My vision gravitated towards the mark on my hand, tracing the pattern briefly before I laid it over Yeosang’s arm, and I leaned into his side. He welcomed the embrace, shifting so I could comfortably lay my head onto his shoulder. This was it for me. I’d be spending the rest of my life with these men.
And I’d do whatever I could to ensure that it was a long and fruitful one.