The Enchanted Warriors (Dragon Riders AU)

70❤️

Tori kept her eyes fixed on the ground, her heart pounding as she fought to keep her expression neutral. Every instinct screamed at her to run, to grab the others and bolt out of there, but she knew that wasn’t an option. Not here. Not in front of him.

Her father stood tall and unyielding, his face a mask of stone. She tried to read him, to find a hint of emotion in his cold, calculating eyes, but there was nothing. Not anger. Not disappointment. Not even curiosity. It was as if he was looking through her, not at her.

She swallowed hard, forcing herself to stay calm. She couldn’t afford to show weakness—not now. Not when so much depended on her keeping it together.

Focus, she told herself. Don’t let him see your fear.

She lowered her gaze, feeling the familiar hum of magic beneath her skin. It was subtle, barely a flicker, but enough for her to reach out, her presence slipping quietly into the minds of the others like a whisper carried on the wind.

“Keep your mind shield up. As strong as you can. Don’t even try to communicate with your dragons or each other through your mind unless you want it to be invaded. Trust me on this.”

Her words were quiet, urgent, woven with an undercurrent of fear. She had no idea if they would listen or if they would even understand the danger they were in, but she couldn’t risk saying more. Not with him so close. Not with his power pressing against the room like an invisible weight.

Y/N’s head jerked up, her eyes wide with confusion, but she didn’t say a word. She just tightened her jaw, a subtle nod of understanding before she looked away, her shoulders tense as she struggled to mask her emotions.

Jungkook’s eyes narrowed, his posture shifting as if he were about to say something, but a sharp look from Tori silenced him. He exhaled slowly, the tension in his jaw easing as he settled back, his expression carefully blank.

The others followed suit, each of them falling into a practiced stillness, their faces revealing nothing. But Tori could feel their anxiety, the way their emotions rippled just beneath the surface like cracks in a thin layer of ice.

The atmosphere shifted, growing colder, and heavier, as if the walls themselves were closing in. An unseen force pressed down on them, invisible but suffocating as hands wrapped around their throats.

A test? A threat? Or something worse?

As Tori’s voice echoed through the tense clearing, Y/N stood pressed against Jungkook’s chest, her body trembling. She could feel the weight of the unseen force pressing against her mind, relentless and suffocating. Her head throbbed, and her vision blurred at the edges.

“I... I can’t keep my mind shield up...” she whispered, her voice weak, a faint quiver betraying her fear. Her words were barely audible, but Jungkook heard them clearly. His gaze snapped down to her, eyes widening with concern.

Yoongi and Jin, standing close by, caught her whispered confession. Without a word, they moved, their bodies positioning in front of her with a subtle, protective stance. It was an unspoken agreement, a silent vow of protection. No one would harm her while they stood guard.

Jungkook’s eyes fliker as he looked down at Y/N, his jaw tightening. He could feel her trembling against him, her body fragile and vulnerable. A surge of protectiveness swelled within him, fierce and unwavering. “Hold on,” he murmured, his voice low, steady.

Y/N looked up, her eyes wide with fear. Before she could respond, his eyes gleamed with an otherworldly light—pulsing with a deep, mesmerizing purple. Her breath hitched, a startled yelp escaping her lips. But before the sound could betray them, Jungkook’s hand swiftly covered her mouth, his palm gentle yet firm.