The Sacrifice of The Blood King: A Taekook Story

Chapter Four: Saved By The Kiss

*My day started with finding a dead mouse under my bed. And it is ending with Taekook. I hope you guys like the chapter, and  I will have another one written soon. Thank you!*

A whimper and a brush of fingers on his arm wakes Jungkook early the next morning. He quickly sits up, his mind thinking there's an attack, or someone broke into the room. It isn't until he hears another whimper that he realizes the touch was from the prince. Jungkook stares down at Taehyung as he squirms in his sleep, eyebrows furrowed as a pained noise slips from his lips. His hand that brushed against Jungkook's arm now clings to the bedsheets in distress. The robe that covered his body has fallen open, exposing flawless tan skin, sharp collarbones, and that damn silver chain around Taehyung's neck. The poor prince is having a nightmare, yet Jungkook isn't sure what he should do. Should he wake him? Should he let him sleep longer since he'll need the energy?

"No, don't!" Taehyung cries out in his sleep, his lips quivering as he thrashes in bed. Jungkook swiftly reaches over and grabs his shoulder, trying to hold him still and calm him down.

"Shhh, Taehyung, shh...it's just a dream," Jungkook whispers, pulling the prince towards his firm chest. He remembers when he was young and frequently had nightmares. His mother would pull him to her body, holding him until he woke up or snapped out of the dream. Jungkook wraps his arms around Taehyung's waist, ignoring the feeling of the robe sliding further open as he whispers sweet, calming, words in the boy's ear. Taehyung's whimpers and tears settle; his hands no longer clench in fists and his legs no longer thrash around. His breathing becomes regular once again, and Jungkook slowly lets him go, not wanting to wake him with his movements. When he notices Taehyung does not wake, Jungkook gets out of bed and dresses, leaving his armor for later. For now, his dark shirt and trousers will do. He laces his protective boots on before wandering out of the bedchamber, locking the door behind him as he does.

Taehyung jolts awake on the bed, his mind foggy and body confused. It takes him a moment to remember he's not in his temple, he's not in the Desert Kingdom...he's not near The Mad King. He curls up on the bed, wrapping arms around his legs as he remembers his nightmare. His father was going to sacrifice him. There was a famine, and he decided it was time to kill Taehyung. He came into the temple with a scythe-like weapon and started to hunt him down. Only, Taehyung didn't want to die, so he fled from the temple, his father on his heels, and tears in his eyes.

"I'm so pathetic..." Taehyung whispers, rocking back and forth on the bed. He doesn't care that Jungkook isn't in the room. It makes it easier for him to fight his own emotions. Because of this dream, Taehyung realizes he really doesn't want to die. It may be what he was raised for, but he is scared of that final moment. Of some sort of ritualistic death in the name of gods that never cared for him. Pointless. His death would be pointless. He'd much rather live than die a useless death.

"I'm the worst sacrifice..." tears sting at his eyes before he finally bursts. He buries his face against his knees and cries, letting out all of his pain and sorrow and fear. He doesn't want to die. He's supposed to die, but he doesn't want to. He has to convince Jungkook that he is worth keeping alive. That he is better alive than dead, which he's halfway done. But what if he decides to kill him once they reach The Mountain Kingdom? What then?

Jungkook walks back into the room with several large bundles in his hands. He shuts the door with a sigh, before he hears the soft sobs. He instantly looks towards the bed where he sees Taehyung with his knees against his chest, crying into the silk robe. Part of him wants to run over and console him like he did earlier this morning. But the other part realizes the reality of it all. Taehyung is too gentle for where they are going. If Jungkook doesn't toughen him up a little, The Mountain Kingdom is going to swallow him alive. So Jungkook just awkwardly clears his throat, hoping it's loud enough to grab Taehyung's attention. The prince instantly looks up, wiping at his eyes as he scurries off the bed and bows his head submissively. He ignores the aching of his feet as he stands on the cold, splintered, wood, staring at the planks instead of Jungkook's intense stare.