Destined {𝕄𝕀ℕ𝕊𝕌ℕ𝔾}

Chapter Eighty-Four

Hyunsik returned to the infirmary nearly half an hour later, clutching a piece of paper tightly in his fist. His eyes glowed red, his shoulders trembling with what Jisung could only assume was rage. "He's not here anymore." Jisung's eyebrows furrowed, hand still gripped strongly by Minho, who'd refused to let him move since they'd gotten there.

His heart ached at the fear present in his Mate's eyes, and he wished he could give him his full attention – but he was the Alpha, and he was Hyunsik's friend, too. He squeezed his hand as he motioned for Hyunsik to elaborate. "This note says..." His face grew dark, his free fist clenching tightly. "It says that since I took something from him," he spat the word as though it was poison, "that now he's taken something from me."

Jisung's eyes widened; the Vampire King had taken Jeongin? "How?" he voiced his thoughts aloud though Hyunsik merely shook his head. He didn't know, either, then. Dread had immediately come to settle in his stomach and he closed his eyes, breathing out through his nose.

This entire day was a mess. It kept on getting worse. He could still hear the Forestwood Alpha rampaging downstairs, though none of his guard wolves allowed him to breach the stairwell that would lead him up to the infirmary.

If anything, he was surprised Changbin hadn't managed to find a way up, yet. Perhaps he was still in the dungeon with Felix – he'd refused to leave, apparently. His heart ached and he closed his eyes. What a literal shit day.

He massaged the bridge of his nose with his free hand, though when he looked up again he saw that Hyunsik was still staring blankly at the note. "Does it say anything else?" he questioned, and Hyunsik looked up slowly, expression somber. Jisung's stomach sank like a heavy rock in the middle of the ocean.

"The only way to save him is for me to surrender myself in his place." Jisung's eyes widened as his head snapped up again. "If I try anything he'll kill him." It just got worse. He leaned back as he exhaled heavily.

"So what are you gonna do?" he mumbled, staring up at the vampire he'd grown increasingly close to; he dared say Hyunsik was one of his best friends, now. He bit his lip harshly – he wouldn't interfere with Hyunsik's choice unless he could help. However... one look into the vampire's eyes told him that whatever it took, he would do it to get Jeongin back.

With a deep exhale through his nose, Hyunsik turned to look up at the ceiling. "I'll figure it out. I think... I think our war is going to intensify very soon." Jisung frowned, eyes sliding to the floor; he was right.

And he'd probably ruined their best chance at beating him – the Allied packs wouldn't work with him and he knew it.

His eyes slid over towards Seungmin again and he clenched his jaw, squeezing his eyes shut. It was his fault that Seungmin was like this – he could only assume Felix had been acting on the Vampire King's orders to return the book to him – the book he'd given to Seungmin.

"It's not your fault," Hyunsik said softly, his face sympathetic and stricken, as though he'd read his mind. "I was thinking about how Felix could have betrayed you, because I'm not convinced he'd do it willingly." Jisung looked up at him. "Vampires can control any of those he bit – or, well, any of his charges bit. But he was the first vampire – every vampire is one of his charges. He can control them all. Except," his eyes landed on Minho again, "those powerful enough to sport red eyes."

His gaze flickered back to Jisung. "Like me, and Minho. I don't think this was his plan – he meant to infiltrate us from the very second he handed Felix back to us. But seeing as how Minho is a Red-Eyed vampire... his plan fell into the dust. But he bit Felix himself, I'll guarantee it. And..." He shook his head. "It was only a couple of days ago. There's a chance... some of the venom is still in him, but not enough to fully turn him. Just enough, for the King to control him."

Some of the weight that had been crushing his chest lifted somewhat. At least... at least Felix hadn't willingly betrayed him. That took a whole lot of his pain away. It still didn't change that Seungmin was in a hospital bed, unconscious, but at least he hadn't lost yet another friend.

He didn't think he could bear losing more friends.

He'd have to figure out what to do about Jeongin, and the packs gathered in his common room downstairs. "I ruined our chances, Hyunsik," he whispered, rubbing his forehead. "Without the Allied packs, we don't stand a chance at taking them all on."

"That's not true." All three of them whirled around. Seungmin's eyes were open, and although he looked slightly dazed, he was awake. Minho let go of Jisung's hand as the werewolf rushed over towards his friend, helping him sit up, albeit with much difficulty. "We don't need an army – we only need the two of you." He looked right at Jisung and Minho, who both stared at him in confusion.

"Before... before Felix attacked me, I managed to read and decode most of the book. I'd say most of it's rubbish, but... there was this one part I had just finished reading, about a way to kill the Old One – the first vampire. His only weakness." The four of them exchanged looks as Seungmin readjusted himself, wincing as his hand flew up to his side. He exhaled heavily. "The way to kill the King is to be bitten by a werewolf Mated to a vampire."

The world seemed to pause around Jisung as he turned to look at Minho, whose eyes had flown wide. "Then... then that's why," he whispered, running a hand down his face. "That's why the Goddess reincarnated us." 

A/N: AIGHT well.... *scratches neck*, I had to take another break from this story-- I got kinda bored from writing this thing all the time, so yeeeet. But now I'm gonna be updating every Monday and Thursday (at least) until it's finished ;) kiss kiss

And earlier this morning I was creating a character sheet for one of the characters in my novel and ugh he needs to die in the second or third book but I'm so ATTACHED now :,)

Lots of love,

~Emilie