Chapter 46 || BOUND AND TORN BY PROPHECIES
A Sole Bond’s Importance
Mili let out a soft coo, her massive tail swaying slightly
as she shifted closer to Taehyung. He stroked her scales, his movements slow
and deliberate, as though finding solace in the dragon’s presence.
The tension crackled like lightning as Taehyung turned his
gaze back to Jungkook, his cold exterior melting just enough to reveal the
storm within him. “You need to learn,” he said quietly, his voice steady but
intense. “To never ignore my words again.”
Jungkook’s breath hitched, his heart pounding as he
struggled to process the moment. He wanted to push Taehyung away, to demand he
explain himself, but the raw vulnerability in his gaze held Jungkook captive.
Before he could respond, Taehyung stepped back, his
expression hardening once more. “You’ve done wrong just to ignore my words, and
me,” he said, his tone icy. “Now live with the consequences.”
Without another word, Taehyung shifted into his dragon form—a towering, majestic creature with scales that shimmered like frost under the sunlight. His massive wings unfurled, casting a shadow over the overlook as he let out a low, resonant growl.
The ground trembled beneath him as he moved,
his presence commanding and unyielding.
Before taking flight, Taehyung lowered his massive head toward Mili, who was standing near Niki. She had arrived with Yoongi and Nyla moments earlier. The soul dragon let out a soft rumble, her emerald eyes meeting his as he nuzzled her gently.
His movements were slow, deliberate, and
intimate, his tongue flicking lightly against her neck in a gesture that was
unmistakably sacred for dragons.
Yoongi and Nyla watched in silence, their expressions
unreadable as Taehyung took to the skies, his powerful wings cutting through
the wind. Mili let out a low growl, her amber eyes following him as he
disappeared into the distance.
Jungkook stood frozen, his emotions a tangled mess of
confusion, frustration, and something far more dangerous. He turned to Mili,
hand resting on the dragon’s warm scales as he tried to steady himself. “Let’s
go,” he said softly, voice trembling.
Mili rumbled in response, lowering her massive form to allow
Jungkook to climb aboard. Together, they returned to the palace, the weight of Taehyung’s
words lingering in the air like a storm that refused to pass.
The sun hung high in the sky, casting its golden glow over the training grounds. The warm light did little to lift the weight of unease that settled over Jungkook as he prepared for his session with Mili. The fiery dragon stood beside him, her massive form towering like a monument of strength and loyalty.
Jungkook ran his hand over Mili’s amber-scaled neck, the texture
warm and slightly rough beneath his fingers. Yet, despite the comforting bond
they shared, there was a subtle uneasiness in Mili’s movements—an occasional
flick of her tail, the low rumble in her chest.
Jungkook exhaled deeply, trying to shake off the tension that clung to him like a second skin. Taehyung’s words from earlier echoed in his mind, sharp and cutting, laced with the weight of emotions he hadn’t fully understood.
The confrontation had left him confused, frustrated, and aching
with something he couldn’t quite name. Mili nudged his side gently with her
massive head, a gesture of comfort that only deepened Jungkook’s guilt.
Before he could gather her thoughts, Nyla strode into the
training grounds. The princess’s green eyes were bright and curious, though her
expression grew serious as she approached. Jungkook glanced at her, managing a
faint smile.
“Here to watch?” Jungkook asked, his voice light but strained. “Partly,” Nyla replied, her tone careful. “But mostly… I think we need to talk.” Jungkook raised an eyebrow, his mismatched eyes narrowing slightly. “About what?” Nyla hesitated, her gaze flicking to Mili before returning to Jungkook.
“About what happened. With Taehyung. And Mili.” Jungkook
stiffened at the mention, his fingers stilling against the dragon’s warm
scales. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Too bad,” Nyla said firmly, crossing her arms. “Because you need to understand something—and I mean really understand it.” Jungkook turned to face her fully, his brows furrowing. “What are you talking about?” Nyla sighed, her expression softening slightly.
“Do you know what it means for a
dragon to be ridden for the first time? Their dragon form, I mean.” Jungkook
blinked, caught off guard by the question. “I… I thought it was just part of
their bond. A symbol of trust.”
“It’s more than that,” Nyla said, her voice lowering. “For
dragons, it’s sacred. Intimate. The first person to ride their dragon form is
meant to be their life partner—the one who shares their soul. It’s a bond that
can’t be undone.”
Jungkook’s heart sank as the weight of Nyla’s words settled
over him. He glanced at Spark and Niki, who let out a low rumble as if sensing
the shift in their guardian’s emotions. “But Yoongi… he’s ridden Mili, hasn’t
he?”
Nyla nodded, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “Yes, but it’s different for family. Yoongi and you see each other as siblings, and Mili feels the same. For her, Yoongi is family—her brother. That’s not the same as what happened with Varian.
It’s almost like how humans treasure their first
kiss for their partner, but some common affectionate pecks on the cheeks or
forehead between family members do not count.
Of course, some people don’t care about these things, but we
dragons treasure our culture, bond, and tradition. It’s ancient and symbolic,
and not to forget, Mili is one of the most ancient and magical dragons.
The realization hit Jungkook like a blow. His mind raced, replaying the moments with Varian—the easy laughter, the camaraderie, the ride on Mili that had seemed so innocent at the time. But now, it felt like a betrayal—a breach of the bond he shared with his sole dragon.
He doesn’t know
if it was intentional or if he really wasn’t aware of Mili being Jungkook’s
soul dragon, but it’s done now, and he couldn’t change it back.
“I didn’t know,” Jungkook said softly, his voice trembling.
“I didn’t realize…”
“Now you do,” Nyla said gently. “And so does Taehyung.” At
the mention of his name, Jungkook’s guilt deepened, mingling with the memory of
his anger. He remembered the raw vulnerability in his eyes, the frustration in
his voice, the way he had commanded Mili as though trying to reclaim what had
been lost.
Elsewhere, in the dragon’s den, Taehyung leaned against
Mili’s massive form, his crystal-blue eyes closed as he tried to steady his
emotions. The fiery dragon had followed him there after his confrontation with Jungkook,
her loyalty torn between her guardian and the prince who had summoned her.
Mili let out a soft coo, her warm breath washing over Taehyung
as she curled closer to him. He ran his hand over her scales, his movements
slow and deliberate, as though grounding himself in her presence.
“You’re smarter than he is,” he murmured, his voice low and
filled with restrained anger. “You understand what he doesn’t.”
Mili rumbled softly, her amber eyes half-closing as she
listened. Taehyung’s touch lingered on her neck, his fingers tracing the edges
of her scales as he spoke. “He doesn’t listen. He doesn’t see what’s right in
front of him.”
The dragon let out another soft sound, her tail curling
protectively around Taehyung. He sighed deeply, his anger giving way to a
quieter frustration. “He betrayed something sacred, Mili. Something you and I
both deserved better than.”
Mili shifted slightly, her massive head lowering to rest
beside Taehyung. He leaned against her, his voice softening as he continued. “He
needs to learn… To never take you for granted. That it should have been us, not
them.”
The fiery dragon cooed in response, her warmth enveloping
him like a shield against the storm within his heart. For a moment, Taehyung
allowed himself to let go of his anger, finding solace in the bond he shared
with Mili. But the frustration lingered, a quiet reminder of the rift between
him and Jungkook—a rift he wasn’t sure how to bridge.
Back at the training grounds, Jungkook stood in silence, hIS
mind weighed down by Nyla’s words and the truth he could no longer ignore. He
reached out to Spark, resting his hand against the dragon’s warm scales as
tears pricked the corners of his eyes.
“I was wrong, Spark,” he whispered, his voice trembling. “I didn’t know. I didn’t mean to…” Spark let out a low rumble, his amber eyes meeting Jungkook’s with a quiet understanding.
The dragon lowered his massive
head, nuzzling his guardian gently as if to say that all was not lost—that
forgiveness was still possible.
Jungkook exhaled shakily, his resolve hardening as he turned back to Nyla. “I need to make this right.”
Nyla nodded, her green eyes filled
with quiet encouragement. “Then start by listening, Jungkook. Really listening.
To him, to Mili… to your heart. You are forcing yourself to ignore your true
feelings. You can't change what is written in destiny. Not by avoiding the
truth, at least.”
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting the training grounds in a warm, golden light, Jungkook mounted Spark. The fiery dragon’s powerful wings unfurled, and together they took to the skies, their bond unique in its place.
Jungkook’s heart ached with the weight of his mistakes, but he
knew that he couldn’t let them define him.
He would make things right—with Mili, Taehyung, and himself.
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