Chapter 52 || BOUND AND TORN BY PROPHECIES

 

Bound by Destiny

 

The night was quiet, the air heavy with the stillness that only the darkest hours could bring. The palace seemed to hold its breath as Taehyung stood outside Jungkook’s door, his hand hovering over the wood, his crystal-blue eyes narrowed in frustration. He had come to confront him, to break the silence that had stretched between them since his acceptance of Varian’s courtship.

The memory of his words—his agreement—still clawed at his chest, stoking the flames of jealousy that refused to die. He knocked firmly, his patience wearing thin as the sound echoed through the hall. “Jungkook,” he called out, his voice low but sharp. “Open the door.”

Inside, Jungkook froze. He had been preparing for sleep when the knock startled him, but the voice that followed confirmed his suspicions. It was Taehyung. His mismatched eyes flicked to the door, his heart pounding as he deliberated what to do. He wanted to make things right between them, but not like this—not when his anger was so palpable.

He stayed silent, his hands gripping the edge of his night robe as he stepped back. His decision not to open the door was deliberate, an attempt to defuse the tension before it could escalate further. But outside, Taehyung’s patience snapped.
“Jungkook,” he repeated, his tone darker now. “I know you’re there.”

Still, no response came. Taehyung exhaled sharply, his jaw tightening as the anger simmering within him threatened to boil over. He stared at the door for a moment longer before turning away, his footsteps heavy as he walked down the hall. The air around him seemed to chill as he left, his frustration leaving him colder than ever.

As he rounded the corner into the dimly lit corridor, he stopped abruptly. His sharp gaze landed on Queen Luria, standing there as if she had been waiting for him. The sight of her caught him off guard, though he hid his surprise behind an impassive expression.
“Mother,” he said, his tone steady. “What are you doing here?”
Queen Luria smiled faintly, her regal demeanour softened by the warmth in her amber eyes. “I might ask you the same, Taehyung,” she replied, her tone teasing. “What are you doing in this wing of the palace at such an hour?”

“I was passing by,” Taehyung lied, his voice measured as he avoided her gaze.
Her quiet laugh echoed through the hall, light and melodic. “Passing by?” she repeated, the amusement in her voice unmistakable. “I see. And you expect me to believe you were simply wandering without reason?”

Taehyung remained silent, his expression unmoving. Queen Luria’s smile widened slightly, her sharp gaze never leaving him. “Come,” she said, gesturing for him to follow. “Let’s see where your wandering takes you.”

 

They walked in silence through the halls, their footsteps echoing softly against the stone. Queen Luria led him to the palace library, its towering shelves and ornate decor bathed in the soft glow of moonlight. The room exuded an air of wisdom and mystery, the scent of old parchment lingering in the air.

The Queen led him through the labyrinth of shelves until they reached a small circular chamber.
She stopped before one of the shelves, her hands skimming over the rows of ancient texts. In its centre stood a pedestal, and upon it, a single ancient scroll, sealed in crystal. She waved her hand. The crystal shimmered and melted into mist, and the scroll unfurled with a sound like a breath.

“This,” she said, her voice quiet but firm, “is what I wanted to show you. Second prophecy about the guardian.” She read aloud:

“Bound not by blood, nor oath, but soul.

Guardian and Flame, two halves of one whole.
 When stars burn low and fate is torn,
 Their bond will rise, reborn.”

 

Taehyung felt the words echo through his bones. He knew them.
He had read them once before, long ago, when he had first started feeling something he could not name. Something that bloomed whenever Jungkook entered a room. Something that burned when he smiled at anyone else.

“You know what it means, don’t you?” Queen Luria said, her smile widening as she turned to him. “You and Jungkook are bound forever. He is not just your guardian but your destiny.”
Taehyung’s jaw tightened, his gaze flicking away as he refused to meet her eyes. “That’s not true,” he said firmly. “You’re mistaken.”

“Oh, Taehyung,” she said, laughing softly. “You think you can fool me? I’ve lived for over five thousand years. I’ve been married to your father for more than two thousand of them. Do you think I can’t recognize the emotions written so clearly on your face?”

Her words struck him, leaving him momentarily speechless. Queen Luria continued, her tone gentle but teasing. “I’ve seen the way you look at him. The way your jealousy flares when he’s close to Varian or anyone else. You can deny it all you want, but the truth remains—you feel the bond, even if he doesn’t.”

She leaned in slightly, eyes gleaming. “I am not a child, Taehyung. But perhaps… you are.”

He froze. The words hit harder than they should have.

A child. To him. To Jungkook.

The memory of his rejection, his voice trembling as he told him they could never be more, flashed through his mind like a cruel tide. His eyes darkened—shadows blooming within blue flame. But the Queen lifted a hand, calming. “Calm down,” she said lightly, her teasing tone returning. “This isn’t something to get angry about. If anything, it’s something to work for.”
“Do not let pride or anyone else take away what is already yours.”

Taehyung said nothing, but his silence was not denial—it was torment.

“He is human,” the Queen said, almost wistfully. “He doesn’t know how to interpret the bond. It frightens him. Confuses him. But Mili, his soul-dragon… even she senses it. Don’t think I haven’t seen the way that little beast watches you with those shining eyes, knowing far too much.”

A faint smirk touched her lips. “If you want him to accept what he is to you… you must make him feel it. No more running. No more waiting.” She turned toward the scroll again, brushing a hand across the ancient runes. “Fate is a stubborn thing. And he is more stubborn still. But destiny, Taehyung…” She looked back at him. “…belongs to those who fight for it.”

With that, she turned and left the library, her amber eyes glinting with quiet amusement as she glanced back at him one last time. Taehyung remained where he stood, the quiet of the library pressing down on him as her words echoed in his mind.

Destiny. Bond. Forever.

His determination solidified, the flames of jealousy replaced by a steely resolve. If it was true—if Jungkook was meant to be his—then he couldn’t run away anymore because he would stop at nothing to prove that what was predicted would come out true.

With that, she turned, her robes whispering as she walked past him toward the exit. At the threshold, she paused, casting him one last glance over her shoulder. “Work harder, little prince. For what is already yours.”

Then she was gone. Silence swallowed the library again. Taehyung stood there for a long time, eyes on the scroll. The words burned in his mind, echoing louder than the Queen’s voice.

Guardian and Flame.
Two halves of one whole.

The fire in his chest no longer raged in chaos. It had a focus now. He would be his. Not out of force. Not out of command. But because nothing in the world—no bond, no blood, no fear—could keep them apart.

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