RINEI

I gasp.

And all I can do is stay frozen on the bed, hearing a pair of fists pounding away on the other side of the door. My fingertips are clutching the hem of the blankets.

My entire body's shaking.

Someone knows.

Did something happen to Jimin?

Then I press down another stunned gasp when a low, familiar voice echoes through my head. It's so clear, that I know I'm not dreaming.

Don't open that door. It'll be alright.

Tae.

I can't reply. When I try to, my throat stays muted as always— and I nod frantically, trying to calm my rapid breaths as I stare at the shut door. For a moment I'd thought it would give way.

But it doesn't.

The pounding gradually grows quiet.

I wait. And I'm about to slowly shift off the bed when I hear his voice again. It echoes, a firm warning in my head.

Stay still, love. Whoever it is hasn't gone. They listen for you.

I freeze up again, a chill wracking my entire figure.

Listening for me?

He's right. Soon after, I hear the barest footsteps as it echoes away from the door, and a string of soft, hushed curses. The breath I'd been holding spills out of me in quick puffs.

Good. Good, Rinei.

He can talk to me. And I try to speak to him, through my mind. But I find that I can't, and hurry to put my hands out in front of me and sign.

My signs are rushed.

Where are you? Where are you, Tae?

There's a quiet sigh.

Please don't try and find me, love. He replies back, voice soft and gentle. I'll be fine. It's already too dangerous for you to be here.

My eyes widen.

But I'd seen the chains— felt them. How could he tell me that he was truly okay?

Because I knew he wasn't. He wasn't at all.

My finger signs a soft liar.

He laughs. It sounds so weak and delicate, and my chest squeezes with pain when I hear it. He sounds so weak.

I would be lying if I said I'm feeling comfortable here. But I will survive. You will not if you get caught trying to find me.

His voice suddenly sharpens.

And without you, you already know that I am nothing.

He's right. My hands slowly fall by my sides, expression turning cloudy. What help would I be to him if I just went out there blindly, trying to find where he was? I'd just get caught and killed.

But someone already suspected that I was here. Somehow. Why else would they have knocked so hard on the door to the Prince's room itself?

My eyes keep flickering anxiously back and forth.

What do I do, Tae? Will you stay with me?

I can almost see his soft smile.

Yes, I will.

You don't want to leave the room, Rinei. He slowly starts advising, his words like a steady beam of light in the darkness of my thoughts. It is the safest place for now. Very few people can break through the lock without my permission.

Did you say Jimin went to find me?

I nod.

Something must've happened.

My heartbeat stills at his serious voice. Jimin— gone? Suddenly the room seems too cold, the Palace feeling like as if it might just swallow me whole.

It'll be fine, He whispers again. I'm with you. Don't be anxious.

I'm not anxious. I sign, making him chuckle softly. Just worried for Jimin.

Alright. Talk to me, Rinei.

A small smile ghosts on my lips. My hands unconsciously twist at the corners of the bedsheets, wanting him here next to me.

You're real, right?

Of course I am.

My smile gets a little bigger.

I just— don't understand, My fingers flash, leaning back into the bed. How we can do this. This is supposed to be impossible.

There's a brief silence before his voice comes again.

I'm...not completely sure either.

I blink. Was it just me or did he sound darker?

Just change the topic.

I hesitate for a few seconds before I finally sign out the words, biting my bottom lip and flushing a little from embarrassment.

I missed you, Tae.

My mind stays quiet. But I can practically feel his glowing pleasure from the other side, and blush even harder.

I missed you too, love. More than you could ever realize.

His voice feels so intimate. It feels as if he's whispering right into my ear, and a shiver runs through my body as I curl up tighter against the headboard.

I—

Then my head jerks up when I hear the rapid twisting of the doorknob. I instinctively tense, my eyes wide as the door unlocks and flings open.

On the other side stands Jimin, his pale face flushed and his blonde locks undone around the frame of his neck. He's breathing rapidly.

"My lady."

Jimin.

I instantly shuffle off the bed.  My eyes quickly glance over his figure— he looks fine, but I couldn't be completely sure.

Are you okay?

"I'm fine." He breathes, with a rush of relief. "I'm more relieved that you are safe, Lady Rinei."

Tae helped me.

"The Prince?" He echoes, brows furrowing.

Mhm. I nod. He was the one who told me to stay put and wait for you.

My eyes turn upwards.

Right, Tae?

I blink when I don't hear an answer.

"But you were awake, weren't you?" Jimin cuts me off from my thoughts, and I nod again. The shade of his face suddenly storms over.

"Is he here with you now?"

I shake my head. I think he left.

"No."

The tone of his voice. It's so stiff, and I look up in surprise. His expression is serious.

"It's getting worse." He breathes.

What's getting worse?

Jimin meets eyes with me. Then he hesitates, swallowing clearly. But then I can see it, when he chooses to tell me.

"His magic."

"It's taking him, bit by bit."

_______________________________

TAEHYUNG

"Why can I feel your magic all over you?"

"Answer me."

A curse whispers itself in my mind as I see my father come closer. I hadn't thought he would be able to feel it— with my physical body being so weak. And I'd been careful with the link I'd had with Rinei.

But he'd found out.

"Do you want me to force the truth out of you?" He hisses, his robe sweeping against the cold floor. My jaw flexes when I feel his fingertips press harshly into my forehead.

My father murmurs lowly.

"Is that what you truly want?"

He couldn't know. He couldn't know that I'd linked myself with Rinei, that night when I'd taken her memories. He would be furious. He would find her and kill her— knowing that she was still alive and he'd failed, in his first time.

I can't. I can't have that.

So I stay silent. And he curses— in a manner so unlike him.

"You've been using your magic, behind my back." He growls, his voice tight with fury. "Your soul is turning weak— I can feel it. But how. Where are you using this? Who are you using it on?"

"Let me know. Before your soul suffers the price of your mistakes."

Don't act like you worry for me, Father.

You worry for my magic. And my magic, only.

It's always been that.

Tears line my eyes. And I don't need to see his face, to feel the pure rage from my disobedience. I feel the first shiver, as the beginning of my Father's magic runs down my body.

And for the first time, I'm uncertain.

Even in his worst punishments, he'd always kept me alive to recover. Because he valued the magic I carried as his heir— not me, but my value as the Elven Prince.

But now. I'd let him know I would defy him over and over again.

Would he keep me alive?

I hear his low hiss, seconds before my screams fill the small, dark room.

"Then feel pain, son."