The city lights reflected in shallow puddles as Ji-Ho walked beside Seung-Woo beneath the umbrella. Their hands brushed once—accidentally—but neither moved away. The silence between them felt charged, like the pause before thunder.
"Why are you doing this?" Ji-Ho finally asked.
Seung-Woo didn't answer right away. Instead, he turned to look at him, eyes glowing faintly in the low streetlight. "Because I want you to see me. Not just the monster."
Ji-Ho blinked. His heart was doing that annoying thing again—thumping harder, like it was trying to get out.
Before he could reply, a chill swept through the street.
The sky darkened unnaturally. The air grew heavy.
Seung-Woo stopped walking. "Get behind me."
Ji-Ho didn't question it. He moved without thinking, clutching Seung-Woo's coat from the back. "What is it?"
The shadows moved.
From the alley ahead, a tall figure emerged—cloaked in ragged black, pale as moonlight, eyes glowing with the color of dried blood.
"Han Seung-Woo," the vampire hissed. "You've broken the rules."
Seung-Woo's hand went out, shielding Ji-Ho. "He's under my protection."
"You took a human. Marked him. Bonded." The creature grinned, showing sharp, rotting fangs. "You've made him a target."
Ji-Ho gasped, understanding dawning like ice. "What is he talking about?"
The vampire lunged.
In one instant, the umbrella flew out of Seung-Woo's hand. In the next, he moved faster than Ji-Ho could see, catching the attacker mid-air and slamming him into the ground hard enough to crack the concrete.
Ji-Ho stumbled back, horrified and fascinated.
Seung-Woo's voice was deeper now—ancient. "You won't touch him."
The rogue vampire hissed, claws slashing. One cut Seung-Woo's cheek—but it healed instantly. And then, something in Seung-Woo snapped.
His red-wine eyes turned molten. Black veins spread across his skin. His fangs extended—not delicately, but viciously.
Ji-Ho froze.
This… This was no longer just a charming, mysterious man.
This was a predator.
In a blur of motion, Seung-Woo struck. The fight was brutal—almost feral. And when it ended, the rogue vampire was unconscious, sprawled at Seung-Woo's feet, blood oozing from his temple.
Seung-Woo stood over him, chest heaving, body shaking with rage. But then—his gaze met Ji-Ho's.
And everything changed.
He looked… afraid.
"Ji-Ho," he whispered, voice hoarse. "Don't look at me like that."
Ji-Ho couldn't speak. Couldn't move. The image of that monstrous version of Seung-Woo burned in his mind—but so did the way he stood between him and death.
"Are you hurt?" Seung-Woo stepped forward, trembling.
Ji-Ho's voice was barely a whisper. "You… protected me."
Seung-Woo nodded. "Always."
A beat passed.
Then Ji-Ho did something he didn't expect.
He reached out—hand trembling—and touched Seung-Woo's cheek, just where the healing wound had been.
"You're terrifying," he said softly. "But I'm more scared of losing you."
Seung-Woo stared at him like the world had stopped spinning.
And then—without thinking—he leaned down.
Their lips met.
It wasn't perfect—Ji-Ho was wet, cold, and slightly trembling—but the warmth that bloomed in his chest silenced everything else. It was the kind of kiss that rewrote things. Not just desire, but something deeper. A vow.
When they pulled apart, Ji-Ho was breathless.
"I thought I was running from a nightmare," he whispered. "But maybe I was running from you."
Seung-Woo smiled—genuine, aching, relieved. "And now?"
Ji-Ho looked up. "Now I think I'm falling for one."
Seung-Woo leaned his forehead against Ji-Ho's. "I'll protect you from everything. Even myself."
But far away, in the vampire elders' sanctum, the words of warning echoed.
"The Blood Vow is forming. The bond is awakening."
"If it completes… not even death will separate them."
To Be Continued…