While showering off the rancid stench of Dimitri, I suddenly grow dizzy…and the man himself emerges from the shadows.
"You didn't recognize those flowers did you, (Y/N)? That's uncut wolfsbane."
Dimitri's voice sliced through me. I stagger back, my lungs burning as I choke on the poisoned steam all around me.
"Aw, does it hurt? I'm sorry. It can be quite deadly when its perfume is mixed with water vapor."
Dimitri drags a finger slowly over the foggy glass, coming closer and closer to the door–the only thing separating him from me. With the last of my strength, I search the room for any other way out. A window, a drain–
"Sorry. There's only one way out."
Dimitri's dark chuckle comes from right over my shoulder. Before I can react, he throws me across the room. I fly back, my wet, naked body crumpling on the tile. With slow, taunting footsteps, Dimitri comes closer to me, taking a long, indulgent whiff of the poisoned air.
"Since you're going to be my claim, I'll let you in on a little secret. I'm immune to wolfsbane."
I try to crawl away, my vision blurring, every breath is like swallowing glass. Dimitri pounces on me, slamming his hand into my back.
"I know. My good looks weren't the only thing I was born with. Lucky, huh?"
"Get your filthy hands off of me."
"You know? That hurts, (Y/N). I wish you could understand just how much. I suppose it feels a little like this.
Dimitri digs his claws into my back, so deep he draws blood.
"Ahhh!"
"What was that? An apology for treating me so terribly since our first meeting? I didn't quite hear it."
He presses down harder, right into my spine. I feel like he is going to crack me in half.
"Nngh…I'm sorry. That I didn't castrate you."
"Mmm. I'm sure you'll come to regret that often, my pet. So very often."
I want to fight harder. I will every muscle in my body to move. But I can't. Darkness starts to swallow me, working it's way over my eyesight, encroaching further and further.
"That's it. Just go to sleep. Give in to the pain. When you wake up…"
He rakes his claws up my back, licking the shell of my ear.
"…You'll learn what it means to have a real master."
BAM! Suddenly, the glass wall enclosing the shower explodes, and something huge flies over me, knocking Dimitri back.
"Maybe you didn't hear me the first time. (Y/N) doesn't belong to you."
"San…"
San snarls, standing over me protectively in the obliterated shower.
"She doesn't belong to you either, bastard."
Dimitri moves to strike, but Yeosang slams him against the wall so hard he spits blood.
"But she does belong to me. And I believe I told you to stay away from her."
The shattered glass releases the poisoned steam and I am finally able to choke out a few words.
"San, Yeosang…help me."
"Don't worry, we'll get you out of here, (Y/N). Right after we put down this dog."
San drops a towel over me. Dimitri sneers.
"Now, now, boys. This doesn't have to get messy. Let's talk this through."
Suddenly, I notice something in Dimitri's hand: A small dagger. Before I can warn him, Dimitri stabs the dagger into Yeosang's hand, pinning him to the wall with it.
"Fuck!"
Finally loose, Dimitri smashes into San and I. All three of us barrel out into the main bathroom.
"Why haven't you learned your lesson, bastard?"
Through the haze of pain and poison, I see something that makes my heart stop: Dimitri is on of San smashing his head against the window.
"You'll never be one of us. You'll never be worthy of a mate like (Y/N)."
"Go to hell you–"
Dimitri rams San's head against the window so hard, the glass shatters. The wind whips into the bathroom, and I'm reminded that I'm in the highest tower.
"I remember the day you were born, you silver-eyed freak. Do you want to know what everyone said?"
San tries to fight, but blood seeps from his skull. Dimitri's hands clamp around his throat and he thrusts him out the window.
"Everyone said your father should kill you. Bash your head against the rocks of the Chaesukgang Cliff shores. Well, I suppose I can do the honors."
"No! San!"
San swears kicking and clawing at Dimitri. But it's no use. Dimitri starts to let go. That's when I see it: A huge piece of sharp, broken glass on the floor, between Dimitri and I. Taking as deep a breath of the clean air as I can muster, I drag myself to the shard of glass and grab it.
"Goodbye, you pathetic waste of–"
Dimitri's words halt in his throat as I lunge for him, plunging the sharde of glass deep into his shoulder blade.
"I think it's you we'll be saying goodbye to."
I twist the shard in Dimitri's back and he screams, staggering back into the room and pulling San to safety.
"Aghh!!! You little bitch!!!"
He doubles over, clawing at his back. San coughs and struggles to his feet, winded but alive.
"Thank you, (Y/N)."
"Yeah. Thank you." Yeosang adds.
Finally free of the dagger, Yeosang stalks up to Dimitri and yanks the glass shard from his back. Dimitri screams again. Rising to my feet, I take the shard from Yeosang, sauntering up to Dimitri on the ground.
"Now, about those negotiations over your list of "demands"."
I hold the shard to Dimitri's throat. Dimitri pales.
"Here's my offer. You tear up your fucking demands and get the hell out of here. And I don't bleed you like a pig. Sound reasonable?"
Dimitri cannot speak. He can barely move. All he can manage…is a small nod.
"Good. Now get the fuck out of here."
With a venomous growl, Dimitri clamors to his feet and bolts for the door.
"(Y/N)…that was…"
But with my newfound safety comes newfound pain. My adrenaline leaves me and my knees buckle as unimaginable anguish takes hold.
"(Y/N)!!!"
San catches me as I fall. He and Yeosang stare at the dozens of cuts on my body, my blood mixing with poison droplets.
"The wolfsbane is making its way into her system. WE have to do something."
"Get her to the bed." Yeosang commands.
"I'm going to be fine." I tell them.
"You won't if you don't quit the tough girl act and cooperate." Yeosang tells me.
San lifts me into his arms and rushes me to the bed. When my back hits the mattress, a white hot flash of excruciating pain seizes my whole body.
"What?!" Yeosang shouts.
"Her back."
Yeosang sees the blood on San's arms. He rolls me onto my side and tries to pull away the towel. I cling to it.
"N-no."
"(Y/N), please. We have to look."
Yeosang's voice is steady and earnest. There is no lust in it. With a painful nod, I let go of the towel. He rips it off of me in a flourish.
"My God."
San's fingers brush over the ribbons of flesh barely clinging to my back. I scream in agony.
"It's so deep. We can call for a doctor but they won't get here for–" Yeosang begins to say until San cuts him off.
"I can fix this."
San's eyes flash silver. The energy in the air changes, churning over him as he summons his magic to him.
"What are you–"
"I'll explain later. The point is, I can help. But I can't deal with the wolfsbane at the same time."
"Don't worry about that."
Yeosang's eyes blaze a crimson brighter than I've ever seen. He leans over me, his voice dropping to a velvet smooth Alpha growl.
"I can suck it out of her." Yeosang informs.
"Y-You can what?"
"It's the only way, (Y/N). I'll pull it free from your cuts.
"That's–"
"Necessary. Now, stay still and let us work."
The poison pulses through me, drawing nearer and nearer to my heart. At the same time, my blood escapes me, seeping from my exposed spine.
"You have to accept it, (Y/N)."
"Let us do this."
The Alphas come closer and closer, their power threading together like a blanket of warmth, promising the relief I so crave.
"Okay. Yes."
With my breath of permission, San's eyes flame a silver to rival the stars and Yeosang vaults on top of me.
"Good. Just hold still and trust us."
Yeosang's words are husky and hot against my skin. His eyes blaze like rolling magma. Then, he presses his lips to a wound on my abdomen, and he sucks. His wolfish mouth pulls hard at my wound, but it doesn't hurt. The pressure gives way to pleasure, and he spits out the poison.
"Next."
As he works his tongue over my body, I feel San's feathering words trickle across my mangled body.
"Tasaeng-gwa jaesaeng-ui him. Chimmuggwa pyeonghwaui him. I mom-eul chilyohaejuseyo."
The ancient, now familiar words gather again like storm clouds, growing more potent with each syllable. Then, it's as if cool rain falls as the wound starts to stitch itself back together, following San's mystical command.
He's willing to expose this secret to Yeosang? For…me?
The thought escapes me as Yeosang moves up to my ribs, pulling at my flesh with his tongue and teeth.
"That's it. Almost there."
Caught in a storm of fire and ice, all I can do is gasp as the brothers bind me with their power.
"Sangcheobad-eun ideul-eul chiyuhae jusibsio."
"More. A little more."
My mind goes fuzzy as magic and strength consume me, replacing every pain with a splash of pleasure. I don't know how long it takes. All sense of time is lost. But the brothers finally complete their work. Finally free of pain, I collapse on the bed, my exposed body damp and shivering.
"You did it, (Y/N)." San says.
"That was nothing." I heave my chest.
"It was far more than most have to endure. I'm sorry."
"Why are you sorry? We didn't do this." Yeosang grits his teeth.
"Says the man who left her alone with that monster."
"This is my fault?"
"What part of this isn't your fault? You brought her here, dangled her like a carrot for that fucked up–"
Yeosang slams San against the wall. They snarl at each other.
"Hey…stop it. That's enough!"
I try to sit up, but a rush of cold air makes me tremble. They stop and stare. I gather the sheets around me, suddenly aware of how exposed I really am.
"If you want to help, you could get me some clothes."
"Right."
"Yes."
Both Yeosang and San speak at once, and run from the room. When they return, they're both holding silken fabric.
"You didn't have to get her anything. I had something pulled for her after she arrived." San tells Yeosang.
"And you think I wasn't prepared for her arrival? I have a whole wardrobe selected for her."
They both thrust a set of beautiful pajamas into my lap.
"Here. I tried to grab you something tasteful." San smiles.
"Me, too."
"It's red. Your favorite color."
"That's not why I grabbed it, I–"
Yeosang stops short. He looks away.
"I just think red looks nice on her."
"And I think blue does as well."
I look at both brothers in annoyance.
"I can't handle this feud."
"There's no feud." San blurts.
"Just change, (Y/N). That's an order." Yeosang spits.
I turn the pajamas over in my hands.
"Which one should I wear?"
"Just pick the ones you feel most yourself in." San softly smiles.
That's not what this is about. Anyone can see that.
San and Yeosang turn their backs while I change. The blue silk feels like cool liquid against my still throbbing skin.
"So? Which did you pick?" San asks.
"See for yourself."
They turn to face me. All of San's composure is wiped away the second he sees me.
"Wow. (Y/N), you look…"
"Is it okay?"
I catch the curl of a smile on San's face. He steps toward me.
"It's more than okay."
He takes his time looking me up and down, his mouth parted. Even Yeosang can't keep his eyes off me.
"It's made for you, (Y/N)."
"Thank you."
"We should get to bed." Yeosang suggests.
Taking my hand, Yeosang guides me over to the bed, away from San.
"I had servants bring fresh sheets." San informs.
"Good. We'll all need to get a good night's rest. We'll have to deal with Dimitri come morning."
He lowers me down on the mattress, his huge, hot body just inches from mine.
"Uh, I'll just sleep on the couch."
"You'll do no such thing." Yeosang growls softly.
Then, he blows the candle out above me and rises to his feet.
"You'll take the bed. I'll be sleeping on the other side of the door.
"Same here." San adds.
"What? But why?"
"After what we just went through, do you really need to ask."
"He's right, (Y/N). Someone needs to guard your door." San agrees.
"But you've both been through so much."
"Far less than you've been through. And we'll sleep better knowing you're safe."
"Someone's guarding the door. End of story." Yeosang says firmly.
"But–"
"No "buts". Now just get some sleep and–"
Automatically, my hand flies out and reaches for San and Yeosang as they move for the door.
"Wait!"
The brothers turn back, their eyebrows raised.
"(Y/N), are you…are you scared?" Yeosang asks.
An uncontrollable shiver travels down my body. I feel how close the bathroom still is. Dimitri's words echo in my memory.
"Not scared…exactly…"
Recognizing my fear, both San and Yeosang take a small step toward me.
"One of us could stay while the other watches the door." Yeosang suggests.
"Would that make you feel better?"
"I…"
I pause. They take another step toward me, their formidable bodies casting long shadows against the moonlight.
"If that's what you want, just say the word."
"But we'll understand if we scare you, too." San says.
I look between them hesitantly.
"You don't scare me, San. Please stay."
"Me? You're sure?"
"Yes. I'm sure."
"Thought so."
Yeosang sulks out of the room. When I'm alone with San, I climb into the bed and pull the covers back.
"Will this really make you more comfortable?"
"Of course. You've saved my life. More than once."
San smiles. Then, he slips into the bed beside me, the hard angles of his body glinting in the moonlight. His leg brushes against mine and a jolt of electricity rockets through my body.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to touch you."
"That was nothing. I barely felt it." I smile softly.
"Nothing? I know it wasn't nothing."
I catch his dark smile.
"I'll be sure to stay on my side of the bed. God knows you've been through enough tonight."
"That wasn't fear I felt."
The words leave me before I can stop them. San turns to face me.
"It wasn't? What was it then?"
The mattress dips beneath his strong, dense body, threatening to pull me in.
"It was…uh…"
He shifts closer to me, looking at me in a way he never has before.
"You want to be held, don't you?"
It isn't a question. He slides his body against mine. Even through his suit, I can feel his warmth.
"After everything you just went through, I can understand. Feeling alone is…"
His words trail off. I know, deep down, he understands isolation better than anyone.
"Come here."
"Okay.
My invitation is soft, barely audible. But San hears it. He threads his arms around my waist, pulling me into his warm body.
"You're so small. I need to be careful not to break you."
"I'm not so fragile."
"Fragile? Not at all. That's one of the first things I like about you."
One of the first things he…likes about me?
I shift against him, swimming in the sensation of his body against mine. He groans on contact, burying his face in the crook of my neck.
"God, your smell…"
"What about it?"
"Let's just say it's going to make it difficult to sleep."
My heart skips a beat at the truth in his words. A truth only spoken in the dark.
"Goodnight, (Y/N)."
"Yeah…goodnight…"
I finally allow the last of my guard to drop as he folds me close. I smell him, too. His sweet, scotch scent makes my vision blur. Finally, sleep rolls in over his smell, blanketing me in a calm I haven't felt in days. I close my eyes and drift.
"…(Y/N)..."
The woman's voice leads me through the darkness. The same voice I've heard every time I've slept.
Could that be…my mom?
"(Y/N). (Y/N)!"
A new, tinkling young voice cuts into the void. A voice that feels much closer and much more real.
"(Y/N)!!"
I open my eyes to find a small child standing over me, the hidden mirror door swung open on the opposite side of the room.
"What? Who–?"
"I'm Wyla. Hina sent me. The Omega woman you helped."
Hina? The girl I freed from the dungeons?
"I'm here to get you out, (Y/N). But you have to come with me. Right now."