Chapter Text
Hyunjin startled awake, panic clawing at his chest for a moment. His hand flew to his throat. No collar. He pressed his palm over his fast-beating heart. He was alive…
“It’s fine,” the witch next to him whispered. “You’re home. Or well, almost.”
He glanced at the road that led up to the house. He had stopped the car, probably waiting for Hyunjin to wake, to ready himself.
Hyunjin eyed the road, breathing in deeply. “It’s silly, but… I’m scared to face them. For me, it was like… closing my eyes and waking again. But they… Their pain…”
Seungmin took his hand. “They’ll be shocked. But the joy will be that much greater, Hyunjin. They love you. I love you. As a friend,” he added, and Hyunjin chuckled weakly.
“I love you, too, Minnie…”
Hyunjin examined Seungmin as the witch turned on the engine again. He had looked half-dead back in the warehouse. He had done his best, given his all… just to bring Hyunjin back. He had sacrificed a lot. Crossing a line that shouldn’t be crossed. If anyone found out what Seungmin had done, what he had accomplished…
Hyunjin closed his eyes again. His heart hammered in his chest as they drove up to the house. The gravel seemed so much louder under the wheels, the shade of the trees so much darker…
Hyunjin stared at the house coming closer. It had been a while since he had last seen it. Since the Collector and his witch had taken him and Felix.
He almost sobbed when he saw the figure sitting on the stairs leading up to the house, head buried in his hands, shoulders slumped, looking utterly forlorn.
Chan’s eyes snapped up. There was so much sadness in them, and Hyunjin hated that he had put that sadness there.
Seungmin stopped the car, and Chan got to his feet, only to freeze as he realised who was sitting next to the witch. The hybrid slowly shook his head in disbelief. He took a staggering step forward.
“Chan,” Hyunjin breathed out.
He got out of the car, wobbling on weak legs and holding himself up by gripping onto the door. Hyunjin had only gotten a short moment with Chan at the Collector’s estate. He had missed him so much, and he ached to touch him, breathe him in.
He raised a hand, reaching out to Chan. The hybrid got moving again, and within a split second, he had taken Hyunjin’s hand and pulled him against his chest.
“Y–You’re here ,” Chan choked out. “You’re alive…”
His hands clutched at his back, his neck, his hair, desperate to convince himself Hyunjin was real. He pulled back slightly, cupping Hyunjin’s face between his hands, wide eyes, glistening with tears, roamed over his features.
“Chan? Is Seungmin back?” Felix asked from the door. “I heard the car–”
The vampire’s jaw dropped when he saw the hybrid holding onto Hyunjin. The fae looked up from the crook of Chan’s neck, meeting Felix’s teary eyes. His friend came running, calling out for Minho to come quickly.
Felix hesitated as he stood before the couple and then threw his arms around both of them, burying his face in Hyunjin’s nape, his tears dripping onto the skin.
Lured by the vampire’s yelling, Changbin, Jisung, and Jeongin rushed out of the house as well. Minho was last.
He stood rooted at the door, fists clenched at his sides, his lips parted, and his chest rising and falling unevenly. He looked at Hyunjin like he was seeing a ghost.
“Hyunjin,” he whispered, a tear sliding down his cheek.
His eyes didn’t leave Hyunjin’s as he pushed past his friends and wrapped his arms around him tightly, one hand gripping the back of Hyunjin’s head.
“You idiot,” Minho whispered against his temple. “You absolute idiot… Don’t ever do that again… I love you…”
A sob broke free, and Hyunjin pulled his boyfriends closer, his shoulders shaking as well now as he cried. His heart fluttered uncontrollably at Minho’s words.
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” Hyunjin hiccupped. “I n–never intended to cause you so much pain…”
Felix took a step back, chuckling wetly as he watched the three huddled together. Changbin wrapped his arm around his waist, smiling as tears gathered in his eyes. Jisung laughed softly, shaking his head, and Jeongin buried his face in Seungmin’s chest to muffle his crying. The witch smiled, exhausted, as he watched them all and tugged Jeongin closer.
“Never do that again,” Chan murmured. “You’re not allowed to leave us again…”
Minho kissed Hyunjin’s cheek, his jaw, his nose and lastly his lips. He kept staring at Hyunjin, still not fully believing that he was actually here in his arms. Breathing and his heart beating.
He turned to Seungmin and reluctantly drew away from Hyunjin, but still holding onto his sleeve. The witch looked back at him, his body weak and trembling, and Minho pulled him closer with one arm.
“You bastard,” he softly cried against Seungmin’s shoulder. “Thank you… Thank you for bringing him back… Thank you, Seungmin…”
Hyunjin watched them with a soft smile, leaning heavily against Chan, who kept brushing his fingers through the fae’s hair and along his cheeks. He groaned lowly as he closed his eyes, swaying. The hybrid immediately grasped him tightly to support him. Minho whirled around, instantly catching the fae as well.
“He needs to rest. A lot,” Seungmin said. “I… I have no experience with bringing someone back from the dead, so we have to keep a close eye on him.”
“You definitely need rest as well,” Changbin said, looking the witch up and down. “You can barely stand yourself.”
“The ritual was… quite draining.”
“You really did it,” Jisung said, awe in his voice even though he looked slightly wary, almost fearful. “You brought him back…”
“And no one can ever know,” the witch said, looking around at his gathered friends.
Hyunjin hummed in agreement, his eyes half-lidded as he met Seungmin’s gaze.
“We won’t tell anyone,” Chan promised. “I… Thank you, Seungmin… Thank you for trying and bringing him back to us…”
Seungmin gave him a lopsided smile and waved his hand dismissively. Hyunjin rolled his eyes fondly.
“Don’t sell yourself short,” he said. “That ritual wasn’t… easy. It took a great toll on you.”
Jeongin nodded. “You were gone for hours,” he murmured hoarsely from crying and cleared his throat. “Your magic must be pretty depleted.”
“Both of us are depleted,” Seungmin agreed and looked at Hyunjin. “It’ll need some time to replenish our magic.”
Minho laced his fingers with Hyunjin’s, his eyes trailing to the fae’s wrist. “Your seal…”
“It wore off after Hyunjin died,” the witch explained. “I can’t wait to see how powerful you’ll become now that you’re rid of your shackles, Jinnie.”
Hyunjin pressed his lips together. “Yeah… Right…”
“It’s nothing we have to concern ourselves with now,” Chan said and kissed the fae’s cheek. “Let’s get you to bed, love.”
They helped Hyunjin and Seungmin into the house. Before Jeongin left with the witch, he hugged Hyunjin tightly and whispered how glad he was that he was back.
Hyunjin was grateful, too. He couldn’t express it in words. He hadn’t experienced the same pain as the others had; he could only imagine what they’d been going through. But he remembered dying. He remembered the sky above him, Minho’s voice and taking that last breath before darkness had swallowed him.
But after that… There was still that hollow feeling carved in his chest—that fear of not having an anchor back to this world. Hyunjin hoped it would fade.
Hyunjin drifted in and out of sleep. His boyfriends made him drink water and fed him bits here and there. They slept with him at night, even though it was a tight fit, but Hyunjin didn’t mind. They made him feel safe and loved. They held him close as if they were scared he might vanish any moment. He sometimes noticed Minho waking up at night, reaching out for Hyunjin, and resting his head right above the fae’s heart, just to be sure he was alive and breathing.
Hyunjin woke several times, hearing whispers, seeing shadows hush past. He wondered if Seungmin heard them, too. However, the necromancer probably saw and heard many things. The thought sent a shiver down Hyunjin’s spine.
He also had nightmares. His hands often darted to his neck to a collar that wasn’t there. Pain surged through him as Aline took another part of him. He heard Jaeho whisper into his ear, touch his skin and always got bolder. Hyunjin was grateful his boyfriends were always there and reminded him that he was safe.
Seungmin slept for two days before visiting Hyunjin. Felix was wrapped around the fae. They had talked for a long time, cried, and finally fallen asleep. Chan and Minho had only reluctantly left Hyunjin’s side, but Felix had insisted on spending time with his friend. They had shared the trauma of their captivity after all.
And now the witch demanded to have his time with Hyunjin as well. Felix grumbled, kissed Hyunjin’s cheek and stumbled out of bed. Seungmin lay down next to the fae, their fingers almost touching as they looked at each other, lying on their sides.
Hyunjin knew they had forged a deep bond between them. Seungmin had given him a second chance. He would be eternally grateful to the witch.
“How are you?” Hyunjin asked.
“Still tired,” Seungmin sighed. “How about you? Any side effects?”
Hyunjin hesitated. He licked his lips and murmured, “I think… I think I’ve been hearing voices. I see shadows… They just… They don’t do anything. They just lurk…”
Seungmin nodded slowly. His fingers twitched, brushing against Hyunjin’s. “It might fade—just echoes of the other side. As long as they don’t do anything to harm you… Are you scared?”
“A bit?” Hyunjin let out a soft chuckle.
“Have you told Chan and Minho?”
The fae shook his head. “I haven’t told them anything… I know they want to ask. But they’re giving me space and I’m thankful for that… I will tell them eventually.”
“Good. Don’t worry. The shadows and voices will vanish. Or you’ll… learn to live with them.” Seungmin looked away, at their fingertips touching. “At least I have.”
Hyunjin bit into his lower lip, reaching out to fully grasp Seungmin’s hand. “I’m sorry…”
Seungmin shrugged, a smirk pulling at his lips. “It’s nothing I can’t handle. I’ve lived with voices in my head since my necromancy powers awakened.”
Chan and Minho fussed over Hyunjin a lot. They barely left his side. If Hyunjin so much as shifted on the couch, Chan’s head would turn instantly. Minho always lingered close by, offering him tea he never finished and blankets he never asked for.
Hyunjin thought it was endearing but also slightly irritating. But he didn’t ask them to stop. They had grieved him. In some way, they still did. He could see it in their eyes—the haunting, the fear of losing him still clung to them.
He asked them about it one evening when they went to bed. The rain splashed against the windows, and thunder rumbled in the not-too-far distance when Hyunjin climbed under the covers and his boyfriends snuggled up to him.
Chan hesitated, glancing at Minho for a moment.
“I’m not sure it’s a good idea, love,” Chan said. “I don’t even really know how to express with words how devastated we were… I felt like someone carved a hole into my heart…”
Hyunjin gnawed on his bottom lip, looking down at his belly, where their hands rested and Chan had linked their fingers. “I’m sorry I put you through this,” he whispered.
“I know, Jinnie. We all know you didn’t get… killed on purpose…”
Chan looked at Minho again. The vampire kept quiet and didn’t meet his gaze.
“Minho, he—”
Minho pushed himself up on his elbow and hissed at him. “Chan.”
Hyunjin furrowed his brows in confusion and looked between his two boyfriends. “What…? What’s wrong?”
Minho shook his head. He slumped back into the mattress, eyes focused on the ceiling. “It’s nothing.”
Chan let out a sigh and shrugged. But Hyunjin didn’t let go. He felt the slight anger, distress, and sadness radiating from Minho. The fae turned to face his boyfriend.
“What is it? Talk to me…,” he said softly.
He brushed his hand over Minho’s arm. The vampire kept glaring at the ceiling. Hyunjin’s heart jolted as he saw the tears gathering in Minho’s eyes.
“Love…?” Hyunjin whispered.
Minho swallowed hard, and his bottom lip wobbled. “I was crushed. I couldn’t believe that you were g-gone.” He sniffed. “I was angry and broken. I–I still feel…” He shook his head again and closed his eyes, some tears slipping free. “S-Seungmin warned you about the seal, and that fae prick as well, and you still—”
Hyunjin cupped the man’s cheek and pressed his forehead against Minho’s temple. “I’m so sorry, Minho… I… I didn’t think this would happen, and I never meant to hurt any of you…”
The vampire clasped a hand over his eyes, gritting his teeth as he tried to hold in more tears. “Don’t ever do that again…”
He brushed off Hyunjin’s hand, got up from the bed and left the room. Hyunjin stared after him with wide, glazed eyes. He was about to rush after him when Chan gently grabbed his wrist.
“Give him a moment,” Chan murmured and tugged Hyunjin back into his arms. “He was in denial. He didn’t leave your side. The scream he released after you died… I don’t think I heard any worse sound before…” The hybrid closed his eyes for a moment. “I thought he was going to fight when Seungmin came to take you with him. We didn’t know he was going to perform the ritual and…” Chan released a shaky breath. “We weren’t ready. But… someone had to do something. It was good that Seungmin took charge… I–I was too weak… I should have… I should have done better…”
Hyunjin wrapped his arms around his boyfriend’s neck, several tears sliding down Chan’s face. “No, Chan… No, that’s not… You don’t have to be strong all the time. You were grieving, too… And I hate that I did this to you…”
Chan pulled away, smiling softly at the fae. He took Hyunjin’s hands and brushed his lips over the fingertips before kissing his palm—the one Aline had cut open over and over again and left a scar—and pressed it against his cheek.
“Don’t leave us again… Try to put yourself first sometimes, Jinnie…”
Hyunjin gave a quick nod. He kissed Chan long and deep. He carded his fingers through the hybrid’s hair and spread more kisses along his jaw. He brushed his thumb over his mouth and gazed at Chan with a soft smile before pecking his lips again.
The door creaked open, and Minho slipped back into the room. His boyfriends looked at him as the vampire leaned against the door, eyes cast down to his feet. Hyunjin got up and approached Minho. He cradled his face, tilting his head up and trying to make Minho meet his gaze. The vampire nibbled on his lower lip, avoiding looking into Hyunjin’s eyes.
The fae kissed him once, twice, brushed his lips over his eyelids, and the tip of his nose until Minho finally looked at him.
“I’m really sorry,” Hyunjin whispered. “I could never willingly leave you. Never .”
Minho swallowed, giving a tentative nod and wrapped his arms around Hyunjin, nestling his face into the fae’s neck. Chan watched them with a warm smile, and the two eventually joined him back under the covers.
“Felix told us a bit about your captivity…,” Chan said after they had snuggled up. “If you ever… want to talk about it, too, love, we’re here to listen. It might help you.”
Hyunjin offered a weak smile. He thought of Felix, who would still flinch when a door slammed closed or shrank back when someone approached him too fast and wished he could take down the estate and the Collector all over again.
“They kept us in golden… cages. Displays. They put an iron collar on me,” Hyunjin murmured. “But since I’m both Seelie and Unseelie, the balance must have been off and… it didn’t work as they intended. My magic was depleted, but I was able to absorb some from the magical flora all around us until I was strong enough to fight back… The Collector… He wanted immortality, so his witch experimented on me.”
Chan stiffened next to him, his arm around Hyunjin’s waist tightened.
“She cut off parts of my antlers…” The fae took a deep breath. “Even though they’re bones, it felt as if she cut through every nerve and fibre in my body… It was…” He swallowed hard. “The Collector put me in a new, pretty, revealing outfit every day. He… He touched me, and I knew he wanted more.”
His boyfriends both snarled at that.
“I had to move fast before things got worse. I knew you would come for me, but I couldn’t wait. I–I wasn’t as strong as I thought. I believed I would be able to hold on longer, but I felt breaking too f–fast…”
“Shh,” Minho silenced him softly and interlaced his hand with Hyunjin’s. “You’re strong, baby. We’re both so proud of you… You fought back and didn’t let them crush you or Felix… You rescued yourself and my brother, and I’ll be forever grateful for that…”
Hyunjin let out a soft sigh. He still felt responsible that Felix had been taken at all. It was his fault, and he would probably never shake the feeling that he was the one who endangered the people he loved time and time again. Now that the seal was gone, he should train and become strong enough to protect them all without burning out his body. He would never do that to them again. But thinking about his power right now…
He could feel it thrumming in his veins. It felt different from before.
Chan brushed a kiss over Hyunjin’s cheek and neck and nudged him with his nose. It brought a small smile to Hyunjin’s face. He stared at the ceiling for a while, and his boyfriends let him gather his thoughts.
“I hexed the Collector… I didn’t feel bad about it at all. Not after what he had done to me and Felix. I made him release me from the collar and then…” He hesitated, worried Chan and Minho might judge him. “I locked him inside his mind…”
Minho gasped softly. But Chan, probably feeling Hyunjin’s unease, said, “I would have done the same, I think. You know that I killed everyone in that lab where I was held captive. It changed me, but… I still believe they deserved it. You gave him a fitting punishment…”
The vampire hummed softly. “I guess you’re right about that… I would have loved to kill him myself, though, for everything he did to you, for collecting supernatural creatures… What happened to the witch? Felix didn’t tell us…”
Hyunjin huffed a laugh. His eyes were still focused on the ceiling as they narrowed slightly.
“The vines bringing down the estate shackled her. Felix fed her his blood… I told her she finally got what she wanted, but that she would stay trapped there for the rest of her sad life… And then Felix snapped her neck.”
Another sharp inhale from Minho. The vampire’s hand squeezed Hyunjin’s. The fae turned his head to look at him.
“Do you judge us… for what we did?”
Minho met his gaze. “No… I’m just surprised you did it. They both, the Collector and the witch… They played with lives as if they were nothing but chess pieces, to move around as they saw fit. They didn’t deserve mercy.”
Hyunjin could feel the rage radiating from them, the sadness that they hadn’t been able to protect him or get to him sooner.
Chan shifted next to him, cuddling closer. “How are you feeling now? After… everything.”
After his death.
He was tentative first, but then he told them about the strange feeling that had been residing inside him since he had been brought back. That his chest ached in ways he didn’t understand, and that maybe a part of him hadn’t quite come back.
They thought they understood what Hyunjin had gone through by dying. They had died as well before. But it hadn’t been the same. And Hyunjin knew they hated that they didn’t understand, but they tried and didn’t push.
He often felt the gaze of his boyfriends on him. He knew they watched him, worried, especially when his eyes would glaze over and he’d stare into the far distance, his mind going places again he should keep away from. They’d always pull him back with a kiss or a soft touch.
Hyunjin didn’t use his magic. For some reason, he was scared to find out what it was like now without the seal and after his death. He felt it, that pocket filling with his power, pulsing and eager to be released. The only thing he had done after feeling stronger again was casting a new glamour. He felt a lot better in his human skin and his fae senses more subdued.
It somewhat dulled the shadows and whispers as well.
To their surprise, Dohwa appeared in town. He visited Hyunjin’s house just as the fae was putting his things into boxes with Jisung’s and Chan’s help. He had finally agreed to move in with them.
The courts had noticed that the seal was gone. They believed Hyunjin had died or had actually found a way to break it. Hyunjin didn’t tell Dohwa that Seungmin had brought him back from the dead. They had promised, after all, that no outsider would find out about it. He said the seal broke after he had almost burnt out his magic completely. Dohwa knew they were lying; Hyunjin was sure of that. But the fae didn’t press for more information, fortunately.
Maybe deep down, Dohwa respected Hyunjin and his clan and just wanted them to be left alone. There was no reason for the fae to intervene. But Dohwa made Hyunjin promise to learn more about his power and get it under control.
And after that, he finally called his parents. Hyunjin talked with them for hours. About his fae heritage, that he had met his biological parents, about his friends being supernatural as well…
He didn’t tell them about the Collector and the kidnapping, though, nor about his death and resurrection. They didn’t need that weight on their shoulders.
Hyunjin wasn’t angry with his parents. They kept apologising to him for keeping it a secret from him, and he made sure they knew he had long forgiven them. They were also eager to get to know Hyunjin’s boyfriends. They had only been slightly surprised and flustered when they learned that he had two partners. He had to give them credit for not freaking out when he told them one was a vampire and the other a hybrid.
They probably had a lot to unpack, too, after their conversation.
But Hyunjin felt so much lighter, so much better now that they knew. Minho and Chan were glad and proud that he had finally told them.
“You did well, love,” Chan murmured as he lazily kissed along Hyunjin’s neck while Minho’s fingers trailed over the fae’s abdomen.
Hyunjin smiled, closing his eyes and letting out small gasps whenever a tongue or lips brushed especially deliciously along his skin.
“I love you,” Hyunjin whispered. “I love you both… So much.”
Chan pressed closer, spreading open-mouthed kisses over the fae’s jaw. “I love you, too…”
Minho turned Hyunjin’s face to look at him and gave him a slow kiss that sent a tingling across his body and made his toes curl. The vampire had confessed before, but Hyunjin still felt like crying as they both repeated the words several times in whispers and gentle caresses of their hands.
“I never want to lose you again,” Minho murmured.
Hyunjin cupped his boyfriend’s cheek. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry you had to go through that…”
Chan nipped at Hyunjin’s lower lip before kissing him and then replied, “You wanted to protect Felix, protect us and put an end to the Collector and his witch… It’s all good…”
“And I’d do it again,” Hyunjin said, trailing his thumb over Chan’s mouth. “If they had ever gotten their hands on you… I could never forgive myself.”
“It’s over now,” Chan whispered. “And we’ll make sure no one ever touches this family again…”
Not long after, Hyunjin rode the hybrid slowly with Minho’s arms wrapped around his waist, guiding his movements but also always seeking that comforting skin-on-skin contact. The fae turned his head to share a deep kiss with Minho, his fingers digging into Chan’s chest. The hybrid thrust upward now and then, causing Hyunjin’s breath to hitch every time.
They made love to him, unhurried and still passionate. And since the first time he had been resurrected, Hyunjin felt more alive again. Chan and Minho made him want to live, not just exist. That hollowness in his chest seemed to fade day by day as he was reminded how much they loved and cared about him.
—
“We’re going to make a deal with the hunter association,” Chan said one day after gathering everyone in the living room.
The others stared at him, agape, except for Hyunjin and Minho, who had discussed it with Chan before, and, well, Seungmin, who had returned to being unfazed by everyone and everything. The witch merely cocked an eyebrow at the news.
“Are you serious?” Changbin asked. “How? Why? What?!”
Jisung stared at him with wide eyes, his face gone pale. “Chan… No, you can’t be serious…”
Hyunjin knew the werewolf would probably be the most difficult to convince. And he wouldn’t force any of them into doing things they didn’t want. This would have to be unanimous.
“We talked. Minho, Hyunjin and me,” Chan said. “We can’t constantly wait for some hunter to attack us again. Every time we hear about hunters wandering through Whitebridge and its regions, we go into defensive mode. We hide. We hope none of them will suddenly decide we’re a danger and have to be taken care of.”
“It has become more dangerous with me around,” Hyunjin murmured, a frown between his eyes. “Who knows when they might decide I’m a threat to them…”
He had promised himself he would never want Felix or any of the others to feel scared again. Of course, there could always be dangers from other places. But he would do everything in his power to protect his family.
“What exactly do you want to discuss with them then?” Felix asked as he linked his hand with Jisung’s, offering him comfort.
“We’ll tell them to stay away from Whitebridge, that we will take care of anyone who risks the peace here,” Chan replied. “We will protect the people in town, we will protect ourselves. Most of the time, nothing happens. It’s mostly when the association thinks they have to send out their hunters to sniff around that things go southward.”
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” Jisung muttered.
Jeongin turned to look at him. “But wouldn’t you be able to breathe easier, to relax, knowing that there’s no hunter around trying to get his fingers on you?”
“If they keep to their word,” Changbin grumbled, not looking convinced. He sighed. “But if you guys think it’s the right step forward, then I’ll support your decision.”
“What if they decide right then and there that we shouldn’t intervene and kill you?” Jisung snapped. “We’re supernatural. Why would they make a deal with us?”
Hyunjin gazed at him. The chaos simmered beneath his skin. Ever since he had been resurrected, it had become louder. The Unseelie was stronger than the Seelie, and Hyunjin wouldn’t fight it. It was his true nature.
“If they decide to attack us, I will send them right to hell,” Hyunjin said—no flicker of hesitation.
Seungmin’s lips pulled into a grin while the others looked a bit taken aback.
“I will come with you guys,” the witch offered. “If they agree on a meeting. I’ll make sure there are no traps. They always work with witches. It only makes sense to take me with you.”
Chan forced his eyes away from the fae and let his gaze drift over his friends, his family. “If anyone really doesn’t want us to contact them, we will respect that and step down.”
Everyone looked at Jisung now. The werewolf wrung his hands, and his leg bobbed nervously.
“If it means our family will be safe,” he whispered, “then I’m in…”
Hyunjin knelt before him and took Jisung’s hands into his own. “I promise I won’t let them get to us. To you.”
Jisung blinked at the fae, examining him for a moment and then gave him a tentative nod.
After they were done talking, Hyunjin rushed outside and vanished between the treeline behind the house. He knew Chan and Minho were following him. He dropped to his knees and pressed his hands into the forest ground.
Hyunjin closed his eyes and exhaled. A wave of his power rippled through the woods. The trees rustled, and dead leaves drifted to the ground.
“Are you okay?” Chan asked.
Hyunjin didn’t reply at first. He kept breathing in and out slowly until that chaos had calmed down. He released the soil beneath his hands. His nails were dirty, but he didn’t care at that moment.
“Yeah,” he murmured.
“What was that?” Minho wondered.
The leaves crunched under his feet as he approached the fae and crouched next to him. He brushed a few strands of hair behind Hyunjin’s ear.
“I haven’t used my magic since I… came back. Except for the glamour, but that was merely a drop… It’s been gathering, and that pocket is so much deeper than I expected,” Hyunjin whispered. “I had to… let off some steam, so to speak.”
Chan carded a hand through Hyunjin’s hair. “Maybe you should start training again. To control that power. You’re so much stronger now than you were before…”
Hyunjin opened his eyes and looked around. The ground was covered with withered leaves. The lush green trees looked more bare than before, and some bushes had lost all of their foliage.
“I guess I’m leaning towards magic now that brings death. But the pull towards the Unseelie side was always more prominent…”
Minho shook his head. “Remember when we had that picnic? You were so happy and comfortable, you made everything bloom around us… You just need to find the right middle and practise.”
Hyunjin smiled softly at the vampire. “Yeah, maybe…”
Over the following days, Chan reached out to several of his contacts and friends who might be able to arrange a meeting with the hunter association. Hyunjin would be lying if he said he wasn’t nervous. Things could go wrong.
A week later, a reply came. A friend of Chan relayed the message to them. The hunters suggested a meeting place. Seungmin and Changbin scouted it before and did so again shortly before the meeting. Just to be really sure there were no traps in place.
The place was an empty building in the middle of nowhere outside of Whitebridge—a neutral zone. Chan’s gaze flickered across every entrance, every window, his shoulders tense despite his outward composure. Minho was equally alert, eyes narrowed, ready to strike at any sign of danger. Seungmin looked almost bored, but by now Hyunjin could read the minor signs that the witch was less relaxed than he appeared.
All their heads turned as the wide door creaked open and several people appeared. They approached slowly, assessing Chan and the others. Hyunjin’s eyes immediately darted to the last person to enter. A witch. Seungmin sensed it, too, and his posture stiffened slightly. He had known there would be another witch, but he always felt uncomfortable around them.
Hyunjin felt the magical barrier around the hunters. He exchanged a look with Seungmin, who smirked at him and shrugged.
An older hunter stepped forward, flanked by two others, while the rest remained behind them, their attention focused on their surroundings.
Chan walked up to them and stopped at a reasonable distance. Close enough so they didn’t have to yell, but far enough to be out of reach for immediate attacks.
“Thank you for meeting us,” Chan said. “I’m Bang Chan, the leader of my clan.”
The hunter inclined his head. “I’m Kang Jaesung, one of the leading hunters of the association. We were pretty surprised when we received your message asking us to meet. The others said to ignore you, but I was… curious. What is it that you want from us?”
Chan’s gaze swept over the other hunters. “Our demand is straightforward. Stay out of Whitebridge and the entire surrounding region. We will manage any supernatural disturbances or threats ourselves.”
The young hunter next to Jaesung snorted. Jaesung held out his hand for him to be quiet.
“And why should we trust a supernatural clan? Trust you to keep the peace and the humans safe?”
“None of us has ever caused you trouble, or else you would have already sent hunters out to get rid of us,” Chan said. “But we’ve suffered enough over the past years by your… kind. Whether it be rogue hunters or not. We just wish to live in peace. We will guard Whitebridge and its people. It is our home. We have as much to lose as anyone else if peace breaks down. Our interests align with yours far more than you seem willing to admit.”
Jaesung tilted his head, contemplating Chan’s words. The young hunter huffed.
“You can’t seriously think about agreeing to their terms.”
“Minhyuk, stand down,” Jaesung said, not looking at the hunter.
“He’s right, leader,” the hunter on his other side said. “Their clan is made of a hybrid, a werewolf, several vampires, a dhampir and a… powerful witch. We don’t know if we can trust them… but they might be capable of protecting the town and standing their ground.”
His eyes flicked to Seungmin, who grinned at him and cocked an eyebrow.
Chan looked a bit surprised that they knew who was part of his clan.
“We have been keeping an eye on you,” the hunter leader said. “There aren’t many clans that mix with different kinds of supernaturals. And that witch of yours is quite… unique and talented. He kept you invisible behind those wards of your property and protected you outside of them, too…”
“The necromancer,” the hunter, Minhyuk, scoffed.
Seungmin glanced at the man.
Hyunjin turned to look at him, his smile widening and eyes narrowing. “Yes? You have something to say?”
“And who are you?” Minhyuk asked, ignoring Hyunjin’s question.
The witch in the back stepped closer to the group, eyes trailing over Hyunjin. “He has strong magic… You’re not one of the vampires. You’re also not a witch…” He sniffed the air. “Petrichor… Jasmine… and death. You’re different.”
Hyunjin’s shoulders tensed, but his smile didn’t fade.
Chan placed a hand on the small of Hyunjin’s back. “It doesn’t matter that he’s different. What matters is if you will comply with our demands.”
The hunter on the left glanced at his leader, shaking his head. The witch took another step forward.
“You keep a secret about what he is. How can we trust you if you won’t share that with us? He might be a danger. He feels powerful.”
Hyunjin sighed. “I’m right here, you know. And if you insist… I’m Hyunjin. I’m fae. Both Seelie and Unseelie.”
The witch narrowed his eyes. The hunters looked at each other in confusion.
“A fae of life and chaos?” Jaesung repeated. “Here in the human realm and living among vampires and werewolves?”
Hyunjin shrugged. “I only learned about my heritage a few months ago. I’m not a threat to you. But…” His eyes glowed with molten gold and a dark purple hue. “I’m not asking for your permission or approval. I’m informing you that we’re Whitebridge’s guardians now. We’ve faced rogue hunters, vampires, a Collector’s cruelty and his witch… And if any of your people—or any of those you pretend not to control—step into Whitebridge again with intent to harm any of my family, they will find me waiting.”
“Is that a threat?” the witch asked.
Hyunjin tilted his head. Shadows danced across his fingers. “It’s a promise. A promise that I’ll do everything in my power to protect my family. And we both know who would get out of that alive.”
Minho’s pinky finger brushed against his hand—a reassuring gesture, but also a warning. Hyunjin had to calm the chaos stirring inside him. He released a long breath, and the shadows vanished.
“And if the knowledge of my existence leaves this… room,” Hyunjin continued, “We will know that it was one of you.” He looked at each of the hunters present, a wicked smile curling up his lips. “We have a powerful witch, a hybrid, strong vampires and a swift werewolf… And, well, me. So you better keep your mouths shut.”
The hunters exchanged wary glances. Minhyuk glared at Hyunjin, teeth gritted and jaw clenched.
“You want to give the region over to them?” he asked Jaesung. “They’re a danger.”
The hunter leader looked at the one on his left. “What do you think, Hajoon?”
Hajoon’s eyes drifted over Chan’s group. He let out a sigh and said, “If they’re willing to take responsibility for supernatural threats and not step out of line themselves…”
“You can’t be serious,” Minhyuk hissed.
“Do we look like savages to you?” Minho said, a lazy smile on his lips. “We’re here, seeking diplomacy. We only want to keep our family and our home safe. It’s not us who hunt supernaturals for sports.”
Minhyuk growled at him. If Hyunjin didn’t know better, he would think the man was a werewolf.
But Jaesung ignored the hunter. “You expect us to abandon oversight entirely?”
“I’d rather call it cooperation at a respectful distance,” Chan said. “Let us manage our region. You can check in with me at any time, as long as you promise not to harm anyone. If there’s a bigger threat that we cannot handle or a difficult decision to be made, we will contact you.”
The hunter leader exhaled slowly. “Your request is clear, and your determination is evident. We will discuss this among the other association's leaders. I can’t promise you they will agree, but I will try.”
Chan visibly relaxed. “Thank you. That’s all we can ask for. We prefer cooperation. But our warnings remain.”
The hunters turned to leave, but Hyunjin called the leader back. Jaesung glanced at him over his shoulder, the other hunters and the witch stopping in their tracks.
“Why were you willing to listen to us? Why agree to try and help?”
Jaesung chuckled softly. “I might be a hunter, but I wish we could all live peacefully together. Maybe this is a step forward in the right direction. We’re not all monsters, fae. And we know not all of you are either.”
Hyunjin nodded. The hunters and their witch left, who halted for a moment to look at them once more, his gaze lingering on Seungmin and Hyunjin before he retreated as well.
Chan let out a long, loud sigh.
“Fuck, I really thought this hotheaded hunter was going to ruin everything.”
“Nothing is set in stone yet,” Minho said. “But there might be hope.”
They returned home and told the rest of the clan about the meeting. Jisung was worried they might just try to make them feel safe and strike when they didn’t expect it. But for some reason, Hyunjin believed Jaesung and that he wished to find a peaceful way for them to work together.
There wasn’t a new message for a while. Hyunjin used his free time to train his magic under Seungmin’s surveillance. Chan and Minho made sure he didn’t exhaust himself too much. Working at the café again felt surreal at first. However, Hyunjin was glad that normalcy was returning to his life.
After a few weeks of silence, a letter arrived. It was a contract between Chan’s clan and the hunter association. The family would protect Whitebridge, and in return, the hunters would leave them alone. However, they made it clear that if they failed to fulfil the promise and any harm came to innocents, they would return and act. And of course, they would keep an eye on them, even more so now that they knew of Hyunjin.
The fae watched them. The hunters, too. Hyunjin didn’t care anymore. They had no reason to be afraid. They only wished to live in peace.
It felt so easy now, using his magic. He only needed to flick his wrist to send out a shield or summon a dagger. He effortlessly unrooted a tree, let flowers blossom all over the meadow behind the house, and barely even felt the magic slip from him.
It was an exhilarating feeling. But it also meant Hyunjin had to be more careful not to drown in that new power and learn where the bottom of his now seemingly endless pocket of magic was.
Seungmin was sure he could even travel to the fae realm now if he wanted. Step between the worlds like Dohwa had. But that was something for another time. Maybe never. Hyunjin only knew he wasn’t ready for that just yet.
Hyunjin sat cross-legged in the garden, magic dancing around the tips of his fingers. He heard laughter ringing from the open doors of the terrace. He chuckled softly, and more flowers sprouted around him.
“Hyunjin!” Minho called out. “Dinner is ready soon! Go wash up and join us.”
Everything had led him to this place, to these people. They were his anchor. He loved them, and they loved him; he knew they would never let him go again. He was alive. He would live with and for them.
His love for Chan and Minho grew each day. He belonged with them. They were his home, and he needed them. And they had eternity together.
Hyunjin hadn’t even looked for love when he had moved to Whitebridge. He hadn’t known he would want to love them forever when he first met them. He had only hoped to find a place where he belonged. And now he did.
He tended to his garden, nurtured his flowers, and filled his hands with life, although the chaos often lurked beneath the surface. And even if the shadows sometimes flickered too long, whispered reminders of where he once had been, Hyunjin ignored them.
“I’m coming!”
Hyunjin got up, dusting off his jeans. He trailed his eyes over his garden, past the treeline, and up to the sky, tinged with purple and pink colours. He let out a contented sigh and headed for the house where his family waited for him.