Chapter 3: Bound by Blood

The flickering candles cast long shadows on the stone walls of Seojin’s chamber as the tension between the two brothers grew unbearable. Seojin’s heart raced, his breath uneven as Jaeha’s arms remained locked around him, the weight of his brother’s obsession palpable.

“Let me go,” Seojin whispered, his voice trembling.

Jaeha’s grip only tightened, his lips brushing against Seojin’s ear as he spoke. “I will never let you go, Seojin. You are mine, now and always.”

Seojin closed his eyes, trying to block out the heat of Jaeha’s words, the overwhelming intensity of his brother’s love. He had known that Jaeha cared deeply for him—perhaps more than a brother should—but he hadn’t realized just how deep that love ran until now. This was no longer affection; it was possession.

“You’re hurting me,” Seojin said softly, hoping to appeal to the side of Jaeha that still cared for him as a brother.

Jaeha hesitated for a moment, his grip loosening slightly, but the resolve in his eyes did not waver. “I don’t want to hurt you, Seojin. But you have to understand—this is the only way. We are bound by more than blood. We are two halves of the same soul.”

Seojin shook his head, his voice breaking. “We’re brothers. This isn’t right. The kingdom—”

“To hell with the kingdom,” Jaeha snapped, his eyes flashing with anger. “Do you think I care about their judgment? Their rules? None of it matters. Not when it comes to you.”

Seojin’s heart clenched at the raw intensity in Jaeha’s voice. He could feel the weight of his brother’s obsession like a chain around his neck, dragging him down into a darkness he wasn’t sure he could escape from.

“Jaeha, please,” Seojin tried again, his voice pleading. “There has to be another way. We can’t… we can’t do this.”

Jaeha’s expression softened, but only slightly. “There is no other way, Seojin. You’re mine. And I will protect you, even if it means protecting you from yourself.”

Seojin’s breath caught in his throat as Jaeha leaned in closer, his lips ghosting over the skin of Seojin’s neck. The touch sent a shiver down Seojin’s spine, but it wasn’t from desire—it was from fear. His brother was no longer just the protector he had always known. Jaeha had become something darker, something possessive, and Seojin wasn’t sure if he could fight it.

“You don’t have to be afraid,” Jaeha whispered, his breath warm against Seojin’s skin. “I’ll keep you safe. No one will ever hurt you. No one will ever take you from me.”

Seojin swallowed hard, his hands trembling as he tried to push Jaeha away. But his brother’s strength was overwhelming, and no matter how much he struggled, he couldn’t break free.

“Jaeha, stop,” Seojin pleaded, his voice cracking. “You’re scaring me.”

For a moment, something flickered in Jaeha’s eyes—remorse, perhaps—but it was quickly replaced by the dark resolve that had consumed him. “You don’t understand yet, Seojin. But you will.”

Without warning, Jaeha released Seojin and stepped back, his eyes never leaving his brother’s face. Seojin stumbled slightly, his heart pounding in his chest as he watched Jaeha’s every move.

“What are you going to do?” Seojin asked, fear lacing his words.

Jaeha’s expression was unreadable, but there was a hint of something dangerous in his eyes. “I’m going to protect you, Seojin. And if that means keeping you here, away from everyone else, then so be it.”

Seojin’s eyes widened in shock. “You can’t… You can’t just lock me away.”

“I can,” Jaeha said calmly, his voice cold. “And I will.”

Seojin’s mind raced as he realized just how far Jaeha was willing to go. His brother, the future king, was ready to imprison him, to keep him locked away from the world, all in the name of love. The weight of it all pressed down on Seojin’s chest, making it hard to breathe.

“I won’t let you,” Seojin said, his voice firm, though his body trembled.

Jaeha’s eyes darkened. “You don’t have a choice.”

Before Seojin could react, Jaeha moved swiftly, grabbing his wrist and pulling him toward the door. Seojin struggled against him, but Jaeha’s grip was unbreakable, his strength overpowering.

“Stop!” Seojin cried, his heart pounding in fear.

Jaeha ignored his pleas, dragging him through the palace corridors until they reached a secluded wing of the castle—a place that few had ever seen. The heavy doors loomed ahead, and Seojin’s stomach churned with dread as he realized where they were heading.

“Jaeha, please,” Seojin begged, his voice desperate. “Don’t do this.”

But Jaeha’s mind was made up. He pushed open the doors to the chamber, revealing a room bathed in darkness. The walls were thick, the windows small and barred. It was a place of isolation, a place meant to hold someone captive.

And now, it would be Seojin’s prison.

Jaeha turned to him, his eyes softening for just a moment. “You’ll be safe here, Seojin. No one will ever hurt you again.”

Seojin’s heart sank as the doors closed behind him with a heavy thud, sealing his fate.

To be continued...