Chapter 42: Bound by Blood

The battle dragged on, each moment feeling heavier than the last. The battlefield was a sea of chaos, and Seojin’s vision wavered as he fought to stay upright. Blood soaked through his tunic, and the pain from his wound gnawed at him, but he pushed forward, refusing to show weakness in front of Jaeha.

Jaeha remained relentless. His movements were fluid and precise, cutting down any foe that dared to approach them. But his focus was divided—every few moments, his gaze flicked toward Seojin, ensuring his brother stayed close. The sight of Seojin’s blood had ignited something dangerous within Jaeha, a fury that drove him to fight even harder.

“Stay with me, Seojin,” Jaeha commanded, his voice a mixture of concern and obsession. “Don’t you dare fall.”

“I won’t,” Seojin breathed, though his strength was waning. He could feel the exhaustion creeping into his limbs, the weight of his sword growing unbearable.

Suddenly, a horn sounded in the distance, cutting through the clamor of battle. Seojin’s heart skipped a beat as he recognized the signal. Reinforcements were arriving—enemy reinforcements. They had underestimated the enemy’s numbers, and now the tide of the battle was turning against them.

“We need to fall back,” Seojin urged, his voice strained. “We’re outnumbered.”

Jaeha’s jaw clenched, his gaze sweeping over the battlefield. He could see the truth in Seojin’s words—their forces were dwindling, and the enemy was closing in from all sides. But the thought of retreat, of leaving Seojin vulnerable, filled Jaeha with rage.

“I refuse to run,” Jaeha growled, his eyes burning with defiance. “I won’t let them take this from me. I won’t let them take you.”

Seojin’s heart twisted at the intensity of Jaeha’s words. This wasn’t just about the battle anymore. It was about the all-consuming possessiveness that had taken root in Jaeha’s heart. Seojin knew that if they didn’t retreat now, Jaeha would fight until the bitter end, no matter the cost.

“We can’t win this, Jaeha,” Seojin pleaded, stepping closer to his brother. “Please. I don’t want to lose you.”

Jaeha’s eyes flickered with pain, but his resolve didn’t waver. “You won’t lose me, Seojin. I promised I would protect you, and I will. No matter what.”

Before Seojin could protest further, another wave of enemies charged toward them. Jaeha moved to intercept them, his sword flashing in the sunlight as he cut them down with ruthless efficiency. Seojin followed, his movements slower but just as determined. He couldn’t let Jaeha fight alone, even if every step felt like a struggle.

The battle raged on, the clash of steel and the cries of the wounded filling the air. Seojin’s strength was waning, and he could feel the edges of his vision darkening. He stumbled, his grip on his sword faltering, but before he could fall, Jaeha was there, catching him and pulling him close.

“You’re hurt,” Jaeha whispered, his voice tight with emotion. “I told you to stay behind me.”

Seojin tried to push away, but his strength failed him. “I… I can’t let you do this alone,” he muttered, his voice barely audible over the din of battle.

Jaeha’s grip tightened, his arms wrapping protectively around Seojin. “I don’t need you to fight,” he murmured, his voice soft but fierce. “I need you alive. You belong to me, Seojin. I won’t let you go.”

Seojin’s heart ached at the possessiveness in Jaeha’s words. He wanted to argue, to tell Jaeha that he wasn’t something to be owned, but the pain and exhaustion were too much. All he could do was lean into Jaeha’s embrace, the warmth of his brother’s body a strange comfort amidst the chaos.

“I’m not… yours,” Seojin whispered, his words barely more than a breath.

Jaeha’s eyes darkened, his jaw tightening. “You are mine, Seojin. Whether you want to admit it or not.”

Before Seojin could respond, a deafening roar echoed across the battlefield. The ground shook beneath their feet, and the enemy forces seemed to retreat for a brief moment, as if something far worse was approaching. Jaeha’s grip on Seojin tightened, his eyes scanning the horizon for the source of the disturbance.

“What is that?” Seojin asked, his voice trembling with unease.

Jaeha didn’t answer immediately. His gaze was fixed on the distant ridge, where a new force was emerging—a shadowy, ominous figure leading a battalion of soldiers clad in black armor. The sight of them sent a chill down Seojin’s spine.

“That,” Jaeha finally said, his voice low and filled with dread, “is our true enemy.”

Seojin’s heart pounded in his chest as he watched the shadowy figure approach. There was something familiar about the man leading the battalion, something that made Seojin’s blood run cold. He couldn’t shake the feeling that this was just the beginning—that the battle they had been fighting was merely a prelude to something far more dangerous.

“Who is he?” Seojin asked, his voice barely a whisper.

Jaeha’s eyes narrowed, his hand tightening on the hilt of his sword. “Yoon Hojin,” he spat, venom dripping from his words. “The one who has been vying for the throne. And the one who wants to take you from me.”

Seojin’s blood turned to ice. Yoon Hojin—the nobleman who had been circling like a vulture, waiting for the right moment to strike. The one who had shown a dangerous interest in Seojin, sparking Jaeha’s deepest fears and darkest rage.

“We need to prepare,” Jaeha said, his voice low and deadly. “This battle isn’t over. And I won’t let him take you from me. Never.”

Seojin swallowed hard, his heart pounding in his chest. The stakes had just risen, and he knew that whatever came next would test their bond like never before.

To be continued...