To maintain balance after the last surge of power from the demonic, the celestial dragons stepped in. One bonded with a human, starting a new clan. The other formed an oath bond with humans, blessing the descendants of those chosen few to see beyond the limits of the mortal eye. The two branches were tasked with keeping the corruption in check.

  Tae pinned Min against the wall the moment the door to their rooms was closed. His left hand firmly against the wall, while the other rested on Min’s waist. Tae leaned down, savouring the electric and warm buzz of desire that burned between them. He pushed Min against the wall, sliding his right hand up Min’s body before wrapping it around the back of Min’s neck. He kept his hand relaxed enjoying the moment. He’d paused just far enough away that he could still see Min’s face clearly. Min was practically squirming with need, and after all that scolding during the banquet Tae had wanted a little payback. A small sound that was half gasp half whimper slipped from Min’s lips. Tae gripped the back of Min’s neck, forcing him to angle his head up further, before closing the distance he’d maintained. Devouring those soft, slightly parted lips with his own.

  Min’s arms wrapped around him, trying to pull him closer. Tae complied, pressing himself firmly against his lover’s body. Min hooked a leg around Tae’s. Min was hard, and the sensation had Tae growling into Min’s lips. Tae nipped at Min’s lower lip and Min gasped. Tae used the opening provided to slip his tongue inside Min’s mouth. He’d intended to play with Min’s tongue but Min beat him to it, sucking on Tae’s tongue.

  Tae removed his left hand from the wall and used it to untie Min’s formal garb. It didn’t take long for him to get Min mostly undressed. He then picked up his lover and carried him to the bed. Tae lowered Min onto the bed. He broke the kiss and pulled away, slipping Min’s pants and underclothes off as he did so. Tae then stood and admired the view of Min naked on his bed. Min lifted himself up to watch as Tae undressed himself. The undisguised lust and love in his eyes made Tae smile in satisfaction.

  Tae leaned over Min, bracing himself up with his left hand. He kissed Min as he lightly traced his way up Min’s leg with his talons. Min shivered in pleasure at the sensation. Tae had noticed that Min was particularly attracted to this form and was taking full advantage of it now. Min didn’t just stay still though. He kissed Tae back fiercely, while running a hand up Tae’s torso. When Min’s fingers caressed his face Tae pulled away smirking. Min scowled. He’d wanted to touch Tae’s horns, but there was something Tae needed to do before he allowed that and the loss of control he instinctively knew would come with it. If he didn’t prep Min first he’d regret it later. Tae took his time, enjoying this part of things.

  “Tae, please!” Min begged.

  Tae did not immediately give in to Min’s pleas for more than Tae’s fingers. Min grabbed him around the neck pulling him into a passionate kiss. The fire of desire between them burned hotter. Min’s hands didn’t stay still. One still firmly held his neck but the other wandered upwards. Tae let it. Flames erupted radiating outward and trailing behind Min’s fingers. Those fingers brushed against Tae’s face, hair, and finally his horns. Tae moaned into Min’s lips at the feel of Min touching one of his horns. Min’s fingers explored it, and Tae shuddered with pleasure. He broke away from the kiss panting.

  He moved so he could give Min exactly what he’d been begging for earlier. He nearly lost himself to the pleasure several times. Min’s grip on his horns making it harder to keep control than usual. Min’s grip tightened and Tae surrendered himself to the burning desire and consuming pleasure. It felt like it would last forever.

  Tae collapsed against Min afterwards. Min released Tae’s horns in surprise. Tae shuddered in response. Tae lay on Min as his mind and body recovered. It took a moment for him to get enough presence of mind to lift himself up. His arms shook and Tae rolled to the side so he wouldn’t fall on Min again. He pulled Min on top of him, and Min rested his cheek against Tae’s chest. Tae wrapped the arm that wasn’t pinned underneath his lover, around Min’s waist.

  “This why you wouldn’t let me touch your horns before?” Min asked after a long moment.

  Tae chuckled. “I did warn you they were sensitive.”

  “You did indeed.” Min purred. He seemed especially proud of himself and he had every right to feel that way.

  They both lay in silence for a while.

  “We’re going to need to wait a bit before I’ll be able to carry you to the bathroom to get cleaned up.” Tae said. Min laughed.

  ***

  Min pushed Tae, making his lover stumble backwards and sit on the bed. Min smirked at the surprised look on Tae’s face. Tae was usually the one who played pranks so Min was finding it very enjoyable to surprise him now and then. When Min first met Tae he’d thought he was this gentle giant with a fierce protective streak. Instead, he had a mischievous streak and nimble nature that his sheer size would make you think was impossible. After visiting the Seong and now in the Seok clans Min suspected that the prankster nature was learned. It definitely wasn’t inherited. Min was pretty sure he knew who the culprit was too. Unfortunately it was impossible to thank them.

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  “Sit, stay.” Min ordered, pointing at the bed, as he walked over to the chest that held his things.

  “Pretty sure I’m a dragon not a dog.” Tae quipped.

  Min turned to face his lover and raised an eyebrow. “And yet I’m certain you’d enjoy being called a good boy as much as I do.”

  Tae laughed. There was a fire in his eyes that let Min know he’d considered challenging Min over the order simply because he could. Despite this, Tae stayed where he was. He lounged on the bed and his robe slipped. Min bit his lip before forcibly turning his attention back to the chest he was hunting through. He very much wanted to stare at the now exposed chest of his lover instead. He found the box he’d been looking for. Min pulled it out and stood up. He stumbled when he saw how Tae had positioned himself in that short amount of time. The robe was doing almost nothing to cover him. How he’d done that so quickly Min didn’t know. The fact that the only thing he couldn’t see was Tae’s cock was impressive considering Tae was half on his side, his arm resting on one leg that was bent so the knee was up high enough.

  Min glared before walking over. Min sat beside his lover and bit his lip at the brief flash of disappointment on Tae’s face. He didn’t trust himself not to get distracted again though, and Min wanted to give Tae his gift while it was still his birthday. He held out the box to Tae with a smile. Tae sat up properly, not doing a thing about how his robe’s state exposed him. Min kept his eyes on Tae’s face, though the scales reflecting the lantern light made it difficult.

  Min wanted to say something about the gift but was too nervous to get the words out. He couldn’t keep from biting his lip again, this time from nerves, as Tae opened the box. Tae lifted up one of the keys inside and looked at Min curious.

  “That one is for the palace next to mine.” Min told him. Tae’s eyes widened at the implications of that.

  “And the others?” Tae asked.

  “The black one is for the palace I had built in the northernmost mountain near the Seong clan. The white jade one is for the palace that has yet to be built. It’ll be built here in the white jade mountains, near the southwestern edge. It’d be a clear path to fly between the two.” Min explained.

  No sooner had he finished that than Tae had wrapped him tightly in his arms. Min hugged Tae back, relieved that Tae seemed to like the gifts. Tae had spent years trying to keep a low profile so Min hadn’t been sure how this would go. After a moment Tae pulled away, Min didn’t get time to react to this though, Tae immediately pulled Min into his lap. He then lifted up the golden key.

  “Palace next to yours…” Tae mused. “Min love, is this a proposal?”

  Min felt his face heat and knew he’d got bright red. He hid his face in Tae’s shoulder.

  “I had something I was going to say when I handed you the box but couldn’t get the words out.” Min confessed.

  “So, is that a yes?” Tae teased.

  “Yes…” Min sighed.

  He felt Tae’s talons brush his hair out of his face and Min sat up again. Tae’s hand rested on his cheek and Min met his lover’s eyes. The icy blue eyes with the slit pupil that was only visible when Tae allowed it to be held a warmth that belied their colour.

  “Would you be mine, stay with me, until one of our hearts stops and we breathe our last?” Min asked.

  Tae pulled his face in and Min complied. The kiss was fierce but short. Tae pulled away, but only slightly. Min would only need to shift slightly for their lips to brush against each other.

  “You think I’d let even death take you from me?” Tae growled.

  Min shivered. The pure power that poured from Tae with those words flooded him. Min met that power with his own and kissed Tae. Their Qi danced as if mixing together. It was a heady sensation.

  “No,” Min purred into Tae’s lips. “I was actually counting on the fact that you wouldn’t when I was preparing that gift.”

  Tae chuckled. After a long moment Min pulled away, far enough that he could get a proper look at Tae again.

  “You know, I’m no longer sure who outranks who.” Min mused. “If we do a proper ceremony that’ll complicate matters a little.”

  Tae threw back his head and laughed. He then kissed the top of Min’s head. Min couldn’t help but smile at seeing his lover so happy.

  “Of course that’s what you’d worry about.” Tae shook his head. “I think we’re close enough to equal that it shouldn’t matter too much.”

  “Oh that should be fun.” Min smirked. “Can you imagine the confusion at us both being presented as equals during official events?”

  “Hmmm…” Tae’s smile matched Min’s. “If we really want to mess with petty minds we could always have me ranked higher.”

  Min rolled his eyes and Tae’s smile widened.

  “Technically I think I do outrank you now.” Tae mused.

  “Yes, oh mighty dragon.” Min sassed. Tae wasn’t wrong. Tae outranked not only Min, but Hanseul. Afterall, a dragon ranked higher than the emperor, and Tae wasn’t just any dragon. He was the heir of one of the celestial dragons.

  Though Min wasn’t sure Tae had fully comprehended that just yet. He’d let Tae figure it out on his own. He knew how much this had all been already afterall. Just learning he wasn’t human had taken Tae time to adjust to. The fact that Tae was so far removed from human as to be not just be more dragon than human but heir of one of the great celestial beings… Min wasn’t sure Tae was ready for the implications of that. It was why Min had worded his proposal the way he had after all.

  As much as he wished otherwise, Min knew there was very little chance he’d get to see Tae to the end of his life. He understood why Hyuk had made Tae make that promise all those years ago. He was getting the feeling he’d have to get Tae to make that same promise to him sooner rather than later. He remembered the white jade flute he carried with him. He’d need a physical symbol for it, Min understood why Hyuk had used one. A physical object would ground Tae. Min had seen enough of Tae’s rage and blood-lust to know that without something to ground him, to remind him of those he loved, things would not end well. Best case Tae would follow him to the afterlife. That was only if Min lived to be an old man. If he died young… then the worst would happen. Tae would fall and take the whole world with him.

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  We have reached the end of Part 3. There will be a short hiatus before the story returns with the third interlude followed by Part 4.

  linktree. The hiatus won't be long (less than a month) as I have finished writing the story. Still creating content, scenes to add into draft 2 (adding more cooking scenes) as well as side stories and bonus content (working on an AU). There is additional content on the patreon beyond the NSFW uncensored version of chapters. Hope you check out the bonus content (stuff for free members too) there while you wait for the story to return. <3

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