☄️ 起跑線  ☄️

"Have you ever done horse-riding?" Kai asked, as he caressed his Horse's mane.

"Not really." Taehyun replied.

"What have you rode then? A broom?" Kai joked.

"We don't do that, who's making those weird assumptions?" Taehyun snickered, looking at the Prince.

"No idea. Here, take my hand Darling." Kai said, offering his hand to the Warlock, so that he could climb on the horse.

Taehyun was a little taken aback from Kai's words. Darling? Was Kai flirting with him?

"I'm not your Darling! Go Darling your Ladies." Taehyun said, rolling his eyes but couldn't hide the blush that rose up his cheeks upon hearing that word.

"You're my lady....no, my Darling right now Mr.Warlock." Kai teased, loving to see the Warlock embarrassed.

"Ew shut up! And call me by my name, Mr.Warlock sounds like I'm some old Hag." Taehyun replied, and finally streched his hands forward for the Prince to hold. Kai immediately held his hand, his large and calloused hands pulling the Warlock's softer and smaller ones pulling him up on the horse's back.

Taehyun let out a gasp and sat adjusted behind the Prince, feeling his heart racing. Was this what Love felt like? Because if yes, he wanted to be in love forever. This feeling was so exciting, no wonder Yeonjun was so happy whenever he saw Soobin...and recently, a certain someone he was getting dangerously close to. Sir Beomgyu.

"Hold on tight!" Kai replied, signalling his horse to start galloping through the forest. Kai purposefully made the horse jump a little higher when he felt Taehyun wasn't focused.

"Ahh what the hell!!" Taehyun screeched, immediately holding onto the Prince's waist, as he felt the horse jump so suddenly.

“Do you want me to die??” Taehyun yelled, glaring at the Prince, who just giggled.

“I told you to hold on tight, the horse does this when we start.” Kai lied, loving the hold Taehyun had on his waist. It made him feel giddy.

“Fine.” Taehyun grumbled, shyly wrapping his arms around the Prince’s waist. He felt like it was something out of a fairytale, and Kai was his Prince Charming. Was Horse-riding supposed to be this interesting?

“Where are we going though?” Taehyun asked, as they crossed the forest, and Taehyun saw they were crossing the town as well.

“You'll see.” Kai replied, already feeling excited to show Taehyun the place he wanted to take him to.

Taehyun just nodded in agreement.

After 20 more minutes of riding the horse, and bickering in between….they stopped in front of a Waterfall, and Taehyun's eyes widened in awe. The place was so beautiful.

(A/n: this is what the place looks like, add fireflies)

The moonlight was reflecting in the cascading water, illuminating the waterfall with a magical glow. Fireflies swirled around the waterfall, adding a touch of magic and beauty to the scene. The waterfall seemed enchanted on this night, the water glistening in the darkness.

"Woah..." That was the only thing which escaped Taehyun's lips, as he saw the scene infront of him. The waterfall was unlike anything Taehyun had ever seen. How was the waterfall glowing? The fireflies surrounding the water made it look even more magical. It felt enchanting.

"This is so beautiful Prince Kai." Taehyun whispered, looking around in fascination.

"Yeah....it is."  Kai replied, looking at the Warlock whose pretty big eyes were reflecting the shine from the fireflies in them. Kai thought that was the prettiest thing he had ever seen; seeing Taehyun's eyes shining like stars.

"How did you find this place?" Taehyun asked, turning towards the Prince.

"I found it while I was ditching my practice. I come here often." Kai said with a chuckle, sitting on the grass after tying his horse with a tree on the side.

"Come sit." Kai patted the space beside him, and Taehyun obliged, sitting down beside Kai.

"Thankyou." Kai mumbled, looking forward.

"Hmm?" Taehyun hummed in question.

"For doing so much for me. For forgiving me, and for... coming here with me." Kai replied, turning his head to look straight at the Warlock, who was also looking at him.

"No need to thank me Prince. I did what I had to." Taehyun replied, his lips curling up into a smile, which made Kai smile as well.

"I want to ask you something though. It's been bothering me for a while."  Kai said, looking at Taehyun.

"Yeah sure. Ask away." Taehyun nodded.

"Why did you actually do all that. I know it wasn't only because of the forest Taehyun." Kai said, looking at Taehyun for answers. He wouldn't take any lies right now. He needed to know...more like he wanted to confirm if the reason was what he thought was the reason.

Taehyun felt his throat dry up, and lips tremble. What was he supposed to answer? Say that he did all that because he may or may not be in love with him? Because he couldn't fathom the idea of the Prince suffering? He didn't know.
Kai's curious eyes were searching for honesty in Taehyun's unsure ones. How can he lie to those eyes?

"I-i...I told you...I did that for the Forest!" Taehyun tried to lie, but Kai visibly got annoyed at that and grabbed Taehyun's wrist. He knew Taehyun was avoiding his eyes.

"Look at me and say that Taehyun. I know that's not the truth." Kai demaded, looking at Taehyun, who was hesitant to let out any more words.

"Taehyun please." Kai repeated, desperate to hear the words he wanted to hear so much. Why can't just Taehyun tell him?

Taehyun still wasn't looking at him, and it made him more impatient. He grabbed Taehyun's chin, making Taehyun's eyes forcefully meet his. Taehyun visibly gulped, knowing he was cornered now. His heartbeat was increasing each second, and the close proximity wasn't helping at all.

"Tell me...why did you do all that?" Kai begged for answers. Taehyun couldn't lie anymore. He had to reveal his heart to the Prince now. He can't hide under his snarky remarks anymore. His heart clenched at the sight of the Prince, and he finally gathered all the courage he could, to answer the awaiting Prince.

"Because...I couldn't stand the thought of the Duke hurting you.... I couldn't stand the fact that I was so reckless and let you walk back alone, and you were in danger. I couldn't stand the fact that...that the person I love was in danger, because of my mistake." Taehyun replied, finally giving away his feelings he was trying so desperately to hide.

Upon hearing Taehyun's reply, Kai's breath hitched. So what he assumed...was actually true. Taehyun actually loved him! Oh my god he actually loved him! He was right!

"I know I shouldn't have these feelings for you, they're more than forbidden and aren't accepted in the society by any means. I know it's selfi- mrmpph!!" Before Taehyun could continue his sentence, his breath was taken away by a pair of soft lips capturing his.

He was frozen for a second, processing what was happening, when he realised he was having his first kiss...with a human....more specifically, Huening Kai.

Kai was about to pull away, thinking maybe Taehyun didn't want the kiss when he felt Taehyun wasn't kissing back, but before he could pull away, Taehyun did something he Kai didn't expect.

He pulled him back by his shirt; deepening the kiss. Kai smiled into the kiss, putting his hand on the smaller's waist, inching them closer to each other, as they shared a much longing and passionate kiss under the starry sky.

Kai didn't care if it was forbidden to love a Non-human. He didn't care that he was kissing a Boy, all he cared about was the fact that he was finally kissing the person he was so in love with all this time.

Yes, now Kai was sure...he was inlove with the Warlock as well. He wasn't sure what would happen in future, or what had happened in the past, but the one thing he was sure about now was; that he never wanted to let go of the Silly Warlock he had in his arms right now.

"I love you too...Taehyun." Kai replied, as soon as they pulled away, both breathing heavily from the kissing they had done.

Taehyun couldn't help but blush. Hearing those words coming out of the Prince's mouth sounded so magical to him. He never imagined the Prince would make such a bold move, and write their fate. Kai wasn't the only one cursed now, because Taehyun was too...cursed with Kai's love. He would say it's a blessing though, because now that he could hold the Prince's hand, he wanted nothing more but to be with him, and hold his hand forever.

The Warlock's curse turned out to be "The Prince's Blessing" instead. Their sparks flied, but not because of Taehyun's magic spell.

Their fate made them meet in odd circumstances, but they were grateful anyways.

But the fate of Kai and Taehyun wasn't so easy was it?

"Your Highness! Your Father, his Majesty the King has Summoned you."

"What is it now?"

"About your Marriage engagement with the Lady of North."

To be continued.....

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

Hello my Luvs! This marks the end of "The Warlock's Curse" and the end of the Book 1 of "Love and Magic" series as well!

So...how are we feeling? Taehyun and Kai finally had a kiss! Everyone say thanks to J_iwon cuz she won in rock paper scissors and I had to write the kissing scene lol.

Also, now that Book 1 has come to and end, with a real good cliffhanger, how are y'all feeling ay?
It was sm fun writing this chapter filled with fluff! I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter!

See you in the Book 2! Till then, Sayonara! Take care my Luvs! Byee<33
-Rin💗