Taehyung had always been unique.

His manners of speech and his sometimes childish behaviour often got him laughed at by others his age. Growing up, he has gone through a fair share of bullying. As they grew up, other Flugels naturally began to distance themselves from him.

"They're jealous," Jimin, his best friend would tell him.

Taehyung knew that. He knew that better than anyone.

Flugels are alluring creatures. They were created to be that way, made by the ancient powers in Valhalla specifically for their mates. Yet Taehyung's beauty surpasses anything anyone has ever seen, even by Flugel standard. He was perfect in every aspect, from his perfect face to his lean body and the elegant white wings sprouting from his tailbone. The older Flugels would jokingly say that Valhalla must have malfunctioned when creating Taehyung.

Years later...Taehyung couldn't help but wonder if that is true.

Once a year, there will be a coming to age ceremony where fully grown Flugels will meet with their counterparts—Daemons.

All his life, Taehyung dreamed of the day where he will meet the one he was created for. He spent hours researching about them and spent his days idly looking at footages of them. While Daemons are free to travel to other realms, the Flugels cannot leave their home—Valhalla until they are of age and properly mated to a Daemon.

That's why Taehyung has never seen a Daemon in real life or any other species for that matter. All he has are the knowledge he was born with and the internet linked to the outside world. The first time Taehyung has seen a Daemon in a clip, he was mesmerized. Unlike the Flugels who had slender white wings, the Daemons' wings are grown on their upper back, right between their shoulder blades. Taehyung could practically see the muscles rippling from under those raven black feathers and just a flap of their wings could repel projectiles shot towards them.

Taehyung watched as one easily flattened a mountain while another wiped out an entire town with a single spell. They wield powers completely contradicting to the Flugels whose powers are to protect and heal through their voices. Taehyung read the outside world's history books and watched footages of Daemons fighting during the Great War against other species of the land.

After the long war between species was put to an end, the Daemon tore two holes in the sky. One which Valhalla—home of the Flugels vanished through, while the other became Niflheim—the home to the Daemons. That day, both species forever vanished from what they now call the mundane world.

Flugel and Daemon find their mates through each other's voice.

Taehyung still doesn't really understand, but apparently, they would know who their mate is the moment they hear their voice. During the coming to age ceremony, it was a tradition for the Flugel to sing and the Daemon to pick out their mate's voice through all the others. Once the Flugel and Daemon found one another, they will perform a duet that is known as the bonding song that will bind the pair together for eternity.

Taehyung, being the romantic that Flugels all are, always dreamed of the day where his Daemon would find him. However, his first time attending the ceremony, he was disappointed. While many Daemons' attentions were on him, they all knew that Taehyung wasn't the one for them. They would look at him, admiring him, but ultimately once they find their mate they would forget about him.

The first year was easy, Taehyung just told himself his Daemon hasn't appeared yet. No one knows for sure how Valhalla decides when to create a Flugel for a Daemon, but sometimes their age gap could be as far as three years apart—that is the biggest age gap as of yet. On top of that, it wasn't uncommon for the Flugel to be older than their Daemon mate.

Perhaps Taehyung was one of those—a Flugel created earlier than the birth of his mate.

Next year was the same...as well as the year after. Now at the age of twenty-two—four years after he came to age—Taehyung was still alone. He was the only one alone. All the others his age have all bonded. While twenty-two is barely the beginning to their boringly long life span, Taehyung was definitely the first in history to still have not found his mate at such age.

Once mated, the Flugels would leave Valhalla—venturing to the homeworld of Daemons—Nifleheim. In fact, his and Jimin's mother older brother figure, Seokjin, is living there with his mate. They often chatted and listened to him talking about life there.

The oldest ones left in Valhalla were just him and Jimin.

It isn't that Jimin didn't leave because he can't. He didn't leave simply because he didn't want to.

His best friend was one of the rarities that bonded with not one, but two mates. It was another one of the mystery no one could figure out about Valhalla. Daemon loving another Daemon isn't common, but once every hundred years a pair like that might show up. If their love is true, then Valhalla would gift them a single mate.

Jimin was that lucky mate.

Taehyung could still remember the jealous looks Jimin got when he had bonded on his first year. Taehyung would be lying if he said he isn't the slightest bit jealous of Jimin, but more than that he was overjoyed for the pink haired Flugel.

Now if only the said pink haired Flugel would hurry and leave...

"I told you many times Jimin." Taehyung sighed heavily before frowning at his best friend/roommate. "You can't leave your mates in Nifleheim like this forever. I know they're waiting for you. I heard you arguing with them over the communicator last night."

"It's not forever. I told you, we'll leave together once you find your mate." Jimin said stubbornly, looking angry for some reason, but Taehyung knew he wasn't angry at him. Probably his mates had said something they're not supposed to...again.

For Jimin's destined pair, they sure are good at dragging out Jimin's bad mood. It was something even Taehyung himself couldn't accomplish which says a lot.

"And how long will that be?" Taehyung huffed. He absentmindedly rubbed the silver pendant around his neck. This action was slowly becoming a habit every time they argue over this. "I'm surprised that Yoongi-hyung and Hoseok-hyung are even willing to wait this long."

"It's only been five years, TaeTae." Jimin pushed on. After all, with their lifespans, five years is equivalent to a blink of an eye—not even worth mentioning. But they both know that to Taehyung, these five years felt like the longest in his life.

"Just go, Jiminie," Taehyung told him. When Jimin only stared back blankly, sitting on his bed looking as if he won't even budge an inch, Taehyung gave up. He walked over to the door, opening it to be greeted with a blast of wind.

"Where are you going?" Jimin asked, his posture immediately stiffened as his wings that had been lying lazily on the bed shot up.

"I'm just going out to stretch my wings." Taehyung replied, thinking a bit before adding, "And also to take a bath at the spring. My feathers are getting really oily and it's really uncomfortable."

"You can wait till tomorrow," Jimin said, a frown tugging on his face. "Look at that wind blowing around, you can't fly out there. I'm sure Valhalla will have the barrier fixed by tomorrow."

"We've been holed up in here for two days now Jimin!" Taehyung pouted. "Besides, it's just a little breeze, it was worst yesterday. I'll be back very soon!"

"Taehyung-ah!" Jimin's voice echoed into the distance as Taehyung had already leaped out. He spread his wings into their full length as he soared through the floating pieces of the city. Since Valhalla is located in another dimension, gravity doesn't exist unless indoor, allowing the Flugels to freely travel without such thing as up or down.

The usually lively city was deathly silent except for the loud howling sound of the wind. Taehyung gazed up at the sky that was nothing but white light. It was very different than the pictures he sees of Niflheim where the sky there is dark blue and cities covered in a layer of fog.

Thanks to the barrier surrounding Valhalla, they never have wind before. The fact that there are means they must be leaking in from somewhere. That caused Taehyung, who isn't used to flying in such condition to bump into a couple of things until he had to take a break and landed on the side of a building.

Taehyung frowned as he looked around the quiet city.

Vahalla is alive with a conscience—running like those computers and programs in the mundane world, except much superior. When the city detects a leak in the barrier it should only take an hour at most to repair. However, it has already been two days and this unstable wind is still flowing throughout the city.

Something wasn't right.

Taehyung started to think maybe Jimin is right. He gripped onto the edge of a building as his hair and feathers ruffled in the wind. Just as he planned to head back home, a flash of movement caught his eyes.

Taehyung turned and caught a flutter of black cloth disappearing around a corner. Taehyung's heart skipped a beat as he rubbed his eyes, wondering if he had seen right. Flugels always wears a special material that is light and airy, making it easy for them to fly. Due to that, these special materials can't absorb dye so dark coloured clothes don't exist in Valhalla. Never did he see clothing that dark and flapping so heavily in the wind before.

Taehyung observed his surroundings.

Something really isn't right.

Gripping the wall with one hand, Taehyung readjusted himself. His feet were flat against the wall and his wings stretched to get a better grasp on the wind current around him. His eyes darted around until he finally spotted another blur, this time on a balcony in a distant building.

Taehyung kicked off the wall, giving two powerful flaps before riding the wind as he flew towards the building. Because of the wind and the speed he was going at, he couldn't stop in time so he ended up smashing through the glass, the shards bouncing off his body without leaving even the tiniest scratch.

What Taehyung saw made his blood turn cold.

Inside the apartment, a tall man in black was crouched on the ground, a young Flugel unconscious in his arms as he stared at Taehyung equally surprised. That was when Taehyung saw that the man's irises are crimson and when he looked down to the other Flugel, he found two holes in the child's neck with fresh blood still bleeding from the wound.

Taehyung's brain immediately provided him with a single word.

Vampire.

A vampire has somehow snuck into Valhalla!

Taehyung jumped back and let out a loud shrill as the city suddenly flared up in life. Alarms rang throughout the city as magic circles started appearing all over the sky. Flashes of lightning shot out of those magic circles, followed by the booming sound of lightning that shook the entire city. The vampire cursed loudly as he grabbed the unconscious child and ran out the front door.

"Stop!" Taehyung shouted. He knew going after the vampire was a bad idea, but he has to save that fledgling.

Just as he took a couple of steps and stretched out his wings for the chase, Taehyung was tackled onto the ground from behind. He looked up, only able to meet a pair of crimson eyes before he felt a prickle of pain at the side of his neck. Taehyung's eyes dilated as greedy mouth sucked at his neck. Goosebumps crawled over his body as he felt his blood being drained from his body. He panicked, fear striking deep inside him as he kicked and scratched at the large body pinning him down. His wings trashed as white feathers scattered all around the room.

No matter how much he struggled, it was no use.

Eventually, his vision was blurring and his head spun. His struggles grew weaker and weaker until his arms fell limply onto his side. The last thing he saw was that wide smirk, showing off two pointy fangs stained with his blood before everything became black.

By the time Taehyung came to, he felt himself moving.

The next thing he felt was a strange tightness around his neck. He reached up, his body still weak from the lack of blood as his fingers touched something cold and metallic. His mind was still groggy, but he forced himself to focus as he felt around his neck until he realized it was some sort of collar. The thing was tight around his throat, only loose enough to let a small amount of air and blood to pass through. When Taehyung let out a dry cough, his eyes widened when he couldn't hear anything but air leaving his lips.

He tried to speak, but every time he does, nothing came out. Whatever this collar is, it was made to seal their voices. Taehyung quickly looked around, only to regret it as a wave of nausea hit him. He fell back down against the cold ground, resting up a little before he could open his eyes again.

When he looked up, he was horrified to see Flugels—most of them only around the age of ten, cramped up in glass boxes. Some were unconscious while others were letting out silent cries. Taehyung reached up, only for his hand to meet the cold glass confining him. He slowly looked around; there must be at least twenty Flugels.

What was going on?

Taehyung was forced to lie back down as he thinks.

Vampires had somehow gotten into the impenetrable Valhalla and made out with at least twenty Flugels. That is unheard of. Since vampires are walking corpse, it makes sense that could survive in the dimensional rift as they don't require air to breathe. However, finding and coming into Valhalla was a whole other issue. Valhalla should have been able to detect intruders the moment they broke the barrier and eliminate them.

How did this happen?

What exactly is happening to their home?

Taehyung gasped when he was suddenly propelled forward by a force, causing his head to hit against the hard glass. He whimpered as stars burst behind his eyelids and his vision started to blur again.

Dazed, Taehyung didn't even hear the sound of chains unlocking as people started to come in, moving the Flugels one by one out of the transportation device they were on. By the time his brain was functioning again, Taehyung saw people standing in front of him—both vampires and humans.

They are in the mundane world?

Well...of course they are. It's the home to all other species—humans especially. Only Daemon and Flugels are able to break through dimensions and make their home there.

"Beautiful! They're absolutely gorgeous!" The fat human spluttered as he hungrily eyed the Flugels stacked up in front of him. His eyes were eventually drawn to Taehyung and then refused to budge an inch. "I never thought angels really exist! I never thought I'd see one with my own eyes, let alone all this!"

"I am pleased to see that they have caught your interest." The vampire said with a polite smile gracing his face.

"Are you sure we can't change your mind?" A taller human said, his eyes practically stripping Taehyung as he licked his lips. "Rather than putting them up for the auction, we can offer you a much better prize."

"I'm afraid I can't do that. As I have stated before, we will have all twenty-four Flugels in tomorrow's auction." The vampire said in a business-like tone.

The humans didn't look too happy. One of them looked as if he wanted to talk back, but was quickly hushed by his companion. Such a small exchange didn't go unnoticed as the vampire shrugged.

"Of course, if you are unwilling, I am sure other auction houses will be more than happy to sell my merchandises for me."

"No!" The fat man shouted in panic, but then quickly gathered himself and attempted to smile respectfully. His smile was so wide that his eyes were barely visible under all those flesh. "Of course not! We're more than happy to!"

From the short exchange, Taehyung could pretty much grasp the situation. The vampires had kidnapped them to sell them in the mundane world? Just for some petty money?

That certainly doesn't seem like how vampires operate from what the knowledge Valhalla provided him. The vampires came from a long bloodline of nobles. Humans he could understand, but what would vampires need money for? They literally need nothing but blood to sustain them and Flugel blood are the riches energy source there is for them. Logically, the vampires should be chaining them up in the basement and using them as blood bags.

The only reason as to why they didn't do that was most likely their fear and cautiousness of Daemons.

With the disappearance of Flugels and Daemons from this world for so long, they have mostly become legends and myths. The only species that knows of them are those that have long lifespans—enough to have seen the day when the Daemons and Flugels left the world through the dimensional crack in the sky.

Vampires are one of those species.

That's why they should be the last species to dare to pull something like this off. After all, if the vampires still have clansmen that survived the war, they should know the truth behind Daemon's relationship with Flugels and how horrifying Daemons can become. Daemons won't tolerate anyone daring to harm to Flugels or Valhalla. They will surely come after them.

So is this some sort of trap in an attempt to throw the Daemon's pursuit off them? But how would auction achieve that? Are they trying to find ways to secretly deport them to other lands? If they go through a lot of different seller's hands, it will eventually become hard for anyone to trace back to the original culprits that kidnapped them.

But that still makes no sense. Taehyung knew their history. He knew how tempting Flugels are to other species. Who wouldn't want to keep the Flugels for themselves if given the chance? Besides, even if this plan does work, it doesn't mean anything. It's just useless efforts to delay the inevitable. Sooner or later they will still be found and the Daemons will...

Taehyung stopped his thoughts there.

No...that's not it. He's overcomplicating it. Perhaps it's simpler than he thought.

Flugels are nothing but myths now. People's imagination of them changed slowly over the long flow of time and to this day they even became part of religions for lower species. Only a few know what they really are—and those species are usually higher up in the hierarchy. Naturally, they are also the ones that hold the most grudges from back during the Great War so they won't share their knowledge with anyone else.

That's why most of the population in the mundane world doesn't even know.

So what happens if over twenty Flugels were suddenly presented in an auction for all races to see? The world would go into an uproar and people will start trying to hunt down Flugels to make them their own, just like they did in the Great War. While society has moved forward—people's heart does not, no matter what species they are.

If the entire world becomes aware of Flugel's existence again, what about Daemon? Would those who didn't know any better see Daemons as Flugels and attack them? Are the vampires planning on using all other species as bait to distract the Daemons while they make off with the Flugels?

The thought made Taehyung's blood ran cold. If his guess is true, then that means those blood sucking leeches are willing to throw the world into another war just twenty-four Flugels. Taehyung gritted his teeth as he glowered harshly at the vampire who is oblivious to his hateful gaze.

"If I may ask, where did you find them?" One human asked cautiously.

"I can provide you with a location after the auction." The vampire said, a moderate smile still on his face that made Taehyung even more certain of his guess. Taehyung watched as the vampire walked over before stopping right before his cage. "Angels mate the moment they reached adulthood at eighteen. But as you can see, we even captured a rare one that hasn't been bound to a mate. Once you bond with it, they will tend to all of your needs."

Lies.

The vampire was sprouting all lies, but the humans couldn't see that. The vampires could say anything and these people would believe him.

"Like sluts huh?" One of the humans laughed. "And to think there are still idiots that believed that angels are messengers from God. They're nothing but bitches."

"You sure they aren't incubus?" Another joined in.

Taehyung gritted his teeth as he tried to hold in the anger threatening to burst out. How dare they! How dare they insult them like this? To Taehyung, it's the humans who are dirty—being able to take on multiple mates and even cheating on your mate. It's unheard of and absolutely absurd!

Taehyung wasn't the only one who has such thought. When he looked to his side, he saw the younger Flugels, looking just as furious but all unable to do anything thanks to the vampires draining their blood and sealing their voices.

"They're all males though, why aren't there any females?" Taehyung heard one person asked. Then, as if realizing how wrong it was for him to ask their client of such question, he quickly added, "you know, a female will probably sell more if you have some."

If the vampire is bothered by such question, he didn't show. Instead, he continued to politely play along with these greedy humans. "Flugels are unisex. They all have the bodies of male but have female organs so they are able to be breed."

Taehyung couldn't handle it anymore. The throbbing in his head as getting increasingly more painful. He wasn't sure if it was due to the rush of anger or the lack of blood...or perhaps it was both. Whatever the reason is, he couldn't hang on any longer as his eyelids fell heavily over his eyes.

The laughter around him grew more and more distant...

The second time Taehyung came to again, he heard someone cursing right up against his ear.

"Damn it!"

He slowly opened his eyes and saw two men—humans—looming over his cage. They were using all sorts of tools, slamming against the glass repeatedly. The glass cage didn't make any sound upon the tool's impact. The only way Taehyung was certain they were even hitting it was the slight vibration in the glass.

With each hit, the area that the tool had come in contact with glowed in blue light before fading away again. In that split second where the light was the strongest, Taehyung could clearly see a verse in ancient language—written in blood, as it flashed into existence before fading away.

"The fuck is this shit?!" One of the men snapped as he threw the hammer in his hand right at another Flugel. The young Flugel inside let out a soundless scream as the hammer bounced off the glass, creating a loud clang in the dimly lit room.

"The vampires must have done something to it. Fuckers!" The other human shouted, equally angry.

"We can't lift them up either, it's like these things are nailed to the ground!"

Taehyung stared at the idiots.

The very fact that vampires needed to use their own blood to create seals already says something about their magic ability. He knew humans are the weakest species and have no affinity to magic, but he didn't know that they can't even see written seals.

"Forget it." Another man said as he came over to the two trying to crack open Taehyung's cage. Taehyung looked around. It was then that he saw that the room was full of human males. He felt his heart dropped at the disgusting looks he was getting from all these people. "We can still have some fun with these sluts before they are sold."

Taehyung looked around and found himself being stared at by the other Flugels. Their eyes were filled with fear and lost at what to do. It was then Taehyung remembered that the others are all just children. They don't know just how ugly these creatures can become. Taehyung's eyes darted to the other Flugels. He closed his eyes and cupped his hands over his ears.

"Don't look." He mouthed out to them.

The fledglings got his message and did as he showed. They squeezed their eyes shut, curling up in their cages as they clamped their hands down over their ears. Some even tried to curl under their wings as much as they can in their cramped space.

When the humans saw that, they yelled and smacked against the cages, but the young Flugels all remained in their curled up state. Taehyung became the only Flugel left sitting there, eyes still open and beautiful face up for everyone to see. And then, he smiled. It was a weak smile that didn't reach his eyes, but it was enough to stun the humans as they eyed him hungrily.

They grew excited as they crowded around him. Their voices becoming were nothing but a jumble of noises that Taehyung tried to filter out. As they drop their pants and began stroking themselves off of him, he could only sit there, trying his best not to gag and curl up like the kids. He tried to avoid the ugly sight, but being surrounded at all angles, there was nowhere for him to look away.

He gritted his teeth as he tried to think of something nice.

He thought of Jimin. He wondered how the pink haired Flugel is right now. Perhaps he's already with his mates considering what happened. Taehyung has only met Yoongi and Hoseok once, but he knew the two Daemons were very protective of Jimin. And with what happened to Valhalla, surely they are the first to rush there. His best friend is definitely in good hands.

Taehyung closed his eyes when white substance splattered against the glass in front of him. He wanted to throw up. The only bright side he could see in this situation was probably that the glass cage also traps air, which meant outside air can't pass inside. Each space they were given had just the right amount of air to last them twenty-four hours as Flugel's oxygen intake is very low. This just goes to show just how prepared those vampires are. It made Taehyung shiver as he wondered just how long had they planned for this day.

Taehyung didn't know how long these men had pleasured themselves for. When his cage was almost completely covered up by the gooey substances, they would wipe it off, just to see his face again and continue. At first, there were some men trying their luck with the younger ones. They would call out degrading words and kick the cage, but when the fledglings remained completely still, the humans lost their interest and came to Taehyung.

By now, Taehyung lost the urge to throw up. He's gotten used to it, but that didn't make any of this less disgusting. He flinched when one of the humans slapped a certain part of his body near his face, causing the men around to roar out in laughter. Even though none of them touched him, Taehyung felt dirtied and used.

He had never felt the rage and the urge to kill until now. Taehyung never felt so useless being a Flugel. Why couldn't they have some sort of offensive magic? Why can they only use magic through their voice? Why did Valhalla make them this way?

Taehyung clawed at the shackle around his neck, but it must have been reinforced by another blood seal because no matter how hard he tried, he can't break free. He let out a scream, but only air left his mouth and nothing more.

Taehyung gritted his teeth to swallow up tears of frustration. He could hear more splattering sounds. He paid no attention at first, but when screams suddenly echoed throughout the room, Taehyung snapped up.

His vision was literally dyed in red.

He stared at the red fluid sliding down the glass, mixing with the revolting white ones and turning into a nauseating pink. When Taehyung's gaze dropped lower to the ground, his eyes dilated upon seeing a bloody organ that looked as if it has been ripped off from the body by brute force. Next to it were white teeth—stained in blood and scattered like coins on the ground.

Through the crimson fluid blurring his sight, Taehyung could see men running about, screaming as blood splattered all across the walls and even staining the ceiling. And then Taehyung saw it...a pair of large, black wings sprouting out from the falling piles of flesh.

A Daemon.

Taehyung couldn't see clearly through the thick blood sliding down his cage, but he could see the way the Daemon's silhouette moved in a blur, tearing the humans apart limb by limbs as if toying with them. When the Daemon let out a furious roar that shook the entire building, Taehyung felt his heart skipped.

His throat became dry as he felt the urge to open his mouth—to sing out to the unknown Daemon bathed in the blood of their captors. Taehyung hastily slapped a hand over his mouth but remembered that he couldn't sing with the choker on anyways.

The Daemon was literally dissecting his opponents and leaving them writhing in pain on the ground for them to slowly die. Taehyung shifted nervously when the winged figure stalked towards him after taking care of the last human.

He was tall—about Taehyung's own height or probably a tad taller. And those wings...Taehyung was sure they must be twice his own wingspan. When the Daemon stopped in front of Taehyung's cage, he crouched down. With a powerful flap of his wings, the glass cage shattered from the sheer force. Those wings flapped again, softer this time to blow off the shards and fluids before they even have a chance of touching the Flugel's body.

Taehyung's nose was immediately assaulted by the coppery scent of blood. However, under the thick layer of blood, he could smell something else. After all, these men had spent what must be hours crowding around him. The smell gathered around him was naturally thick.

Taehyung kept his eyes low, too ashamed to look up at the Daemon—his mate. The other obviously had seen what those humans were doing. Taehyung felt tears prickling his eyes. Never in all of his years did he ever imagine that he would meet his destined mate this way. He slapped a hand over his mouth, feeling as if he was really going to throw up this time when he was suddenly pulled against a strong, muscular chest.

The Flugel was completely frozen the moment those powerful arms wrapped around his body. The Daemon's raven wings folded around his body as if trying to protect him from the outside world.

Taehyung couldn't stop the tears that flooded out of his eyes and streaming down his cheek. He wrapped his arms around his mate and buried his face into his chest. In response to his action, the Daemon tightened his arms even more and let out a soft croon in an attempt to soothe him.

"Sir!"

Taehyung heard a voice called followed by multiple flapping sounds of wings.

"The area has been cleared and the barrier has been set up. The first unit has taken their positions."

Taehyung was shifted as the Daemon picked him up. He tried to move, only to be hit by another wave of dizziness that caused him to almost turn limp in his mate's arm. The Daemon quickly noticed his condition and adjusted his head so that he was resting against the Daemon's shoulder.

"Clean up the mess and set up the replicas." His mate spoke in a voice full of authority, his chest vibrating pleasantly against Taehyung with each word leaving his mouth. "Have all units on standby for tomorrow's auction. Make sure not a single one of them gets to leave."

"Yes, sir!"

Taehyung felt himself beginning to doze off, but when something brushed against his throat, he jerked back away. Before he can even panic at the unexpected touch, his mate was faster.

"It's ok." He cradled Taehyung further against his body and wrapped one of his wings around Taehyung like a feathery blanket, covering him up in his scent and warmth.

"We just need to check your collar so we can get it off, ok?" He said softly and slowly as if speaking to a newborn.

Taehyung tried to open his eyes but found that he couldn't. At the thought of how they were finally safe, whatever that had been holding him up until now has given up. He was tired, so all he managed to do was nod and relaxed once more within the comfortable arms.

Those hands were back, but this time Taehyung didn't resist as he felt the hand prod around his neck and trace over the metallic collar.

"How is it, Namjoon-hyung?"

Namjoon...Taehyung felt like he knows that name, but he couldn't think of anything at the moment.

"I don't sense any magic signatures or traps on it. These are just normal collars used to jam their vocal cores." As soon as the other Daemon said that, Taehyung felt the tightness on his neck loosened as he let out a sharp gasp for breath. His voice came out raw and horse as metal clattering against the ground echoed throughout the room.

Soon, many other clattering sounds followed as various wheezes and coughs joined. And then...there were cries of relieve.

"Hyung—"

"Go, Jeongguk. Take the Flugels and your mate back. I'll take over from here."

There were no more words exchanged after that.

Taehyung didn't know at what point did he passed out.

When he woke, the first thought that came to him that he was melting. He was surrounded by warmth so comfortable that he wanted to drift back into sleep. However, before he could do that, he felt that his bed was shifting ever so slightly. It was then that Taehyung felt something on the small of his back—right between his wings. It was a weird texture, tender yet rough as it caressed him lightly, leaving a bizarre tingle on his bare skin.

With his senses slowly arousing, Taehyung noticed that there was something moving against his ear. It was a rhythmic beating sound...something that he knew he has heard of from somewhere before.

It took him a moment to remember why it sounded so familiar.

It was the sound of heartbeats.

Taehyung's eyes sluggishly fluttered open. At first, he thought that his sight was blurry, but after some time he noticed it wasn't his sight. It was his surrounding that's blurry—or rather, foggy.

Taehyung stared at the colours that were constantly changing around him, from light pink to mint green, to sky blue...

The Flugel blinked, reaching a hand to rub his eyes when he heard the splashing sound of water and felt the wetness from his own touch. He pulled his hand away, taking a closer look to see that he's wet. He blinked a couple of time before he recognized the colours changing around him to be water.

He was bathing in the healing spring.

Like a bucket of cold water poured over his head, Taehyung shot up—wide awake as he found himself locking with a pair of chocolate brown eyes.

The Flugel felt like he had just swallowed a bag of cotton as he stared at the face that could only be described as perfection.

Taehyung opened and closed his mouth, unable to form any words as he watched a smile stretched across the Daemon's lips before something soft touched his back, pushing him down to lie against the firm, naked chest. Taehyung's face exploded in a dozen shades of red as he peeked over his shoulder to see exactly what was pushing him.

When he saw the large, black wing pressed against his back along with the calloused hand lying casually between the base of his wings, his brain finally overheated.

Taehyung unintentionally let out a whine as he a pushed back against the Daemon's body. The Daemon sat up a bit straighter, adjusting Taehyung over his laps while keeping one wing against the Flugel. The Daemon let out a low croon as he tucked Taehyung's head into the crook of his neck and gently stroked his hair.

They stayed like that for a long time, neither of them exchanging a single word.

At first Taehyung was content to stay in his mate's arms, but eventually, the silence was becoming too much. He felt more and more awkward. Here was his mate he had waited five years to meet...but now that they've met, he has no idea what to say.

"The other Flugels...how are they?" He asked despite already knowing the answer. It was the only thing he found that they could talk about.

"They're fine." The Daemon's response was short as Taehyung trembled at the feeling of the hard muscles vibrating against his skin. His limbs and wings immediately went slack while the Daemon continued to stroke him as if not realizing the effect he has on the other.

"Valhalla?" Taehyung then asked, a bit more urgently as he remembered that their home has been breached.

"We have guards stationed around Valhalla and the barrier has been fixed. As for what to do in the future to prevent the same mistake, that is currently being discussed."

Taehyung nodded slowly. Although he doesn't understand all those complicated stuff, he was relieved as long as his home is safe. That means Jimin and all other Flugels are safe.

The silence returned after that.

Taehyung hesitated before finally asking the question that's been like a thorn in his heart all these years.

"Why didn't you come?"

The hand stroking him went still.

At the Daemon's reaction, Taehyung immediately regretted asking. He felt tears stinging his eyes at all the possibilities and reasons for the Daemon abandoning him. Before his tears get the chance to fall, the Daemon dipped his head down towards him. Taehyung shut his eyes as he felt warm lips brushing tenderly against his eyelids, then down to his long eyelashes—kissing the pearly tears away.

"I'm sorry." The Daemon mumbled. His voice was quivering lightly, losing that calmness he had before which made Taehyung realized that this was his real mate. The almost stoic voice before was just his mate putting on a tough front. "I'm sorry, Tae."

Taehyung tried hard not to look surprised when he heard his name spilling from the Daemon's charming voice. How did he know his name?

"I have no excuses," The Daemon continued. Taehyung felt as if his heart was being squeezed by an invisible hand at the pain that's radiating off the other. "I've failed you as a mate. I wasn't there to protect you, I—"

"What's...your name?" Taehyung asked softly, cutting his mate off.

The Daemon stayed quiet for a moment before he pressed his cheek against the top of Taehyung's head and wrapped his wing even tighter around him as though fearing he may flee.

"Jeon Jeongguk."

This time, it was Taehyung who froze.

Jeon Jeongguk.

He knew that name.

After all, who doesn't?

Jeon Jeongguk is the name of the youngest general in Niflheim!

Like Taehyung who is the ideal mate for Daemons, all Flugels dreamed to become Jeongguk's. He was known to be a prodigy. His magical powers exceed any records in Daemon history and his physical strength alone is on par with the Giant tribes that were wiped out during the Great War.

"Why didn't you come?" Taehyung repeated his first question. Now that he knew who his mate was, it only became more painful. If his mate was so powerful, why didn't he come for him?

"...I was afraid." Jeongguk replied after a long time. "I have lots of enemies. A lot of people would be happy to see me gone. I didn't want to put you at risk until I gain more power—until I know for sure that I can protect you. I thought that as long as you are in Valhalla, you'll be safe."

At that, Jeongguk's grip over him tightened as his eyes dilated at the memory of what he witnessed when he found Taehyung. The indescribable rage when he saw the sight of those filthy creatures using his mate for their own dirty desires. He felt sick to the stomach knowing that it was because of him that his Flugel was in that situation. If he had just gathered up his courage and confront Taehyung all those years ago, then his mate wouldn't have gone through that nightmare.

The sight of his mate locked in a cage with those animals swarmed around him...and even having some fanged mongrel draining his precious blood! Jeongguk could barely contain his rage. He regretted killing off those humans so hastily. He should have kept them alive and break them little by little.

Never did Jeongguk failed in so many ways. He didn't deserve to call himself this beautiful being's mate. He had one job—one job he was born to do, and he failed miserably.

What genius? What uses were his name and rank if he can't even properly protect his mate?

"Hey...hey!" Taehyung called out softly as he patted Jeongguk's cheek, snapping him out of thought.

"I'm alright," Taehyung said, but when he remembered the disgusting and revolting sight of what those humans did and the feeling of having his blood drained from his body, he couldn't help but shivered.

Jeongguk tightened his arms even more as his other wing came down, caging Taehyung back in that familiar darkness. Taehyung immediately calmed as that feeling of being detached from the world outside came back to him.

Right here and now, there was only him and his mate. Nothing else matters.

"Ok...maybe I'm not alright." Taehyung chuckled weakly as he felt his mate's firm muscles tense up even more. "But it could have been worst. They could have—"

"Don't!" Jeongguk's weak gasp cut in as he buried his face into Taehyung's hair. His black wings were quivering lightly at the possibility of what Taehyung is suggesting. "Don't say any more."

"Sorry," Taehyung whispered, but that was apparently the wrong thing to say as the pain on Jeongguk's face became even more evident.

Taehyung wanted to beat himself up.

He seems to only make things worse and worse. So instead of speaking, he let out a low whine of a Flugel seeking for attention. Jeongguk's response was immediate as he began to croon—the tight hold turning gentle once more as the Daemon tended to the Flugel. Taehyung let himself bask in the attention for a while before he nuzzled Jungkook's neck with his face, knowing the Daemon was a bit calmer now.

"I didn't mean it that way...I just..." Taehyung struggled to find the right words. "What I wanted to say is, it'll pass. It's not like they did any lasting damages...I'll forget eventually."

Jeongguk didn't say anything. The Daemon knew that the Flugel was trying to comfort him. No matter what Taehyung said, Jeongguk cannot forgive himself, nor could he forget. It also made him realize how naïve he was.

There was nowhere safe for Flugels in this world. This incident was the perfect example. No matter how well the Flugels hide, they will be found eventually. They are too precious. The only safe place for them was by their mate's side.

"I won't let you go," Jeongguk whispered. "I won't let you out of my sight ever again, Tae."

Taehyung's white wings twitched a bit as his face blossomed into all kinds of red. The Flugel nodded shyly before he noticed how this was the second time Jeongguk called out his name.

"How do you know my name?" Taehyung asked. Never mind knowing his name, Jeongguke was apparently so comfortable with his name that they are on a nickname basis.

Jeongguk smiled lightly as he reached a slender finger down and hooked up the silver pendant the Flugel was wearing and placed a delicate kiss on the thin chains.

"...You might not know, but four years ago during the ceremony, I was the head of the guards stationed there to make sure everything goes smoothly. When I heard your voice singing across the field, I knew right then and there that you are mine. But I..." Jeongguk closed his eyes, his brows furrowing as if once more regretting the decision of not approaching him. "Yoongi-hyung and Hoseok-hyung are good friends of mine. I knew that their mate was your friend, so I asked him to give you this."

"You mean...this necklace that Jimin gave me was from you?" Taehyung asked, eyes wide as he placed a hand over the pendant. He could still remember when he got it from Jimin a month after attending his first ceremony. Taehyung had thought it was just a present to make him feel better, never did he thought it was a gift from his mate.

Which means...Jimin knew who his mate was all the way since back then!

Taehyung didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Now looking back, he felt like a lot of things are starting to make sense! Such as Jimin's reactions whenever they spoke of Taehyung's potential mate. Why Jimin always looked so frustrated when Taehyung came back depressed after another failure to find his mate and why he refused to leave until Taehyung does.

And the arguments he has with his mates...

Taehyung always left whenever he came across it so he has never heard of their conversations. All he knew was that Jimin always sounded angry while his mates never once spoke and just silently took it. He always thought it has something to do with Jimin's decision to stay at Valhalla with him. Now that he knew his mate and Jimin's mates are close, could the pink haired Flugel be simply be ranting about Jeongguk to his mate?

Or perhaps...it wasn't even his mates he was always shouting at?

"I made it myself," Jeongguk said after some hesitation. "I've...sealed my magic signature in it just in case. I've never used it though, only when we've arrived at Valhalla and found out that one of the missing Flugels was you."

So that's how they found them...

Jeongguk was tracing a trail of his own magic in the necklace. Taehyung wanted to laugh at the nervous look on Jeongguk's face. Was he afraid that Taehyung would get angry for something like this? It was natural for Flugels to wear something with their mate's magic so that the Daemons can find them if anything happens.

Taehyung felt his chest warmed as his wings stretched out of the water, sliding against those much larger and stronger black wings. Jeongguk jerked, surprised by the Flugel's action, but he quickly responded by wrapping his wings around the pure white ones and used his arms to pull Taehyung so that the gap between their bare chest was erased.

"I've messed up," Jeongguk said quietly, pressing his forehead against Taehyung as he stared into his Flugel's eyes. "I made an unforgivable mistake and you got harmed as result. I've failed as your mate...but despite that, I still want to ask if you can give me a chance to redeem myself—to let me properly protect and love you."

"What are you talking about?" Taehyung laughed as he leaned forward, pushing his forehead back against Jeongguk's as their noses brushed. "You've already did, didn't you?"

Taehyung felt the black feathers puffing out before Jeongguk closed the last bit of space between them. Their lips brushed in the gentlest kiss before their mouths fitted against one another's. The kiss was slow and unhurried.

They both took their time—pouring all of their loves into that single action.

They didn't know how long they've kissed for, but neither cared. Their tongues lazily slid around one another and drank down the soft moans that left the other's throat.

When they separated, Taehyung was breathless—which says a lot considering how little air Flugel needed to breathe. A silvery thread of saliva still connected their lips, stretching thinner and thinner before popping out of existence.

Taehyung's took a deep breath...then another.

And then...a song fell from his lips.

Jeongguk's eyes gleamed at the beautiful low and husky voice singing out the melody. He was quick to join, responding with his own as their voices mingled and created a perfect harmony of low and high. The Daemon laced his fingers with the Flugel, bringing the other's hand out of the water as they sang.

White light appeared around their wrists and began to stitch down the ancient vows onto their skin—proof of the fact that they belong to one another for all of eternity.