"But it's never long before
An old yearning rises for
The cradled nights
The siren's call
Let me always return to thee"

A Drop of Blood - Tamino

🌙🌞

"You are insane!" Setareh paced before her angrily.

I hear that often. Leila smiled to herself.

"It's her best quality," Taehyung stated, his eyes grazing over her tenderly. He leaned against his throne instead of sitting on it, arms crossed. He refused until her throne sat right beside his, just as proud. She melted into a puddle, even as her sister groaned loudly in annoyance.

Insane. Prideful. Cunning. Selfless. Mesmerizing. Brash.

But they were all her. It was what made Leila, Ignis Lunae. And she could just be, now that her death had already come. It ceased from looming over her shoulder. Did they not understand her relief?

"Crazy this, senseless that. Do you all not appreciate this!" Leila gestures to the large windows of the throne room.

Both Taehyung and Leila gathered all of their closest subjects to relay what had happened. Lily had given up on the task after she realized Namjoon had truly left. A mystery still left to be solved.

"I am grateful, truly. You did us all a favor." Jeongguk answered, smiling broadly. "It could have gone terribly. And yet here you are standing before us."

Leila knew a quip about her shutting up for five minutes after drowning was hiding under the man's tongue. But she still appreciated it, even as Setareh knocked into his shoulders.

Aera, who had finally been able to climb out of her coffin, lifted a single brow. Her jade eyes appraised her easily, "And to think we all wanted you caged and dead." Then more solemnly, "I am proud to call you our Queen, light bringer."

Leila's heart soared at the name, though she did not want too much praise. She had done the right thing. She had broken their cages. The cycle of hatred that has festered between both the Immortui and the curse bearers.

It was all over.

The rest of the noblemen nodded, taking themselves out of their seats to bow.

"You told us your family secrets. You went against tradition to tell us of the Immortui origin." Jin commented, his eyes lighting up with warmth, "I never thought I would see the sun. But I thought it would come back before you ever shared the curse with us in its entirety. What you have spoken of is invaluable to us."

Leila had not realized that indeed they had all lost out. Their parents and ancestors were sworn to secrecy of their beginnings, and they were not told of what occurred the day of the black sun so that they could not side with Nox. The nobles would have forever been in the dark if they had not told them.

They promised the royal pair whatever they needed. Men, gifts, and monetary values.

Leila just implored them to spend more time at the castle. Taehyung needed his family around.

It felt childish, but Leila could not prevent the question from pouring from her lips, "How do you feel about it?"

She did not have to specify what she was talking about.

Setareh gave up her annoyance with her. Tears of happiness started to cascade down her round face, "isn't it the most beautiful thing you've ever seen? I understand now. I understand why they grieved its loss."

One by one they spoke of their reactions. What they saw the sun to be. Some made her laugh, like Hoseok who claimed he screamed and thought he was burning. Luckily he had just been too close to a candle.

Others made her cry. Like Yoongi. A man of so few words, and yet tore through her. "I was like you Leila. You had been washed away of all love. You never experienced it, like I have never seen the sun. And now that I have had a taste, I cannot be without it."

Yoongi did not have to apologize to her for voting to keep her imprisoned, and disapproving of Setareh's occupation. With those few words, he had made peace with her and more.

Leila turned to her prince, though she already knew his answer. And like always, he kept her on her toes.

Taehyung's lips quirked up in a lilt, "It's like an old friend."

Hoseok coughed through the heart-felt celebrations, "Speaking of an old friend, what is to be done with Jimin?"

Shît.

Leila fell silent, but luckily her husband was prepared for an early interruption. The man placed his arm around her waist and addressed both Lily and Aera who sat at the corner of the table. The two had become closer in the weeks that the healers cared for one another.

It seemed it took Aera threatening Lily's life to make peace between the two. Leila guessed more seriously that Aera saw bravery in Lily when she stood up to the Queen. And it was a trait she regarded highly over all others.

"Ooh, Lily, do you mind taking Aera to the infirmary? It looks like she is bleeding through her bandages."

"Leila, when you made him drown you, you also must have scrambled his mind. Because he simply wasn't this stupid before. Annoying sure, but—"

"Oh! He's right! We must get you there now."

"What is the meaning of this madness? I know you have just figured out you are friend siblings, but please do not back up each other's idiocy. I am perfectly fine."

Lily panicked until Leila remembered her role. She lifted the saltwater Lily had placed in her wine glass, and swiftly cut at a thin layer of Aera's skin. She didn't even notice. But of course, her body drooped when she realized she indeed was bleeding.

"I will take care of her."

"And I'll come with you." Yoongi offered himself, raising swiftly from his seat.

Lily blushed but quickly recovered, "Sure."

It left Leila to address the rest of the room without interference. As their Queen, they would listen.

"We have lived in darkness for centuries. The sun has returned, and so has the general populace's will to live. Tenebris is predicted to fall, as we have heard that uprisings have already begun. Territories will take back their names, cultures and claims. We expected this, and still, that is not where the real problem lies..."Leila stared every person down, making sure they understood, "Nox will never go away, as there is always balance. There will always be a night in fellowship with the sun. Yet, if he can turn the world into night once, he can do it again. We are the only protection and fortified wall against chaos in the world, us Immortui."

Leila's smile revealed her elongated fangs. She stretched her hands over the long table on the dais, leaning towards the people she held in her heart. "And we must prevent night from ebbing back over the sun. So, we must capture the deity. Use our respective blessings to lull the captured deity into chains, or sleep. I still haven't decided."

Of course, every single person in the room looked like they might agree with Setareh's declaration of her insanity.

Except her prince, the King. Whose eyes glittered darkly as he watched her. A promise to show her how prideful he was of her later.

"What the fuck." Exclaimed Hoseok. That, Leila, expected. They did not need to know, for no other of their kind would be sired. Only born.

She may have forgotten to mention that in her revival, she would become as Jae once was. Eternal.

Jin held himself up with the table as he stared at her with wide eyes, "You're like us-"

"How is that-" Jeongguk started, but her sister held up her hand for her to come forward.

She walked closer to Leila, her amber eyes haunted. Leila knew now it was because she was afraid of losing her. She was not scared of what Leila became.

"What is Jimin's purpose in all of this? Is he, not a liability? We still do not know whether he is to be executed, or to be leveraged." Setareh asked, exasperated.

Leila walked away from the table, placing herself before Taehyung. He smirked and ran his finger along the inside of her palm. She felt herself smiling back without her permission and eyed the throne.

Her prince lifted a brow but sat in his seat without question. Leila barely waited for him to settle before she placed herself in his lap. Her prowess only flourished as he wrapped his arms around her midsection.

Not keeping her caged, but keeping her close. To catch her if she should fall. As he had always done.

"Execution or leverage? No, he is both. And much more." Leila ran her fingers along the sharpness of her canines. When silver blood breached the surface, she looked up at her court. And knew, without a doubt, they would follow her word, "He is our bait."

(A/N: goodbye Leila pov 🥹 I love you girl)

🥀🥀🥀
Aera

"You must go to the throne room," Lily grumbled, trying to pull the iron-willed woman off the infirmary bed.

You drag me all the way here, and then you wish to send me away? I'm exhausted. And overwhelmed after hearing I tried to save Leila just to have her kill herself. And then magically resurrect?

She flinched away from the beam of sun that trickled through the windows, though it made little impact on her skin.

I do not know how I feel about the sun returning, but it means a renaissance. All that was meant to stay shadowed and hidden will now come to light. Knowing the curse's origin was already too much to endure.

Aera didn't like giving away too much of her feelings, no matter how menial. People often used her words to their advantage.

"No." She said instead, letting the blonde struggle.

It was a miracle she didn't rip the girl's hand off. But, after the fight, she was feeling much less murderous towards one of the twins. Lily had worn her loyalty proudly. Leila had also explained how Lily was working against her brother and even helped Leila survive.

She was conniving, as Aera predicted. Just not in a way that made her insufferable to be around. No, now she was just much more entertaining.

Lily, the once coquettish imp, bared her elongated teeth, "Get up Aera. You have little choice."

Aera rolled her eyes, finally sitting up on the bed. Making a show of stretching, tapping her mouth to yawn, "Fine. But only if you tell me how hard it was to play at being meek and clueless?"

Luckily, the girl took it as a joke it was. "Not as hard as you would think, considering how little anyone cares about those without a title." It stung Aera, but it was not meant to. "It is changing now. They are appointing me as a head advisor. And I will be given the title of Duchess."

Her heart twinged, "I am happy for you. Considering your blood, and your loyalty to the crown, you deserve it."

It was probably one of the most sincere things she has said to Lily. It made her body cringe. And yet, the blonde smiled in a vivacious manner.

Oh, dear. I shouldn't be so nice.

That means getting close. And getting close always leads to disappointment.

Or betrayal.

It was why Aera started to like the princess. She had no sense of what was too much, or too little. She could say the most profound, deep thing to someone and then not speak to them for weeks on end. It was friendship, without the chance of over-saturation.

"I am going to the throne room now." Aera laughed awkwardly, standing up to avoid Lily's outstretched arms.

It was when Aera was already at the door, and Lily still smirked, that she knew she had been coerced into leaving.

"Fucking, fuck fuck. Why is having peace and quiet so hard around here?" Her question hung in the nearly empty hallway, as most of the court without political duty enjoyed the sunny day by the water.

When she made it to the throne room, the doors were already opened.

She held her chin proudly, so at first all she could see was a seated Leila. And Taehyung stood robustly beside her, flagrant as always. A peacock now that Leila and he could peacefully be together. At another time, Aera would have hated the sight. 

Now, she felt that they had been through enough to be given solace. 

Until she saw a figure before them. A shock of white hair haughtily crossed arms. Hips that always narrowed dangerously. He turned, and his dark eyes met her own with obnoxious disbelief. Eyes that held no remorse as he cut into her. 

Fuck. 

Her neutral mood entirely plummeted to the fiery pits of despair.

Yes, she had vouched to save Jimin's life. And she regretted it entirely. Almost. Her reasoning as to why felt minuscule when faced with his presence beside her.

She was not sure who cut her into ribbons. Whether it had been his intention or just another decision the Queen made for him. 

Her footsteps echoed as she placed herself around and in front of him. She had no clue what his expression was, as she blocked his view of their King and Queen. Coincidentally, both were before people who they had wanted, and they had chosen another. 

How cruel, how funny. 

"Why is the traitor here?" Aera questioned, wondering why he was behind her and not in the dungeons. Her heart sped as she heard his scoff of repugnance behind her. 

She was not afraid of him, no. But did she trust him? No.

Did she think he cut down his mother for his vengeance rather than what was right? Yes. 

"Why is the monotonous mariti-cidal woman in my presence?"

Aera bit her lip, her own arms crossing. She tried to ignore the twitching that already started in response to his severely distressing voice. She had never been dull a day in her life. It should not bother her.

But he always had a funny way of getting under her skin. 

Leila stood, causing both of them to go silent. She was sure Jimin was a plank behind her, nervous and unsure to be addressed directly by Leila since what happened. At least, the idiot should be embarrassed. He might not have the gull too. 

"Elder Fareena. Our sources have indicated she has fled our territory and into another." Leila's voice rang true, her silver eyes somehow more piercing than they ever had been. Like the light of the moon had sharpened into the silver edge of a blade. No longer was she the soft, pretty thing that first arrived here. 

The silence continued. 

Taehyung spoke up, his dark eyes severe as he looked behind Aera to Jimin, "Do you know of this?"

Aera shuffled on her feet as she heard Jimin start to walk beside her. She ignored his annoying aura as he winced, grabbing at his head. 

"Hold on let me just-" In her peripheral vision, she watched him close his eyes. Purse his plump lips, and let out a harsh breath. He opened his eyes, letting his voice dip into irony, "Hmm, yeah Nox is busy right now he will get back to me later."

Leila gave him a scathing glance, cheeks heating. Taehyung just chose to ignore the answer. 

"Asshole." Aera attempted to snuff out his arrogance. It never ceased to die, even when he had no dignity left. He never knew to quit while he was ahead. 

He turned to her, mumbling his response so the royals would not hear, "Cold-blooded creature."

Oh?

Aera turned, making eye contact. He kept up with her steadily, his expression bearing no idea as to what he was thinking. Her lips curved around every word and made it loud enough so their audience could listen in. 

"You should be grateful that you're not currently rotting in a prison cell at the moment. I cannot believe you dare to show anything to them but the utmost respect and graciousness."

He rolled his eyes, his tongue darting to lick at his bottom lip. "You're lucky enough to not be in the pig pen."

Taehyung clapped his hands together, and still, they did not pull their glares off each other. That was until Aera flipped him off, pulling away her stare first. When she focused back on Leila, the woman was hiding her mouth behind her hand, her shoulders shaking. Crying. No, laughing. 

Laughing.

Why was she laughing? That could not be good. She barely laughed, unless she was speaking to Taehyung. Or she was bout to do something devious. Aera could guess it was the latter. 

She took a few seconds before she stood up from the throne, and joined Taehyung at the sun dias. Light poured into the room, turning their figures into a swirling pattern of stars and midnight. A glowing portrait of bronze skin, and oxymoron eyes. They were beautiful.

And together they were terrible. In greatness, inability. More powerful and unified than apart, and they were willing to do whatever was necessary to keep each other safe. Envy colored her, but not in the way it used to.

I just want someone to be horrible with. Because bad days were often, and good days were further apart. 

"Jimin, you are our only valuable connection to Nox. You were chosen by the Queen as her direct heir and fostered a connection with the god. We believe that Elder Fareena, the woman who trained me, is your grandfather in disguise. He has been in hiding ever since he tricked the King into giving his soul over to Nox. We need them to be captured, so you can both conjure Nox together and put an end to this conflict." 

Aera hid her laugh behind a cough, wondering what Lily had slipped into Leila's tea this time. Even though Jimin killed his mother, for the second time, it meant little of his allegiance. What if he met his strange, Priest grandfather and wanted to combine forces? 

"Fucking what?" Jimin retorted. Ah, he had not been at their council meeting. 

They took time to explain to Jimin the origin of the curse. And also what part his mother, and his grandfather both had in ruining the world. Basically, how his mother is a bitch and his grandfather was an even bigger bitch. Because who lets a god use you like a puppet? Screw power if the world left to run is in ruins.

Of course, that's who he spawned from.

It was interesting to see him shocked by Leila's sacrifice. His eyes widened, and his mouth parted. His shoulders sagged, as he was left with no retort. Like he did not want her dead.

Strange, considering he almost murdered the woman. 

Taehyung continued, "And because you cannot give us an answer to your true involvement with what has occurred, you need someone to watch you for any signs of deception." Aera could not hold back her amusement this time. Goddess bless the nobleman that would have to evil-sit him. Jimin's fists curled, his mouth turning down at the sides. "Aera will be joining you." 

She stopped laughing, her spine stiffening into a line. 

What did he say?

"I don't want to go with Aera." Were the first words out of the man's mouth.

Not, 'Wow my grandfather was a lunatic' or, 'I feel bad for my father, who was unable to love a woman without her dying' no. 

She could not hide her indignation. "You do not want to go with me? I do not want to go with you!" Her cheeks were blood red, and she wished she could cool them with the back of her cold hands. She turned her attention to Leila, she would not even try to wrangle the prince to her side. They respected each other after their alliance, but they were not friends. "After everything, this is how you repay me? Sending me off with the possessed traitor who tried to kill you?"

Who tried to kill me? 

She dug her nails into her palms but kept the words inside. They sounded too weak for her liking.

"Why me? Send someone else. This Priest can conjure Nox himself." Jimin said, already sounding bored. Like he wanted to go back to his dingy cell. 

"Nox has an interest in you, and only you. You are the last in line for the curse, and his newest heir. It has to be you. Trust me, we would rather have you here so we can give you a fair trial. But this is your new trial. If you deal with Elder Fareena, and learn how to trap Nox, we will let you come back and earn back your position. If you do not, you will be sent into exile. Or killed, whichever you prefer."

Leila said it easily, though there was now a wariness to a voice. 

Jimin's eyes softened when he looked at the princess. Do feelings remain after you slit their throat? 

Then his eyes flickered to Taehyung, his brother. And Aera started to wonder if the previous advisor wanted his position in court, or his position in his friend's life back. 

"Deal?" The man questioned, unsure of their task. He was dripping with apprehension.

Aera cocked her head, "They obviously mean execute the woman. Or priest. Whatever it is. And they will not be able to get out of it, unlike some people."

Two breaths. Jimin's mouth quirked up bitterly. "Insufferable wench."

"Backstabbing snake." She fired back, sighing. It was so easy, to be honest. 

"Solis's sake—" Taehyung interjected, looking like he wanted to exile them both. He grabbed at his brow, waving at Leila to get them to stop bickering.

Aera would never stop. Because he never stopped. And she would always be the one with the last word. 

"Neither of you get a choice. It must be done, and we don't have enough people we can trust or have the power to do so." Leila reprimanded them.

Aera was ready to leave. What they asked for was incomprehensible, and quite frankly, a fool's errand. She felt like she was once again being cast to the side because there was no place for her here. She had not even met Elder Fareena, let alone a Priest that disguised himself as the older woman.

As much as she would love to fuck with Leila's older sister and show her what a real witch was, it was not worth it in this manner. 

He almost killed me.

And now you want to send me, out into the newly awakened world. With him.

Her heart pounded wildly. 

"Hah, trust. Next, you're going to describe him as honorable and then I'll know that royal madness seeped into your brain." She held out her arm to him, speaking like he was not right next to her. 

The man crossed his arms and cursed. Turning and crouching towards the ground. His hand in his head. It only pissed her off further. She had every reason to hate him, she always had.

And he hated her without justification. It was just in his being too. 

"Leila trusts you. For some reason." Taehyung offered her. 

Leila grimaced at him, even while his eyes danced back at her. She turned, smiling at Aera, "For good reason. You saved my life."

I want to scream. 

"From him!" She stamped down her foot like a child, feeling more disregarded than ever. She could not help it. Her whole body felt like she was burning, burning. The sunlight that seeped in through the broken glass felt like fire. Were they crazy?

Yes, yes they were. The pair looked at each other like everything was going as planned.

Stupid fucking self-righteous royals. 

Tears started to sting the backs of her eyes.

I thought I was free. 

She could not say this to any of them. The person who she thought understood was shipping her off to an early grave. 

"You think she's qualified to handle me?" The man sounded from behind her, and all of a sudden she really wanted that jade-poisoned knife. She would skewer him and see how well he could offer his sardonic comebacks. 

This one was edged with something different though, something weighted. When she stared at his profile, he did not look back at her. 

Leila speared him with a look, "Aera is the only person brutally skilled enough to keep you in line." Then, more pointedly, "This is your redemption Jimin, you will be offered no other by your brother nor I. You've already run out of chances. Take this. It is all you have left." 

Aera wished he would protest more, her throat was not working. They both did not want to do this, and it was enough for her to find comradery for only a moment. But the never-ending man stayed silent, and she knew the battle was over. 

"It's settled. You will be off by the end of this week. We have to set up the ships at the previous dock."

Aera felt her panic spike. No one had used those ships in fifty years. Another death sentence. They really were trying to get rid of them. 

Jimin groaned, "And where will we be heading?"

"My territory first, you need to visit them. Then, territory 128." Leila grinned beautifully, like she could not wait to say it, "And what did you say to me that one time in the carriage? Oh—" She paused for dramatic effect, "It's Italy you fool."

It must have been a thing between them, because Jimin swore under his breath, his head falling to the ceiling. A bright tangle of light parted around his body, particles floating in the air like tiny stars. His lashes were dark, his lips pink. A pretty facade to hide what was underneath.

What the fuck am I going to do? 

As Aera felt like the world was collapsing around her, they were dismissed. Not with words. But Taehyung and Leila started doing that thing where they have silent conversations with their eyes, which slowly stripped them bare and left everyone else feeling like an intruder. 

This is truly happening. 

Aera turned to Jimin once again, seeing that his gaze was focused on the loving pair. His expression was not angered like before. His muscles relaxed. Nor was it the void that it was when he was possessed by the Queen.

She thought maybe if she spoke to him and came up with a plan, they could convince the royals to give up their quest. Then, they could fuck off and never speak again. Or, long enough so that Aera could figure out her next steps for revenge.

"Does it not bother you when they do that?" She asked, attempting to smile. It just made her face feel sore. 

Jimin turned to her, his dark eyes a placid lake in Winter. His gaze lasted on her, long enough to start to twitch once again. Before he crinkled his brows, his nose. An answer to himself more than to her, "It should." 

Then, he turned without another word. Walking away from her, and out of the room.

That bastard. 

Aera folded her hands in front of her, as she tried to understand what was happening. And where her life went from bad to worse. 

But maybe, just maybe, she could use this to her advantage. Leila and Taehyung had gotten her all wrong, and it would be their greatest regret. 

I saved Jimin from being executed because I wanted to be the one to kill him.

<><><><><><><><><><><>
(A/N: GUYS 😭😭😭😭😭 buckle up this note is gonna be long.

AHHHH! I cannot believe Solace is done 😭😭😭 like it's so weird. I always get attached to my characters but this is a whole other level. Thank you sooo much for joining me on this journey 💕 I am honestly so grateful that I had the best readers for this book experience this with me. Like I cannot tell you how happy it makes me that you guys made Pinterest boards, poems, and even made like little inside jokes about the book (the FUCKIGN TEA) like idk I just feel like one of the best parts was the community / comment section.

Again I thought of this whole idea whim listening to LIFTS - by Lia Marie Johnson. I saw black swan Taehyung with a woman who embodied the moon (Leila).

It came together slowly. I always had the idea of the sun being hidden, but as I wrote I 'learned' why. Honestly you all ask my process of writing and how I can up with this. Idk y'all, it's like it's a movie in my head. Or the characters already existed, and I am merely sharing their story. I had the beginning and the end of the book planned within the first week I shared this story.

Leila and Taehyung wrote their own story the rest.

I hope this novel meant something to you. I hope it either gave you something to think about, or something to escape the stress of life from. But u hope most of all you see the true message behind this story:

Life is one of the most difficult things to experience. But it is a beautiful coincidence of fate to be alive at the same time as the people we love.

So when you stare at the full moon, know that we all do no matter where we are in the world. Think of Leila. Think of what it means to be human. 💕💕💕💕

But onto happy things...IM EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE

Read more of Jimin and Aera's story. 

In the NOVELLA ' RUTHLESS'

FEATURING THEM IN AN ENEMIES TO...will they be lovers or will they kill each other for real :)

AHHHH I LOVE AERA RAH RAH! And my bestie boo pookie Jimin! This was the surprise guys! I hope you're excited about it as I am. CUZ IM FUCKING EXCITED! I am not over this little world I created (I should say we) collectively made our personalities for about a year now 🫣😍😍It will be SHORT, since I also want to write Eden Rising. But it will be spicy 😜 and also a good continuation of plot and things you didn't get to see in this one.

Okay also book Easter Egg, when they were all sharing their abilities Setareh predicted "Aera will fall" and then she said "well i am not and ur fake" and then JK tripped her. Well, Setareh was not talking about right then, she technically predicted her getting hurt when Jimin cut her, though she did not see his involvement. This is what I mean by try to read the book again!

WE GET SILVER HAIRED JIMIN AGAIN WHOOP WHOOP!!!!

I wasn't going to add a Leila / Taehyung thing in the beginning and then I was like wait...I fucking have to address the fact she's IMMORTUI cuz I kinda left that out in the open.

I hope you see her growth, her stretching into the role of Queen. And just how perceptive she is. The only hint I'm giving you is that SHE is the one who put the bathtub in JKs and Setareh's cell. Speaking of them, I didn't want the sequel to be about them because we already know their story. BUT the new sequel will include POVS from them and Lily.