Smut chapter!

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To create a dreamless slumber potion, mix 3 whole lavender stalks and their flowers with 2 whole chamomile stalks and their flowers. Stir into honey water for added sweetness. Depending on need, grind 2-6 small valerian roots into your mixture. Heat in a glass cauldron until the colour is rich. Let cool and drink as a tea. Enjoy your dreamless sleep.

Hongjoong knew the recipe by heart. He ground his pestle down onto the 10th Valerian root while his magic heated the sweet honey water for him. When his fingers stretched out to add the lavender into his mix, he knocked into the vial and sent the contents flying, scattering the purple blossoms over the floor.

"Ah, curse it."

He restored the jar and bent to pick up the lavender by hand, drained from cultivating all his spells. He chucked a generous amount in, long since beyond the caution of a novice who needed to be skeptical about the risks of changing ingredient amounts in potions. Some ended deadly if the smallest thing was amiss, yes. But not Hongjoong's sleeping potions. He needed them strong anyway. Avoided adding damiana.

Using the leftover valour of his body to grind his frustration into little pieces, Hongjoong hammered away until a knock sounded on his door. A careless swipe of the golden magic swirling through the room opened it and Hongjoong didn't need to look up to recognise that shining bright aura. San was always accompanied by a halo of shining white and soothing gold, more similar to the sun than Hongjoong's magic resembling the metal. Around his core, it was infested with a black curse, giving away the person buried under mountains of rules and restrictions. Explosive and just barely suppressed until the darkness of his desires took over.

"What do you want?"

When Hongjoong first met the harem, San sounded every alarm bell in his mind. But not anymore. The seraph was loyal to his emperor and his darkness was directed at their enemies, not at the fragile elf he married.

San closed the door behind him and lingered near it. Not threading into Hongjoong's lair. He had little sense for the magic around him, but he recognised the thrum of power. Respected Hongjoong's might how Hongjoong respected his.

"I came to offer myself," he said, steady and firm like his posture. Hongjoong once suggested fixing his hand with a magical limb that would do better than any blade strapped to his arm, but San declined all prostheses. His scar served as a reminder of that day. Pushed him to do better. He was unafraid to bear its burden, even embraced the remorse that kept him sealed into his bounds of loyalty.

San's mind was the most convoluted and tormented of them all to explore. He self-punished as a means to grow.

With Seonghwa, he became healthier. Cleared that fog to admit to his wants and needs.

But his new position brought him right back and his sorrow sealed off his patience to permit himself to grief.

"For what? I have everything under control. You can rest while you are here," Hongjoong replied. He was too tired to help this man today. Too tormented himself to shoulder the rigid mind of the angel. Focused on his herbs that didn't mix the way he wanted to, Hongjoong was done with the conversation.

But San lingered.

"Your nerves are strung since we appeared here, and it shows to the educated eye."

Hongjoong scoffed. As if he could talk. He was partly at fault. Morana's state of mind saddened Hongjoong, as did the sweet agony of touching her core, which was so similar to Seonghwa's in its shining, cold beauty. Wooyoung and Yeosang couldn't hide their helplessness behind their smiles when Hongjoong was concerned.

He was just so tired.

"Are you saying my students are concerned about me?"

Yanking the warm water over, Hongjoong spilt some on his book. He cursed once more and his magic wavered around the room when he was distracted fixing one thing. Usually, that wasn't enough to destabilise other spells, but his nerves were strung, as San said, and having the angel confront him about that didn't ease his tension.

"No, not your students. I know you, hence I notice it. All of us do. You aren't the only one with the ability to see. I don't have to say anything if you don't want me to, but allow yourself intimacy with the people you trust. Waiting for our emperor will drive you insane."

Hongjoong let his items sink to lift his eyes to San. His offer was firm on his features, not withdrawing.

A few years back, Hongjoong would have scoffed at him. As if anyone deserved his attention but the highest of them all. The most beautiful and graceful.

But Seonghwa's husbands were good people. Caring and resilient in their despair. They only had each other.

And Seonghwa's last wish was that they would take care of that suffering.

Hongjoong sighed. He couldn't keep secrets in front of these people who knew him so well. He had seen their vulnerability, and they knew his. Seonghwa stripped them all bare to their most transparent insides, and he found beauty in them.

After all those years, Hongjoong shared his vision. And he was sick of clutching to his pillows and his magic that was as hollow as his heart in its grief.

Just for today, he could make an exception.

"Fine." Hongjoong finished his tea to let it stew until he went to bed. His finger dismissively pointed to the cosy armchair in his reading corner.

"Sit down over there. I don't care if you touch me, but you better keep your damn comments to yourself."

San complied and sunk into the soft cushions. His aura didn't waver with his decision. Hongjoong had witnessed his heart swayed only a handful of times. Always because of Seonghwa.

When Hongjoong sunk into his lap, the linen of San's white clothes was soft over his firm muscles. He was broad, taller than Hongjoong. Able to engulf him until the sorcerer became so small he could forget the mountain of his burdens.

"No truths for today, understood." San's lips twitched into a smile. With a scowl, Hongjoong pushed against his chest until he fully leaned into the chair. His hand rested on Hongjoong's thigh while the sorcerer shrugged off his cloak.

"Imagine Seonghwa if you please. I can imitate his wetness." Hongjoong climbed out of his boots and pants while San remained dressed. There was no use for romantic caresses between them. When Hongjoong freed San from his pants, he found him half-hard, as if his body complied with his will to commit to this encounter.

Seeing no purpose in dawdling, Hongjoong wrapped a hand around him, knowing San didn't like it when his magic disrupted the natural reactions of his body, convenient as it might be. A soft sigh was his reply when San's hand found his thigh to guide him closer.

"I will see you for you, Hongjoong."

Hongjoong glimpsed at his face. San meant it and the furrow in his brow was upset Hongjoong might suggest giving up their identities for Seonghwa. Or to stain his name with the poor attempt of craving for his body when his entire being was amiss to them.

Gathering up the golden liquid on San's tip, Hongjoong rolled his eyes. He tasted the seraph off his finger, finding him almost as sweet as honey.

"Then it's time to shut up. I can't put up with your righteous nonsense right now," Hongjoong barked as he channelled the remainder of his magic into his abdomen, igniting its fire through the sleepy haze of his body.

Perhaps he also couldn't imagine Seonghwa instead of San. But the seraph was attractive and arrogant as he sounded, Hongjoong learned to appreciate the courtesy extended to him. San didn't ask for anything back.

So it was easier to want him.

His leaking slick tickled Hongjoong's entrance when he shuffled forward. San's heat was so close to him and the seraph stabilised his hip with his left hand that had the golden band of promise glinting on his ring finger.

Hongjoong closed his eyes and stabilised himself on San's chest when he sunk down. Allowed the stretch to sting a bit because it hitched his breath and made the euphoria of getting filled even better.

Hongjoong's groan drowned out San's sigh. Their bodies clung to each other and San shuddered as Hongjoong's magic-infused fluids inevitably invigorated him and added to the pleasure in his veins. His hold around Hongjoong's waist tightened until their chests aligned and that strong arm fully pushed him down.

Hongjoong melted into his grip, euphoric at being taken care of and split open. His fingers clutched to San's shoulders, finding stability in their strength.

"You feel good," San muttered in his ear when Hongjoong trembled around the fullness. His body adjusted while San pressed a kiss to his neck, getting a weak shove into his chest in return.

"Don't do unnecessary things."

"Are they unnecessary? Or something you need?" Keeping his grip firm since it made Hongjoong's mind stutter and his hips squirm into the seraph, San helped him move. Tentatively for now until the sorcerer forgot his strains and the magic bustling around his room finally rested for a moment while he unravelled.

"Pretentious bastard, ah-" San's tip nudged into his insides, sending sparks of pleasure down Hongjoong's spine. They moved him together, lifting with combined strength so Hongjoong could drop back down. San throbbed inside him, so hot and lively. Embracing him with the affection of another person.

Squirming against the pleasure, Hongjoong clamped down on him in revenge, relishing in every small hitch in San's breath.

"I have been wanting to do this for a long time," the seraph confessed as he leaned his head in Hongjoong's neck, tugging on his skin with blunt teeth. The sting shot right into Hongjoong's stomach and his thighs pressed into the armchair, spreading further on instinct to take the angel deeper.

"You only ever act so high and mighty. Here you are now, writhing so dearly. Not closing your eyes to imagine Seonghwa either," San whispered. He was well aware of the squelches between them, how quickly Hongjoong started leaking, though he brushed this off as a necessary transaction. His right arm hooked under Hongjoong's thigh, splaying him open further so he could hit a spot that made Hongjoong arch in his grip and his head fly back to dangle uselessly.

Gasping against the drool in his mouth, Hongjoong reached to circle the tip of his finger over his twitching length. San hit all the good spots, promising so much strength and heat it was almost addictive.

"Ugh- Shut- Shut up," he tried to gather himself. His free hand braced against San's arm to feel its shifting and bulging muscles as he supported Hongjoong's movements. "Stars, you were ploughing into Seonghwa with this?"

No wonder his wails had been that loud. The pleasure of his thoughts so overwhelming and void of all sense. Whenever San let loose of his desires and took Seonghwa, how only the most risky part of Seonghwa liked and trusted San with, his cries had been the loudest.

Hongjoong's jealousy had raged as he forced himself to stay in his room while his magic yelled to protect his spouse against the rough treatment he so loved in those times. And it flared again in the mornings when Seonghwa glowed with contentment, spacing out as he was so dreamy about the way San handled him. With them, the skies aligned, and the sun kissed the moon after their endless chase lasting for eternities.

The taste of his addictive heat blurred the thoughts in Hongjoong's mind as well. He barely heard San's chuckle.

"I am sitting still right now."

Hongjoong slammed his hips down. His slick made the glide so easy, swallowing San with incriminating eagerness. The sorcerer's lids fluttered.

"Do it," he gritted out, getting close. He wanted to feel what it was like to have this reclusive seraph hold him. Was so curious about his sinister lust.

Hongjoong wouldn't break. Not in any bad way. Because his mind was wiped blissfully blank and his magic crackled around him as he lost its grip on it to chase the heat in his abdomen.

Once more, San complied gracefully. His arm clutched around Hongjoong, lifting him up and this time when he dropped him, his hips bucked to meet the movement.

Hongjoong yelped and immediately bit his lip to silence himself. In whatever absurd joke of nature, San had the perfect equipment to use for thrusting. Making the irony of the abstinence of his people that much more ridiculous.

Deliciously wet, San's hot skin dragged along Hongjoong's insides, promising more of that delightful pleasure. He yanked Hongjoong down again, nudging his soft tip into his insides and Hongjoong was losing his mind. This wasn't like the convulsing, squishy texture of his tentacles and neither like Mingi's hard, pointed tip that could feel almost overbearing.

Nothing looked peculiar about him, so why? Did the seraphim have ambrosia in their veins? Was their touch so addictive?

"Don't hurt yourself," San mumbled over him, curling his body over Hongjoong's to steer him at his will.

Choking on his gasp when he was ploughed from below, Hongjoong held onto San for dear life as his entire groin pooled into hot goo. He lost all sense of self, buried under San's addictive touch and the bulging of his muscles. The white of his wings unfolded to shroud them away from reality, trapping Hongjoong under the dome of his overwhelming light and darkness.

"No need to hold back," San whispered against his jaw, nosing along the sorcerer's fluttering pulse. He twitched and clamped, losing all control of his body.

Another rough jab right where Hongjoong needed it. His body opened up, pushing down against San to get him as deep as possible as he shuddered through his orgasm.

His loss of control was rarely destructive. Something crashed, and they were plunged into darkness, but no shards pierced through the shelter of San's wings. Hongjoong hung in his grip as he ruined their clothes with his unexpectedly violent high.

San held him down, rocking into him until Hongjoong's body calmed. When he lifted him off, Hongjoong was like a rag doll in his grip, warm and cosy, ready for a nap. His magic whispered around him, but he needed no fixing, feeling thoroughly relaxed.

For a moment, San looked uncertain, as if he considered leaving Hongjoong to take a nap and take care of himself elsewhere. But the sorcerer wrapped his trembling fingers around him, awed by his scent of the sun and honey.

San shuddered through his peak not soon later, pooling his thick spill on his hard stomach. Hongjoong watched his lashes flutter, the twitch of his wings. When he guided his fingers to his lips to taste him, San's vigour was even more delicious than before; filled with a power that might create either potions of added strength or potent drugs.

Fascinated with him, Hongjoong scheduled this newfound interest to another day. He summoned an orb to check on San's wing, but the broken lamp hadn't hurt him. Still, Hongjoong washed his magic over him in a silent means of gratitude, unravelling the strain of San's muscles from his training that morning and clearing his mind.

Not looking at him, Hongjoong got to his feet, playing down his wobble.

"You can clean up before you leave," he offered with a beckon at his bathroom and San took off to wash out his clothes and the clammy feel of his skin. Meanwhile, Hongjoong rolled up on the chair, sleepy after all that. Once San left, he would owe him some gratitude because he cleared out Hongjoong's addled brain effectively.

He must have dozed off in the time until San emerged. A delicate touch to his chin pulled him from his slumber that was rarely so deep not to hear doors opening and closing near him.

A fleeting kiss settled on his lips, warm and soothing. Hongjoong sighed into the feeling, cosy and at peace.

Soft feathers tickled him when San lowered a blanket over him.

"Sweet dreams, our hard-working sorcerer."

By the time the door clicked shut, Hongjoong basked again in his peaceful slumber.