They were both silent for a second then he took a deep breath, "I'm now in a position where I play a visible leadership role while I deal with the reality of you. You need to try to understand that your life will be in danger if details gets out. I need you to let me protect you," V looks over the rim of his glass towards Jungkook, "Your blood, staying in control with these new emotions. You have to trust me to surrender yourself to me, listen to your heart. Stop fighting what we both know you're feeling. If I don't know that you're safe it's like a panic alarm in my head, when your flight or fight response happens, it drives me crazy. It makes me afraid and I have little frame of reference for fear, it does things to me… "
'Surrender to him?' A sensation like hot liquid coursed through his shoulders, Jungkook shook his head.
"You knew what I was feeling, felt all of what I felt and yet you… left me to wallow for so long? Did it make you feel awesome, knowing I was chained to your bed in agony? That was heartless."
V blinked at him and caressed his cheek, "I wanted to come to you a hundred times. Twenty times I stood right outside that door. I couldn't. I felt everything, my prince - All of it. Last night, you screamed for me and it shredded me, I knew you were ready so that's why I'm here. You needed time to process this. Look where we are now. Listen to you talking to me. I needed time, too. And each day I'm with you I think I get a little... less heartless."
Jungkook was reflective for a moment, "What now? Where are we now?"
"You. Us... this thing between us. Be patient with me.. For now let me protect you. We're both adjusting, let's try to remember that while I try to figure out the situation we're in. I have things to tell you, to help you understand the gravity here."
"The stuff vampire legends are made of. Explain what that means, please."
V let out a deep breath, "Come. Let's go have dinner downstairs. We have a lot to talk about."
"But… the guys?"
"They're both out tonight. It's just us."
"You said you needed to feed…"
"Mmm, anxious?" V smiled, "I'll wait. You need to eat a real meal. Let's get your strength up. You'll need it later," he winked, "And you probably need to be out of this room for a little while, too."
Jungkook's belly took a nosedive at the idea of what could be in store for him later. He followed the vampire out of the master suite, he felt like something warm was blossoming inside of him.
It felt good, he was still unsure about so much but at least he felt he was headed in the right direction.
The idea of leaving the master bedroom made him uneasy, maybe because the last two times he did weren't exactly positive outcomes. V took his hand and led him down the hall, his wrists tingled, thinking about the shackle and thinking about his insight into his brain.
Invisible shackles, he pushed that unpleasant thought away.
V stopped and pushed Jungkook up against the wall and ran his fingers through his hair then pinned him with his hips. He looked down into his eyes, "Hey…"
Jungkook lifted his chin to look up at him.
"You own me, too," V said and tasted his lips briefly, putting his arms around and embraced him.
Jungkook sank into his chest and breathed in the comfort his scent gave her but said nothing. After a beat he took Jungkook's hand and walked down the stairs, his fingers tingling at his touch.
The house was definitely beautiful, Jungkook felt slightly more at ease with appreciating it. It felt like a tuscan villa with all the iron work, stone, and mysterious arches.
He followed V through an archway into a huge kitchen that blended the old world look with some modern touches, it had an exposed wall with a big stainless steel appliances and granite countertops and the vaulted ceiling had its exposed beams, it was the biggest kitchen he had ever been in.
"It's a nice night, I thought we'd eat in the courtyard. I'll bring out the food, you wanna go sit outside," V motioned toward arched double glass doors covered in ironwork that opened out into the courtyard.
Jungkook shook his head, "Let me help."
V smiled, "It's all done. Just needs to be carried."
V opened the oven and lifted out a large deep casserole dish, the tray was steaming and Jungkook stared dumbfounded at the fact that he wasn't using oven mittens.
"It's prime rib and some roasted vegetables. Good?"
Jungkook nodded, feeling his mouth begin to water.
"You could help me set the table?"
Jungkook nodded again and then he motioned with his chin toward frosted glass cupboards. He walked out into the courtyard with plates and cutlery toward a table big enough to seat 10 by the poolside.
Placing everything down on one end of the table and sat, V was coming out with a bottle of wine and two glasses. He looked casual, gorgeous, wearing dark jeans and that wine-coloured collared shirt that was loose and the first few buttons undone, the collar pointed up toward his ears.
V was barefoot and looked so rugged and sexy, he looked like he belonged in a jeans commercial or any expensive perfume ad.
Jungkook was aware of how underwhelming his attire was, talk about being underdressed, he was sure he's even paler than usual and that his eyes were probably still swollen from crying buckets… he'd done so much of it in the past few days.
He accepted the wine and smiled at him as he started to slice the meat and then served him a piece.
"Mine is quite rare, yours isn't so much," V sliced from the end of the roast for Jungkook and took a very pink middle piece for himself.
The food was delicious and it was beautiful in the courtyard, it was a starry night, the patio lighting gave off a soft glow.
Jungkook was enjoying the much-needed breath of fresh air, he still felt his mind whirling around his circumstances. At least things were on speaking terms now.
He preferred when V looked at him with passion than with rage or iciness, heat pooled in his lower region at the thought of passion, he shifted and took a sip of his wine as he tried to distract himself from such thoughts, V was smiling at him.
"What?" Jungkook asked, feeling the scrutiny.
'Did V feel that warmth he'd just felt?'
He hoped that if so that he was enough of a gentleman to keep that to himself.
V's smile spread slowly into a sexy grin, showing off his killer mouth, "Maybe... I'm just smitten."
Jungkook felt very self-conscious, he knew he looked like a walking disaster, he fretted, wondering how much he could read inside of his head.
He felt grateful, more relieved, he had certainly put V through a lot of hassle the last few days and yet he was using words like smitten. It was odd to feel grateful to him considering he's captive, he tried to push the thought out of his head.
Regardless of what had transpired so far Jungkook wanted to explore his feelings for him, wanted to let himself feel them.
"Maybe... you're reading my mind. It's an invasion of privacy, you know. And it's not fair since I don't know what you're thinking or feeling."
"You get an inkling of what I'm feeling when I feed."
"Yeah," Jungkook smiled and wondered if what he felt was similar, feelings, not clear thoughts.
V was smiling at him.
"I like your smile," he added shyly.
V's face lit up and he touched the corner of his mouth, "I didn't think I could smile, I guess... you brought them back."
"So you didn't know I liked them?"
V shook his head, "Nope. And... I didn't know they came back."
"I guess you can't read everything in my head?"
"I'm still learning to translate what I feel from you but I don't get words, it's more like a sense of emotion."
"Hmm..."
Jungkook pushed emotions away for years, he didn't feel them.
Now, he couldn't hide from his emotions and V could feel them, too.
V was forcing Jungkook to feel them.
This relationship with him felt impossible but seemed possible at the same time.
Jungkook wanted, no needed, to know more about what danger he was in, he blushed and repositioned the napkin across his lap.
"So.. 'real' vampire legends. Spill…"
V winced while he popped the cork on the second bottle of wine.
"I'll handle it. I have to...," Jungkook told him.
"Okay," V said, as he poured, "A very small fraction of the human population had a unique blood element that can be best described as a highly addictive drug to us, vampires. Most refer to it as enchanted blood," he stopped, looking at his eyes then continued, "Putting things into context, think of it like heroin for you humans. It's like an elusive four-leaf clover. It's out there but most vamps never find someone with this kind of rare blood."
Jungkook sipped his wine and nodded.
"Umm... Okay? Do you think someone will try to steal me for some blood?"
"Your blood would be in high demand if others knew," V arched a brow, looking at him with seriousness, "And probably kill you," he said this very matter-of-factly, "I believe you have this blood, I've heard stories about human with this blood - it's the only explanation."
"Why? Wouldn't it be more enterprising to hook me up to a bottle and sell it to other vampires? I'm not trying to make light of this serious situation. I just don't understand…"
V took a deep breath and gave Jungkook a disapproving look, "Let's not give anyone any ideas! I'll enlighten you my firecracker...," V licked his lips and then took Jungkook's hand, "It's said that the blood gives a vampire an enormous edge and every time he drinks it, he gets stronger. Those who've tasted it become maniacal, power-hungry, ruthless.
High tier vamps I know think of this as some sort of taboo and ultimately, only a few vamps even knew about the Enchanted blood. If anyone is keeping a pet secretly with the enchanted blood they'd protect them fiercely as they're worried about their secret getting out. I do know that no one can find out about this, about you. It would spark far too much interest in you, becoming the target of power-hungry vampires who would kill to get to you and probably kill you in the process."
Jungkook shifted uncomfortably, V continued, "There are stories of a vamp who lost a pet with the enchanted blood. She was stolen and drained dry by another vampire who craved it. The grieving vamp hunted down the culprit and battled to their death, both die then eventually the pet kills herself afterwards. Another tells of a vamp killing his pet who had the enchanted blooded by accident. The vampire accidentally drained his male pet dry then went on a rampage. Killing multiple innocent humans because he's seeking to have another taste of the same blood. It was years ago but it is still discussed in the media as a cold case, remember the 21st century Jack the Ripper?"
Jungkook's blood ran cold, knowing exactly what V was talking about, that case was mentioned frequently on the news despite it being from over a decade ago.
"No one knows who this vampire is if the killer is still here and hears rumours of you..," V didn't finish that sentence, he squeezed Jungkook's hand and took a sip of wine, "I never gave it much thought, the few stories I've heard were far removed from me. It was always a friend of a friend kind of thing until now. I want to do more research but am trying to find a way without arousing any suspicion."
They were both silent for a moment as Jungkook tried to process all V was telling him, "By the way, regarding some of your physical changes, it's one of the side effects," V touches Jungkook's stray hair, "Also, my blood together with yours was sent together for testing. Mine was added since I've drank from you - I feel different. I tried to drink ordinary blood while I was angry with you. It was like drinking dirty water... it did nothing for me. Everything's being analyzed for further confirmation."
"Whose blood?" Jungkook knew it was an odd and possessive question as soon as it came out of his mouth.
V looked at him and laughed, hard, Jungkook narrowed her eyes at him.
"Just some stored blood bag, my green-eyed firecracker," their eyes locked, V leaned over and tucked a lock of his hair behind an ear, "I'm serious, baby. If I didn't have control, I would've drained you dry that first night. People in my world would try anything to get your blood, I don't want anyone to get an opportunity to sink their teeth into you... They might not stop," then he added in barely more than a whisper, "And… you're mine."
V said this with finality, looking Jungkook in the eye, proceeding to down his wine with something akin to finality to it.
V sounded logical and overly possessive all in that sentence, Jungkook felt silly, he covered his face out of embarrassment but he took a hand and squeezed it, icy-blue eyes sparkling, lips turned up into a big boxy smile. His cheeks turned crimson and their eyes locked for a moment he gave a small smile in return.
"I need to find out more. I know what we're facing as people in my position should. Power and knowledge are the only commodities recognized in my world. I'm considered powerful and knowledgeable but your blood could make me more invincible, " shrugged and Jungkook nodded, absorbing his words.
V refilled their wine glasses, beaming, obviously pleased that Jungkook was being possessive. Jungkook felt like he was getting a bit tipsy but he started to fret about his whole "junkie" comment so could use some liquid courage.
'Would V lose control? Like that time after the bath after they'd met when he wouldn't go along with his wishes.'
"I'm the key to vampire invincibility?" Jungkook asked accusingly.
"For fvcksakes, Jungkook…" V got up from the table and glared down at him, he winced, feeling regret but not wanting to back down.
V sat down and blew out a long slow sigh, "Always looking for ulterior motives."
"Pretty much," he sipped his wine, "And I'm yours? It's done?" raising one of his brows.
"Yeah, I haven't explained that part yet. You are mine. In every sense of the word."
"I don't know how to respond to that," Jungkook said softly.
"It freaks you out?"
Jungkook nodded.
"We're connected, bonded. It's part of the legend - each feeding deepens the vampire's abilities but due to me injecting you my venom, our souls are bound permanently. I'd been waiting for it, hoping for it to all be true because I suspected your blood was enchanted."
Jungkook chewed the inside of his cheek, trying to wrap the new information with his brain.
"It's unbreakable. All of this isn't exactly as they said, the blood bond is as old as legends, tales about their soul bond are passed down traditionally through word of mouth but everything I'm feeling from you, the fact that you're not entranced, none of that is textbook. Not from anything I've heard and learned, anyway."
Jungkook took a deep breath.
"I'm glad you're not entranced. If you were, maybe your feelings for me would be just the bond, but yours not. They're real. I feel them," V brings his hand over his chest, a dusting of blush can be seen on his cheeks.
Jungkook felt invaded but relieved at the same time, he didn't want to have to articulate how he felt.
If V felt it that's why he'd forgiven him but knowing that some mystical bond was probably responsible for some or all of these deep emotions was unsettling.