The war between the demonic and the divine has existed since the beginning. The demonic wishes to reach the skies and swallow the sun, while the divine wishes to cleanse the earth. The two have maintained a balance for so long that only when power surges from corruption will a miracle be born.

  Tae turned his head, being careful of his surroundings, to look at his back and tail. The white and black scales glistening in the sunlight. They, like his Qi, aura, and soul, had an iridescent quality to them. He stretched, carefully. He was very aware of just how much room this form took up. As he stretched his head up, it cleared the fiery tops of the trees by enough that he could have bitten off the top most leaves if he’d wanted. He was used to being taller and bigger than everyone else, but this was just ridiculous.

  The massive streets and gates in the Seok compound made more sense now. They were designed to allow dragons through. As he examined his claws, the talons were the familiar black colour he’d remembered. It was oddly reassuring that some of the black remained. The mane and fur along his spine and at the end of his tail was all the same pure white of fresh snow that his hair was in human form. The fur was a strange contrast to his scales to him. Usually creatures had one or the other, not both. Tae shrugged his shoulders at his own train of thought.

  He glanced at Beom, the divine tiger looked so tiny. The thought made him smirk. He saw Beom open his mouth to say something and decided he was done following directions for the day. Before the divine tiger could say anything Tae launched himself into the air. His dragon instincts took over making flight as easy as breathing. The sensation of the air swirling around him excited him.

  Tae raced around the valley. He had flown this route on Beom’s direction a few times. Tae had had enough of that. He angled for air-currents that hadn’t been visible to his human eyes and senses. They took him up higher. He passed through clouds, the water inside them sliding off his scales as he cleared to the other side. It took very little time to get up above the mountains. The light of the sun shone brightly on the clouds around him.

  Tae paused, glancing at the valley that was like an odd shaped bowl with the mountains surrounding it on all sides. Sensing another air-current Tae moved into its path and let it take him down. He roared in delight at the sensation. The speed as he rapidly approached the valley again, exhilarating. He rolled over, spinning as he travelled downwards. He infused the air with his power for greater control over his speed and movement. He carefully slowed himself as he neared the clearing where Beom still stood. As he landed Tae couldn’t help but laugh as he noticed Beom had crossed his arms and was glaring at him. He could read the divine tiger’s Qi so easily in this form. Beom was trying to be the stern fierce teacher, but his Qi signature told Tae he was happy.

  “There’s something I want to do.” Tae said. His voice sounded so strange and deep in this form.

  Beom just raised his eyebrow.

  “Hop on, I am going to need your help with it.” Tae told him. Beom shook his head but complied.

  “You going to tell me what you’re about to do?” Beom asked as he settled on Tae’s shoulders.

  “Nope.” Tae replied. “Hold on tight.”

  He felt Beom scramble to get a hold of his mane as Tae launched into the sky again. Tae laughed. He thoroughly enjoyed surprising Beom. The divine tiger wasn’t easy to startle, and gave the impression that he’d seen just about everything. It made it far more enjoyable when Tae managed it. It made him feel like an adolescent again in some ways.

  He travelled just above the trees, staying just high enough that he didn’t need to worry about being smacked by the branches and causing damage. He angled for the cluster of buildings where the main branch of the Seok clan lived, where he and Min had been staying. There was a particular courtyard he was aiming for. It didn’t take long to make it there. Tae landed carefully. Beom jumped off. Tae glanced at his mentor worried. Beom seemed fine, but had a strange look on his face.

  “Uncle Tae!” a little girl’s voice practically shrieked. Tae turned to see little Haru barrelling towards him. Tae lowered his head, angling it into her path. She crashed into him and he had to quickly catch her with his front claws before she could fall over. She was giggling so Tae knew she was alright. He helped her right herself, and felt Wook grab him as well. Tae flipped his claw, palm up, and the children both climbed in. He lifted them up so they could get on his shoulders. There was enough of his Qi in the air around him that he could slow their fall if they slipped off.

  He glanced towards where the children had come from and saw the adults approaching more slowly. Min was with them. His lover’s smile had him fighting the urge to straighten up proudly. Min had been the only one to see this form other than Beom until now. The wide eyes of his blood relatives as they took in his dragon form was oddly satisfying.

  The giggles and tugs on his fur had him turning his attention back to the children. Being able to turn his head enough that he could see the back of his shoulders was weird. Convenient, but so strange. They were trying to climb up his neck. Tae chuckled, but didn’t lower his head to make it easier for them.

  “No, you can’t touch the horns.” Tae finally told them. Wook had gotten a little too close before sliding back down his neck. Tae slowly lowered himself so he was laying down, he kept his head up though. The children quickly realized this meant they could slide down him and climb back up again and began doing just that. Their laughter making him smile.

  Tae saw Min walk up to him from out of the corner of his eye and turned to look at his lover. Tae lowered his head so that their eyes were at the same level. Min, now close enough, placed a hand on Tae’s face. He began gently stroking Tae’s scales, and Tae felt a strange sensation build up in him and rumble out. It took him a moment to realize he was purring. Min laughed and Tae moved. Before Min could brace for it, Tae licked him. He’d been aiming for his face but got his clothing as well. Min just stood there shocked, and rather wet. Tae laughed.

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  “Tae!” Min yelled as his brain caught up to what Tae had just done.

  Tae had to fight the urge to roll on his back as he laughed as Min wiped the saliva off his face. The children were still climbing all over him after all. He used his tail to scoop up the two children and deposit them near their parents. As soon as the children were out of the way Tae condensed his Qi. His form shimmered in an explosion of Qi. He felt it compact as he shifted. Had it been real light it would have been blinding for everyone present. Even though it was just the light of his Qi he noticed most present react as if he’d shone a light in their face. Min didn’t though. Min stared right at him, his eyes widening with what Tae could only guess was amazement.

  When the light cleared Tae stood before them, not in his human form, but something between the two forms. He wasn’t any taller than he would normally be though. Tae grabbed Min around the waist pulling his lover into him. Min didn’t resist. Tae caressed Min’s face, he’d been surprisingly successful in wiping off the dragon saliva. The effect the feel of his talons had on Min was not lost on Tae. Min bit his lip as a fire burned in his eyes. Tae carefully placed a talon under Min’s chin, lifting his lover’s face upwards as he lowered his own. Min’s lips parted in anticipation and Tae claimed them in a kiss. He both felt and heard the reactions of the others to their very public display of affection and chuckled into Min’s soft lips.

  ***

  Min sat next to Tae in the banquet hall. He was so close to his lover he was practically in his lap. Min was certain Tae wouldn’t mind in the slightest if he did sit in his lap. There were distinct differences to this banquet to the last proper one they had attended together. The Seok great banquet hall was magnificent, equal in Min’s eyes to the one in the imperial palace. The atmosphere was very different however. It was warmer, more relaxed.

  They sat together and watched as the Pae twins, BoBae and Byeol danced. The two were nearly identical, their eyes being the easiest way to tell them apart. BoBae had deep emerald green eyes, while Byeol’s eyes resembled a dark sapphire. They were as good as any professional dancer that Min had ever seen grace the imperial palace. He’d noticed that all of Tae’s family was exceptionally talented. Their cream coloured blond hair flowed in an echo of their movements. Min had learned that only the immediate members of the main family had the silvery snow-like white hair that Tae had. The clan had hair ranging from the lightest of browns, to the light cream colour of the twins. Min assumed it had to do with the dragon blood flowing through their veins.

  Feeling eyes on him, Min turned his attention back to his lover. Tae was watching him and not the performance. Even though the performance was in celebration of Tae. With the approach of winter had come preparations for today. Now with winter fully upon them the entire clan celebrated Tae’s birthday. There had been a full week of festivals leading up to today, and there’d be another week’s worth to follow. Tae was getting every honour his clan could give him.

  Tae smiled and Min’s thoughts vanished into thin air. It did not help that Tae had taken to staying in his half-human form. His white horns with their veins of black glistened in the lantern light. His hair half up and down in the noble fashion, two locks framed his face. Min impulsively lifted one of the locks draping over Tae’s shoulder to his lips. He knew the fire that burned in Tae’s eyes burned in his own as well. Min released the lock before his impulses got them in trouble.

  Tae smirked before using his chopsticks to lift a dumpling towards Min. Min opened his mouth, letting Tae feed him. He used his tongue to scoop the dumpling into his mouth and had to fight not to laugh at the look on Tae’s face in response. Min turned his attention to chewing his food and turned his face back to the performers. The twins had gone back to their seats and now everyone was visiting while music played softly. It seemed that despite his efforts to behave he was continuously seducing Tae.

  Min felt Tae’s talons brush his neck and shivered at the pleasant sensation. Tae gripped the back of his head, turning Min's face towards him. Min didn’t fight, but felt an odd thrill knowing that Tae could easily have made him turn his head even if he had. Not that Tae would, but the feel of Tae’s power, strength, had his stomach fluttering. As he turned his head Min realized Tae’s head wasn’t as far away as it had been. The moment Min was facing Tae again Tae’s lips pressed against his. Min fought the urge to climb into Tae’s lap. There were children present after all.

  Min pulled away and quickly shoved food into Tae’s mouth. Tae’s eyes danced with laughter, but he chewed properly. The moment he was done Min put more food in Tae’s mouth before snagging another dumpling for himself. He then poured Tae some sake. Tae laughed, releasing the back of Min’s neck, and accepted the drink.

  “Behave.” Min ordered. He then accidentally knocked over a bowl spilling its contents on his hand. A servant handed him a towel and Min quickly mopped it up. Before he could wipe his hands however, Tae snagged it. He licked first the back of Min’s hand and then the palm, before focusing on the fingers. Min yanked his hand back and glared at his lover, even as fire burned inside him, the heat focused on his nether region.

  “Tae-Hwan! There are children present!” Min hissed as he wiped his hand with the towel. Tae smirked as he nodded. Tae turned his attention to the music. Min was glad his lover was finally behaving, but that smirk told him he was not sleeping tonight. Not that he minded in the slightest.

  Min tried to turn his attention to the food and music. He couldn’t seem to pay attention to any of it. The only thing that kept him from wishing the banquet would be over already so he could undress and make love to Tae was that he still needed to give Tae his present. Min was very nervous about it. It wasn’t nearly as meaningful as what Tae had given him all those months ago, but it still meant a lot to Min and had taken a lot of planning. He was just grateful that it had arrived in time.

  He’d had to organize it through letters to Hanseul, Jae, and DoYun in the capital. He’d started on it shortly after Tae had woken up and Min had realized they were going to be here a while. His mother had stepped in half way through the process and Min had been relieved. He knew he could trust her to handle it. Tae would only get part of the present today. The rest would have to wait until they were back in the capital.

  Min bit his lip and glanced at Tae. His lover was unreasonably handsome normally. Today he was dressed up stunningly. The addition of the patches of scales that glistened with colour like opals in the light and the magnificent horns that were more beautiful than the most precious white jade, made him unearthily attractive. His presence in this form was enough to give Min a hard on when Tae was in training gear. Done up like this… if he didn’t have the willpower he did he would be unable to keep his hands to himself. As it was he was struggling.

  His desire to have Tae all to himself won out against his nerves and Min found himself desperately hoping the banquet would end soon so they could go back to their room. He sighed before downing another shot of sake. He poured Tae another one as well. Tae smiled as he took it and Min bit his lower lip again. The effect Tae had on him was entirely unfair.

  Tae

  Birthday month: January

  Zodiac: Capricorn

  Min

  Birthday month: September

  Zodiac: Virgo