“Whispers of the Blood Bond”

The temple slept under the hush of midnight.

Only the wind moved through its corridors, brushing softly against runed walls and flickering candlelight.

Joong hadn’t slept in two days.

He sat cross-legged inside the Sanctum of Seals, his staff laid before him, golden light tracing symbols across the floor. The air shimmered faintly with wards meant to contain Dunk’s energy — and yet, every time he closed his eyes, he could still feel him.

A heartbeat that wasn’t his.

A whisper that wasn’t his voice.

> “You can’t hide from what’s inside you.”

Joong’s eyes snapped open — breath trembling.

The voice echoed inside his mind, smooth and deep.

“Get out,” he hissed under his breath, tightening his grip on the staff.

> “If I could, I would.”

“But your spell tied us tighter than chains.”

Joong pressed a hand to his chest. The bond pulsed — faint red light flickering beneath his skin. Every beat carried warmth that didn’t belong to him, a steady rhythm that drew him toward the vampire even now.

“Stop talking,” Joong muttered, though his voice lacked conviction.

> “Then stop listening.”

The reply came with a faint trace of laughter — soft, tired, and far too human.

Joong exhaled shakily. “You feed on the living. You destroy everything you touch. Why do you sound…”

> “…lonely?”

Joong froze.

Before he could respond, the sound of breaking glass shattered the silence. The wards around the temple flickered — symbols twisting into smoke.

He rose instantly, staff glowing bright. “Intruders—”

The doors burst open. Shadows spilled in, crawling along the walls like living darkness. Their scent was unmistakable — feral vampires, creatures that had long abandoned reason for hunger.

Joong’s pulse quickened. “How did they breach the seals—”

A growl echoed through the chamber.

Then everything happened at once — claws flashed, the smell of iron filled the air. Joong swung his staff, chanting a warding incantation, light bursting from his fingertips.

But there were too many.

One lunged at him, fangs bared — and before Joong could react, a blur of silver struck it midair.

The creature disintegrated into dust.

And standing amidst the chaos was Dunk — his chains shattered, his eyes burning crimson.

> “You call this ‘keeping watch,’ priestling?” he drawled, his voice half amusement, half warning.

Joong’s eyes widened. “How— the seals—”

> “You were in danger. I felt it.”

He didn’t sound like he was lying.

They fought together — light and shadow intertwining in the glow of broken moonlight. Joong’s chants lit the chamber, Dunk’s movements were impossibly fluid — precise, deadly, almost beautiful.

When the last feral vampire dissolved into dust, silence fell once again.

Joong stood there, breathing hard, staring at Dunk — bloodied, bruised, and yet… protecting him.

“You shouldn’t have been able to break free,” Joong said softly.

Dunk smiled faintly, a drop of blood running down his jaw.

> “Guess the bond wanted me here.”

The words hit deeper than they should have.

Joong stepped closer — hesitant, but unable to stop himself. The red thread pulsed faintly between them, a heartbeat made visible.

> “You risked your life,” Joong said quietly. “Why?”

Dunk looked at him for a long time.

Then, softly —

> “Because yours is mine to lose, too.”

The air grew still. Neither moved.

Joong wanted to speak, to deny what he felt — but the warmth in his chest betrayed him. He could feel Dunk’s heart beating steady, calm, real.

The bond shimmered once more — a faint hum in the silence.

And for the first time, Joong didn’t try to silence it.

Outside, the Blood Moon hid behind clouds — but for one fragile moment, the darkness inside the temple felt less like a curse, and more like a promise.

✨ End of Chapter 3 — “Whispers of the Blood Bond”

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