Everywhere smelled like blood and gunpowder and the sharp copper tang of victory.
Kang-woo stood in the middle of the wrecked hall, gun still warm in his hand, Moon Ho-cheol's body cooling at his feet. His stomach felt tight, the baby kicking hard like it knew exactly what had just happened.
Ji-woon staggered toward him, blood soaking the side of his shirt, eyes locked on Kang-woo like nothing else in the world existed. He didn't stop until he had both hands on the small swell under Kang-woo's shirt.
"You're both okay," he rasped.
Kang-woo dropped the gun. It clattered loud on the marble. "Yeah. We're okay."
Ji-woon's fingers dug in, possessive, desperate. "I need to mark you. Properly. Right now."
No pretty words. No hesitation.
Kang-woo nodded once.
They didn't make it upstairs. Ji-woon backed him into the nearest wall, ripped the shirt open, and sank his teeth straight into the scent gland on Kang-woo's neck. Deep. Hard. Permanent.
Kang-woo's knees buckled. The pain flared white-hot, then melted into something darker, sweeter, claiming. He grabbed Ji-woon's hair and held him there while the Alpha bit down harder, sucking, licking, sealing the bond until their scents twisted together so tight no one would ever pull them apart.
"Mine," Ji-woon growled against the fresh wound, voice wrecked. "Forever."
Kang-woo's head fell back against the wall. "Yours. You psychotic, beautiful bastard."
He dragged Ji-woon's head up and bit him right back—right over the gland on his throat—teeth sinking in until blood filled his mouth and the Alpha groaned like he'd been waiting his whole life for it.
The bond snapped into place.
Heat flooded Kang-woo's veins. Ji-woon's scent became his own, the baby between them suddenly felt like theirs in a way no DNA test could ever prove. The mansion, the empire, the whole fucked-up world narrowed down to the two of them and the small life kicking between their bodies.
When they finally pulled apart, blood on both their mouths, Ji-woon rested his forehead against Kang-woo's.
"No more running," he said.
Kang-woo laughed, shaky and raw. "No more running. I'm staying. Kid's staying. We're all fucking staying."
Outside, the last of the crew was being dragged away in cuffs. Inside, the marble was already being mopped.
Kang-woo pressed Ji-woon's bloody hand to the bump and felt the baby kick again, strong and demanding.
The external war was finished.
The internal one had ended the second Ji-woon bit him.
Now there was only one thing left.
The rest of their life.