Chapter 39: Dysfunctional family
Eun-woo’s eyes were fixed on Rhys’s, his chest rising and falling wildly. He wanted to bond with him. He wanted him with everything in him. That warmth between them, that invisible force that compelled them to touch, to unite, was there, pulsing with yearning.
"Yes, I want to," he said, his voice shaking. "But not now."
Rhys blinked, confused. The faint glint in his eyes changed. He didn’t turn away, but pain flashed briefly across his face.
"Oh..." he whispered. "I thought..."
"It’s not that I don’t trust you." Eun-woo leaned closer, placing a hand on his chest. "Quite the opposite. But Jae... he helped me discover that I can control my powers without a Guide. That’s how I stopped your bleeding. All by myself. Without anyone else."
Rhys looked down at his injured arm.
"Maybe you can do it now," he said. "But when a Rift appears, it will be different. Stronger. More chaotic. And I don’t want you to face that alone."
"I know," Eun-woo nodded. "And that’s why I want to try it first. To see how far I can go without relying on anyone. Because if I’m going to bond with you, I want to do it because I want to, not because I need to."
Rhys watched him silently for a moment.
"Then I’ll try too," he said with a faint smile. "I’ll do more research. I’ll learn what I need to learn to become the kind of Guide you need. If I am... I want to be the best for you."
Eun-woo raised his head. He smiled.