The mountains stretched endlessly, cloaked in a blanket of pristine white snow, untouched by footprints, time, or mercy. Jagged peaks pierced the sky like frozen daggers, and the wind howled like a mourning spirit through the narrow canyons, carrying with it flurries of powdery snow. The air was thin and biting — so frigid it seemed to slice through skin like invisible blades. The temperature had long dipped into dangerous negatives. Nothing stirred. Not even a raven dared to fly.
Suddenly, the silence broke — not with a sound, but with a force.
The clouds above twisted violently, parting with unnatural urgency as a glowing rift tore the sky open. Pale blue light crackled at the edges of the portal like living lightning, casting an eerie glow over the mountains. A deep, resonating hum trembled through the air. And then—
They fell.
Not with flailing limbs or screams — but standing straight, as if gravity had been momentarily rewritten just for them. One woman and two men dropped from the heavens and landed soundlessly on the snow, not even disturbing the fragile crust beneath their boots.
The portal behind them flickered once, then began to seal itself shut, threads of light sewing the wound in the sky closed until only cold gray clouds remained.
The woman, clad in a dark cloak that fluttered like ink in water, tilted her chin upward. A strange insignia glowed briefly beneath her collarbone — not a tattoo, not a scar, but something older.
She narrowed her eyes. "It's time. We should find him."
The taller of the two men, his silver-blond hair catching the weak sunlight, nodded solemnly. "Before he loses himself completely."
The second man — leaner, younger, with a mischievous glint in his eyes despite the situation — smirked faintly. "Finally," he breathed. "It's time we meet our beloved future queen… or more like our king… my little sweetheart—Jihoon."
He grinned, his voice laced with a mixture of adoration and something more dangerous.
The woman shot him a side glance. "Don't scare him, Arin."
"I intend to," he said sweetly, pulling his cloak tighter as they began their descent into the frozen silence.
*****************
The little café nestled on the corner of Kingsbridge Avenue was warm, its windows slightly fogged from the contrast between the bitter winter outside and the cozy amber lights inside. Steam curled up from mugs clutched by frost-numbed hands. Soft jazz played in the background, mingling with the aroma of espresso, cinnamon, and toasted croissants.
At a table near the window sat Jihoon and Jake — two striking figures who looked like they belonged in a fashion editorial rather than hunched over mugs in a café.
Jihoon had sharp, elegant features, his long fingers wrapped around a caramel macchiato. His dark hair curled slightly at the ends, and his gaze was sharp, thoughtful. Across from him, Jake looked effortlessly charming — wind-swept brown hair, warm amber eyes, and a lazy smile that had made more than one barista forget how to do their job.
Naturally, they were being watched.
Almost everyone in the café had, at one point, stolen glances. A woman near the fireplace giggled behind her cup. A group of students sitting across the room pretended to study while whispering. Even the server paused a little too long while topping off someone's drink, eyes fixed on the two friends.
But Jake and Jihoon were lost in conversation.
"So," Jake began, stirring his drink, "we have to find if queen is really behind Ryan's abduction."
"It just our thinking," Jihoon said, his voice low. "And we can't for sure say that she's behind this but no sane mother would be so happy after her son just got abducted. And, even if she has some screw loose, Ryan is still the only heir."
Jake leaned back, brow furrowed. "Yeah….. Hey, even if she's really with them, there must be the reason behind this."
"Hmm….. She might be a lot selfish than we expected."
"I don't know, and it might be my assumption but there is definitely something fishy going on behind doors."
Jihoon bit his lips. It is turning into a habit seeing his cracked lips.
"It's a wonder, that after how much he had to face, he was still sane. I can't even imagine what he had gone through." Jihoon stir his coffee lost in his mundane world.
"Right…."
Silence surrounded them.
Jihoon exhaled sharply, his fingers tightening around the cup. "She's never seen him as a son. Just a pawn."
"That's fair," Jake admitted. "But we need proof. Assumptions won't get us anywhere. Not against someone like her."
Jihoon nodded. "Then we start small. Look for signs. Any trace… clues that lead to where he might've been taken. Or why."
Jake looked out the window, thoughtful. "There's one place we haven't checked."
Jihoon tilted his head. "Where?"
Jake looked around — and that's when Jihoon felt it.
A strange sensation crawled up the back of his neck. A prickle, as if someone was watching not with curiosity, but with intent. He froze for a second, turning subtly to scan the café.
Nothing.
Just people sipping lattes and pretending not to stare. But this — this felt different. Too focused. Too silent.
"Jake," Jihoon muttered. "Do you feel that?"
Jake raised an eyebrow. "Feel what?"
"Like… we're being watched. But not like them." He nodded toward the blushing group at the other table. "This feels… off."
Jake scanned the room, casually. "No one suspicious. Maybe it's your imagination?"
Jihoon didn't look convinced, but he took a long sip of his drink, forcing himself to relax. "Yeah. Maybe."
Jake leaned forward again, lowering his voice. "We need to get into the Royal Library."
Jihoon blinked. "That place is under twenty-four-hour guard. Even staff have to go through biometric scans."
Jake smiled, sly. "Exactly why I said we need to."
Jihoon raised an eyebrow. "You've got a plan?"
Jake glanced around once more, then crooked a finger. "Come closer."
Jihoon hesitated, but leaned in, intrigued.
Jake leaned toward him too, voice barely above a whisper. "Okay, so here's what we'll do—"
THUD.
The entire café jumped as a loud noise cut through the mellow jazz. Chairs scraped, cups clattered. Jake lay on the floor, groaning, his chair tipped over beside him.
Jihoon stood above him, flushed with rage, his palm still stinging from the smack he'd delivered to the back of Jake's head. His eyes were wide, burning.
"You—you fucking bastard!" Jihoon hissed, flustered beyond words.
"You are an omega. Take advantage of it." Another hard smack landed on his face.
To be continued...…..