Claw's Bridge(Discontinued)

19. Shopping

"So it's finalized. Three days from now, Nighter and I will be going to meet the creatures," Seokjin said. "Yoongi will be replacing me in the time we are there. Upon my return, I will be working on passing a new law. The funeral will take place after the carnival. Is there anything else that you wish to discuss in this meeting?"

"Yes," the lady with the folder said. I was surprised at how they were all acting as if nothing happened. "It is about the future. To secure the throne, it would be in the best interest that you get an heir."

"What are you suggesting?" Seokjin asked.

"Maybe produce an heir with a female," she said. My eyes widened at her proposal. As far as I knew, all seven of us had male genitalia.

"Oh my god," I heard Hoseok whisper.

"What about adoption?" Seokjin asked.

"The bloodline must remain consistent. We simply cannot have a non-blood take over the country. If the royal blood dies with you, who will pass on the traits of your dragons? The royal must be able to protect their people, so they must be stronger, not of the same power," she explained.

"The heir will undergo the same procedures as five of my mates did," Seokjin said. "It's not that hard, nor is it dangerous."

"Now that the meeting has been concluded, we will be on our way," Jimin said, standing up.

-

"Nighter," Namjoon said. "We're going to go to town to get you some clothes. Since you're around Taehyung's height, we've been giving you his clothes. Do you want to come? We do have an idea about your size, but I think it would be more accurate if you come with us."

"I'll come if you stop rambling," I said.

"O-oh," he said, bushing while rubbing the back of his neck. I sighed and stood up. Taehyung's zeka was loose on me around my waist seeing as my waist was thinner than his, and his jeans were tight around my thighs. All-in-all, it was slightly uncomfortable, but I was used to living with what I got, so it didn't bother me much.

(Zeka= hoodie; language Blasaedan)

I followed Namjoon to the front doors of the palace where everyone was already waiting. "Won't your citizens realize that there's a non-Dagian living in the palace and interacting with the royals?" I asked. "I'm not very interested in confronting scandals and drama."

"He makes a good point," Namjoon said. "We haven't announced him as our mate, yet."

I bit my lip to refrain from arguing that I was not their mate, but Jimin was right. I couldn't be delusional just because of my insecurities. "I could pretend to be a guard," I said. "Or you know what, let's just go. I don't care about people's judgements."

-

"JIMIN! HOSEOK!" Seokjin yelled for the nth time, causing me to flinch. Jimin and Hoseok were running around the store. We were at- what they called- a mall. The building lacked the common people I was told who visit. It was deserted if one would exclude the staff working there. I stayed by Seokjin's side as I looked around in curiosity. Every time we would enter a store, Hoseok and Jimin would run off to find clothes, knocking stuff over in the process. Namjoon and Taehyung separated from the group to visit accessory stores. Yoongi stuck by my side the whole time, even when I deviated from Seokjin.

Jimin and Hoseok came rushing towards us. I instinctively took a few steps back as they stopped just in front of us. "What on Dagon are you both doing?" Yoongi asked.

"We got clothes for Nightie," Jimin said.

"Don't call me that. It's Nighter," I said, cringing. I ignored his pout, not even being fazed by it.

"Anyways, try these on," Hoseok said, pushing his pile in my arms at the same time Jimin pushed his. I stumbled back as some clothes fell on the floor.

"Both of you, go find Namjoon and Taehyung. He has his own taste, I'm pretty sure," Yoongi said, shooing the two pouting males away. "Nighter, select what you like and try it on. Seokjin, you can go buy some more... toys. I'll stay with him."

"Toys?" I asked. "I'm not 8. Just say what kind of toys you want. Geez."

I walked off with the pile. One of the store clerks rushed over to help me. I thanked him when he took half of the clothes from me. "Sir- I mean, your majesty, would you like to take measurements or would you like some specific type of clothes that aren't in the pile?" he asked.

"No, I'm good. Thank you," I said. "Call me Nighter, I'm not a royal."

"Apologies, your majesty, but we are all obligated to refer to you like a royal. King's orders," he said.

"Well, I order you to be casual with me," I said.

"Apologies, your majesty, but the King is more superior than a prince. I cannot go against His Highness' orders," he said.

I sighed in annoyance. It wasn't his fault that Seokjin's mindset was such that respect depended upon rank and not deserving. "Okay," I said, walking into a trial room. I dumped a bunch of clothes on the sofa in front of the room and started picking through them. What I noticed was that most of the clothes were too revealing for my liking. I did not prefer for my back to be exposed, nor did I prefer for my abs to be displayed. I maintained my body the way I liked it, I didn't train for people to ogle at me just because they find it arousing. I turned to the clerk and motioned at the zeka I was wearing, not knowing the English term for it. "Can you get me more of these in black?"

(Zeka= hoodie; language Blasaedan)

-

"Is this all you bought?" Jimin asked, disappointment laced in his voice when he saw five shopping bags in my hold. "Nighter, you have to buy an entire closet. You're living with us, not having a sleepover."

"A sleepover?" I asked. What the hell was a sleepover?

"It's when you stay a night or a few days at a friend's house," Namjoon explained.

"That's a stupid concept," I said. "Why can't you just meet your friend, spend the whole day together and then just go to your own homes to sleep in?"

"Because spending a night at a friend's house is a whole other experience than spending the day with them," Jimin said. "We can try and have a sleepover tomorrow."

"We aren't friends," I interjected. "We are mere acquaintances, actually even below that. You guys still have me hostage in your royal house, it doesn't make us friends."

"But we-" I cut Hoseok off.

"I don't see you as friends, or soulmates. Stop trying to push the idea on to me. I know we're soulmates, but I still don't see you guys as my soulmates," I explained. "I still hate it here."

"I see," Taehyung said. "Well, I guess we all have some work to do in that area, don't we?"

"If I were you, I would give up. I would never force the bond onto someone who clearly doesn't want it. It's bad enough that us Jupiatrians can't reject our mates," I blurted out the last sentence. My eyes widened at the grave mistake I made in revealing such valuable information. Taehyung smirked.

"So that's why you haven't rejected us yet," he said, his tone conniving. "Interesting."