The spearhead flew at lightning speed, piercing straight through the teacup in Jin Mu-seong’s hand. The cup exploded with a sharp crack, shards flying as one grazed his cheek. The room had descended into chaos, yet not a single person looked away.
“Keep your damn mouth shut if you don’t wanna freeze to death.”
His eyes were cold, brimming with killing intent as he turned toward the bed. Each step of his polished shoes echoed ominously across the floor.
“Don’t think I’m staying quiet because I can’t do anything.”
Stopping in front of the bed, he gently lifted Eun-jo into his arms. The fury on his face didn’t match the care in his hands—his touch was deliberate, almost tender.
A foreign scent clung to Eun-jo’s skin. That bastard’s cologne—the one who’d bitten him, pawed at him, left his stench all over him. Park Se-yul pulled the blanket snugly around Eun-jo, making sure not an inch of skin was exposed, then turned to leave.
Just as he reached the door, a calm voice rang out behind him.
“How long do you think Yeo Eun-jo will stay on your team?”
“……”
“It’s just an affiliation. Nothing more.”
Park Se-yul stopped in his tracks. Before the anger could rise, something else hit him first—a realization. All this time, he’d never once bound Yeo Eun-jo with anything beyond a title.
But a pet needs a leash. A thick, heavy one. One that tugs at their thoughts every time they walk, every time they eat—reminding them who they belong to.
Eun-jo nestled unconsciously into his shoulder. Park Se-yul held him tighter and looked down at him.
“He’s mine.”
The leash? He’d make one.
“He belongs to me.”
His eyes burned with cold resolve.
***
The first thing Park Se-yul did was pull Eun-jo out of the Central Center.
He had two reasons. First, the Center’s system had been acting up ever since that last summon. And second, he needed to get Eun-jo away from the Espers—including Jung Tae-seok and Lee Sang-heon.
—Leader! This is bullshit!
Jung Tae-seok’s voice boomed from the communicator. He’d been waiting at the Center, practically counting the seconds for Eun-jo’s return.
—How the hell does it make sense to separate the team Guide from the team!?
—Woof!
—You said he’d be back at the Center—
—Woof! Woof! Woof!
—Shut the hell up, you mangy mutt!
—Woof! Woof-woof! Grrrr…
They were probably in the middle of a brawl—there was the sound of something crashing in the background. Park Se-yul listened without emotion, then pulled the communicator from his ear.
“Save your whining for when I get back.”
—Hello? Leader! Are you listening?!
It sounded like you fucking asshole was just seconds from bursting out. Without hesitation, Park Se-yul ended the call and tossed the communicator onto the sofa. It kept vibrating, buzzing against the cushions, but he didn’t even glance at it.
He was currently stationed at one of the regional Centers—specifically, one in an area where gates rarely opened. This particular Center mainly handled training for new Guides and Espers. Since S- and A-rank Espers got snatched up by the Central Center early on, this place didn’t get much attention. Which made it perfect.
That was exactly why he’d chosen it. Whatever was causing the system bugs? The source had to be the Central Center.
He strolled over to the bed, his pace unhurried, like a predator circling its prey. With every step, the room seemed to shrink.
And of course… I’ll have to put a leash on him, too.
Lying still under the covers, Eun-jo’s face was peaceful. Long eyelashes, cheeks dusted pink, lips swollen and bruised.
Like a mark left behind—something that needed erasing.
His fingers brushed along Eun-jo’s lower lip. The swollen, reddened flesh was strikingly pretty—but knowing it was someone else’s handiwork soured everything.
“I’m sure I told you not to let anyone else touch you.”
His hand drifted down, gliding along the smooth curve of Eun-jo’s neck. He gave it a light squeeze, then pulled the blanket back.
“You just don’t listen, do you.”
Broad shoulders, a firm chest tapering into a narrow waist, and long legs came into view. He wasn’t as sculpted as an Esper, but for a Guide—someone practically human—his body was remarkably well-maintained. Park Se-yul recalled how everyone on set had fawned over him during that photoshoot. The memory brought a faint smile to his lips. It felt like watching his dog get praised.
He parted Eun-jo’s thighs and raised his hand slightly. A sliver of ice formed at his fingertips—long and narrow, perfectly shaped to plug a urethra.
“A dog that can’t recognize its master needs proper training.”
He grabbed Eun-jo’s soft, flushed cock and, without hesitation, pushed the ice into the narrow slit. As the tight hole stretched around the cold intrusion, Eun-jo’s hips twitched violently.
“H-hngh…!”
“Shh.”
Park Se-yul gently rubbed his lower abdomen and lay down beside him.
“Looks like we’ll need to start with toilet training.”
***
Training supervisor Kim Dan-seop was practically floating with joy.
It was rare—extremely rare—for anyone from the Central Center to visit. Those affiliated with Central rarely left the facility, and especially not for out-of-the-way regional branches like his. The higher the rank, the more unwilling they were to budge.
And yet now, here they were.
Team A. THE Team A.
And not just any members—Team Leader Park Se-yul and their Guide, Yeo Eun-jo, together.
There’s no way I’m letting this chance slip.
Eyes shining, Kim Dan-seop stole a glance at Eun-jo walking beside him. The moment he caught sight of that ethereal face, he let out a soft gasp and instinctively rubbed the back of his neck.
“Are you alright?”
Eun-jo paused and tilted his head slightly. Kim Dan-seop quickly nodded, flustered.
“Yes, yes! I’m fine, totally fine.”
Deep breaths, Dan-seop. Don’t freak out.
He forced himself to stay calm as they kept walking. The moment the news came in, he’d rushed to the dorms at the crack of dawn to personally escort Eun-jo.
Contrary to the rumors about him being arrogant or cold, Yeo Eun-jo was quiet and composed. Judging by the way he looked, he’d probably been dragged here on short notice by Captain Park—but he hadn’t seemed flustered in the slightest. If anything, he welcomed Dan-seop with the calm confidence of someone used to handling things.
He didn’t give off the usual “do-the-job-and-disappear” vibe most Guides had.
He feels more like a seasoned civil servant or something…
There was a grounded, worldly air about him—someone with real-life experience.
If only he didn’t look so sick…
Dan-seop sneaked a side glance. Eun-jo’s complexion was paper white. Honestly, he wouldn’t have looked out of place in a hospital bed rather than out walking.
“Um… Guide-nim, are you sure you’re not sick or anything?”
“Do I look sick?”
Eun-jo turned to him and smiled playfully. His voice carried a light teasing tone that made Dan-seop wave his hands in a panic.
“No, no! It’s just—your complexion’s so pale. I didn’t mean anything by it, I swear, I just—”
“I just got out of confinement.”
“…Sorry?”
“I’m a team Guide, so I was locked in at the Center. Gotta be on hand—y’know, in case someone wants to hold hands or whatever.”
Dan-seop let out a relieved laugh. It made perfect sense. Espers were notoriously clingy with their Guides. Some kind of “Guide-locking” incident popped up at least once a year. His own branch had two last year alone.
Still… Team A, though?
He imagined Park Se-yul—strict, untouchable, with a face like stone. He couldn’t even picture him letting someone close, let alone—
“Ah, right. You’ve got someone you need to take care of, don’t you?”
“No sunlight. Ever…”
Kim Dan-seop nodded knowingly, clearly thinking he understood. In doing so, he completely missed the fleeting expression that crossed Eun-jo’s face—just for a second, something raw and urgent flashed through his eyes.
I’m going to die.
No, seriously. He felt like he was actually going to die. His body was still aching from what Jin Mu-seong had done to him, but that wasn’t the immediate problem. The real crisis was between his legs.
The ice plug jammed into the urethra was still lodged deep inside him, unmovable no matter what he tried. Since morning, he’d been walking around with his legs stiff and awkward, even tried fumbling with it in secret—but nothing worked. If anything, the stimulation only made it worse, the swelling tightening the painful pressure around the frozen piece inside him.
So here he was, being dragged along without having even been able to pee. As Kim Dan-seop walked ahead cheerfully, Eun-jo bit his lip hard. A flush of heat rose in his face, then faded just as quickly.
“Should I treat you to a coffee or something?”
Kim Dan-seop clapped his hands together, voice bright.
“They’ve got this amazing latte nearby!”
Right now, that offer sounded like a cursed temptation from the devil himself. Eun-jo forced a tight smile and shook his head.
“Everyone’s probably waiting. Let’s just go to the training center.”
A heavy weight settled in his lower belly.
Thankfully, the training center wasn’t far.
