Page 104

She lay bleeding, one hand gripping her leg, the other still clutching her blade. Her eyes widened when she saw me — not with fear, but something else.

Recognition. The bondsangbetween us. I dropped to my knees beside her.

“Taeyang,” she whispered, voice hoarse, but still fierce. “You—”

“You’re hurt,” I snapped, my hands already glowing as I pressed them over the wound, forcing my power into her.

“Why—why are you—”

I didn’t let her finish.

I grabbed her chin, leaned in close, and whispered:

“Because I couldn’t breathe when I saw you fall.”

Her lips parted.

And in that moment, nothing else mattered. Not the war. Not the blood. Not the vow I once made to hate every part of her kind.

Only her.

Only Yuna.

And the bond —ours— burned brighter than ever.

At that moment I knew I could no longer deny it. But could she ever forgive me?

Jisoo

Ash and Grace

War was a song I knew by heart.

The clang of blades. The crackle of dark flame. The screams. The silence.

I moved through the chaos like a ghost made of shadow, always where the enemy least expected — one cut, one breath, one kill.

But I wasn’t alone.

Minji fought at my side, her movements sharp, strategic — beautiful. Where I struck with raw power, she moved with calculated grace. Together, we were a rhythm, a language without words. She would pivot, I would coverher flank. She would duck, and my blade would sing over her head.

I had never felt so… in tune with another soul.

I think the bond knew before I did. She was everything — brilliant, relentless, burning. And she wasmine.And then it happened.

A flash of silver. A howl of warning too late.

A demon's blade arced across her side — slicing deep, too deep.

I watched her stagger, her breath catch, her knees buckle.

And my worldstopped.

I heard nothing.

Saw nothing.

Onlyred.