Taeyang glanced back.
“Rheon—”
“I will burn him.”
The words fell like iron.
They both stilled. Jisoo sighed, muttering,
“Of course you will.”
My boots slammed against the stone as I descended the stairs two at a time. Shadows curled tighter around my ankles the deeper we went, responding to the chaos pulsing just beneath my skin. My mark was quiet now, soothed only by the knowledge thatshewas safe.
But that safety had cost her blood. Pain. Fear, and I would not forgive that. Not even if the bastard fell to his knees and begged the gods.
The crypt opened into a hollow cavern lit with blue flame and old bones. The demon waited there, feeding off scraps of fear still left behind by dying curses. He didn’t even sense me until I stepped from the dark.
“Prince—” he gasped, lowering to his knees with a grin. “I didn’t know—”
I was on him before he could finish.
Flames erupted from my hands, shadows curling into blades at my back. His scream echoed once, sharp and shrill — and then it was swallowed by the roaring fire that exploded from my palms.
Taeyang was shouting something behind me. Jisoo, too. But I didn’t hear them.
I saw only her.
Seori’s face twisted in pain. Her hand clutching her ribs. The blood on her uniform.
Mine.
She wasmine.
And this filth had dared to lay a hand on her.
“You touched her,” I snarled, slamming him against the stone pillar. “You made her bleed.”
He choked, ash beginning to curl from his skin. I drew the shadow-blade from my back, angling the edge against his throat.
“I should carve her name into your skull and let you suffer.”
“Rheon!” Jisoo’s hand grabbed my shoulder. “He’s done. He’s nothing.”
“He’s notdead.”
Taeyang stepped forward.
“This won’t bring her peace.”
“It’s notforher.” I shoved the demon to the ground, pinning him with my boot as flame licked up my arms.
“This is forme.”
I raised my hand. Fire bloomed. The demon screamed, and then, there was silence. Charred bone and ash.
Jisoo exhaled, slow and tense.
“You really would burn the world for her.”
