Stop, you foolish, stubborn male!
I feel him step close behind me.
No, Ethan. No.
And he gingerly wraps his arms around my waist. With a sharp inhale, he pulls me flush against him. He groans quietly, like he’s holding in his pain.He’s hurting.But his arms don’t slacken their hold.
An exhale bursts past my lips, and I can breathe again. My arms fall limply to my sides, and my flailing legs still beneath me. And my head stops thrashing and drops against his shoulder.
“E ... than ...” I manage to mumble past my numb lips.
“I’m here, baby.” He kisses my temple. “You’re okay now. I’m right here.”
“Ass . . . hole . . .” I rasp. “I’ll kill . . . you if . . . you die.”
“Sure, sweetheart.” He squeezes me tighter against him. “Survive this, and you can do whatever you’d like with me.”
I feel his heart beating against my back, strong and steady. My heart slows its frantic thumping and mimics his solid rhythm until they beat as one.I’m home.I don’t have to be scared anymore.
Hwanin’sgicontinues pouring into me with devastating force, but my Yeoiju grows and shines—powerful and unwavering. I no longer feel stretched too tight, like a balloon about to pop.
The divine life force is not too much for me. My Yeoiju and I can contain it. We can absorb it. It almost feels natural now.
Then as suddenly as we began, Hwanin drops his hand from my chest and stumbles back with a grunt. And I go limp against Ethan.
My breathing steadies as my strength returns to my body. I straighten away from Ethan, and he drops his arms without hesitation. I look over my shoulder at my beautiful husband.
“No,” I scream, my shaking hands hovering over his ruined body. The skin on his arms and chest has been burned clean off, down to his muscles. “N-no, no.”
“Look away, Sunny.” I hear the strain in his voice. He’s in agony. Of course, he is. “I’m going to be fine. I’m already healing. But I need you to look away, baby.”
“You’rehurting,” I wail.
“Not for long,” he rasps, then he turns to Hailey. “Please take her away. Just until I heal.”
“Come with me, Sunny.” Hailey wraps her arm around my shoulders and leads me away from Ethan.
I let her because I’m a coward. I can’t watch Ethan suffer a moment longer. So I turn my back on him and bury my face in Hailey’s neck. I don’t know how long I stand like that, shivering uncontrollably.
“I can take her now.” Ethan gently gathers me against his bare, unmarred chest. “I told you I’d be okay.”
I can’t stop shaking. He’s better now, but my horror is too raw.
“I’m so sorry I h-hurt you,” I force past my tight throat.
“Shh.” He runs his hand down my hair. “It hurt more to watch you suffer. It’s better this way.”
“B-better for who?” I fist my hand and pound weakly on his chest.
“For us.” His hand engulfs mine, and my fingers unfurl beneath it. “We’re both alive, aren’t we?”
If I wasn’t already in love with him, this would have done the job. And impossible as it seems, I fall even more in love with him.
“Thank you for being my anchor.” I press my cheek against his smooth, taut chest to reassure myself that he’s okay.
“It’s an honor,” he says with absolute sincerity.
“Who says things like that?” I scoff and push away from him, but I would never tire of all the corny nonsense that spews from his pretty lips.
