KORO’S POV “Koro.” I ignored Rujin.
“Koro.” “Go away.” I snapped.
“No.” “That wasn’t a request.” “I know.” I glared at him, and he didn’t move.
“You look terrible,” he said.
“You should see yourself.” “I did.” “And?” “I look terrible too.” For some reason that irritated me.
“Congratulations.” “Thank you.” The silence returned.
Then— “Koro.” “What?” “You scared me.” I blinked.
“What?” “You stopped responding.” “So?” “So?” His voice sharpened.
“You were unconscious.” “I wasn’t unconscious.” “You weren’t breathing.” “Minor detail.” “Koro.” “Rujin.” We stared at each other.
Neither willing to blink.
Across the room, Vane sighed.
“Remarkable.” Neither of us looked at him.
“You nearly died,” Rujin said.
“So did you.” “That’s different.” “No, it isn’t.” “It is.” “How?” “Because you’re you.” I threw my hands into the air.
“That doesn’t explain anything.” “It explains everything.” “No, it explains nothing.” Rujin took another step forward, and the golden tether brightened, and I hated that I noticed.
“You matter.” The words landed harder than they should have.
I immediately looked away.
“No.” His voice softened.
“Look at me.” “No.” “Koro.” “No.” “Koro.” I groaned.
“What?” “You matter.” The room became very quiet, and even Vane stopped typing.
I laughed once, a short, bitter sound.
“That’s rich.” “It’s true.” “You kidnapped me.” I asserted again.
“I know.” “You lied to me.” I pressed on.
“I know.” “You made me think my pack abandoned me.” The guilt on his face was immediate.
“I know,” he said quietly.
I stood.
“So, what exactly am I supposed to do with that?” “I don’t know.” Rujin huffed.
“Great answer.” I sarcastically retorted.
“It’s the only honest one I have.” That stopped me, because Rujin didn’t do honest.
He did control.
Strategy.
Manipulation.
Plans.
Not honesty.
“I thought if you hated me,” he said, “it would be easier.” “Easier for whom?” I snickered.
“For me.” I laughed.
“You are unbelievable.” “I’ve been told that.” “You built an entire prison.” I snapped at him.
“I built a fortress.” “For me?” “For my future.” “That’s worse.” “I know.” “You keep saying that.” “Because it’s true.” I folded my arms.
“You don’t get points for admitting you’re difficult.” “Then I’m owed no points.” He nodded.
“Correct.” Vane raised a hand.
“For the record, I’ve been saying this for years.” “Nobody asked you,” Rujin muttered.
“I know.” Vane smiled.
“I contribute anyway.” I pointed at him.
“See?
He’s the reasonable one.” “He absolutely is not.” “Thank you, Don Marks.” Vane nodded.
“That wasn’t a compliment.” Rujin shook his head in disbelief.
“I accepted it as one.” For the first time all day, I almost smiled, and Rujin noticed, and his expression changed immediately.
Subtle.
Hopeful.
Dangerous.
“Don’t.” I pointed at him.
“Don’t what?” “Look at me like that.” I snickered and raised my hand a notch higher.
“Like what?” “Like you’re winning.” A grin appeared.
“I knew it.” “Knew what?” “You don’t hate me as much as you pretend.” Rujin’s face lit up.
My jaw dropped.
The arrogance.
The absolute arrogance.
“You are impossible.” I took a step back in a defensive stance.
“And yet.” “And yet nothing.” “And yet you’re still here.” The answer should have been easy.
I should have cursed him, and instead I hesitated.
My Wolf went silent, my Vampire stopped whispering, and even the tether seemed to pause.
Rujin saw all of it, and his smile vanished.
“Koro.” His voice was different now.
Careful.
Gentle.
Almost afraid.
“What?” “If this ends tomorrow…” I frowned.
“What are you talking about?” “The Board.” His gaze flicked toward the window.
“The conflict” “None of us know what happens next.” For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then I looked at him, really looked, and he was exhausted, and suddenly he didn’t look like the Dragon Don but a tired, lonely human who had been fighting a battle that he was not winning for a long time.
“I still haven’t forgiven you,” I stated.
“I know.” “I’m still angry.” I pressed on.
“I know.” “I still think you’re arrogant.” A faint smile returned.
“I know.” “And if you say, ‘I know’ one more time, I’m throwing something at you.” “I know.” I grabbed the nearest cushion, and Vane immediately stepped aside.
“Incoming.” The cushion hit Rujin directly in the chest.
He stared at it.
Then at me.
Then laughed and the sound filled the room, and it was warm and unrestrained.
Then Vane’s console chimed, and the sound cut through everything, and his expression hardened.
“The moment is over.” Rujin straightened.
“What happened?” “The Board is moving assets.” “How many?” “A lot.” I groaned.
“Of course.” Vane pointed at the security display.
“We have maybe thirty minutes before somebody does something incredibly stupid.” “Which side?” I asked.
Vane looked between Rujin and me.
“At this point?” He sighed.
“That question is impossible to answer.” And despite everything, the danger and the conflict, I laughed out loud.
” What?” Rujin raised an eyebrow.
” You see, they have been afraid of you and thought they could use me to trap you and make you desperate.
Vance and Malakor, and the damn council’s plan did not work.
They have spies everywhere, or how else would they have discovered that Micah had breached your chambers?” “True Vane nodded “Vane, replace all the guards around us.
Have anyone who dares betray me exiled.
I will not tolerate such kind of scum around us Rujin boomed.
“That could work for now, but you do know that if Micah was able to bypass your security, guards, and systems, then there is definitely a loophole somewhere ” I boasted, knowing well that Micah was a master of disguise.
” Well,” Vane looked deep in thought, “That is correct.
I need to go and deal with whatever is happening outside.
I will double the guards and ensure no one disturbs you to children.
Keep out of trouble and stay in the chambers.” He walked out of the chambers, and the doors locked behind him.
” That went well ” I spoke up.
” We are finally alone ” Rujin drawled.
The hairs at the back of my neck rose, my Vampire seemed to be intrigued, and my Wolf rose, and I could only groan in response.
Give me more motivation!