The air in the alleyway felt thick—heavy with unspoken danger. Khael couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted. That single, fleeting glance Seo Rin had given him, the one that lingered with something he couldn't quite place, gnawed at his thoughts.
He couldn't afford to be distracted. Not now. Not when the shadows still followed him.
But he couldn't walk away either. Not when she was standing there, vulnerable, with those eyes that seemed to cut through the mask he'd built around himself.
He didn't trust her. He couldn't. Not yet.
But he couldn't leave her to the Shadows. Not again.
The cold sting of rain against his skin felt distant, as if the world had narrowed to just the two of them. Seo Rin, her fear palpable in the shaky breaths she took, was the one variable he hadn't accounted for. He had a habit of staying unseen, of remaining a ghost in the crowd. But now… now the hunt was different. His enemies were close. And for the first time in years, someone else had drawn his attention—someone who could unravel everything.
"Get up," he said, his voice firm but quiet, like the night itself. "We're moving."
She barely hesitated. A glance back at the two downed enforcers, then she stood, her legs shaking beneath her. She wasn't ready for this. For any of this.
Khael's eyes narrowed as he scanned the street, each shadow a potential threat. He couldn't afford to lead her into danger. His safe house wasn't far, but it wasn't exactly safe either. It was just another hiding spot, another place where he could try to outrun his past. A place where no one could reach him—or so he thought.
"Follow me. Keep quiet."
He didn't give her a choice, his pace quickening as they slipped into the shadows of the narrow alleyway. The cold grip of tension tightened around him, but he kept his movements steady. The last thing he needed was for her to slow him down.
Seo Rin stumbled once but caught herself before he could turn around. She wasn't used to running—not like this.
They moved in silence for a while, the only sound the quiet patter of rain on the city streets. Khael's thoughts raced, calculating, weighing every possible outcome. He'd already made a mistake by getting involved with her. But now it was too late.
He needed to get answers—and fast. The Shadows wouldn't stop hunting him. Not while he still carried the bloodline of Althareyah within him.
And now, he wasn't the only one who carried a cursed bloodline.
When they reached his hideout, a small, dilapidated building on the outskirts of Seoul, he stopped. He could feel the weight of the night pressing down on him.
"Stay here," he ordered, his tone sharp, pulling the door open with deliberate caution.
Seo Rin stepped in behind him, her eyes scanning the dim room. She still hadn't said anything—hadn't asked questions. But he knew she would soon. And when she did, Khael had no intention of answering. Not fully.
He moved toward the small kitchen area, grabbing a bottle of water. The tension in his muscles wouldn't ease until he got some space—until he could think without her so close. He needed answers too. He needed to know why she had been chosen by the curse.
But that was a conversation for later.
"Sit," he said, gesturing to the small couch.
She hesitated for a moment before lowering herself onto the worn fabric. He studied her, his mind racing. There was something about her, something that made this whole situation… different. Dangerous, yes. But also inevitable.
She opened her mouth to speak, but he cut her off.
"Don't," he warned, his voice low. "Not yet."
She fell silent, her lips pressed tight. The room was filled with the sound of their breathing, heavy and uncertain.
Khael turned away, walking to the far side of the room. He needed to be alone with his thoughts, needed to unravel the mess he had walked into. And Seo Rin? She was a part of that mess now, whether she realized it or not.
He had to protect her, even if she didn't want it. Even if it meant keeping his distance. The truth was dangerous. The truth could destroy them both.
But for now, he had to make sure she didn't become the weapon that brought down the curse.
"Get some rest," Khael muttered over his shoulder, his voice as cold and distant as the shadows he kept hidden. "We leave at first light."