Sometimes, the body does things on its own, as if it had a mind of its own. Ren was no different now. He didn’t know how—or why—he was kissing Zayden.
Actually, no. He knew. But he simply refused to admit it. As if acknowledging it would make the feelings already blooming in his heart vanish. As if doing so could stop him from betraying Ilyan.
With each heavy, shaky breath he took, he inhaled Zayden’s pheromones—trailing off more with each passing second.
Zayden’s hand moved to the back of his head, unwilling to let go, afraid of what might happen if he did. Even if it meant continuing until one of them ran out of breath.
Ren kept his eyes closed, struggling to breathe. He tried to push Zayden away, but gave in when the man clung to the kiss as if his life depended on it.
His eyelashes twitched when a golden light flashed across his face. Even with his eyes shut, the strange glow couldn’t be mistaken—night had already fallen. There shouldn’t have been any light in this deserted place... unless someone was there, hiding in the distance.
He blinked his eyes open, catching a glimpse of something silver gleaming under the moonlight—aimed directly at Zayden’s back. Ren frowned, but before he could think further, the weapon was already lunging their way.
Without a second thought, he shoved Zayden aside, sending him crashing into the snow.
Zayden blinked, palms sinking into the cold ground, a hiss escaping his lips.
"Ren!—" he shouted, looking up.
The sight before him made his heart stop.
The scent of blood spread through the freezing air. Crimson bloomed on Ren’s chest, staining his coat like an opening flower—far too thin to stop the Linyong from piercing through. He stumbled, still trying to shield Zayden in case another strike came. After all, he wasn’t the target. Zayden was.
"Ren!" The alpha sprang to his feet.
Ren had been shot—not by an ordinary weapon, but by a Linyong—the same cursed thing that had nearly killed him on his journey to the capital.
Zayden’s mind went blank. His body moved before thought could catch up, catching Ren just before he fell.
Ren blinked slowly, fighting to keep his eyes open, but his body refused to listen. The world tilted, sounds fading into distant echoes—Zayden’s voice repeating his name as if the word itself could hold him together.
He recognized the weapon once Zayden pulled it free, pressing hard against the wound to stop the flow. Blood poured through his fingers, warm and vivid against the snow.
Was this how he was going to die...?
A faint smile touched his lips at the thought.
He had lived this cursed life for so long that if it ended now—perhaps he wouldn’t mind.
The trees turned upside down, the lake in the air, sounds fading into distant echoes and the voice repeating his name as if the word was a spell that could heal his injury sounded far too sweet.
Ren blinked slowly, fighting to keep his eyes open, but his body refused to listen. He wanted to look at Zayden—one last time.
He recognized the weapon once Zayden pulled it free—just by its shape. A loud, strangled groan tore from his throat. It burned. The pain spread like a volcano’s lava through his chest.
Linyongs were developed to eliminate demons, but there was one disadvantage: it hurt humans a thousand times more than it did demons. That was why Hianshu launched these weapons only during war against Revhara.
Ren’s hands trembled, clutching the snow that felt both hot and cold at once. His lungs gasped for air.
Was it his chest that was hit? It had to be. The warmth soaking through his shirt was far too much to mistake.
The alpha pressed hard against the wound to stop the flow. Blood poured through his fingers—warm, sticky, staining the once-white ground.
"Hang on... I will stop the bleeding," Zayden said, his voice breaking as he tore off his coat, wrapping it around Ren’s chest. But it was in vain. The crimson liquid kept seeping through.
Ren groaned despite himself, chest moving up and down, eyes watery with tears he hadn’t realized were falling.
Was this how he was going to die...?
A faint, painful smile curved his lips at the thought.
"Why are you smiling?!" Zayden shouted, panicked. This was not a funny situation at all. His heart sank as he helplessly watched his love bleeding, trembling in pain.
"You know what? Forget this. Just tell me you want to live," Zayden said, voice cracking as he held Ren close in his arms.
Ren’s smile widened weakly, but he said nothing. His breath came in short, trembling bursts.
"Please," Zayden begged, tears slipping from his eyes. He didn’t care if demons weren’t supposed to cry—to feel.
He was not—he inhaled sharply—"I can save you. I can do anything. I am... a demon. I make everything happen for you. Just make a wish—that you want to live."
A wish.
When someone was on the verge of death, they could wish for life, and demons had the ability to give a soul they held within them from those they killed previously to keep the other person making the wish alive.
If they were severely injured, they could regain their original lifespan. However, finding demons had always been difficult, for they preferred the underworld; hence, such events were rare.
But Zayden was one. Even if half-blooded.
Ren looked at him, his stern gaze softening even as the burning pain refused to fade. He gently placed Zayden’s palm against his cheek, locking eyes.
"You are... such a cruel man, My Lord," he whispered, his voice barely audible. He wanted him to live. But Ren didn’t wish that. But would he be able to face Ilyan after what he had done?—Letting himself be swayed by emotions.
Zayden’s gaze narrowed, filled with pain and agony.
"Why?..."
"It is too late for me. It has been this way from the day we met. I always wished for death. And it’s happening now," Ren whispered softly.
He had lived this cursed life for so long that if it ended now—perhaps he wouldn’t mind.
"No." Zayden cupped his face. "No. Do. Not. Utter. Such. Painful. Words. Do you not know how much it pains me to see you in this state?!"
Ren’s lashes fluttered weakly. "Please... take care of Eiran. You will... right?"
He didn’t know if everything faded to black first—or if he heard Zayden’s cries before the world went silent.