7. I dont want to hurt you.

Light flashesbefore my eyes a moment before it dies.

It happens again.

It comes from within Lucian but also not.

When it lights up again, the ice around him cracks. It's not light. It's fire.

It takes a few more tries before he's free, and as soon as he is, he collapses on his back, giving me a full view of his gushing wound. Stabbed right in the center of his chest. How is he still alive?

He lifts a hand and fire encompasses my body. It's not long until I'm free to, but Lucian can barely open his eyes.

I crouch in front of him. I run my hand over his face. His skin is cold, but there's sweat beading his forehead.

"I'm so sorry, Lucian. I'm so sorry! This is all my fault."

He opens his mouth. I shut mine and wait. Nothing comes out.

"Fuck. I'm so sorry. I'm so fucking sorry."

I lift the top half of his body and sit under him so I can support him, hug him, hold on to him as he takes his last few breaths.

"Don't…stop…" he croaks.

My eyes sting. I blink away the tears, but they still roll down.

"I did this. It's my fault. I did this."

I stare at his wound and rock back and forth, unable to fill my lungs fully. More tears sting the backs of my eyes, and I can't control them.

I should have never done this. I should have never summoned him. I only wanted to free myself, not trap someone else in this perverted family.

"Not…your fault." His voice is louder this time, not just a whisper.

I look into his eyes. They're still full of life. I rub my hand over his face. My core is so heavy, so fucking heavy even that takes effort. But I do it. Because it's my fault he's like this. It's my fault he's dying.

Hm. Is his skin warmer, or am I just projecting?

"Don't cry…darling boy. I'm…I'm going to be fine."

I want to believe him. I want to, but…

Is it me, or is the wound in his chest shrinking?

I look down at him, look deep into his eyes through the lenses that are somehow still on his face, and wait.

He smiles, even if it looks a little pained.

"You…you're dying."

"I'm a demon, darling boy. I…I'll heal."

Did he just say…?

"Can I do something? Is there a way to help?"

He shakes his head, lifts a hand, and covers mine still on his face.

"Just being here is enough."

I nod.

My gaze darts back and forth between his eyes and his wound, and it's undeniable. He is healing. It does feel like it's taking forever and time is ticking away, but it's happening.

I…I haven't killed him.

Oh, thank the Goddess.

"Help this old man up. Will you, darling?" He puts a hand on the floor and tries to push up.

I help him sit up, and for the first time, I put my fingers on his wound. It's so small, barely noticeable through all the blood. And he doesn't hiss, which is a good sign, I guess.

"See? I'm fine. I'll be back to speed in no time. You were crying for nothing."

He wipes my face at the new tears that have found themselves on my cheeks, and the warmth of his touch is…rejuvenating. It fills my lungs and my whole body with new life.

"I feel awful for dragging you into this."

"What for? If you hadn't, you'd still be suffering. I'm glad you called me so I can save you."

His hand lingers on my face, and after the last few moments, after the dreaded feeling I was going to lose him, it's a welcome comfort.

"We're still trapped though. And he'll be back. He'll feed on you again."

"My darling Yu-jin," he coos and sits up a little more so he's supporting himself. "You worry too much."

He closes the distance between us and brushes my mouth with his lips. It's very gentle, very chaste, but it lights a fire inside me.

Despite everything I've put him through, he still treats me like I'm important. Like I mean something. Even after everything Kevin did to him, he still treats me like a soulmate.

He pulls away and licks his lips with a grin.

"Salty."

I laugh.

"Sorry." I wipe my face, hoping to remove any trace of my tears, but it still feels sticky.

"My sweet, sweet boy, don't apologize. Ever," he says, and despite our current predicament, his words still make me feel lighter.

"What are we going to do? He's fed off you, so he's already bound you to him, I'm sure. And he drank so much of your blood that he'll have your powers. We…we're stuck."

Lucian looks around us and comes to the same conclusion if his sighing is any indication. Although he doesn't look as beaten up about it as I feel.

I guess it's not the first time he's been trapped.

Which reminds me…

"Can't Brimfang come save us?"

Lucian purses his lips.

"She would if she could find us. But this spell keeps the world out and us in. I can call, but I doubt she'll hear me."

I let out a deep, heavy sigh.

"I wish the power you said is dormant inside me would come out right about now. It'd be helpful, wouldn't it?"

I purse my lips and fight back more tears.

Lucian bites his lip.

"What?" I ask him.

Maybe I can laugh with him, but I doubt I'll be entertained whatever his answer.

"Your power."

"What about it?"

"I could…I can make it come out. If you want."

What the hell is he talking about? Why is this the first time he's mentioned it?

"You can?" He nods. "Go on, then. Do it."

He opens his mouth before shutting it again and reaching for my hands.

"I…it's not that simple. I want to do it—I can do it, but…I don't want to hurt you."

"Why would it hurt me?"

He purses his lips into a smile, brings my hands to his mouth, and gives them a kiss.

"It wouldn't. At least not physically. But after what he's put you through, I don't know if it would hurt you mentally. I would never want to do something like that."

What…what the hell does he mean?

"Why would it hurt me mentally?"

He takes a deep breath, gives my hands another kiss, and says, "Because I can unlock your powers if I make love to you."

I pull back. Did he just say…?

"What?"

He closes his eyes and runs his hand over his face.

"See, that's exactly what I wanted to avoid. To make you feel like that…scared of me."

I pull my hands out of his, and he dips his head.

"I shouldn't have said anyth?—"

I reach out and cup his face, and he stops mid-sentence.

"Please. Explain."

Maybe I misunderstood. Maybe he meant to say something else.

"Demons…we have a lot of powers, unlike witches. Some demons have domain over entire elements. But we all have a set of powers. Strength is one of them." I nod. "Healing is another. To varying degrees."

"Okay." I swallow a knot in my throat and wait for the bitter taste of betrayal.

"Sex is another."

And there it is.

Why does everyone want to use me?

"Our cum can…it can amplify a witch's power. It can even ignite a dormant witch."

Oh.

Is that true?

If only I knew more about demons to know whether it's true or not. But then again, I didn't even know summoning would enslave him to me, so…

"So you think…?"

"I know it would." He says it with the certainty of someone with authority and power, but his face is anything but. It's lost all color. "But after everything you've been through, I would never ask you to do that. I would never make you do anything?—"

"Okay." I take a deep breath and stare back at him even though my insides tremble like never before.

"What?" he asks.

"I said okay. Let…let's do it."