Chapter 19

My best friend knelt down without fear. Shin was firm and controlled, something neither his brother nor I had. I always knew Shin was the best among us because no matter how lost we were in this chaotic world, he never seemed to break.

" Matias...

My words died when he attacked him. My body froze when I heard the impact of Matias' fist against Shin's face, one punch after another, until the flesh was opened and blood stained his skin. Without breathing, I watched my friend fall to the ground, panting and silent.

Matias approached, forcing me to look up. He was so close that I could feel his infernal heat and the strong smell of blood mixing with his perfume.

"No one breaks my heart. — he murmured, his brown eyes filled with anger.

All the Lilys disappeared in minutes and I knelt down next to Shin. He coughed and wiped the blood that was running down his chin with the back of his hand.

" I'm fine — he said, turning towards me.

Artemis and Kenji hurriedly approached and assessed the damage, however, their eyes remained fixed on mine.

" It was nothing, you just need to fix my nose — he asked, spitting blood on the floor.

" Did you also cut your lip, do you still have all your teeth? — Artemis asked, brushing his hair off his forehead, making me notice the cut on his eyebrow.

" I don't know, I think so — he answered, running his tongue between his teeth. — Ryuuji, come on, do it already — he asked, turning his attention to me. Shin had a tired smile on the corner of his swollen lips, but all I could do was keep staring at him, unable to move.

" Get out — Artemis demanded, putting himself in my place.

I stood up, watching the girl give orders and Kenji hold his brother firmly, the other Hebi stood around looking for some way to help.

" Calm down, it won't hurt at all — he said with a voice as soft as velvet.

Shin laughed at the lie and screamed as the bone fell back into place. Hou reached down with a cloth and wiped away what he could of the accumulated blood, with excited chatter and small smiles they helped him up and put him in the car, and all I could do was watch them with a heavy heart and a foggy mind.

***

I felt sweat dripping down my skin as I sat on the wooden floor. I leaned my back against the door frame and breathed in the scent of the night. I looked up at the dark sky, at the moon illuminating the garden with its silver light. The gray clouds that threatened to rain had disappeared, leaving the clear sky decorated with stars.

“Are you still here?”

Shin interrupted the intense silence and sat on the floor in front of me. He had a bandage on his nose and purple bruises under his angular eyes. The cut on his eyebrow needed a stitch and a small bandage protected the wound on his swollen lip.

“You should be in bed,” I declared hoarsely.

After Shin was evaluated by our private doctor, he was told to rest for the next 48 hours, but since he was stubborn, he must have left the room when Kenji went out to get dinner.

“It was getting annoying and Kenji keeps asking if I need anything,” he explained, feigning irritation, but a smile soon took over his lips, making my heart heavy.

I looked away from his green cotton shirt, remembering the sound his flesh made when it opened.

"Sorry."

"This is part of a Hebi, everyone knows that," he replied without any importance. "And if I remember correctly, this is nothing compared to what we've been through," he declared, but I refused to remember the past and how it hurt him.

"This shouldn't have happened, it was my fault."

"No one is blaming you, it was blood for blood, he could have chosen anyone," he said calmly, running his fingers through his messy hair.

But Matias didn't choose just anyone.

"I'm tired, let's not talk about this anymore," he ordered, lying on my chest and settling himself between my legs. "I took that strong pain medication...

I'll pass out in a little while," he whispered, closing his eyes.

In silence, I hugged his waist and stroked his hair, feeling the smooth strands between my fingers and his warm breath invade the open kimono and touch my sweaty skin. It didn't take long for Shin to fall asleep in my arms. I remained still, touching his hair as I watched the sky and heard Matias' voice in my mind. The night was coming to an end. "Did he pass out?" Kenji asked, stopping beside me. I nodded, making him sit in the hallway, leaning his back against the wall. "Don't you think it's time?" he asked. "What?" "You and Shin broke up for a reason. They knew how important my brother was to you, they knew that if they hurt him they would be hurting you too, that's why you ended it, so he wouldn't be a target anymore. I know how you feel about him, but you need to let him be with Artemis." "I never stopped him from being with her." "But you never gave your consent either," he accused, watching me with interest. "Shin may not have taken it personally, but we know that Matias chose him to hurt you, he knew what he was doing. Anton must have told you that part of the story," he declared. I rested my chin on Shin's head, feeling his soft scent and the sound the plants made as they moved in the wind. I closed my eyes, hoping to calm the anguish that was churning in my chest.

"Tell him to stay with Artemis. Shin likes her, but he'll never do anything if you don't let him," he ordered in a firm voice, breaking the silence, forcing me to open my eyes.

"No. No," I murmured, holding him against me, feeling his body and the calm beating of his heart.

"Ryuuji," he tried and touched my shoulder.

"No! He's mine," I replied, raising my voice. I grabbed Shin's shirt, keeping him steady in my arms.

"Then Shin will become the target once again. We know Matias won't stop, are we okay with that?" My grip softened and with a heavy heart I observed Shin's sleeping face, his bruised lips parted and the straight locks over his forehead.

" No... — I finally whispered, feeling my throat hurt.

Kenji observed his brother calmly.

" Everything will be fine, Ryuuji — he assured, pulling Shin towards him. — I'll take you to the room, do what you have to do — he said before getting up and taking Shin away from me.

I stood there, feeling the place where his warm body was slowly cooling down, and when Kenji's heavy footsteps disappeared, I forced my body to get up. I walked through the empty, dark house towards the second floor, stopped at the white door and knocked twice.

Artemis opened the door with a hard expression.

" What do you want? — he demanded, crossing his arms. She had loose platinum hair and was wearing only a black shirt that I easily recognized.

I clenched my jaw, trying to ignore the irritation that was growing at seeing her in that outfit.

" Shin likes you — I began, noticing her face soften a little.

" I know — he said, holding my gaze.

" And you like him too — the words came out with difficulty, but I held firm, locked on to his dark eyes.

“What do you want?” she repeated, frowning, visibly suspicious.

“I want you to be with him,” I replied, exhaling slowly.

“That’s not a problem.

I, but I already tried — she grumbled, avoiding my gaze.

“I’m saying that now you can keep him,” I declared, seeing her freeze. “Shin will accept,” I assured her with a dry throat.

“Shin may be loyal to you, but he doesn’t belong to you,” she criticized angrily.

“Damn, girl, I thought you were smarter,” I accused, frowning. “If that’s the case, why has he never touched you even though he wanted to?” I replied, shaking her. “Keep him and let everyone know it,” I ordered and took a step towards her, her angular eyes widening in surprise. “But if you do anything to hurt him, I’ll end you,” I warned coldly.

“Is this because of Matias?” she asked.

“Keep him,” I ordered, ignoring her question, and walked down the hallway, feeling her gaze burning my skin.