31

With agility, I grabbed his wrist and twisted it, pulling him toward me. I laughed when Matias fell face-first with a funny groan.

"Relax, I don’t want to hurt you," I murmured, pressing my weight against his back. I inhaled his woody scent mixed with earth. "Masterpieces like you can’t be damaged—they lose their value," I joked near his ear, feeling him shiver as I ran my tongue over his skin.

"I’m not here to play, Ryuuji," he accused, trying to get up.

I frowned in surprise at how he could move with my weight on him. I grabbed his shirt firmly and laughed as he stood up with me on his back.

"This is actually fun—I feel like a little girl riding on her boyfriend’s shoulders."

"Take this shit more seriously," he snapped in irritation.

I pushed off, freeing myself from his back and putting a small distance between us. Matias turned to face me.

"You think this is a game? You’re in Lily territory. Do you know what I’m supposed to do to you?"

"It wasn’t Hebi who started this whole mess. We’re at war, Matias. The rules have changed—now we can do whatever we want," I declared, ignoring the sounds of fighting and the smell of blood.

"If I don’t hurt you, they’ll get suspicious," he reminded me in a low voice.

"When did I ever ask you to go easy on me?" I asked, frowning. "Give it your all—don’t hesitate," I urged, flashing him a smile.

Matias didn’t hesitate. I forced myself to match his brutality, and even when we hit the ground, the pain knocking the air out of us, we kept going. But despite the adrenaline, I hated every second of it. Things felt different. Seeing him dirty and injured unsettled me more than it should have.

I spat on the ground, forcing myself to stay upright. Matias got up with difficulty, his hand over his abdomen, his face drenched in sweat. My gaze darted to Shin lifting Artemis off the ground a few meters away—Anton had disappeared.

"I’m right here, Ryuuji."

Matias kicked me in the stomach, sending me crashing to the ground.

"Keep your focus on me!" he declared, gripping my jacket and straddling me. Even though I ached all over, it still felt good to have him this close.

"You’re way too distracted—maybe you should beg to leave," he suggested, stealing a laugh from me.

"Go fuck yourself," I joked, but my smile vanished when I saw Shin appear behind Matias, pressing a dagger blade against his neck.

Matias froze, locking eyes with me.

"Let go," Shin ordered firmly.

"What the fuck are you doing?" I demanded, feeling my heart stop for a second. "Shin, back off!" I commanded, glaring at him.

"Let go, Matias," he repeated, irritated, completely ignoring me.

"You better be careful, kid," Matias said in a low, furious voice.

"Let go," Shin threatened.

"Shin, back off—now!" I shouted, my eyes fixed on the pale blade pressed against Matias’s skin. He remained still, gripping my jacket, his gaze steady on my face. "Shin!"

His brown eyes met mine, and I repeated the order, hoping he’d listen. But Shin was stubborn when he wanted to be.

"Watch that blade, Hebi," Anton materialized, and sheer panic overtook me when I saw the weapon aimed directly at Shin’s head.

"Anton," Matias said, trying to glimpse him from his peripheral vision.

"Shin, I told you to back off," I said, my tongue heavy, the words dragging out of my mouth.

"Listen to your boss, Shin, and don’t make me use this on you," Anton warned, taking a step closer.

I looked at Matias in desperation, gripping his pants, panic stealing my sanity.

"Anton, step back—that’s an order!" Matias commanded, reading my expression.

"Mat—"

"Fuck, now!"

Anton moved, and when I glanced at Shin, he forced himself to do the same. Slowly, Matias stood up and backed away. Anton’s gaze remained locked on Shin, who was equally fixated on Matias. With my body still buzzing with adrenaline, I pushed myself off the ground, watching them cautiously.

"You have ten minutes to leave our area," Matias warned, catching my gaze and leaving Anton in shock.

"Matias..." Anton murmured, still clutching his weapon.

"Shut up and gather the others," he ordered, forcing Anton to leave.

Shin shifted his stance, shifting his weight between his feet. There wasn’t a single mark on his face, but his knuckles were bloody and covered in dirt.

"I’m letting you go, but this isn’t over," he threatened, his anger unhidden.

"See you around," I said, grabbing Shin’s arm and pulling him along.

Anton made all the Lily members stop fighting, which didn’t sit well with them. Under the silver moon, I picked up an unconscious Han while Shin helped a boy with a battered face to his feet. We left the deserted street under the scrutinizing gaze of the Lily.

The walk back to the complex was quick and silent. Kenji met us at the entrance, and with the other members, helped carry the injured to the infirmary.

In the empty corridor, the voices from the infirmary were muffled. I left the complex just before dawn and found Shin leaning against the gray wall, waiting for me.

"You should stay too—you don’t look good."

"Where was your head at?" I snapped, stepping in front of him. "You know you can’t go around carrying that thing," I reminded him, pointing at the dagger on his belt. "Hitaki and Akemi are in juvie because of that. Don’t be an idiot, Shin," I scolded, glaring at him.

"I had to," he countered, unapologetic.

"I told you never to go armed—that was an order!"

"It’s my duty to keep you safe—don’t forget that," he shot back, meeting my gaze head-on.

"If you do this again, I’ll take you down myself, got it?" I threatened, my heart still racing.

"No, you won’t," he retorted, seeing right through my lie as he walked past me toward the infirmary.

I bit my injured lip hard and headed home. Kenji was waiting for me in the hall, still wearing the same clothes, completely unscathed.

"Tomy’s back," he informed me.

"Okay, go get some rest," I said, noticing how exhausted he was.

I climbed the stairs toward my father’s office, knowing Tomy would be there.