THE PRICE OF REDEMPTION
334 Words
The war came before dawn.
Gunfire shattered the silence.
Windows exploded inward.
Alarms screamed through the manor.
Guards rushed through the corridors.
Julian was already fighting.
I heard his voice somewhere below.
"Protect the upper wing!"
The enemy had breached the estate.
I grabbed my silver needles.
Guards flooded through the corridors.
I refused to hide.
If my ink could protect them, I would use it.
One by one, wounded Blackwood soldiers entered my studio.
I carved crimson runes into their arms.
Luck.
Strength.
Protection.
The magic burned beneath their skin.
"Go."
They returned to the fight.
Then the doors exploded inward.
Smoke filled the room.
A man stepped through.
The Viper Clan leader.
He smiled.
"So you're the famous Queen of Ink."
I reached for my dagger.
"Leave."
He laughed.
"You're worth more alive."
He crossed the room.
I attacked.
He caught me.
His hand closed around my throat.
A cold blade touched my pulse.
"Julian Blackwood's weakness."
I struggled.
Then—
Gunfire.
The man froze.
A dark hole appeared in his forehead.
He collapsed.
Julian stood in the doorway.
Smoke rose from his gun.
His face was terrifying.
He crossed the room in seconds.
He dropped the weapon.
Then pulled me into his arms.
His face buried against my neck.
His body was shaking.
"You could have died."
"I'm fine."
"I almost lost you."
His grip tightened.
For a moment, the feared Don of the Blackwood syndicate disappeared.
There was only Julian.
A man terrified of losing the woman he loved.
I wrapped my arms around him.
"I'm here."
He pulled back.
His eyes searched mine.
"Don't ever do that again."
"You know I'm not good at following orders."
A broken smile appeared.
"You're going to be the death of me."
I touched his face.
"Then stay alive."
Outside, the final gunshots faded.
The Viper Clan had fallen.
But something told me the war wasn't truly over.
Because somewhere beyond the city, the woman who had created Julian's curse was still watching.
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