𝑫𝑨𝑮𝑮𝑬𝑹𝑬𝑫 𝑯𝑬𝑨𝑹𝑻𝑺 & 𝑷𝑶𝑰𝑺𝑶𝑵𝑬𝑫 𝑳𝑰𝑷𝑺

Chapter Twelve: Fire In The Dark

The attack came without warning.

One moment, the palace was quiet.

The next-

Chaos.

Shouts echoed through the halls. Guards moved fast, steel clashing against steel. Smoke curled through the air, thick and suffocating.

Li Yue barely had time to react before she was pulled into the shadows.

"Stay close."

His voice.

Relief hit her harder than it should have.

Xiao Zhen's grip was firm as he guided her through the corridor, movements precise, controlled-even in chaos.

"What's happening?" she asked.

"A distraction."

"For what?"

His gaze flicked toward her.

"For you."

Her breath caught.

Of course.

Everything led back to her.

A figure lunged from the shadows-

Xiao Zhen moved instantly.

A flash of steel.

The attacker dropped.

Fast. Clean.

Efficient.

Li Yue stared, heart racing-not from fear.

But from realization.

This was who he truly was.

Not just dangerous.

Deadly.

Another crash echoed nearby.

"We need to move," he said.

But this time-

She didn't follow immediately.

"Why?" she asked.

He stilled.

"Why protect me?"

Silence.

In the middle of chaos-

Silence.

Then-

"Because," he said quietly,

"whether you trust me or not..."

He stepped closer, his hand finding hers again-steady, grounding.

"...I've already chosen you."

Her heart stuttered.

Because this-

This wasn't strategy.

This wasn't control.

This was something else entirely.

And it terrified her more than anything else in the palace.