The clearing seemed to pulse with an ominous energy as Ash’s words hung in the air. “You,” he’d said. “Body and soul.” There was no mistaking the gravity of his demand, no room for negotiation. My heart thundered in my chest as I stared into his crimson eyes, trying to steady my breath and quiet the panic clawing at the edges of my resolve.
“You’re serious,” I said, though it wasn’t a question.
Ash’s lips curved into a sly, mocking smile. “When am I not, cherub?” His voice was honeyed venom, a contradiction of allure and malice. He took a deliberate step closer, his presence suffocating in its intensity. “Levi’s soul—his very existence—hinges on this moment. Are you willing to pay the price, or shall we let him slip into the void?”
My mind raced, the weight of the decision threatening t
