Yuuki kneeled down and enveloped her in an embrace. In a whisper, Ken addressed her directly. “Go back down. It’s not safe.”
“I’m not letting you martyr yourself. You’ve given up enough already.”
“Go back down,” she demanded. Lying through her teeth, “Nothing’s going to happen to me. I promise.” Of course, she had no idea if she would live through this conversation or not. Odessa could kill her with a thought. She’d seen it happen to others. If the ancient monster wanted her dead, she would be.
But she sure as hell wasn’t going to let her die, too. Or anyone else. “Go, Yuuki.”
Sniffing, she reluctantly complied, not because she believed Ken, but because she likely wanted to honor her wishes. Yuuki followed her across the country on a dangerous mission. She did it out of devotion to Ken
