"I don't do shit halfway, sweetheart. You step in my flames, you'll burn to ashes!"
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The Kings of the underworld are in a bit of a predicament; their rule over the city is challenged as an old enemy...
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Ashley sat on the window ledge, the cool morning air brushing against her face. The room was dimly lit, the only light coming from the faint glow of her cigarette as she took drag after drag. Her thoughts were a tangled mess, swirling around Namjoon's ultimatum like a dark storm cloud.
The memory sent a shiver down her spine, and she exhaled a stream of smoke, watching it dissipate into the air. She hated how much power he still had over her, how he could make her feel so small and helpless.
She looked outside the window in a fruitless attempt of calming down. The night had been dark and suffocating, but now the first hints of dawn were creeping over the horizon, painting the sky in soft hues of pink and orange. She took another drag, her mind returning to Joon's torturous ultimatum.
The memory of his cold, stern face was etched into her mind.
"It's time for you to break off whatever you have with KD," he had said, his voice like ice. "Or I will destroy him. Consider this your only warning."
His words had been like a knife to her heart. She had tried to argue, to plead, but Namjoon had been unyielding.
"You know what I'm capable of, Ashley. Don't test me. You have three days."
She had never seen him so cruel, so detached. It was as if the man she had loved for so many years was a stranger. She exhaled a stream of smoke, watching it curl and disappear into the morning air.
The sun continued to rise, casting a golden glow over everything. She barely noticed it until she felt a warm hand on her shoulder. KD was awake, his eyes soft and filled with concern.
"Morning," he said, his voice gentle as he leaned down to kiss her.
She managed a small smile, allowing herself to melt into his embrace for just a moment. "Morning."
"You've been up all night again, haven't you?" KD sat down beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
She nodded, resting her head against his chest.
"I couldn't sleep," her voice was hoarse.
He kissed the top of her head, his touch soothing.
"You need to take care of yourself, Ash," he said sternly. "Stop worrying about everyone else, worry about you."
"I can't just turn my head off," she whispered. "Serpents depend on me. Marcella depends on me. I'm just... trying to figure things out."
They sat there in silence for a while, watching the sun rise higher in the sky. Eventually, KD stood up, taking her hand and pulling her with him.
"Come on, let's get some breakfast," he said giving her a sweet gummy bear smile.
For a moment Ashley wondered how people could be terrified of this big fluffy goofball. He was simply adorable.
