Kissing the Demon (Seoksoo)

Joshua

"No," I said through gritted teeth.

"It's okay," Seokmin murmured.

I twisted so I could give him my full attention. "It's not fucking okay, and nothing ever will be again unless I can get you out of here safely. I promised I'd never walk away from you, and maybe I hadn't envisaged a situation like this, but it still fucking applies."

Humour ghosted over Seokmin's face as he pressed his lips to my cheek. It boded well for our future that he found my dramatic streak amusing...if I could find a way out of this, that was. I meant what I'd said though—leaving here without Seokmin was not on the table.

"Why would Jihoon believe that you could reincarnate Seokmin?" Vernon demanded of Ferry.

Ferry's eyes slid to Soonyoung, a slow smirk curving his lips. "Oh, you're still in touch with Jihoon, are you? I figured he'd burned that bridge once and for all when he..."

"Enough," Soonyoung barked, his hands clenching into fists. "He wouldn't lie. Not about something like this."

Ferry muttered something under his breath that I didn't quite catch, but judging by the way Soonyoung unsheathed his sword with a snarl, he'd heard him perfectly.

Before any of us could step in to circumvent yet more drama, Ferry spoke again. "Come any closer with that thing, and I'll have to drop my shields. I'd like to see how you'd fare then."

"Soonyoung, leave it," I said, watching to ensure he did as I said. Once his sword was safely back in his scabbard, I turned to Ferry. "Please. Anything you can tell us that will help..."

Ferry let out a sigh. "It's true that a human has been reincarnated because of me...but I wasn't the one to do it. Not only that, but there was a heavy price to pay in return for it being done."

"I'll pay it," I said immediately, ignoring my brothers' muttered oaths. "I don't care what it is. If it means Seokmin will be safe, I'll do it."

"Joshua, no," Seokmin protested. "I won't let you risk yourself for me."

Grabbing his chin, I forced him to look down at me. "Did I ask your permission?"

His brow furrowed. "No, but surely this relationship is a two-way street? Don't I get a say?"

I softened. "Of course you do. But not here. Not where your immortal soul is concerned."

His lips thinned. "And what about your immortal soul, Shua? Because I refuse to let you risk yourself for me."

"Honestly, it's always about the drama with you four," Ferry interrupted. "Why don't you just mark him and be done with it? Seokmin's life force will be joined with Joshua's, and he'll be able to leave."

"Is it that simple? Because I'm happy to do that right here and now." I glanced back up at Seokmin. "As long as that's something you still want?"

He pushed a wayward lock of hair away from my forehead as he smiled down at me. "Of course it is."

My demon roared in satisfaction, but I had to check. "You sure you're not saying this because it's your only option for getting out of here?"

"Shua, I've spent my whole life watching people walk away from me or pushing them to do so. You're the only partner I've had who has fought for me...fought for us." He cupped my hand, which still held his jaw. "When I was...dying, you were the one I was thinking of. You were the one I was terrified to leave. You were the one that I wanted to comfort and say that everything would be okay. I know your life is supposed to flash before your eyes, but mine didn't. All I could see, all I could think of, was you."