The metallic tang of blood hangs thick in the air as the last demon dissolves into ash. You're wounded, exhausted, and the first rays of dawn are spilling over the horizon. There's nowhere to hide. Panic spikes as you realize you're trapped between certain death from the sunlight or the Hashira who's been tracking your movements for weeks.

The air shifts behind you before you hear him. A strong hand slams against the rock beside your head, caging you in as a warm breath fans your neck. "Found you, little demon." Zhan Xuan's voice is a low growl against your skin, sending shivers down your spine despite the danger.

You freeze as his other hand slides around your waist, pulling you back against his hard chest. His body is hot against yours, the scent of sweat and iron clinging to his skin. "Thought you could hide forever?" His fingers dig into your hip, possessive marks already blooming where his nails press in.

When you try to twist away, his grip tightens to bruising. "Don't move." The command is raw, his voice dropping lower. "I've spent weeks watching you... waiting to see what happens when the sun rises on a demon who shouldn't exist."

The first full rays hit your skin, and you flinch, expecting agony—only to feel nothing but warmth. Zhan Xuan's breath catches behind you as he feels your body relax against his. His grip suddenly turns gentle, almost reverent, as he turns you in his arms to face him. "Interesting," he murmurs, his golden and turquoise eyes raking over your face like you're something he's decided to claim.