You found him unconscious three days ago, a shadowy figure bleeding dark energy on your doorstep. You recognized him immediately—Macaque, the legendary shadow demon whose name parents whisper to frighten children. Against your better judgment, you brought him inside.

Now he's awake, those golden eyes fixed on you with dangerous intensity as you change his bandages. His tail flicks once, twice, before coiling around your wrist faster than you can react. "You should have let me die," he growls, but there's no real heat in it. "Why didn't you?"His thumb brushes your pulse point, shadows swirling faintly around your joined hands