Anchhi rested on her chamber, still unsettled from the evening's attack. She tried to brush off the lingering fear. She could handle herself—she had to. But before she could even settle fully into her thoughts, the door creaked open without warning.
Shuo Jin entered inside. He leaned casually against the doorframe. Excuse me, who invited him?
"You should come to my room," he said, his voice smooth.
Anchhi frowned, crossing her arms over her chest. "Why should I? I'm perfectly fine here."
Shuo Jin pushed himself off the doorframe, slowly closing the distance between them. His steps deliberate and unhurried. "Oh, really? You think it's safe to sleep alone, knowing what's happened tonight?" His voice was playful, but there was something else lurking beneath the surface—something darker. "What if those assassins decide to pay you a little visit? Break through your window while you're fast asleep… Maybe they'll snatch you up before you even realize what's happening."
Her heart skipped a beat at his words, but she refused to show him her unease. "I'm not scared," Anchhi shot back, her voice firm, though she couldn't fully mask the slight waver in it.
His lips curled into a smirk, clearly enjoying how her mask faltered. He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a low, taunting whisper. "You're not scared, hmm? You do remember this was their second attempt, don't you?" He tilted his head slightly, studying her with an intensity that made her pulse quicken. "What are the chances they won't try again? After all, they don't stop until they finish the job."
Her frown deepened. Anchhi tried to keep her composure, but his words gnawed at her defenses. He was right—what if they did attack again? What if she was alone and unprepared?
"I can handle it," she insisted, but the confidence in her voice was waning.
Shuo Jin, seeing how his words were affecting her, took a step back, his smirk widening. He wasn't desperate—no, he was enjoying this game far too much. "Really? You think you're faster than a group of trained assassins? Skilled enough to fend them off in your sleep?" His teasing tone made it impossible for her to ignore the truth he was planting in her mind. "I'd hate to find you missing in the morning," he added mockingly, "or worse."
Her stomach tightened, the thought of being attacked again made her second-guess her decision. She casted a nervous glance toward the window. What if he was right? What if they did come back tonight? They were ruthless, and they wouldn't stop until they got what they wanted.
Sensing her hesitation, Shuo Jin stepped even closer, his voice softening but still laced with playful mockery. "So, why take the risk, Young Miss? I'm offering you safety. My room is just down the hall, and it's well-guarded. You'd be much safer there… with me." His words dripped with teasing suggestion, but there was an undeniable truth in them that she couldn't ignore.
Anchhi chewed on her lip, battling with herself. She hated how he was right. And she hated even more how her heart was racing—not just from fear of the assassins, but from his presence, the way he was looking at her, the mockery flickering in his eyes as he watched her squirm under the weight of his words.
"Fine," Anchhi muttered finally, her voice reluctant. She turned away to grab her cloak, not wanting to meet his eyes. "But only because it's safer," she added quickly, trying to maintain some semblance of dignity.
Shuo Jin chuckled softly, clearly pleased with himself. "Of course. Safety first." His voice was dripping with mockery as he held the door open for her. "Wouldn't want to take any risks, would we?"
Anchhi shot him a glare as she passed by him, but deep down, she knew he was enjoying every second of her reluctance. And perhaps even more frustratingly, a part of her was starting to enjoy it too—the way he teased her, the way his presence, though maddening, made her feel something she couldn't quite put into words.
~~~~
His chamber was dimly lit by a single candle on the far end of the room, casting long shadows across the stone walls. Anchhi followed him in. She couldn't quite wrap her head around the situation—sharing a room with him, Shuo Jin.
She stood by the door, unsure of what to do. Shuo Jin tossed a pillow at her with casual indifference, along with a thick, warm sheet.
"You take the floor," he said, his tone dry. "I'll sleep on the bed, naturally."
Anchhi blinked at him, stunned. "What?" She couldn't believe he was serious. "You expect me to sleep on the floor while you take the bed?"
He raised an eyebrow, already climbing into the bed. "Did you expect something else?" His voice was laced with sarcasm, as though the very idea of her sharing the bed with him was laughable. "Or would you prefer to sleep by the window, where the assassins can easily reach you?"
She bit her tongue, knowing full well he was teasing her, but it didn't make the situation any less irritating. She grabbed the pillow and sheet without another word, muttering to herself as she arranged them on the floor, far enough from the bed but close enough to catch the dim light from the candle.
Shuo Jin had already sprawled out on the bed. He was fast asleep within moments. Anchhi glanced over at him in disbelief. Aiyyo, what a fast sleeper. He looked entirely too comfortable, as though the events of the evening hadn't effected him at all.
Anchhi, on the other hand, couldn't switch off her thoughts so easily. The attack, the masked assassins, the fight—it all replayed in her mind, stubbornly refusing to let her relax. She tossed and turned on the hard floor, the pillow offering little comfort as her mind raced. How did it come to this? The feeling of unease settled into her bones. Soon, exhaustion eventually overtook her. Slowly, her tense muscles relaxed, and she slipped into a fitful sleep.
A few hours later, Shuo Jin stirred. His senses were sharp, and the faintest noise could pull him out of even the deepest sleep. He woke to the soft sound of someone murmuring. Instantly alert, he opened his eyes and scanned the room. His gaze landed on Anchhi, lying on the floor, tossing and turning under her sheet. Her face was flushed, beads of sweat gathering on her forehead. She was talking in her sleep, her voice barely audible but laced with fear.
"Leave me... please... don't kill me..."
His lips curled into a smirk, though it was a faint one. Scared even in dreams, huh? he thought to himself, watching her keenly. He propped himself up on one elbow, resting his head in his hand as he observed her.
For a moment, Shuo Jin considered waking her up—just to see how she'd react. But there was something about the vulnerability in her expression that stopped him. He wasn't used to this—having someone else in his space. He had never shared his room with anyone, let alone a woman. And now here she was, restless and afraid, lying on the floor of his chamber.
He felt a flicker of something—an emotion he wasn't entirely comfortable with. What was this woman doing to him? He was the First Prince of Gua Empire, Master of the Underworld—someone who didn't lower his guard for anyone. And yet, with her, it felt like something was different. He had let her into his space, into his world, and that unsettled him.
Concern…The word echoed in his mind, almost mocking him. The mighty Shuo Jin, capable of commanding an army of assassins, was concerned for this girl? Impossible. His pride refused to accept it, and yet... the feeling lingered.
He sighed, shaking his head as if to clear his thoughts. His gaze softened. She looked so small and fragile in that moment, curled up on the floor, her face twisted with fear. He didn't want to admit it, but there was a part of him that wanted to protect her.
Ridiculous, he told himself. She's just a distraction. Nothing more. His instincts told him to keep his distance. But something else—something deeper—kept pulling him closer to her.
His hand brushed through his hair, a soft chuckle escaping his lips. "The things you do to me," Shuo Jin muttered under his breath.
But then, he pushed it aside as quickly as it had appeared. There was no room for such distractions, not in his world. His mission was clear: to haunt down the members of the royal family one by one.
With a final glance at her, Shuo Jin laid back down, pulling the covers over himself. The soft sound of her breathing eventually calmed, and the room fell silent once more.