Pray for the Wicked | ATEEZ

25.

"Hongjoong, please," I begged, "Stay in the shade."

I grabbed the sleeve of the son of Lilith's shirt and pulled him back into the cool shadows after the demon had once again strayed from the trail we were following through the forest.

The sounds of the gravel and rocks underneath my feet crackled like crisp laughter at my pathetic attempt at avoiding yet another disaster caused by the sun, the guilt from the last one still lingering just underneath the surface.

For that very reason, I had downright refused to bring him into the heart of Heaven until nightfall rolled across Illenium, finally giving in and letting him drag me into the woods behind the palace instead to discuss the plan of action for his remaining three days here.

"Why? Hongjoong mumbled as he turned to me, eyes bright with so much light that I was almost taken aback by it. My heart skipped a beat as he added, "Are you worried?" and cocked a brow in mischief, forcing feelings to surface which were supposed to be hidden, suppressed, without even knowing it.

How I wished I had been able to resist the way he so effortlessly stole them from the depths of my heart with his nimble fingers and grins of irresistible promises and disobedience.

"Yes," I admitted, and the smile that crept onto his face was so contagious I didn't even feel bad as the corners of my own lips tugged upwards from a slight pout into something playful as well.

"I'm not even denying it either," I added, "What happened to San was truly horrible and, after what I've already done, I would never forgive myself if you got sick as well, so-"

I paused for a moment as I exasperatedly pulled him into the shadows again, "Stay in the shade," and rolled my eyes at him as I watched his grin melt into a smirk, devilishly handsome features laced with that of satisfaction as he straightened himself a little and stayed by my side this time.

"Oh, about San," I said, suddenly realizing that I never got to ask as I had broken down in tears at the very sight of the son of Lilith earlier, "How was he this morning? Was he feeling better? Did his temperature-?"

But Hongjoong cut me off as the smile on his face turned strained, edged with something slightly forced as he let his eyes travel across the forest and said, a little too loud for it to be considered casual as he stepped back into the sun, "If I got sick, would you take care of me?"

I heard him audibly suck in a breath as I attempted to pull him back onto the trail, keeping my hand on his arm this time as I furrowed my brows slightly, "Of course, what kind of question is that? But San was in really bad shape last night and I didn't get to see the others off so I just wanted to know if-"

"Would you take off my shirt as well?"

"I- what? Hongjoong I'm serious. Aren't you worried about him?" I frowned, placing both of my hands on his shoulders as I shuffled in front of him and forced him to come to a halt only to realize that the smile from before was long gone.

The demon was dead silent as he stared at the stretch of forest behind me, jaw going taut as he avoided my eyes. "Did I do something wrong?" I asked, and my heart sank with the fear of him confirming my question, my cheeks burning as I searched his face.

But my words only lingered in the air for a moment before disappearing as the son of Lilith openly ignored them and mumbled, "Counting today, I'll have to go back to Hell in three days. That means we have less than that to actually search for the Lunar Flame if we can only go out at night so-"

"Why are you avoiding my question?" I demanded, my mouth going dry as he finally gave in and locked his eyes with mine.

"Why are you so interested in San?" he countered, "I'm literally right here, you have me all for yourself and, despite that, what's important to you isn't the heir to all of Odeion or finding the Lunar Flame, but the son of Satan?"