The drive back was long and gut wrenching. I couldn’t breathe, my eyes forever looking back at Myungsoo’s unconscious form, at the blood smeared across his handsome face and the way his breaths came out in shallow gasps.

“He’ll be fine.” JiYong assured me at last, breaking the silence in the car.

“This is all my fault.” I whispered. “If I had just gone straight home, if I’d just-“

“I’m not going to sit here and assure you that everything that’s happened wasn’t your fault.” He interrupted matter-of-factly. “But I’m also not going to sit here and defend everything Myungsoo’s done or all of Dara’s actions, for that matter. This whole situation has been a up since day one and this conclusion, what happened today, has just proven what I knew all along.”

He turned to face me, his expression hard and unforgiving.

“You and Myungsoo might be Branded now, but quite frankly you’re one ty match. You both need to figure out what you’re going to do; whether you’re willing to give a relationship a go or decide to just remain Branded together casually. I’ll admit, it’s not ideal but it’s a whole lot better than what you’ve got going on now.”

“What more can we be but casual? Nobody would approve of us – of me.”

“You think that would stop Myungsoo?” He laughed. “I don’t know if you’ve noticed, Hana, but Myungsoo’s quite up there in our hierarchy. There’s not much he can’t get away with, especially on his territory.”

“I always thought Myungsoo was the most powerful.” I admitted, my eyes glancing back at his fallen form. “But Woo Bin…” I shook my head quickly. “He’s something else.”

“They’re brothers, half brothers but… Still brothers, all the same. As the oldest brother, Woo Bin has a lot of responsibility. Not only does he run the Busan Pack, but he also runs all of their Father’s businesses on Earth, making sure that they run smoothly.”

“Business?” I tried to imagine what kind of business a Demon would run, and the thoughts weren’t pretty.

“Take what you’re picturing and multiply it.” JiYong shook his head in disgust. “It’s not nice and Myungsoo never wanted a part of it. But Woo Bin is pressured by their Father to include all the Brothers so that they all run the business together. It was only a matter of time before Woo Bin came for Myungsoo, and unfortunately for you, he just used you to do it.”

“Why should Myungsoo be pressured into something he doesn’t want? Why can’t they just leave him be?”

“It’s how our world works. We might be allowed more freedom by living up here, away from their direct control and under Myungsoo's peaceful rule, but we’re still under their orders, especially the orders from Myungsoo’s Father. He’s a top guy and what he says goes. If he wants his son’s working together, then they will have to. Myungsoo’s just lucky he’s been allowed the freedom he has so far, but it looks like his time's running short.” JiYong let out a long breath. “We all knew this day would come eventually.”

“It’s so messed up.” I whispered.

“What do you expect?” He asked bitterly. “We’re Demons, Hana, never forget that. We might not live as Woo Bin does; flaunting the fact but it doesn’t change what we are. As much as we pretend to