The moment he saw Jin’s reaction, he knew he’d made a mistake. The sweet little bubble of pretend they’d created had been popped by reality. The solemnity mixed with fear on his friend’s face filled him with regret. But there was no taking it back now, and he resisted pulling Jin-a back to him.

He’d said similar words the evening before when Ahn-Bo had suggested leaving for good. Of course, he ought to have known that wouldn’t have changed. Jin calmed himself, his breaths more steady as he returned to Ahn-Bo. The wolf recognized the bittersweetness in the vampire’s expressive eyes.

“I will,” he said quickly. There would be no misunderstandings of his intentions. If Jin-a would not—no, could not stay—then they would stick to the original plan. The one that he felt he wasn’t fully prepared for, but he would worry about that later. He hated seeing the fearful expression on his aein’s face, especially since he’d been the partial cause of it. There would be no more questions or reminders until absolutely necessary. Jin deserved to be happy and cared for, and he deserved to be able to enjoy the feeling for however little time they had.

“How long until we have to leave?” Ahn-Bo hedged instead, catching Jin’s hand in his own to press a kiss to his palm. Hopefully they would have at least a little more time here before they descended from their bubble to enter whatever hell awaited them.