Blood?

It felt wonderful to actually run outside for once instead of always being limited to the treadmill. I felt free and almost as if I belonged among all the people doing ordinary things like walking their dogs or playing baseball. Maybe Fu Shao would run with me one day when the Mogo weren't giving him so much trouble anymore.

When would that ever be? Later that day I sat on the roof terrace, watching the sunset, my legs pulled up against my body.

Xu was checking his phone.

"Young master will have more time for you soon."

I looked at him.

Had I appeared lonely to him?

"Did he tell you when he'd be home today?"

"He hasn't written yet," he said slowly.

"That's a bad sign, right?"

Xu didn't say anything, only frowned down at his phone.

I went inside when it became too cold outside, put on my nightgown and curled up on the couch, turning on the TV. I couldn't help but get more worried as the clock edged closer to midnight, but eventually I drifted off.

I woke when I was lifted off the couch.

My eyes fluttered open and I peered up into his face. It was too dark to make out much.

Xu must have extinguished the lights at some point.

"Fu Shao?" I murmured.

He didn't say anything. I put a hand against his chest.

His shirt was slick with something a bit liquid?

Blood?

His breathing was even, steps measured. His heartbeat was calm under my palm. But I couldn't read his mood.

It was strange. He carried me up the stairs as if I weighed nothing.

We reached our bedroom and he put me down on the bed. I could only see his tall shape looming above me.

Why wasn't he saying anything? I stretched and fumbled for the main switch beside the bed. I brushed it with my fingertips and the lights came on, and I gasped.

Hie shirt was covered in blood. Soaked in it. There was a small cut at his throat and if the rips in his shirt were any indication he probably had more wounds.

Then my eyes found his face and I became very still, like a fawn trying to blend in as not to attract the attention of the wolf.

And I'd thought I'd seen his darkness on a few occasions, had thought I'd glimpsed the devilish beneath the civil mask before.