The news of her step-sister's kidnapping rattled Hana. The world expected her to collapse, but instead she steeled herself.
"She betrayed you before," Mi-Ho reminded softly, but his eyes held worry.
"I know," Hana whispered. "But I can't let him use her as a pawn. If I don't end this now, he'll keep striking."
For the first time, Mi-Ho grabbed her hand—not in comfort, but in unspoken solidarity. "Then we face it together."
The warmth of his grip made Hana's chest ache. In the midst of war, her heart was waking to something terrifying… and beautiful.