Panic raced through his dark heart. He didn’t have the power of life. He was dark, and all he could do was watch helplessly as his son died.

His real legacy.

Never before had he felt so powerless. So weak.

Pathetic.

Turning human, he knelt beside the boy and pulled him into his arms. “Please, Ryuichi. Say something . . . anything. Spit at me. Yell at me. Curse my name. But please, don’t die.”

Like the errant child he was, his son ignored him.

Because he’d allowed the world to taint the only goodness he’d been able to create.

What have I done?

He glared at Tatsu, who stood there, emotionless. “You must kill him,” Tatsu said. “It is ordained.”

Ryukage rose with his son in his arms, ignoring Tatsu. “You are wrong.”

His gaze went to the humans. To the one demon who would protect his son.

But at what cost?

One of us has to die. In order for something to live, something must die. Yin and yang.

All his life, he’d chosen himself. Even when it’d come down to his existence or Haruka’s. He’d chosen her over him.

Tsukiya laughed cruelly. He and his sister had planned it this way.

I’m forever a pawn.

But not today.

His eyes filled with tears as he placed a kiss on his son’s brow.

Life for life.

With a fierce cry, he recalled his soldiers and banished them back to the nether realm, where they could do no more harm. Then he placed his son on the ground as he found the human part of himself.

He heard his sword whispering to him, begging him to finish his child.

The one act he could never do. That was one blood bond he refused to break.

Tatsu rushed at them.

Ryukage grabbed him, and for the last time, he merged them together. He and his own shadow were one.

We are honor.

No, he was a father.

And he would give his life so that his son could live.

* * *

Transfixed, Koichi watched the most incredible sight. Ryukage became one with his lead samurai.

How was that possible?

Then it dawned on him . . .

Ryukage was split too.

The samurai, Tatsu, was his human half, and the Ryukage was the shadow self who he’d allowed to consume the lead role.

Like with Ryuichi.

But who had split his father?

And why?

A chill went down his spine as he realized they had a deeper threat at work here. Someone else had been in control. Someone who’d wanted Ryuichi’s mother out of the picture.

Someone who’d wanted to destroy Ryukage in the process.

In the blink of an eye, all their enemies were gone, and Ryukage was in a battle with his lead samurai, who was himself. Obviously, he was trying to merge the samurai back into his body, but the samurai was having none of it.