Page 14 of King Foretold
“No one outside our core group can know about the Yeoiju. You’re already in danger from the Jaenanpa in the Mortal Realm.” He shakes his head wearily. “If someone here finds out, it’ll only be a matter of time before every power-hungry shinbiin in the Realm of Four Kingdoms will be after you too. I can’t risk that happening.”
“And we can’t explain Draco’s presence without explaining that we need to meld their dragon scales with the sacred ashes in order to forge the sword of light,” I murmur, thinking out loud. Then we would have to explain why the Seonangshin entrusted me with the sacred ashes—why I have to be the one to defeat Daeseong. “You’re right. We can’t risk more people finding out about the Yeoiju. Not until I figure out how to wield its powers without killing myself.”
“Exactly.” Ethan’s lips press into a grim line. “Even the Council of the Suhoshin doesn’t know the full extent of our mission against the dark mudang.”
“But shouldn’t they know that Daeseong plans to unleash the Amheuk from its prison beyond the abyss?” I glimpsed into the dark mudang’s tortured mind at Heaven Lake. I saw what he intended to do. “Darkness will devour the worlds if he succeeds.”
“The council can’t help us. No one can.” The moonlight casts harsh shadows across his somber face. “Wehave to defeat Daeseong.”
I struggle to swallow, fear rearing its head again. “He escaped from Heaven Lake.”
“I know.” Ethan squeezes my arm. “But he went into hiding again. It means we still have time.”
“Sure.” I fist my hands to stop them from shaking. “We just have to unlock the mysteries of the Yeoiju and figure out how to forge the sword of light before the dark mudang gets bored playing hide-and-seek.”
“That about sums it up.” Ethan lightly chucks my chin. “No pressure, right?”
My laugh turns into a sob. “I hate this.”
“I know.” He pulls me into his arms and plants a kiss on the top of my head. “But in all fairness, you hate everything.”
“Dingus.” What happened to keeping my distance? I bring my hands up to his chest to push him away, but I ... don’t.
“Aww, my favorite term of endearment.” He chuckles, holding me closer.
Despite my best intentions, I melt against him with a helpless sigh. And just like that, the air around us grows taut with electric tension. Slowly, his hands smooth across my back, then run down my sides, his thumbs grazing the curve of my breasts. My breath hitches as fire spreads across my skin. But when his hand dips under my shirt and his fingers dig into the soft flesh of my waist, I come to my senses and stumble back from him.
“You know I was kidding about you asking for a tour, right?” I make a face, going into damage control mode. “I’ll be busy with my training, and you’ll be busy twiddling your thumbs. We don’t have time for distractions.”
“Don’t worry.” His smile holds both devastation and understanding. “I won’t bother you.”
“Cool.” Gods, I hate myself. “I’ll see you around.”
This time, Ethan doesn’t stop me when I run off into the night.
Chapter Five
“Will you stop wiggling?” Hailey laughs.
“I’m not wiggling,” I say through gritted teeth, contorting my torso in an attempt to stop wiggling.
“Oh my gods.” She chortles harder. “You’re ticklish, aren’t you?”
“Don’t be absurd.” I am ticklish as hell. “Why is Minju making you draw all this shit on me anyway?”
“How would I know? She never tells me anything. Minju issosecretive about your lessons. She just said in a really serious voice that I had to memorize all these symbols and paint them on your back.” Hailey puts a firm hand on my bare shoulder to hold me still. “But I have a theory. I think these symbols are arcane words of power. Depending on what they mean—I obviously can’t read them—they can either amplify or suppress your powers. Or do something else entirely.”
“Wow. That issoilluminating,” I deadpan.
“Don’t be a jerk,” Hailey admonishes mildly. “This is high,highmagic. It’s way above my pay grade. Besides, Minju will explain everything to you tonight.”
The suhoshin cadets get one measly day off a month, and I’m spending it shirtless in Jihun’s study, getting weird-ass symbols painted on my back with cold ink and a brush made for torture. I twist my torso in slow motion, trying not to squeak or giggle. I willnotgiggle. I make a guttural, clicking noise in the back of my throat instead. Well, that’s new.
“If you don’t stop squirming, I’m going to have to redo this whole damn thing.” Hailey sounds dead serious.
“I’m not squirming.” My voice rises to a high-pitched yelp. “Get on with it.”
“I don’t know who is worse. Draco or Jaeseok,” Jihun mutters, sliding open the door to his study. “They don’t have a speck of common sen—”
