Page 81 of Gumiho Kiss
Chin Sun’s hands clenched into fists.She hated the hunger in his voice, how it made her skin crawl.Her fox bead was hers,hers, and no matter how much he wanted it, she was never going to let him have it.
But perhaps if she knew why, she could persuade him to find something else that would satisfy him.
“And that reason is?”
He paused, making her wait until she almost couldn’t bear it any longer.“It will give the goblins the strength we need to overcome our enemy and take back what belongs to us.”
Chin Sun blinked a few times, catching a quick glimpse of something in the distance before she returned her gaze to the goblin.“Your enemy?Who?”
“The reapers, of course.”
“And how can my fox bead accomplish that?It takes life; it doesn’t give it.”
The goblin snorted.“Do you think you can fool me with a lie like that when you’re drinking in all that human lifeforce as we speak?”
Guilt pricked at Chin Sun’s conscience.He was right.Hyun Soo’s lifeforce swam through her veins, flooding her with strength.
“Now, I’ve done my part.It’s your turn.”He held out his hand.“Give me the bead willingly, and I’ll make your death painless.”
“But you’re not gumiho,” Chin Sun pointed out.“Swallowing my bead would only drain you.”Just as it had drained Hyun Soo.
“What is this?More attempts at trickery?Fox beads can give life to anyone, so long as you know how to open them.”
“Open them?What ...?”Chin Sun’s forehead creased.Was that how she’d gained Hyun Soo’s lifeforce?When she’d kissed him and taken back her bead, it had been so instinctual she hadn’t paid attention to what she was doing.But now that she thought about it, shehadfelt the bead open just before her powers had reemerged.
The goblin tilted his head, confusion etched into his face.“Why are you so surprised?Don’t you know anythi—” He broke off, understanding dawning in his eyes.“Ah.But you wouldn’t know, would you?How could you when you didn’t have parents to teach you?”
Chin Sun’s heart skipped.“How do you know that?”
Laughter rumbled in the goblin’s throat.“Because we wiped out the last two gumiho in Sokju eighteen years ago.No one’s been back since then.Well, not until a rumor started circulating that a vigilante was giving the humans all kinds of trouble.A vigilante too fast to catch.”He dipped his head toward her middle, where her fox bead lay hidden, radiating with power.
Chin Sun froze, struggling to grasp the full meaning of his words.The goblins killed the last gumiho in Sokju?Two of them.Eighteen years ago ...
Her chest seized up, phantom hands squeezing her windpipe.She’d never known her parents, never known what it was to be their child.But she’d thought about it endlessly, wondering what it would have been like to be known completely, to not have to hide a part of herself for fear of being cast aside.To see her features in another’s face.
Aunt and Uncle had loved her as well as they were able, and she loved them in return, but they’d never filled the hole deep inside herself, the one that whispered to her in the dead of night, making her chest cave in and her eyes swim with tears.The empty longing for that which had been stolen from her.
But now she knew who was to blame.
Rage flooded Chin Sun’s body, an animalistic scream tearing from her throat.Claws emerged at her fingertips, bloodlust blurring the edges of her vision until all she saw was the figure in front of her.
Murderer.
Maybe he wasn’t the one who’d ended her parents’ lives, but hewasguilty.And now, he would pay.
She whistled.
Min Joon leaped from his hiding place in the nearby brush, sword raised.The goblin turned to defend himself, but Chin Sun’s hand whipped out and slashed at his face.
The goblin swerved to the side, narrowly avoiding her claws while also blocking Min Joon’s attack.Their swords collided in a burst of blue fire, which sent Min Joon flying backward with a cry of pain.
Chin Sun drew her hwando, slicing at the goblin’s back while he was turned away.The strike created a long diagonal slash from the goblin’s shoulder down to the edge of his torso.Her sword came away flecked with silver blood.
The goblin spun around with a howl, sweeping his flaming sword at her.Chin Sun leaped out of the way, tucking herself into a roll.She came back up as the goblin swiveled toward her, but before he could get in another swing, Min Joon was there, stabbing him in the stomach.
The goblin threw a burst of blue flame at Min Joon’s face, forcing him to fall back.The monster grabbed at the wound in his stomach, blood dripping onto his hand.
Chin Sun came in for another attack, but he summoned a fiery barrier around himself, holding her at bay.She circled the enclosure but found no openings, no weaknesses.
