Page 32 of King Foretold
“It’s bone broth,” Minju explains. “I want you to eat well and get plenty of rest for at least twenty-four hours. I doubt you can stay still for longer than that.”
“What about our lesson?” I yawn.
“We can take one night off.” Minju helps me lie back down and pulls the comforter up to my chin. “You’re in no shape to wield the Yeoiju.”
I’m too sleepy to argue. The next time my consciousness floats to the surface, I feel my hand engulfed in another. I blink my eyes open to a softly lit room. I’m not in Captain Seo’s room anymore.
“Why are you awake?” Ethan brushes my hair off my forehead. “You need more rest.”
“Where am I?” I rasp, my voice scratchy from sleep.
“You’re at Jihun’s estate.” He pours tea into a small, handleless mug. “I think this is one of his guest quarters.”
I rise to one elbow and drink the tea from the mug in his hand, guiding him with the tips of my fingers. When I struggle to sit up, he reaches out to help me, but I weakly shove him away. I manage to maneuver myself into a seated position, but I sway and droop in exhaustion. Still, I stay seated out of pure stubbornness.
I look blearily around the room and realize I’m in my old room at the Sunset Pavilion. Jihun must have brought me here. Grateful tears sting my nose, but I sniff away my sentimentality.
“Why are you here?” I harden my expression even as my heart thuds in my chest and my eyes roam his face.
“Is that even a question?” Ethan shakes his head and shifts to sit behind me, his legs outstretched on either side of me.
“What are you doing?” I yelp. He ignores my question and tugs me close until my back rests against his chest. I lurch forward, then promptly flop back against him in a wave of dizziness.
“Letting you use me as your backrest since you’re too stubborn to lie down.” He drops his chin on top of my head and wraps his arms loosely around my waist.
I don’t push him away. It has nothing to do with how strong and warm he feels. I’m just too weak to move.Liar.I ignore the accusatorywhisper in my head, but I stiffen my body and don’t let myself melt against him.
“What time is it?” I peer at the hanji-covered window.
“Late.” He absently sweeps his thumb back and forth on a bare slip of my stomach, and a shiver travels down my spine. “I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner. No one told me you were hurt until they moved you here.”
“I don’t know why they told you at all.” I clamp my hand over his to tug it off, but my fingers somehow get tangled with his. “There’s nothing for you to do.”
“If I’d known sooner, I would’ve tracked down the person who did this to you.” Menace laces his voice. “But they sent her back to the Kingdom of Mountains.”
“A good thing too.” I look over my shoulder at him. “You can’t take on everyone who hurts me.”
“Watch me,” he growls, his arms tightening around me.
“I can take care of myself,” I say flatly, even as my heart knocks against my ribs. “You have your own problems to deal with.”
“It’s hard for me to see you hurt.” He tugs me back to him before I can stop him. “I want to keep you safe, Sunny.”
“I know,” I whisper. I can’t accept his love, but I won’t insult him by pretending I don’t know he loves me.
He draws a ragged breath and slips his hand under my shirt, spanning his fingers wide against my stomach. “Does it still hurt?”
“No.” I shake my head, willing my body not to react to his touch. “I’m fine.”
“I need to make sure,” he pleads.
“Okay.” I can’t accept his love, but I won’t let him hurt for me when I can make it go away. I can do that much.
Ethan drops his arms from my waist and widens his legs. I draw my knees up and turn around to face him, then raise my shirt past my smooth stomach. His gaze travels over me, not missing a single detail. Ihold myself still and keep my expression even so he can see for himself that I really am okay.
After a long moment, he breathes a sigh of relief, his face lighting up with a tremulous smile. I lower my shirt and meet his eyes. Neither of us speak, and the silence stretches on. Now that I’ve reassured him, I should politely but firmly ask him to leave. But I can’t bear to let him go.
“Minju took good care of me.” My words come out in a nervous rush.
