Page 52 of King Foretold
But I’m shaking so hard that my limbs convulse wildly. With a muttered curse, he stretches out on top of the bedding and hauls me flush against him, clamping his arm and leg over me. Even through the thick blanket, the heat of his body seeps into mine, and the steady beat of his heart soothes my frayed nerves. He holds me tight until the violent shivers ease into faint tremors, and my mind clears and quiets.
Daeseong is back. I breathe through my nose until my heart rate slows, becoming strong and steady. The demented megalomaniac is back—and he’s booking party appearances. Welcome to my tragicomedy life. Fittingly, I want to laugh and cry all at once.Fuck this.My hands curl into fists as strength returns to my body. There’s nothing I can do but destroy Daeseong, because the alternative isn’t an option.
I lick my dry lips and taste salt on my tongue—salt and something distinctly male. As the shock finally recedes, I realize my face is buried against Jihun’s neck, with my mouth pressed against his throat. I feel his Adam’s apple work as he swallows. Somewhere between shaking like a leaf and settling into calmness, I must have plastered myself against him.
“I ... I’m okay now,” I squeak as I try to scramble away from him.
“Hush.” His growly voice skitters over my body. “Let me hold you while I have an excuse.”
“Jihun ...” I protest weakly, but I quiet in his arms.
“Just this once,” he whispers.
I nod against his neck, a single tear slipping out of the corner of my eye. I knew, didn’t I? Deep down, I must have known Jihun had feelings for me. But I refused to see that it was more than basic attraction and harmless flirtation for him. And I ... didn’t dissuade him. Not enough.
From the beginning, I wanted to lean on him. His steadfast strength always made me feel grounded and secure, and I couldn’t bear to lose that. I was so afraid of losing his friendship that I ignored his lingeringtouches and tender glances. But friendship goes both ways. If I really am his friend, then I can’t let him throw his heart away on me.
With a long, shaky sigh, he presses his forehead against mine. “Sunny, I—”
“Don’t,” I say sharply and lean back to look into his eyes. “Pleasedon’t say anything you can’t unsay.”
“Why?” Pain bleeds into the single word. “I’ll take even a fraction of your heart, Sunny. All I want is a chance to keep you safe. A chance to make you happy.”
“Jihun, you deserve someone who can offer you their whole heart.” Tears stream down my cheeks. “I care about you too much to see you sell yourself short.”
“Love isn’t a transaction.” He chuckles softly. “I don’t care if I sell myself short. You can rip me off all you like.”
“B ... but you can’t keep me safe,” I blurt, pulling at straws. Maybe I can dissuade him from giving me his heart by appealing to his sense of honor. “Your loyalty lies with Ethan. He comes first for you. If both he and I were in danger, you would have to save your prince, not me. How can I be h ... happy, knowing I’ll always come second?”
“Yes, I would save the prince.” He grasps my chin and lifts my eyes to meet his. “Then I woulddiewith you.”
A small part of me wavers. I’m tired and scared, and he’s so strong and true. And if I choose him, Ethan will never know that I love him ... I stop, appalled at myself. How can I evenconsiderusing Jihun to protect Ethan? This is precisely why I can’t accept his generous heart. I love Ethan with everything in me. I have nothing to offer Jihun when he deserveseverything.
“Stop.” A broken sob escapes me, and my face crumples. “Don’t make me break your heart. Please.”
“Don’t tell me what to do.” With a heart-wrenching smile, he wipes away my tears with the pad of his thumb. “I will do as I see fit withmyheart.”
“You’re such an asshole.” I take a shuddering breath, my tears falling faster. “Contrary to what you think, you’re not always right. Just this once, can’t you choose to protectyourself? Gods damn it, Jihun.Please.”
He leans down to place a soft kiss on my cheek. “Good night, Sunny.”
“Do notgood nightme.” I raise my head to sob and blubber some sense into him, but he’s already gone. I flop back onto my bedding, throwing an arm over my red, puffy eyes. “Fucking Jihun.”
I ache and long for Ethan like I’m missing a vital organ. My heart breaks for Jihun, who remains loyal and generous, even when I don’t deserve it. I’m terrified I won’t be able to defeat Daeseong. And I’m afraid what that would mean for all of us. Yet ... I’ve never felt so whole in my life.
I must have a heretofore-unknown masochistic streak. Or having people to miss, to hurt for, and to worry about makes my life mean more. It makesmemore alive. Rather than denying that I care deeply about these people—because I’m afraid to lose them—maybe I should make it my all-consuming purpose to keep them.
The Bear And The Tiger
Long ago, in the days of old, a lonely bear loved a beautiful tiger. The tiger liked the bear well enough, but he liked very much how desperately she loved him.
The bear would have done anything to build a life with the tiger. But he wanted to be with a tiger, lithe and graceful like him, not a hulking, cumbersome bear. Still, the tiger enjoyed being adored by the bear, so he would tell her, “If only we were the same.”
The bear prayed every night that she and the tiger could become the same so that they could be together. Hwanung, the god of earth, appeared before the bear and the tiger, moved by her devotion.
“You wish to become human?” the god of earth asked.
“More than anything, my lord,” the bear answered without hesitation.
