Page 70 of King Foretold
“Hooray for democracy. Thanks for not pulling rank on us, Your Highness,” I say with a cheeky bow of my head. “Also, everything will be all right.”
We walk in silence for a while, each of us lost in our thoughts. I breathe in deep, inhaling the scent of the vibrant trees around us. A sense of peace descends on me, which is odd since we’re on a deadly mission. But maybe ... everything will really be all right.
“It feels different here.Ifeel different here,” Ethan murmurs as we hike through the woods. “I can’t see the gi of Mountains, but I can feel it against my skin, like I’m absorbing it through my pores.”
“Huh. I wonder if you look different.” I focus on Ethan and promptly stumble. Jihun catches me by the arm, and I lean on him, my knees weak with shock. “Gods, Ethan. You’re on fire.”
His eyes round with surprise, and he glances down at his hands as though curious to see the fire for himself. But he isn’t alarmed, like he knows the life force of Mountains won’t hurt him. The gi surrounds him, not in a soft glow, but in pulsating green flames. And the fire isn’t swallowing him butfillinghim. If I had doubts about Ethan being the Prince of Mountains, this would have convinced me twice over.
Above us, the sky shifts and the night deepens into an impossible black. The oppressive darkness siphons the light from around us, but the gi of Mountains only burns brighter around Ethan, as though it wants to light up the worlds. I’m mesmerized by its beauty, power, and vitality.
Without looking away, I pat Jihun somewhere in the vicinity of his shoulder, signaling for him to release my arm. I take a step closer to Ethan and extend my hand toward him, half expecting to snatch it away from the heat. But the fire is warm against the tips of my fingers. I gingerly sink my hand into the fire and watch the flames swirl around it. I laugh softly, twisting my hand this way and that, and I feel the contented hum of my Yeoiju in my chest.
But when the green fire snakes up my arm, I snatch my hand away and stumble back, bumping into the wall of Jihun’s chest. He wraps his hands around my upper arms in a firm, steadying grip.
“Are you okay?” he asks in a voice laced with concern.
“I’m fine.” I glance over my shoulder to smile wanly at him. “Nothing bad, just ... surprising.”
“My prince?” Jihun steps into Ethan’s line of sight, and his eyes focus as he comes back from where his thoughts had wandered. “Are you well?”
“I ...” Ethan chuckles dazedly. “I actually feel great.”
“We should hurry, though.” I look up into the dark sky. The stars are blinking out, and clouds as black as smoke swirl around the moon, snapping at its edges. “Looks like the Kingdom of Mountains takes their nighttime seriously. When midnight hits, we won’t be able to see our own hands in front of our faces.”
We pick up our pace and head deeper into the woods. I glance down at my palm, remembering the green life force wrapping around it like climbing vines. My pulse quickens in a frantic crescendo, and I shove my hand behind my back. When my heart rate returns to normal, I think logically about what happened. The gi of Mountains recognizes Ethan as the true heir of the Kingdom of Mountains—the King Foretold. I get that part. But ... what does it want with me?
“Is this where the cave is?” Jihun asks as we approach an alcove in the woods.
“Uh ... yeah.” I focus on the present and scan our surroundings. “Over there. The entrance is behind those trees.”
The cave will house the three of us comfortably and keep us from freezing in the night. And the ceiling is high enough for Ethan and Jihun to stand upright without bumping their heads, which is a plus. I don’t want either of them concussed before we infiltrate the Shinsi Palace.
I open my mouth to volunteer for the first watch, but Ethan beats me to it.
“Fine,” I say ungraciously, crinkling my nose at him. He needs the rest more than me. Being back in the Kingdom of Mountains must be a lot for him to process. And if the acupuncture stunt goes south, he’ll be the one facing the tyrant. “You better wake me up for the second watch.”
Jihun remains quiet, not volunteering for the third watch, which means he plans on staying up all night. I’m both grateful for his strength and support as well as annoyed. I wish he would get some rest too.
I drop my bojagi of supplies next to the back wall and lie down on the dirt ground, using the bundle as a pillow. I’m exhausted, and my eyes slide closed even as Ethan and Jihun murmur softly to each other, preparing to take their watch. I think I feel a warm robe being gently draped over me, but I’m too far gone to be sure.
You Love Her
The night in the Kingdom of Mountains is different from in the Kingdom of Sky. It’s black, heavy ... suffocating. The darkness in the Kingdom of Sky merely shrouds what is there. But the darkness here seems ravenous to swallow all that is there. I shudder as goose bumps spread down my arms.
My eyes instinctively seek out Sunny. She’s sleeping near the mouth of the cave, huddled beneath my outer robe. In the faint moonlight, she looks so small and delicate. She would kick my ass if I ever called herdelicate. I tuck my chin to hide my adoring smile.
“You must be cold,” Jihun says, misunderstanding my shiver. “But we cannot risk building a fire. Forgive me, my prince.”
“Forgive you? Why?” I smirk at him. “Is the chilly night your doing? Can you control the weather?”
A corner of his mouth slants up for a split second before it flattens. That counts as a smile where Jihun is concerned. I huff a silent laugh and glance up at the sky. We still have hours until dawn. I’m taking first watch, but my obstinate royal guard refuses to sleep. We sit in companionable silence for a while, keeping an eye on the dark woods beyond.
I break the silence. “How did you and Ben become bonded brothers?”
Jihun is quiet for so long I don’t think he’s going to answer.
“My mother, Ben’s mother, and the Queen of Mountains grew up together. They were inseparable as girls, and their friendship only strengthened as they reached adulthood.” He draws his knees up andrests his forearms on them. “When the queen married the King of Mountains, Ben’s mother accompanied her as her lady-in-waiting.”
