Page 85 of King Foretold
“Jang Sanggung, I will not let your sacrifice be in vain,” Ethan says in a rough rasp. “I will serve the people of the Kingdom of Mountains with honor, integrity, and compassion. I swear to you.”
“Ethan.” I hold back a sob and rub my hand down his arm. “She’s gone.”
He nods, taking a shuddering breath, then passes a gentle hand over Jang Sanggung’s unseeing eyes to close them for the final time.
“You are so moved by the loss of a worthless life,” the old king murmurs as he nonchalantly plucks out my acupuncture needles from his torso. “I cannot decide if it is touching ... or nauseating. Your mother was a pathetic bleeding heart like you.”
The royal guards flanking him stumble back in alarm, even though he’s restrained under the silvery net. The tyrant can’t break free. Still, goose bumps spread down my arms at the sound of his chilling voice.
Ethan moves so fast that I barely stop him from reaching through the net and wrapping a hand around his father’s throat. He strains against my hold, and I tighten my arms around his waist.
“I willkillyou,” he snarls.
“Well, that did not take long.” His father smirks and continues in an insufferably snide tone, “So much forreasoningwith me toavoidbloodshed. You are much too eager to spill my blood.”
“He’s baiting you,” Jihun warns. “He wants you to breach the net because he can’t touch you otherwise.”
“This isn’t you, Ethan,” I whisper, pressing myself against his back. “He isn’t worth it. Think of your people.”
Little by little, the tension seeps out of his body. After a deep breath, he lightly pats my hand. “You can let go now, Sunny.”
When I drop my arms from his waist, he tugs me close to his side and laces his fingers through mine. Then he nods at Jihun and Captain Ha. “Captains, secure him in the dungeon. Let no one approach him. I will deal with him when I’m ready.”
“You won’t last a day on the throne,” the tyrant seethes even as he’s dragged away. “My generals will remain loyal to me. They will come for you.”
“Jihun, does that net come with a matching muzzle?” I mutter.
“Iwill come for you, boy. And your pretty pet will be the first thing I kill.Slowly.I will enjoy watching you suffer—”
Before Ethan can lunge for him again, Jihun aims his palm at the old king, abruptly cutting off his words. The tyrant grabs his throat with both hands, his eyes bulging. Growling through gritted teeth, Jihun closes his fist, gagging him with invisible binds.
“Gods, he’s powerful,” Jihun pants. “But that should keep him quiet until we lock him up.”
“I’ll take that.” I glance at Ethan’s shuttered face before turning back to Jihun. “Thank you, and be careful. I wouldn’t let my guard down around him if I were you.”
“I appreciate your concern.” Jihun arches a cocky brow at me, humor twinkling in his eyes. “But like you said, I’mokayat what I do.”
I give Jihun the middle finger, the vise around my heart relaxing at this hint of normalcy. But I cringe when Captain Ha frowns in confusion at his side. I quickly morph my hand into a friendly wave, but the captain’s frown grows even more confused. Wait, do shinbiins wave at each other?
“Please lead the way, Captain Ha.” Jihun saves me from further awkwardness, but his lips twitch in amusement.
“Of course.” The captain turns to the royal guards. “You two, take Jang Sanggung to her assistant court lady so she can prepare her body for a proper burial. The rest of you, guard the king with your life.”
“Yes, Captain,” they answer as one.
The king’s chambers grow quiet. The remaining guards form a wide half circle around Ethan and me and turn their backs to give us privacy. I bring Ethan to a semi-intact corner of the chambers, away from the blood staining the floor, and tug on his hand until he sits down next to me.
Miraculously, I spot an unbroken teapot on a low table. Shifting on my ass, I reach for the pot and pour some fragrant tea on my apron. I pick up one of Ethan’s hands and wipe the blood from it, then I clean his other hand. He believes his hands will always be covered with the blood of those who sacrificed their lives for him. He doesn’t need literal blood on them.
I wipe my own hands clean, then pull the apron over my head and throw it to the side. Without a word, I climb onto his lap and nestle against him, wrapping my arms around his neck. He gathers me close and presses his cheek against mine. A sigh tumbles out of him, like he’s been holding his breath. I drop one hand from around his neck and press it against his chest. I close my eyes as I feel the reassuring thump of his heart against my palm.
“We’re here. We’re alive,” I whisper against the warm skin at his neck. “We get one more chance to hold each other. I’m counting today as a win.”
“Gods, I love you.” His arms tighten around me. “I don’t know what I did to deserve you, but I’m never letting you go.”
“My best guess is that you’ve lived a life of debauchery.” I quip, even though I am swooning inside like a total dork. “I’m your penance for all your sins.”
He chuckles, and his breath ruffles my hair. I shiver against him with a quick indrawn breath, and his laughter fades. He shifts under me, his fingers flexing against my waist. I’m tempted to kiss him even if the guards perish from embarrassment, and I have a feeling Ethan wouldn’t mind. But evenIknow making out in front of his royal guards isn’t the best way to kick off his reign as the King of Mountains.
