“We’re on our way to meet her now.” Jihun sighs. He might as well serenade me. It’s the sound of resignation. I’m going back to the Mortal Realm with him. “And if we ask nicely, she’ll tell us what she knows. No drastic measures necessary.”
“But where’s the fun in that?” I widen my eyes innocently. He looks at me with a slight groove between his eyebrows, like he can’t tell whether I’m kidding.
“Wait a minute.” I grab hold of his sleeve again. “I thought we have an audience with the council.”
“The council has postponed the audience,” Jihun clips out, obviously displeased.
“Why?” I’m more confused than worried.
“Because they enjoy parading their power.” Anger sharpens his features. “As long as they stall the audience, they can legitimately withhold granting you amnesty.”
“Well, that’s not very nice.” I purse my lips. “Does that mean I have to watch my back? Are they going to try to off me?”
“To off you?” He looks so befuddled that I want to laugh.
“You know.” I drag a finger across my neck, clicking my tongue at the end. “Kill me.”
“You’re not as funny as you think.” Jihun presses his lips into a stern line.
“We both know I’m hella funny.” I’m giddy that I’m finally making progress. We’re about to get some answers.Hold on, Ethan. I’m coming.
“The council won’t do anything rash,” Jihun continues, without acknowledging my excellent sense of humor. “General Bak is my great-uncle.Offing youwould mean declaring war against my family.”
“I see the resemblance.” I nod slowly. “The crotchety gene must run strong in your family.”
“The postponement is just an inconvenience,” Jihun says, sounding decidedly crotchety. “But until you are officially accepted as a cadet, you cannot leave the Kingdom of Sky.”
“What?” I blurt, my bubble of happiness bursting. “For how long?”
“It wouldn’t make sense to delay the audience for longer than a few days.” His distaste for the council’s games is palpable. “If they hold off much longer, their power display would become redundant.”
“Sure,” I drawl, my voice as dry as a well-done steak. “It’s okay for them to be dicks, but they wouldn’t want to beredundant.”
The corners of his mouth quiver. “We’ll just have to make good use of our time until then.”
HIS ROYAL GUARD
I sense the danger even before I feel the breeze from the open door. My brother is coming later in the evening, but this isn’t him. Thank gods it isn’t him. He has less than two weeks until his coming of age—the time I’ve been desperately waiting for ... the time he’ll become powerful enough to fulfill his destiny.
It would be easy to dodge the dagger. Even outside the Realm of Four Kingdoms, I remain a shinbiin with strength and speed unknown to humankind. But that is exactly why I do not move away from my desk. The undead isn’t here for me or my brother.
He approaches me as though I’m human, not bothering to stay silent or hidden. My magic fights to flare, but I bury it deep inside me. The assassin doesn’t know who I am. He doesn’t know who I serve. And it has to remain that way.
I continue flipping through my folder, then stack it neatly on top of my other files rather than locking it away in my drawer. He will find her. She will help him. My friend ... my love ... the beautiful, broken female, who is good and kind to her core.
My heart clenches in my chest. I do not fear death. I would lay down my life for my brother a thousand times if I could. I only mourn the fact that I will not be able to witness his ascent. But enough selfish indulgence. My duty is not to bask in his triumphbut to protect him until he comes into his power. Only two weeks left ... This final act is the best way I can serve him.
“Do not do this,” my bonded brother speaks in my mind, his words a desperate plea. “Find another way.”
“There is no other way,” I tell him. “I can die with my eyes closed, knowing you will be there for him.”
“NO.”
The dagger flies through the air and nicks my ear. It feels as light as wind brushing past my head, but I know it’s enough to kill me. Not as quickly as I have to pretend for the ruse to work, but quickly enough. I stagger to my feet and stumble to the front of my desk. I let my limbs go limp, crumple to the floor, and slow my breathing.
Evil chimes through the assassin’s soft chuckle. “Come out and play, little fox.”
With a chill, I realize my mistake. Fixated on keeping my brother hidden, I didn’t consider why the undead came here. There wasn’t enough time to think about anything else but protecting him. Now he is going to lead the assassin straight to her.
