“But there are lesser dragons in the Mortal Realm,” Jihun says, as though I’m not losing my shit over the whole dragon thing. “The dragon spirits.”
“The dragon spirits?” I clap a hand over my mouth.
I have to stop freaking out. It shouldn’t come as a complete shock that there are dragon spirits when I’m a fox spirit. There are bear spirits and tiger spirits, too, so why not dragon spirits?Because dragons aren’t fucking real.I blow out a long breath. I didn’t even know about the existence of the Realm of Four Kingdoms. There’s a good chance I know nothing.
“Theoretically, there are.” Hailey crosses her arms, worrying her bottom lip. “But we don’t know the location of a single one.”
“Wedidn’tknow.” Jaeseok saunters into the study with a wink at me. I grin at him before I can stop myself.
An impatient grunt emanates from Jihun’s direction. “What do you mean wedidn’tknow?”
“It means I’ve located a dragon spirit. No, let me rephrase that.” Jaeseok twirls his fingers like he’s reeling his words back. “My super secret informant reported thatshelocated a dragon spirit.”
“Where?” Jihun snaps, barely hanging on to his patience.
“Where else?” Jaeseok smirks. “Heaven Lake.”
“In Mount Baekdu?” Hailey’s eyes grow impossibly wide, then a gleeful smile spreads across her face. “That’s sick.”
“You mean there really is a monster in the Cheonji?” I sputter. Like the Loch Ness Monster in Scotland, there is lore in Asia—human lore—that speaks of a monster in the depths of Heaven Lake.
“I don’t think the dragon spirit will take kindly to being called a monster.” Jaeseok pauses to grin with relish. “But yes. The Cheonji Monster isreal.”
“Ooooh.” Hailey claps in delight. As shocked as I am, I have to agree with her sentiment. It’s pretty fucking cool.
“We can’t be sure until we confirm it for ourselves.” Jihun taps his fingers on the table, predictably unimpressed by the wonders of the worlds. “We’ll send a reconnaissance crew—”
“I’ll be your reconnaissance crew.” I push back from the table. I’m one step closer to saving Ethan from certain death. “If the dragon spirit is there, we can’t waste time waiting for your crew to come back and report on their findings. We need to get those scales and forge a sword of light right away.”
“A crew by definition has more than one person.” Hailey glances at Jihun. “I’ll go with her.”
“I guess I’ll have to come along too.” Jaeseok peers at his nails. “My informant won’t speak to anyone but me.”
Jihun’s sigh is heavy enough to sink the floor. “It looks like we’re all going.”
I stare at the three suhoshins with bewildered eyes. “Why are you guys helping me?”
“I think it’s been established that we all like you, Sunny,” Hailey says, and damn it, I feel warm and fuzzy all over. “Besides, it’s our sworn duty to protect the realms. That includes bringing down Daeseong.”
“Among other duties,” Jaeseok murmurs.
Jihun cuts him a warning glance. “We’ll meet back here in thirty minutes.”
“No, we leave now.” My tone brooks no argument.
“Are you sure you want to return to the Mortal Realm dressed like that?” Jihun argues with a swooping wave of his hand, encompassing my fancy hanbok.
I look down at myself and curse. I can’t even run dressed in a hanbok, much less throw down with a dragon spirit.
“Come on, Sunny.” Hailey cocks her head toward the doors. “Let’s get you some sensible clothes.”
“Thank gods.” I follow with hurried steps to keep up with the taller female.
“Thirty minutes,” Jihun calls after us.
“What does he think we’re going to do? Paint our nails?” I roll my eyes. “Is he always this insufferable?”
“Pretty much,” Hailey quips, but she quickly sobers. “And he’s worried.”
