And he believes I am good. He is ... proud of me.
“Father,” I breathe.
I could stay angry with him for all the pain he put me through, but we have both hurt enough already. I want to skip to the good part—the part where I am the beloved daughter of a proud father.
“Will you ... come back to the Realm of Four Kingdoms with me?” I ask haltingly.
“I cannot.” He turns his head away. “If I come with you, I would not be able to stop myself from trying to protect you. No matter how hard I try not to, I would get in the way of your destiny. I cannot do that.” He digs the heel of his hand into his chest. “Not after everything we’ve been through—you, your mother, and I.”
“Is my destiny so important?” I ask with lingering bitterness, even though I understand him. “Then why did Mother tell me to run?”
“While she was pregnant, the Yeoiju showed her the prophecy of the End of Days,” he says, and I stiffen and step back from him. “She wanted you to run from your destiny because she couldn’t bear the thought of you dying at the hands of your fated love. Your mother thought she could protect you by hiding you.”
“W-was she wrong?” I force myself to ask him. “Does the prophecy of the End of Days c-come true?”
Will I become the End of Days? Do I have to die at Ethan’s hands?
“Yes, the prophecy comes true.” Anguish and tenderness war on his face. “I cannot say any more. I fear I might influence your decisions. But be brave, Daughter. Face your destiny head-on.”
“I wish ...” I stare sightlessly down at my hands, then shake my head.
What do I wish?
I don’t wish formeto live, but I desperately wish for Ethan to live. For my friends to live. For the people of the Realm of Four Kingdoms to live. And if I fulfill my destiny, then I get my wish, right?
So that’s what I’ll do.
“I will embrace my destiny, rather than succumb to it.” I pull my shoulders back and glance up at my father. “And I will fulfill it on my own terms.”
“You are so strong.” He squeezes my arms. “I am proud of you.”
The mountain seems to take a shuddering breath, and the chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves flit through the cave again.
“Sunny?” Ethan stares back and forth between me and Dangun. “How are you standing over there?”
I meet my father’s gaze. “Is it time?”
“Yes, Daughter.” His smile is gentle and sad. “You’re going to need your husband for this.”
“I need him for everything.” I hold my hand out, and Ethan takes it without hesitation.
He raises his brows in question.
I shrug. “Yes, Dangun is my father. And we ... worked things out.”
“In the time it took for me to blink?” Ethan asks wryly, accepting my explanation without question. He turns to his father-in-law and says in a much more respectful tone, “Are you sure she will be able to absorb yourgisafely?”
“Yes, I am sure.” Dangun nods.
“But ... you won’t be a god anymore if you do this.” I worry my bottom lip.
“You say that like it is a bad thing.” My father cocks his head as though he truly does not understand the downside of being mortal.
I know there is no other way, but I don’t want him to become mortal. Mortals die—that’s kind of the deal—and the thought of losing another parent wrings my insides raw. If I had my way, everyone I love would never die—at least not until I die first.
I know that’s selfish of me, but it hurts too much. I don’t want to live through that pain again. I ... can’t.You know what?I’ll just have to add Dangun to the list of people I need to protect with my life.
I must defeat the Amheuk.
