“What are you doing?” Yongwang screeches and lurches toward Sunny with his hands curled into claws.
“You,” I snarl as I summon my golden axe and silver axe and stand in the way of the enraged god of Water. “You stay where you are.”
“You think you can stop me.” Yongwang cackles, hysteria dripping from the sound. “I am agod.”
“AndIam the King Foretold.” This is not a fight I can win, but I’ll buy her as much time as I can. “Fate stands with me.”
I gather my magic inside me, praying it will be enough for what I’m about to do. Infusing all of my life force into a single stream, I blast it at Yongwang, hitting him in the chest.
The god of Water grunts and stumbles back two steps, the whites around his eyes a testament to his shock. But it is only shock—even all of my magic didn’t do substantial damage to the powerful god—and it will wear off all too soon.
I have to buy her more time.
With the last dregs of my life force, I shoot out my hand and project a protective shield over Sunny and Yeomla. I fall to my knees. The dome barely covers them, and I don’t know how long it will hold. But they won’t survive another interruption.
They need more time.
My chest heaves for air, but I keep the dome over them. I groan and plant one hand on the ground, my raised arm shaking. Still, I shield them.
Roaring with murderous rage, Yongwang shifts into his dragon form. Before I can react, he wraps his serpentine body around me. How could I have thought he looked anything like Draco? The god of Water’s merciless eyes narrow into slits as he squeezes the life out of me.
Fuck. The shield is down.
“Did I make you angry, Dragon King?” I goad to hold his attention. “Did my magic hurt you? You should’ve seen the look on your face. I had a feeling you were the weakest god.”
“I will teach you to respect the gods, little king,” he hisses and coils his body tighter around me.
My ribs crack under the pressure, but I don’t make a sound.
That’s right, fucker. Look right at me. Don’t turn around.
“Don’t trouble yourself,” Sunny murmurs, and my gaze shoots toward her. “My husband already respects me, and I am the only god he needs to respect.”
Even as the dragon crushes the life out of me, I fight to focus on Sunny. Her long black hair falls like silk down her back as she lays Yeomla gently on the ground. When she rises to her feet, palpable power shimmers around her.
My wife.She is glorious.
I’m running out of air fast. My head swims, and my eyelids droop. At least she will be the last thing I see.
“You should be dead,gumiho.” The dragon’s voice rumbles with menace. “I stopped Yeomla before he gave all his life force to you.”
“I thought you knew.” Sunny cocks her hip to one side and holds her palm out toward Yongwang. “I don’t need any of you togiveme your life force. I cantakewhat I want.”
White fire flares in her eyes, and the dragon screeches and writhes in the air. Yongwang loses his grip on me, and I crash to the ground with a thump. I wheeze, the wind knocked out of me. I fight for much-needed air, my feet kicking in the dirt. After a long second, I suck in a heaving breath, past the pain in my ribs, then another. My vision finally clears, and I struggle to my knees.
Sunny is pointing both palms toward the god of Water, a growl wrenching past her gritted teeth. Her entire body glows with white light. I raise my hand to shield my eyes.
Color leaches out of the dragon until he looks as faint as a pencil sketch. Then his serpentine body jolts and stiffens.
A vicious smile curves her lips as she wrings the dragon until his keening cry rends the air. Still, she doesn’t stop. The dragon spasms and curls in on himself, and Yongwang shifts back to his human form—his face twisted into a mask of pain.
Sunny closes her fists and lowers her arms at last. And the god of Water crumples to the ground in a heap of broken limbs.
Yet, she continues to ... burn.
Her hair floats around her head like white flames, and the shadow of her nine tails flickers behind her.
“S-Sunny?” I rise unsteadily to my feet, wrapping an arm around my battered ribs, and stumble toward her. “You absorbed Yongwang’s gi. He is mortal now. Y-you can stop now.”
