“Take another step, and you forfeit your life,” an icy voice says in a crisp British accent from somewhere behind me.
Run, Sunny.
Mygumihopushes against my skin, urging me to shift. But it’s too late. The Shingae has found me. Again.
Chapter Four
Sunny
Like everything she wears, Captain Seo makes mortal clothes look effortlessly chic—even the dungarees she inexplicably donned for this occasion. But my plastic margarita cup slips out of my limp grasp when Minju steps around the captain in a white strapless dress the size of a headband.
I need to sober up to understand the situation—or the dress code at the very least.Wait.What amIwearing? I glance down at myself and slump in relief. I’m wearing a pair of black jeans with a black T-shirt.
I don’t remember changing out of my torn, bloodied clothes from Santorini, but I’m glad I did. I hardly even mind theVegas, baby!emblazoned across my boobs in sparkly gold letters.
Meanwhile, Ford stands like a statue, with his hand still outstretched toward me, but his eyeballs jump back and forth between the two seonnyeos. Even glamoured to dampen their celestial beauty, Captain Seo and Minju are drop-dead gorgeous.
The poor man might have stopped breathing. I squint one eye to check his gi. His colorless life force trickles faintly around him. But that’s normal for humans. He’ll live.
“I was so worried about you, Sunny.” The historian hurtles herself at me and wraps her arms around my waist in a freakishly strong grip.
“I thought I told you to go back to the Realm—” I bite my tongue and shoot a glance at Ford. Based on his expression, he doesn’t hear a word I’m saying, but I still rephrase my accusation to Minju. “I told you to goback.”
“And I told you I’m not leaving until you tell me what happened.” Minju raises her chin.
“Why don’t we continue our conversation somewhere less”—Captain Seo wrinkles her nose—“ripe?”
“Sunny.” Ford regains his faculties and comes to stand beside me. “Who are these people? Are they here to hurt you?”
“I could ask the same of you.” The captain executes a perfect eyebrow arch.
“Stop it,” I say hoarsely. “I would trust all three of you with my life.”
“Even so, we have much to discuss.” Minju sends a curious glance toward Ford. “And we cannot talk in front of your friend.”
“Why not?” my mouth blurts before my mind catches up. But when it does, the answer comes to me like a clap of thunder. If things had gone differently in Santorini, then the Mortal Realm would have been annihilated by the Amheuk. “Why ever the fuck not?”
Once the Amheuk finishes destroying the Realm of Four Kingdoms—I flinch away from the thought, bile rising to my throat—it will come for the Mortal Realm to plunge it into darkness. I dig my nails into my palms to stop my hands from shaking.
Humans need to know about the ancient force of darkness, even if it exposes the Shingae to them. They have the right to defend their world.
I slap my palm against the wall of the building to fight off a dizzy spell.What am I thinking?I don’t give a damn about the Realm of Four Kingdoms. And I don’t care about the Mortal Realm. Even if I cared, getting involved would only make things worse for everybody. Because I can’t be good, no matter how hard I try. What happened in Santorini proves that.
“Sunny.” Ford wraps his arm around my shoulders. “You okay?”
“I’m fine,” I lie, not meeting his gaze.
Minju takes a step toward me, and I glare at her in warning. I can’t let her console me. If I unravel, I won’t be able to put myself together again. After a considering look, she gives me a solemn nod, then turns her attention to Ford.
“Hello, I am Minju,” she says shyly. “What is your name?”
“I’m Ford.” He stares at her for a second too long, then gives his head a sharp shake. “Nice to meet you, Minju.”
“Well,Ford.” Captain Seo crosses her arms over her chest without introducing herself. “Is there somewhere private we can talk?”
“Sunny said she needed to be around a crowd of people.” Ford sticks out his massive chest and narrows his eyes at the captain. Yet she holds the upper hand on the intimidation factor.
“It did make her nearly impossible to track down,” Minju murmurs.
