Chapter Thirty-Eight Sunny
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Sunny
Pale-pink blossoms swirl in a cyclone of wind, creating a pathway that rises above the rooftops of the Celestial Palace. And the Queen of Sky glides up the airy path to stand before the people of the Realm of Four Kingdoms.
“In a union destined by the heavens, the King of the Mountains wed Cho Mihwa today.” Her voice rings out to reach everyone gathered in front of the palace, and disgruntled muttering rises from the crowd.
“This is a blessing for every one of us because the Queen of Mountains bears the Yeoiju, the gift of the Cheon’gwang.
She is our only hope against the Amheuk. ”
Right. No pressure.
The people are not happy with their gumiho queen. And they sure as hell don’t want me to be their “only hope.”
Well, it’s me or nothing, assholes.
I sigh. That was not a very queenly thought.
Ethan’s worried gaze scans my face, and I squeeze his hand with a reassuring smile. His brows furrow, not buying it for a second. I look away first and give a jerky nod to the Queen of Water and the King of Underworld.
“We’re ready,” I say. I am so not ready.
Bora and Taeyoung hold their palms out toward us, and dark smoke and water swirl beneath our feet. I can’t hold back my gasp when the smoke and water sprout into a tall, striped column, lifting us above the palace.
Ethan instinctively pulls me close to his side but slowly releases me once we reach the top. The people can’t see me huddled against him. We must stand before the people as partners.
With a respectful bow toward us—both genuine and for show—the Queen of Sky descends to the ground, scattering the pathway of wind and flowers into the air. The people ooh and ahh at the beautiful display.
We agreed the kings and queens of each kingdom will participate in this pep rally. The people of this realm need to know that we all stand with Ethan, ready to fight against the eternal darkness. And we need them to fight with us.
The Amheuk is stirring, impatient to strike the Kingdom of Sky. I made it angry by blowing it up, and I can sense its growing malice. Our people must hold it at bay while we find the four gods.
“The Queen of Sky, the King of Underworld, and the Queen of Water have bestowed their trust in me to lead this realm. The four kingdoms and their rulers are each formidable in their own right, but we are stronger united,” Ethan proclaims. “We are beings of Mountains, Sky, Water, and Underworld. Each life source is different, but no one source is greater than the other. We must stand as equals. We must stand united.”
That’s my cue.
“Only when we combine each life source does it become something extraordinary.” I speak to the people before me—the same people who shunned me because I am a gumiho.
But they can change for the better when they open their hearts and minds.
I have to believe that. “I am not a shinbiin, but I am a being of the Shingae, just like you. At the core, we are all beings of the Cheon’gwang. ”
The muttering below us sounds generally displeased, which is no surprise. They are too tired and scared to trust pretty words, especially from me. That’s why we came prepared with an extraspecial light show.
I take a step forward on the water-and-smoke platform holding me aloft, five stories above the ground.
Since no one else can see the colors of the gi, we decided that the queens and kings will contribute their gi through a symbol of their life source.
I open my arms wide, and the Yeoiju hums in my chest.
“Mountains,” I rasp in an unsteady voice.
Ethan sends a flurry of emerald green leaves toward me. I collect the leaves into a ball between my hands. With an inhale that pushes my chest out, I absorb it into my heart’s center as the life force of Mountains. The crowd gasps below me, and I bite my cheek to hold back my smirk.
“Water,” I say with more confidence.
Bora shoots a gentle stream of water from the ground, and I gather it in my hands then let it flow into my chest as the gi of Water.
“Underworld.”
Taeyoung, the show-off, hovers a ball of smoking fire in front of me.
I have to admit that performing in front of an enraptured audience is kind of fun.
So I hold the fireball between my hands—it doesn’t burn because I’ve deconstructed the magic already—and spin it in the air.
I wait for the applause to die down before I absorb the gi of Underworld.
“Sky.” I nod at our auntie.
The Queen of Sky blows swirling pink blossoms toward me, fluttering in the wind. The flowers dance to the roar of the giddy audience, then melt straight into my chest as the life force of Sky.
I feel the familiar pulse of the Yeoiju inside me, churning and growing with the green, blue, red, and silver life forces. It pounds against my chest, wanting to be released.
“Together, we become the Cheon’gwang,” I intone and let the white light burst free, my head and arms thrown back.
Everyone is far away enough not to be affected by the light.
It is only a small surge, but it is true and brilliant.
Even so, anyone close might be swept away .
. . except Ethan. I risk a sideways glance at him, and he stands in place with one hand shielding his eyes.
I knew he was powerful enough to withstand the light.
The light fades away, and the gi returns to the four life sources. I straighten, lowering my arms to my sides. There is no gasping, cheering, or clapping from the people. It seems I have awed the Realm of Four Kingdoms into silence.
But when the sea of people falls to their knees, I gasp, pressing my hand against my chest. I shoot a startled look at Ethan, and he reaches for my free hand.
“Long live the King and Queen of the Realm of Four Kingdoms,” someone shouts as the people rise to their feet. Soon, it becomes a booming chant.
I know they are euphoric with hope that the world might not end tomorrow. I know they haven’t truly accepted me. Even so, tears of gratitude sting my eyes. Maybe—someday—they will accept me, and I can stop worrying that I’ll hold Ethan back.
“You’re a star, baby.” His smile crinkles the corners of his eyes.
“Shut up.” I stick my tongue out at him. He kisses me, flicking the tip of his tongue against mine. I squeak and push him away. “Ethan, everyone can see us.”
“And you think someone will object to me kissing my wife?” He arches his brow.
I want to both combust and melt into a puddle. “Think? I?”
Ethan chuckles under his breath and cups my face, the tenderness in his eyes my undoing. “What am I going to do with you?”
I guess I am his undoing too.
“This,” I whisper. “This is exactly what you should do with me.”
He kisses me again, and I don’t push him away this time. I wrap my arms around his neck and deepen the kiss, pushing up to my toes. With a groan, he crushes me against him, and the world narrows until there is only us.
I don’t even bother opening my eyes when my feet hit the ground. Bora and Taeyoung must have brought us back down to the palace courtyard. I don’t want this kiss to end, and Ethan obliges enthusiastically.
“Your Majesties,” Jihun murmurs close to us. “There isn’t much time.”
We finally break apart. But even then, we can’t look away from each other.
“I know.” Ethan blows out a rough breath and steps away from me. “We’re ready to lea—”
“Not yet,” Cheyun says, as the rest of the Sentinels surround us in a half circle. “We bought you a couple of hours.”
“What?” I blink.
“Yes, we have prepared your honeymoon suite,” Minju explains with a shy blush.
“Consider it our wedding present.” Jaeseok grins.
“Oh my gods.” I clap a hand over my mouth, tears stinging my eyes. “Why are you guys so good to me?”
“Because we love you, silly,” Hailey says as though it’s the most obvious thing. But I want to shake her by the shoulders and demand that she say it again. I barely control my manic gratitude.
How am I so lucky?
“Now, come with us.” She tucks her arm into mine. “We have to get you ready for your wedding night.”
I glance at Ethan, and he grins crookedly at me, looking shy and boyish.
“A quick word, Your Majesty.” Jihun pulls Ethan off to the side and gives me an encouraging nod.
Waving inanely at Bora and Taeyoung, I let Hailey, Minju, and Cheyun whisk me away. But I’m too overcome to notice where we’re going until I’m standing in front of a hanok, tucked away behind a picturesque courtyard.
“This way.” Cheyun leads us into the hanok and opens the double sliding doors. “Your honeymoon suite, Your Majesty.”
“Don’t call me that,” I grumble half-heartedly, hesitating outside the room.
My cheeks heat as I take in the “honeymoon suite.” Floating light orbs and soft candlelight cast a warm, muted glow across the room.
And a sizable sleeping mat—with a white, silk comforter and two pillow blocks—lies toward the back of the room.
Pale-pink rose petals are scattered across the comforter, filling the room with their perfume.
“Well, don’t just stand there.” Hailey practically shoves me inside, and Minju giggles next to her.
I consider bolting back outside.
“Your Majesty.” My lady-in-waiting steps forward and bows with her hands folded neatly in front of her. “I am honored to help you get ready for your wedding night.”
“Miok.” I smile, her presence calming my frazzled nerves a tiny bit. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
The doors slide closed behind me, and my friends’ soft laughter quickly fades away. For a split second, I want to yell at them to come back.
“The king will be here for his bride soon,” Miok says gently, but I startle anyway. “Allow me to get you ready.”
I gulp as my eyes dart around the honeymoon suite. It really is lovely, but all I can think is that I’ll be sharing the room with Ethan. I press my hand against my fluttering heart. What is the matter with me? It’s not like we’ve never made love before.
But this will be our first time as husband and wife.