Chapter Forty-Nine Ethan #2
“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 a god.”
“And I am 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 to give me your life force. I can take what 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.”
She doesn’t respond and levitates high off the ground, her eyes burning a fathomless white.
Shit.
She’s losing control of the Yeoiju and the four life forces. They are going to tear her apart unless she absorbs them. What do I do? Panic wipes my mind clean. How do I help her?
“Fuck.” I fist a hand in my hair.
Then, Dangun’s words reverberate through me. Stay by her side and help her through it. Anchor her with all your heart.
Sunny will be okay. A stoic calm spreads through me. I will anchor her. I will become her anchor.
No matter what it takes.
I retreat a few steps, then take a running leap into the air and grab her by her hips. Every part of me that comes into contact with her burns, but I ignore everything but saving her.
I let gravity do its job and pull us down. Before we hit the ground, I pivot to take the brunt of the impact. Then I immediately roll over and pin her down with my body.
“Sunny.” My voice breaks, seeing her white, unseeing eyes. “Remember not to hold on too tight.”
Her head thrashes on the ground, and her back arches even with my weight on top of her.
“Please, Sunny.” I cup her pale cheek. “Expand your Yeoiju.”
Why is she cold? Her skin doesn’t burn me anymore. Something’s wrong. Very wrong.
“Open your heart.” I don’t know if she can hear me. “Embrace the divine gi of Underworld and Water like you did with Sky and Mountains. Make them a part of you.”
Her lips move, but no sound comes out, and spit dribbles down from the corner of her mouth.
“Listen to me,” I yell in a ravaged voice. I stop and take a shuddering breath. “Listen, Sunny. Let the divine life forces flow through you and the Yeoiju. Just like your father taught you. You can do this. Please.”
“It . . . hurts . . .” Her eyes finally meet mine, white fire glowing like amber in her irises.
“I know, baby. Just hang on a little longer.” I drop a kiss on her forehead. “You’re so strong. You’re already starting to control it. I can see it in your eyes.”
She moans, shuddering beneath me. I want to scream and wail. I hate seeing her hurt, but I can only hold her—anchor her. After an eternity, her body goes soft, and her head lolls to the side with a sigh of relief.
With a wavering breath, I push up onto my arms and struggle to a seat. Then I get Sunny off the hard ground and lift her onto my lap. She wordlessly burrows against me, her breath warming my collarbone.
“Hey there,” I croak.
“Hi,” she whispers.
“You did good, baby.” I struggle to swallow. “You did real good.”
Hwanin bursts into the courtyard and stumbles to a stop. “Yongwang, what have you done?”
The former god of Water curls into a ball on the ground, sobbing pathetically. After a disappointed glance at Yongwang, Hwanin rushes over to Yeomla.
“It’s good to see you one last time, old friend.” Yeomla smiles wanly, his teeth coated with blood.
“Is this truly goodbye then?” Hwanin whispers.
“I believe so. Then again, I am not familiar with mortality.” His chuckle turns into a sputtering cough. “But I am at peace at last. I don’t know if I deserve it, though.”
“Do not worry.” Determination hardens Hwanin’s face. “I will set everything right.”
“Can you?” the dying god of Underworld asks, a tear seeping out the corner of one eye.
“I will die trying,” Hwanin vows.
“Ethan.” Sunny buries her head against my chest. “I’m so tired. So much death, so much loss. I want it all to end. I want to end it all.”
“And you will.” I run my hand down her hair, as Hwanin closes Yeomla’s lifeless eyes. “Is Sunny ready to face the Amheuk, Lord Hwanin?”
He opens and closes his mouth, then tries again. “Perhaps she—”
The screams of countless people rise in an earsplitting roar, drowning out Hwanin’s words.
We are out of time.