Wicked Fox (Gumiho #1)(92)

“Time like what?” Jihoon didn’t like how the dokkaebi spoke in vague circles.

Junu ignored the question. “It’s important that Yena is here before the next full moon.”

“Maybe Miyoung is better off without her mother around,” Jihoon said.

The dokkaebi’s expression became sharp, like he had judged Jihoon and found him lacking. “Whatever your feelings are about Yena, she protects her child. Everything that woman does is for Miyoung.”

“I don’t care what Yena does.”

“Oh, you care,” Junu said. “You care because you think she took Miyoung away. You think that without Yena’s influence, Miyoung wouldn’t have left you.”

“It’s none of my business if Miyoung chooses her mother over me,” Jihoon said stubbornly.

“Miyoung chose you.” Junu flicked Jihoon in the forehead. “She left for you. She came back for you. And you sit here like a big crybaby because she has the audacity to love the mother that’s always been there her whole life. If anything, you should feel sorry for Yena. You’re the one destroying her daughter.”

“Now you’re definitely not making sense.”

“Do the math. You’ve had Miyoung’s bead in your weak human body for almost a hundred days.” Junu spoke slowly as one would when explaining algebra to a three-year-old. “If Miyoung doesn’t absorb it again and start feeding at the next full moon, she’s going to be in real trouble.”



“She hasn’t been feeding?” Jihoon asked. “If she goes a hundred days without feeding, she’ll die.”

“Ding-dong-daeng! Tell the boy what he’s won!” Junu announced like a variety show emcee, but his showman’s smile didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“Why didn’t she tell me this?”

“I don’t know. Maybe she was trying to protect you from the responsibility of choosing your life over hers.”



“She has no right to make that choice for me.”

Junu chuckled. “You know what? I might not dislike you so much after all.”

“What will happen if Yena suddenly appears again?” Jihoon asked.

“Then I’d find a suit of armor because she’s very likely to come right over and yank that pretty bead out of your chest.”

Jihoon’s hand rubbed against his sternum, which suddenly felt sore. “Why are you doing this? Helping us?”

“Because I’m getting paid.”

Jihoon rolled his eyes.

“If I can give you some unsolicited advice,” Junu said.

“What’s this been all this time?” Jihoon asked sourly.

Junu continued like Jihoon hadn’t interrupted. “I’d run if I were you. What’s the point of sticking around when two gumiho are after you and your only family’s a log.”

Jihoon’s fists came up, wanting to connect with Junu’s perfect jaw.

The dokkaebi danced back, lifting his hands for protection, but he gave a saucy grin that proved he wasn’t that worried about Jihoon’s anger.

“Anyway, you can’t say I didn’t warn you.” Junu slipped out the front door, leaving Jihoon alone with his futile anger.





59





MIYOUNG WALKED THROUGH the apartment. Her body so cold she couldn’t stop shivering.

She heard water flowing somewhere. Nausea churned through her.

At the end of the hallway, her mother laid in a heap. Miyoung ran to her. Yena’s face was twisted in frozen pain, but Miyoung could see she was still breathing.

“Mother?” Miyoung shook Yena’s shoulder. No response.

Drops of water fell on her mother’s face. Miyoung wiped them away, but they were quickly replaced.

Miyoung realized the water came from her. She was soaked, head to toe, her hair dripping water onto the floor in an off-beat tempo.

And behind her, the rush of water intensified, like a waterfall booming against rock.

Miyoung turned toward the sound.

A bright slash of light emanated from the crack under the bathroom door.

She stood, drawn forward.

With every step, her body trembled until her very bones vibrated with trepidation.

She gripped the knob to the bathroom door but couldn’t bring herself to turn it.

A hand covered hers, warming her frozen fingers until her shaking subsided. A red thread connected their wrists.

She looked up into Jihoon’s eyes.

“Don’t open it,” he said.

“I have to.” She didn’t know how she knew, but she had to go inside and see what was behind the door.

“We’ll open it together, then.”

She nodded.

Jihoon’s hand tightened around hers. The door swung smoothly inward.

At first, she only saw the bright white tiles and gleaming chrome fixtures. The bathtub spigot was on, flooding the room. The water raced toward the drain in the middle of the floor, but it wasn’t enough to stop the water from pooling into an artificial lake.

Jihoon walked to the tub, his legs creating ripples in the water.

“Miyoung-ah.” Her name echoed in the room.

“What?” She stared at the drain as it created a tiny whirlpool. She broke out in a sweat at the sight of it, afraid the churning water could somehow pull her down as well.