Nine Tailed (Realm of Four Kingdoms, #1)

by Jayci Lee

All she wanted was to be human.

She only had to hide that she was a gumiho, a nine-tailed fox spirit, for one hundred days . . . then she would become human.

Since when do I notice people’s hair? Since this man walked back into my life. I swallow and shift in my seat. I don’t understand my reaction to him. My body feels like . . . like a live wire. It’s strange but not unpleasant.

The good thing about being a nomadic loner who gives zero fucks is that I can do whatever the hell I want, when I want. No excuses necessary.

“I’ll always choose to be with you, Sunny.” He reaches across the small gap between us and links his pinky with mine. Like a promise. “There is no other choice for me.”

“You’re going to be the death of me.”

“I’ll travel to hell and back for even a glimmer of hope of winning you back,” Ethan whispers huskily.

At long last, I fully appreciate the beauty and power of this body. My gumiho isn’t a monster I have to keep leashed. She’s a warrior—a guardian. Mihwa was right. We are glorious.

I’ve fallen in love with him. It’s stupid, but it’s true. I love him. It’s not an infatuation or a fleeting crush. It’s not loneliness or horniness. It is passion, friendship, longing, and affection. It’s tender and ardent, terrifying and comforting. It is all those things, all at once. It’s a confusing mess that makes more sense than anything else in the worlds. It’s . . . love, true and everlasting.

And what is love? Love is hope. What is hope? Hope is life. What is life? Life is light.

“I love you, Sunny. All of you. No prophecy can change that. Nothing can ever make me hurt you.”

I never imagined I could ever love someone and be loved in return. I never knew a love like this even existed. And it guts me that our love cannot be. I can never accept his love or reveal my love to him. Because if I can’t outrun destiny, then I intend to fight it.

“Love is fleeting, Ethan,” I lie woodenly. “I’ve lived a hundred thirty-two years. I would know.” “Let me love you for a thousand years and prove you wrong,”

“Promise me you’ll stop this nonsense about loving me.” “You might as well tell me to stop breathing.”

Love makes fools of us all.