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Tobias stared into her face with immense amusement, his hand supporting his cheek. “When you butchered Ina Yoo, it freed your ex-husband from the curse. Although I was not particularly happy about that, seeing as I got nothing in return, I still abetted you when her alpha husband attempted to get in the way. You are not doubting me now, are you?” His words seemed to mean many things to Sora, but she chose which of them she should refer to in order to stay out of trouble.
“No … but Gray—” Sora’s voice broke as she recalled pulling the trigger. The memory flashed, white hot before her eyes.
Tobias didn’t take his eyes off her, and Sora felt them cutting into her heart and soul, as if searching her thoughts. She didn’t understand why he needed to make every conversation they had this intense.
“For a hunter not born here, you have killed so many others. That young seven-year-old boy who just discovered his inner lycanthrope, Willa Simmons, the rest of the Yoo family. Must I name them all?” he snickered. “You are not feeling bad now, are you? The Yoo boy was supposed to die. He was either going to drown himself or get tragically murdered by one of his pack members. He was very much on his way out, my luv. Besides, it’s not like the boy is staying dead.”
Sora looked away. Her mind spun through all the possibilities about what the man’s big plan was. Nothing was ever simple with him. “What happens to Aera when he comes back?”
“Nothing. Your daughter is free, and she will remain free from the curse.” He paused, a wicked grin growing on his face as if something preposterous had just crossed his mind.
Sora observed him, tried to read his thoughts. That look in his eyes, lustful and evil, was not because he wanted to plant fear inside her heart. He’d always been like that. It was his religion. Still, it was difficult for her to read anything else in his expression beyond the base level of foul intent.
“As long as the cousin doesn’t wish his anchor back as a werewolf,” he said with a shrug, “we won’t have a problem.”
Sora stirred in her seat, feeling as if she was leaning on a weak wall. She was barely keeping her head above water in the conversation.
What she really needed was assurance. Stability. Something she could trust.
“Wouldn’t you know about it already?” she said, hands balled into fists.
Tobias frowned at her before rising on his feet. He walked slowly to his mini bar where he had varying brands of champagnes and snagged one. He’d drain a bottle every time he sensed his emotions changing.
Sora couldn’t figure out which mood was changing to which.
Feeling his silence burning her on the inside, Sora’s body vibrated.
As if he could see her flinch just from the changing air in the room, Tobias released a hysterical laugh. He soon returned and sat back on the accent chair, holding a glass ofArmand de Brignac. Sniffing and savoring the particular drink seemed to ease his irritability.
Sora wasn’t even the one drinking, and yet she was the one feeling tingly, like her limbs were falling asleep. She attempted to hide her jitters under her composed manner and a stern look, her usual defense, but she couldn’t fool Tobias. He could hear her heartbeat and see through her.
He knew everything.
Tobias chuckled lightly. “I know how this all works. After all, I was the one who created the curse.”
“Then what’s going to happen to Cole when he seals a deal with you?”
Tobias tapped his fingers on the armchair while holding the wine glass in his other hand. Then, he lit up a cigarette from his pocket and took a long breath in.
“Sora Song, you ask too many questions. What did I tell you about crossing the line? You are merely a hunter. You do not have to fret about the boys,” he said. “They aremyfamily. Not yours. It’s up to me what I do with them. Sora, have you already forgotten how I killed and sacrificed Gray’s father—one of the strongest descendants I have—foryou,before I could consume his soul? Is that not enough reason for you to trust me?”
It wasn’t. Sora still questioned him. This wasn’t because she was clueless. Her great-great grandmother had already warned her about TobiasYooRamsbury.
According to the old lady, long before Old Corvine was even discovered, Tobias fed on souls. But for him, it wasn’t just any soul that did the trick. He hungered for something more, evidenced by that fire in his eyes. Hisownfamily’s souls were what he fed on most—his children, wives, sisters, brothers, parents, and anyone from his bloodline. He’d watched their bodies become soulless to the point of disintegration, all to keep his youthful skin and assure he’d live eternally.
The issue was that this immortality would only work after the soul’s owner gave him consent and sealed a deal with him. Some had five or ten years to spare before Tobias could devour them. Others didn’t even have a year, depending on what kind of deal had been made.
Looking at Tobias now, Sora wondered why he had to do such a thing when he could’ve easily shapeshifted into someone else. It seemed like his ability to shapeshift worked differently if he wanted, specifically, a younger version of the face he was born with.
Sora wasn’t quite sure herself. Tobias was a difficult man to read. And the technicalities of this whole magic thing really were just hearsay passed down from past generations of her family. She needed more answers from the man.
“I didn’t mean to—” Sora tried to explain, but Tobias held a hand up in the air.
His eyes darted toward the front door as he sensed another being’s presence. “That must be the Kimbrough kid,” he said knowingly, averting Sora’s distrustful gaze. “Do you mind giving us the space, luv?”
Sora didn’t stall. She nodded immediately and scurried to the back door.
She managed to escape without getting caught by the visitor, but not before Tobias mysteriously invaded her mind and said, “A job well done, luv. Now, just fret about what your daughter will think of you or how far she’d actually go for a mere boy you’d just killed. Even if I bring the dead back to life, what’s broken will always be broken. Nothing will ever be the same again.”His voice echoed in her head, creeping over her like a tenacious curse. Sora’s mouth ran dry as she dreaded what this could mean.
Real chaos hasn’t even started yet.
First of all, this book is based on an unfinished story that I wrote a few years ago while I was still in nursing school. Aera and Gray were only supporting characters, but I loved them so much that I decided to write a story about them instead. Sorry Keith and Cole (the story was mainly about them before)! Anyways, I am grateful for everyone who gave me encouragement, advice, and all the help I needed to publish this book.
A million thanks to my editorial and production team: Max Dobson and Cass Kim. To the most talented comic artist I know, Ellen May. And to the greatest book cover artist and character header illustrator I could ever ask for, Raika NZ.
To everyone who have been a part of me getting there, from the first to the final draft—for helping me develop my characters and plot: Erin Bledsoe and Ellie Race, and my beta readers: Ana Rosa Genobisa, Leslei Catayas, Janica Tan, Irene Kengen, Brittany, Danny Rae, Paige, Lewis, Emily, Jo, Danadel, Amanda, Paige, Louise, Brenna, Maddy, Bianca, Mason M., and Samantha.
Of course, thanks to Mom and Dad, my boyfriend Justin, my brother Chris, my babies/pets (Howli, Zion, Rambo), Sanchi, and the rest of my family—for being there for me. I am eternally grateful to all of you.
Aja aja, fighting!
