The Voice: A Sequel to Hwarang: The Saga of the Sooks Book #1

Chapter 26: Fears, Fiction, and Facts

Eun Sook spent an hour pacing the floor of his bedchamber. She wanted to confront him. She was afraid to confront him. She feared asking him for his real identity. But why?

Because if she found out that he was the king, then she would have to face the truth that she could never be with him. Not as anything other than his concubine. If he were a normal man, he would suffer enough ridicule once word leaked that he was interested in an albino. But the scrutiny a king fell under would make a relationship with her unbearable for him.

No wonder he had hidden her away in his rooms. He clearly didn't want anyone to know about her. He must be ashamed of her. But he didn't want to admit such a thing to her.

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It was extremely late when he returned. He found her asleep in his bed. His heart sank in disappointment. He'd wanted to see her tonight. To talk to her. To kiss her. And hold her.

He climbed into bed and reached for her. Sliding his arm under her head and tugging her close.

"I love you, Sookie. I'm sorry I didn't return sooner. I tried. I just couldn't get away. Today was such a mess with the men who breached the palace defenses." He heaved a deep sigh. "Tomorrow should be better."

But it wasn't.

He was gone when she arose, and he didn't return until midnight. Only to find her sound asleep again. She didn't hear him when he whispered more words of love to her. She wasn't even aware when he drew her close to his side. And snuggled her all night long.

When she awoke the next morning, she found his side of the bed empty. Again. She sighed in disappointment. He hadn't even spoken to her yesterday.

Further reinforcing her belief that he was embarrassed by her.

She lay in bed and indulged in a good cry before wiping her eyes and dragging herself from bed. She glanced out the window at the gloriously shining sun. And realized that he had broken his promise to her. He'd never taken her outside yesterday. Would he even remember to keep his word today? Or would he not slip in until the moon was riding high in the sky tonight?

She glanced doubtfully at the bed. Had he even returned last night?

She frowned.

Was he avoiding her on purpose? Had she offended him by escaping to the courtyard the other day? Was he punishing her for leaving his rooms without his permission?

She sighed. She knew so little of men. She didn't understand them at all. Her stories were the purest fiction.

She'd dreamed up a hero that appealed to her own desires and needs. But his resemblance to reality was definitely in question. Except that...she had begun to believe he really was Jijin. Oh, maybe not the part about him being king. Though, even that was now a possibility. But she'd been sure that Jijin was overflowing with the qualities of honor and kindness and justice that her fictional king possessed. Only, Jijin had added another important characteristic that she had lacked the imagination to give her dream king....

Extreme tenderness.

Even now, she melted simply at the thought of Jijin's caresses and his gentle kisses. And the beautiful words that had flowed from his mouth.

So she determined that today she would concentrate on those wonderful parts of his character and his kind treatment of her and not think of his sudden desertion and all it could mean.

It was time to work on his story...

Her lips quirked. She was pretty sure it really was his story.