Mine to Keep

Chapter 5

Ryujin's

Her dark eyes are wide and unblinking as she stares at me, and I know exactly what her choice will be. As far as her parents are concerned, she'll be the happiest bride in the world.

She'll put on the best act of her life.

Anger and something else something I don't care to examine closely churns in my gut at the thought. Rationally I understand her hesitation.

I know what I am, what I have done to her. A smart woman would run as fast as she could and Yeji has always been smarter, more perceptive than most.

She's also young. I forget that sometimes. In the comfortable world, few women get married at her age. It's possible that marriage is not something she thought about yet in fact, it's likely, given that she had been in high school when I met her.

Rationally I understand all that but rationality has nothing to do with the savage emotions seething under my skin.

I want to string her up, whip her, and then fuck her until she's raw and begging for mercy until she admits that she's mine, that she can't fucking live without me.

I don't do any of that, though. Instead I smile coolly and wait for her decision.

She inclines her head in a small nod. "All right." Her voice is barely audible. "I'll do it. I'll tell them all about our love affair."

I conceal my satisfaction. "As you wish, my pet. I'll have Bambam set up a secure connection for you."

And leaving her standing there, I walk over to Bambam to discuss the logistics of that specific operation.

I ask Priest to give us an hour before starting the ceremony and then sit down on one of the benches, giving Yeji some privacy to talk to her parents.

Of course, I'm monitoring her conversation through a little bluetooth device in my ear, but she doesn't need to know that.

Leaning back against the wall, I get comfortable and prepare to be entertained.

Her mother picks up on the first ring.

"Hi Mom . . . it's me." Yeji's voice is cheerful and upbeat, practically brimming with excitement. I stifle a smile; she's going to be even better at this than I thought.

"Yeji, honey!" Mommy Hwang's voice is filled with relief. "I'm so glad you called. I tried calling you five times today, but your phone kept going to voicemail. I was about to go over there in person—oh, wait, what number are you calling from?"

"Mom, don't freak out, but I'm not at home, okay?" Yeji's tone is soothing, but I wince internally. I don't know much about normal parents, but I'm pretty sure saying the words 'don't freak out' ensures that they do exactly that.

"What do you mean?" Her mother's voice immediately sharpens. "Where are you?"

Yeji clears her throat. "Um, I'm in Colombia, actually."

"WHAT?" I flinch at the earsplitting shout. "What do you mean, you're in Colombia?"

"Mom, you don't understand, it's great news . . ." And Yeji launches into an explanation of how we had fallen in love on the island, how devastated she had been when she'd thought I was dead and how ecstatic she was to learn that I'm alive.

After she's done, there is only silence on the phone. "Are you telling me that you're with her now?" her mother finally asks, her voice hoarse and strained. "That she came back for you?"

"Yes, exactly." Yeji's tone is jubilant. "Don't you see, Mom? I couldn't really talk to you about any of this before because it was too difficult—because I thought I'd lost her. But now we're together again, and there's something . . . something amazing that I have to tell you."