Thief of Twilight

Part Two: Chapter 61

It's been a few days since Yohan started staying at the temple when I leave. But I can tell he leaves sometime during the day and returns with food for us to share for dinner.

"Are you going to stay at the temple again?" I slipped on my straw sandals.

"Yes." he wrapped his arms around me. "I will be here when you return."

I felt his lips on my neck. "S-Stop." I playfully pushed him back.

"Why?" taking my wrist, he kissed the back of my palm.

"You're trying to stall me again." I pried myself free from his grip.

"I am doing no such thing."

"Uh-huh. Sure." brushing my hands against my skirt, I adjusted the band around my waist. "I'll be back around sunset."

Yohan took my hand and kissed my fingers. "I'll be waiting."

I took my hand from him before kissing his cheek. After waving goodbye, I walked through the door to So-hee's farm. The sun was shining and the sound of footsteps trudging through the dirt met my ears.

It's such a lovely day.

Maybe I should buy some fruit on my way back to the temple.

___

The emperor waited until Zurine's footsteps had disappeared before transforming into a wolf. He stretched out his limbs before laying on the floor. His gold eyes focused on the door in front of him. The past few days, during the time of Zurine's absence, he would hear the footsteps of an unknown man wandering around the temple. To his knowledge, there was no one who would dare to come near the temple because everyone believes Zurine is under a great lord's protection. While it is true, she is protected, the only discrepancy is that she is under the royal protection of the emperor.
But no one is aware of that.

Emperor Kang huffed.

Rolling onto his side, he continued to wait patiently. His ears twitched just before the temple door slowly swung open. The emperor knew it was only a matter of time. He slowly rose from the floor to retreat into the shadows.

A man wearing black crept inside. He quietly closed the door behind him and then walked to the table against the wall. He peered up at the portrait of the unknown god. With a smirk, he looked down at the table. He marveled at the selection of fruit that was, or so he thought, for the taking. Snatching a peach from the bowl, he held it to his lips and took a bite. His lips curled into a smile as he took another bite. He had never tasted such a sweet peach ever in his life. After finishing the fruit, he tossed the pit to the floor.

The emperor growled as he crept out from the shadows.

The man spun around and placed a hand on the knife at his side. He chuckled to himself when he saw what he thought was a simple wolf who had taken sanctuary in such a place.

The emperor pinned back his ears.

"A wolf? Is that who is guarding the temple? A mere wolf?" the man chuckled.

Emperor Kang pulled back his lips, revealing his pearly fangs.

The man shrunk into himself as he took in the size of the wolf before him. "Y-You...are a wolf de-demon..."

The emperor gave a deep growl from the back of his throat.

"A wolf demon!" just as the man turned and burst through the temple door, the emperor raced after him. He chased the man up the main road. Many of the villagers fled, seeking shelter in the shops and behind vendors' stalls.