He stood up abruptly, pulling her up with him thanks to the handcuffs, and pinned her against the wall. His grip on her wrist tightened.
Ni-ki leaned in closer, his voice a cold whisper. "You're playing with fire, angel. Don't think for a second tha...
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The year 2022
NI-KI SAT IN THE BACK OF HIS LIMOUSINE, WATCHING THE CITY LIGHTS FLASH BY LIKE GHOSTS IN THE NIGHT. He wasn't from this quaint city but was visiting to look for things to do with his friend.
Ni-ki and his friend Sunoo were kumihos—powerful, fox-like beings from folklore, known for their mystical abilities and often feared or distrusted by humans. Although kumihos were starting to blend into human society, their integration was still a work in progress.
Ni-ki was no stranger to navigating this delicate balance. His family's immense wealth and influence had helped them gain a foothold in the human world, but the undercurrent of prejudice was never far from the surface.
Luxury had always been his world—wealth so deep it bordered on absurdity. He'd grown up in a world of opulence: endless estates, sleek black cars, and lavish dinners in private restaurants that no ordinary person could afford. None of it impressed him anymore.
Sunoo stretched out across the leather seats, engrossed in his phone. "Man, I'm starving," Sunoo groaned. "I need food. Like, now."
"When aren't you hungry?" Ni-ki sighed, feeling the familiar weight of boredom. "I'm craving chicken," he muttered, barely caring where they ended up. To him, food was just another distraction.
"Chicken, huh?" Sunoo brightened, immediately tapping away on his phone. "Okay, let's see... Found one. Lee's Chicken House. Five stars, local, family-owned."
Ni-ki glanced at him, uninterested. Family-owned meant small. Humble. Probably a hole-in-the-wall kind of place. Still, it was something different from the pretentious restaurants he usually visited. Maybe it would be tolerable. "Fine. Whatever."
The limo turned down a quiet street, eventually stopping in front of a small restaurant with a flickering sign that read "Lee's Chicken House." It was unassuming, nestled between two other low-key shops. Not exactly the type of place that would turn heads—but that didn't stop his fans.
Before he even stepped inside, word had somehow spread. By the time he and Sunoo entered, there was a growing crowd outside, all eager to catch a glimpse of him. Inside the restaurant, the peaceful atmosphere began to shift. People whispered, pulling out their phones, snapping pictures. The noise grew louder with every minute.
Ni-ki could feel the familiar surge of irritation rise within him. He hated this. The constant attention. The way people always stared like he was some sort of rare exhibit. All he wanted was to eat in peace.
"Great," he muttered under his breath, catching Sunoo's attention.
Sunoo grinned, completely unbothered. "Guess we're still popular, huh?"
"With this face? Of course," the younger one couldn't help but chuckle.
As they settled in, a young girl with a warm, albeit wary, smile approached them.
