JONEA"Aland…?" I held my breath as soon as Daran took off his mask.Our faces are so close. For a moment, I lost my mind because the figure I saw right before my eyes was Aland Hamilton, not Daran Carver. How could that be?I couldn't move at all. I'm so scared. I thought that if I breathed, I could lose Aland again. I might miss what I saw before my eyes. I wanted to enjoy Aland's face displayed in front of me for longer.He reached out and stroked my jawbone with his thumb. "Who do you see Jonea?" he whispered.My eyes opened wide, and I reflexively grabbed Daran's hand. I took his hand away from my jaw.I gritted my teeth and hissed. "Daran Carver, your joke wasn't funny at all. How can you change your face to someone else? I don't even know your true face after everything I witnessed."I took two steps back to stay away from Daran. "I'll go in first. You should also immediately change your habit of staying up late every night. Because it is very disturbing."After leaving Daran a
DARAN“What? The seal strengthened and suddenly turned against you?”I nodded to confirm Evangelista’s conclusion.Then she continued, “So, for a moment, when you were about to remove the seal, suddenly the seal had power and controlled Jonea’s consciousness for a few seconds? The seal also turned against you? After that short time, the seal’s strength returned to normal? But how could that happen?”“I kept thinking about that all night too. Since I couldn’t find the answer, I came to you this morning!” I grumbled. “I don’t think Jonea was aware either when her wolf seal took over her consciousness and controlled Jonea to fight me.”Eve’s face turned to regret. “Then how do you feel? I mean, I thought it would be easy, right? You just need to remove the seal and take its power when it awakens. I’ve never seen a case like this. This is the first time.”I was silent for a moment to reflect on the situation that had occurred. When I saw Eve continuing to play with her coffee cup, that’s
JONEAI had just gotten out of class when suddenly Marilyn greeted me with a big smile.“Are you done?”“Well,” I answered, “Last class is over. Are you off from part-time work this afternoon?”“That’s so true. How about we have lunch together?” Marilyn said, putting her arm around my shoulder.I nodded and was about to turn at the end of the hall. On the other hand, someone ran fast and surprised us. His backpack hit my shoulder, and I fell.“Ow!” I groaned.“Hey, asshole!” Marilyn shouted, cursing at the man who had run away after hitting me.“Are you okay?” Hunter, out of nowhere, reached out to me.“Hunter Abraham?” Marilyn hissed, looking displeased when she saw Hunter’s sudden appearance.Hunter’s hand was still extended to me sitting on the floor, but I was too afraid to accept his helping hand. Even though last time Hunter didn’t cause me to lose consciousness because he had a red mark on his forehead, the red mark still haunted me. Even now, when I look at him, the red mark d
JONEAWhen I was about to speak to ask about Aland, suddenly, from behind, I felt someone tap my shoulder. He even leaned in and brought his lips closer to mine to whisper.“You... Why are you here? I looked everywhere for you.”I glanced at the man who was suddenly beside me. I tremble. “O-owen?”“Well, it’s me!” Owen grinned, but his gaze was fixed on Hunter with such sharp eyes.I turned to Hunter. He looked so restless.“Why are you interrupting our lunch?”Owen stood straight and arrogantly said to Hunter, “Annoying, you say?”I knew this wouldn’t end well. I stood up and grabbed Owen’s arm. “Sorry, I forgot to tell you that I can’t go home with you today.”Suddenly, Hunter stood up from his chair and was about to speak, but I cut him off first. “It seems like I can’t continue eating this lunch. I have to go back immediately because I have urgent business.”Without waiting for the two men to talk to each other, I pulled Owen’s hand away from there. We hurried to leave the restaur
JONEA“I have to find out about this before it gets worse. There must be a reason why Hunter tried to approach me. Yes, I will become so unlikeable that he will never want to have anything to do with me again!”Marilyn sighed. “Can’t you just say that you don’t like him and don’t want him to come near you again? Just tell him if you’re uncomfortable!”“What if he thinks I’m selling high? I’ve done that method--being honest with him--a few years ago, remember? And what happened? He remains stubborn and confidently assumes that I also secretly like him!”“Hah!” Marilyn sighed.“I will also remind you again. Both then and now, Hunter is still the idol of girls. Even now, many girls in my department really like him. If I reject Hunter bluntly, he gets hurt and starts bad rumors about me. So, I’ll return to the same hole I was in a few years ago. What if the girls start hating and being hostile to me like before?”“You are right.” Marilyn brushed her bangs in annoyance.I grinned in annoya
JONEA“Let’s go on a date tomorrow!” invited Daran.“What?” I started it; now I’m the surprised one.“Why? Don’t you want a dating simulation? Do you want to practice making that guy--Hunter Abraham, hate you? Let’s do a dating simulation so you can quickly make him sick and stay away from you! Isn’t he the man with the red mark on his forehead? He could endanger your life.”I heard Owen grumble, “This isn’t going to end well. It would be more practical if I just killed him!”Why did he have to kill Hunter? I don’t want to get involved with Hunter, but there’s no need to kill him, right? I just glanced at Owen in annoyance.The next day, I got ready early in the morning. I even put on my makeup for the first time since arriving here. When I was about to leave the room, I stepped back and looked in the mirror.“Fool, why am I wearing lip gloss and blush? I’m just going to do a dating simulation. Besides, my goal isn’t to actually date but to practice making Hunter hate me if we really
JONEAHunter? Why is he here? I panicked because Hunter tried to reach out to touch me.At the same time, Daran grabbed my waist with his muscular arms. He hugged me possessively and tried to keep me away from Hunter’s hands.“It’s dangerous,” Daran whispered.I saw Daran’s eyes staring coldly at Hunter. Daran’s expression this time was entirely beyond my expectations. I couldn’t translate the meaning of that look at all. Daran was so possessive, much more possessive than usual. As if there was danger threatening us.I turned to Hunter, who was standing stiffly behind me. He lowered his hands, and his face turned cold when he saw Daran hugging me. I felt uncomfortable and embarrassed. I tried to remove Daran’s hand from my waist.“Hunter, why are you here?” I asked nervously. The atmosphere suddenly turned tense. For some reason, I felt goosebumps when these two men looked at each other.They’re both... Both handsome.Damn, why am I still thinking about that? I pressed the tip of my t
DARAN“Oh my gosh, it almost killed me. It hurts so much,” muttered Jonea.“Jonea, you might get sick again if you meet that man. Are you okay?”I really want to forbid her from meeting that man. But if I do, I’m afraid it will only make Jonea hate me. Anyway, I can’t lose her now. Only after my goal is achieved.“Of course, I’m worried, too. But you’ve seen for yourself what he’s like, right? He even stroked my head in front of you without being awkward. There’s no point talking to a guy like him. He won’t listen. He is a typical person who will do as he pleases. It’s just like before.”“You... Have you known him for a long time?”Jonea suddenly looked away from me and became awkward. I knew she was hiding something.“I don’t mean that. I just couldn’t avoid him because we studied at the same campus. So, if you don’t mind, I’d like to meet with him to end all this.”I just kept quiet for a few moments. It was easy for me to get rid of that guy. But I respect Jonea’s decision.“I can’
JONEAI was sitting in what felt like endless darkness. No sound except the echo of my own breath, no movement except the shadow of myself fading on a pitch-black floor like cracked glass. I knew it was just a dream, but it felt so real, like a trap I couldn’t escape.Suddenly, a voice broke the silence—cold and familiar.“Jonea,” it called, echoing through the void. “I know you can hear me.”Luke Draken.My body tensed, but I couldn’t see him. Just his voice, flowing with power and certainty.“Surely you’re starting to understand the dragon blood flowing in your veins,” he continued. “You can’t deny it, Jonea. Our bodies were bound long before the red moon rose.”In the dream, I touched my own body. My hand brushed against something that shouldn’t be there—hard, sharp scales covering half of me. I gasped, choking on a sob. What had happened to me?Luke chuckled softly, mocking. “I will live inside you forever,” he said, his voice drawing closer, as if whispering directly into my ear.
JONEAIt seemed like Luke noticed something off about my body. He grinned widely and tossed Hunter to the ground like a rag doll. Then, in a swift move, he picked me up and laid me down on the marble altar.Why? What’s happening to me? My chest felt tight, my whole body burning. I was so thirsty—desperately craving someone’s touch, someone to soothe me.Without realizing it, I started moaning and gasping at the same time. Luke gently lowered me onto the altar, then climbed over me with a calculated ease.“Union,” he whispered. “You’re breaking the seal. And when the crimson moon reaches its peak, your pure blood will be mine!”I couldn’t control my body or my thoughts anymore. Pain surged through me as I let out a scream. My eyes flew open, my head tilting back to stare at the dome’s opening. The full crimson moon stared back.“Ahhh!” I cried out as sharp fangs pushed out of my mouth, piercing my lips.Luke leaned closer, his eyes glowing bright red—the eyes of a dragon. He kissed me,
HUNTERI turned around to see one of the shadow creatures loyal to me in this secret mission. Its black eyes glinted under the moonlight."The werewolf forces are ready," it said shortly.I nodded. "Make sure no one knows the plan until the very last moment."The creature bowed and disappeared into the shadows.My thoughts drifted back to when everything began to fall apart.We used to be an unbeatable group—Beast Four. Me, Aland, Edison, and Elmar. Together, we protected the Sapphire Blue with strength and unbreakable friendship. But the Red Dragons destroyed everything.One by one, my friends fell. Edison and Elmar vanished into the darkness of the shadow world. Jonea, broken and battered, chose to hide. Aland—he was captured by Luke Draken. Back then, I didn’t understand why Luke targeted Aland specifically, my closest and most different friend.I remember that night vividly. Aland was locked in the dragon’s prison, his body covered in wounds. I knew he hated me for joining the Red
MILLERNever in my life did I think I’d witness something like this—a scene straight out of a legend. Standing before me were humans from the shadow hunter ranks, werewolves, lycans, dragons, and even jeverics, creatures that had been at odds for as long as anyone could remember. And yet, here they were, side by side, united by a single purpose: finding Jonea before it was too late.The sky was gloomy that day, heavy gray clouds mirroring the tension hanging over us. From the hilltop, I watched the valley below where thousands of figures had gathered, awaiting final orders before the search began.“All of this… it’s for Jonea,” I murmured to myself.Arabel stood beside me, her sharp eyes scanning the crowd with her usual vigilance. “They understand what’s at stake, Miller,” she said firmly, her voice calm but resolute. “If Jonea falls into the wrong hands, it’s not just her life that’s at risk. The whole world is.”I nodded, swallowing the fear creeping into my chest.On the human sid
DARANI’m losing my mind. There’s no other way to describe how I feel right now. My entire body feels like it’s on fire—an intense mix of anxiety and rage. I’ve been searching for Jonea for days, but there’s no trace of her.I’ve scoured every corner of this island, plunged into shadow realms, and even crossed the borders of the Blue Sapphire lands. It’s like she’s been erased from existence, like the wind leaving a faint trail only to vanish without a trace.“Jonea!” I shout, breaking the silence of the night.But only my own echo answers me.Frustrated, I press on, crossing boundaries I’m not supposed to. I find myself at the edge of the Dragon Valley, the gateway to the Land of the Blue Dragons. This is my last shot. If she’s not here, I don’t know where else to look.I’m furious.“JONEA!” I roar again, my voice echoing off the steep cliffs. My rage is so intense that the plants around me wither and die, drained by the destructive energy radiating from my body.But it’s not Jonea w
JONEAI froze, my heart pounding erratically as Luke’s words sank in.“The last time we met was at a graveyard, right?” he asked, a faint smirk playing on his lips, making my blood boil. “More accurately, I saw you. You knew I was there, but you chose to ignore me.”My eyes widened. A graveyard? I racked my brain, trying to make sense of his words. Only one graveyard stood out in my memory—the one where my parents were buried. The day I stood at the edge of a fresh grave, feeling the world crumble beneath my feet. The day I auctioned off my freedom for something far worse.“So,” I murmured, almost in disbelief, “you were there? Watching me?”Luke’s smirk widened. His face was calm, but his eyes hinted at something much darker.“You looked so fragile that day,” he said, stepping closer. “Just a little girl who’d lost everything. It was… entertaining to watch.”Rage bubbled in my chest, but my body refused to move, as if his presence alone was a chain binding me in place.He reached out
JONEAI stared out the hospital room window from my bed for what felt like the hundredth time. The white blanket covering me felt unbearably heavy—not because of its weight, but because of what lay beneath it. Black, cold, hardened scales covered parts of my body. It felt like I was trapped in an unending nightmare.This was the first time I had absorbed magical energy, and I never imagined the consequences would be this severe. My body, my mind, even my heart—all felt different. Yet, in a strange way, I didn’t regret it. The baby dragons had been saved. They were just like me—alone and scared, facing a ruthless world.Miller stopped by yesterday and explained everything. It turns out Aland brought me here, to this special hospital for hunters. Daran and Aland had a heated argument over where I should be treated. Aland insisted I stay under his watch, while Daran wanted to take me back. In the end, Miller mediated, and this hospital became the compromise.According to Miller, Aland wa
DARANI ran as fast as I could, my body trembling from both exhaustion and panic. The wet sand of the beach made every step heavier, but I didn’t care. In front of me, the dark ocean stretched endlessly. Waves crashed hard, as if reminding me that I was racing against time. Jonea was out there somewhere, and I couldn’t let her slip away.“Jonea!” I screamed with all my strength, my voice hoarse. But only the wind and waves responded.My body nearly lost balance when my foot suddenly hit a rock. I almost fell, but a strong hand steadied me.“Uncle, are you okay?” Owen’s voice was full of concern. He grabbed my arm, steadying me. “You’ve used up too much energy earlier. You need to rest.”“Let go of me!” I shoved his hand away. “I need to save Jonea!”“You won’t save her if you pass out here,” Owen said firmly but gently. “Calm down, Uncle. We’ll look for her together.”But I didn’t have time for his reasoning. Adrenaline pushed me forward even though my body was nearly at its limit. My
JONEAOwen stepped forward, his body morphing into a massive, intimidating lycan form. “I’ll try to hold them off. You guys figure out how to break their spell.”Without waiting for a reply, Owen lunged at the first beast, determined to stop it before it could cause more destruction. Meanwhile, Arabel and Miller began chanting spells, attempting to trace the dark magic controlling the dragonlings.I stood frozen, unsure of what to do. But when I saw the second dragonling start to move, I knew I couldn’t just stand there. Hesitantly, I approached it. “Hey, you don’t have to do this. We’re here to help you,” I whispered, even though I wasn’t sure it could hear me.The first beast fought back viciously against Owen. Their battle left the hall in even worse ruins. Eve, who was usually composed and cold, finally unsheathed her sword. “I’ll back Owen up. Protect Jonea,” she told Daran before leaping into the fray.I tried to get closer to the second dragonling, but an invisible force held m