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’
MARILYNHe tried to carry Jonea into the big house. Suddenly, I came out from behind the tree and shouted loudly at him.“Hey, what are you going to do to my friend? Do you want to kidnap her?”Without thinking, I ran to hit him with full strength. The man looked surprised because I appeared suddenly. While carrying the unconscious Jonea, he tried to get away. There was a fight between us.“Let me go. Who are you? What do you think you’re doing?” shouted the man while trying to hold Jonea in his arms.“Bastard! You definitely intend to deceive Jonea. You even made her faint and want to do bad things to her? Let go of Jonea now, or I will scream that you are a criminal!”The handsome man grinned. “What? I’m a criminal?”“Yes, of course! Nowadays, even criminals have to have a handsome face and attractive appearance to cover up their crimes!”“What? Now you’re calling me handsome? Did you deliberately make a scene because you wanted my signature?”I could only gape and stare in disbelie
JONEAOwen’s expression was cold. “I’ll send her back to wherever she was before she came here! I will also erase her memories.”“What?”This is not the first time I have heard and seen how Daran and Owen erase the memory of someone who accidentally sees their presence or appearance. But hey, it’s Marilyn! Not other people. How can I accept all this?When I turned around to look at Marilyn, she had disappeared without a trace. I was flabbergasted. I looked back at Owen angrily and asked for an explanation.“You didn’t even ask for my opinion before sending Marilyn away. What if she has an accident because she was suddenly turned back onto the road while driving?”“Nothing like that will happen,” Owen replied casually. He got up from the sofa and was about to leave me.I can’t accept all this. I grabbed Owen’s arm and stopped him.“Maybe this isn’t a big deal to you. In fact, I’m sure you often do the same thing. Like you did before. At first, I didn’t really care either. But... This i
JONEA“Tell me, why are you crying? Is that asshole Hunter bothering you again? Let me teach him a lesson!” Marilyn went over and took her jacket, but I held her back.“No, not him. I don’t mean because of him. I’m just worried about you.”Marilyn raised her eyebrows in surprise. “Is this because of Teddy? Oh, Jonea, I’m fine. We broke up, and for some reason, recently, he came back to me and--”I hugged Marilyn again tightly. “Do you like him? That Teddy? As long as you’re happy, I no longer need to worry.”I’m confused about what to talk about. I just feel relieved that Marilyn is okay. That’s all I need. After ensuring nothing had changed about Marilyn, I went home.“Let me take you. You’ve come a long way here.”“No!” I replied quickly. “I’ll just take a taxi.”It was enough that the devil erased Marilyn’s memory once. I don’t want it to happen again if Marilyn finds out where I live now.When I was about to leave Marilyn’s room, I stopped. I felt uncomfortable if I had to go back
JONEA“Would you like to eat ramyeon with me? They say it is a trendy food in the east and is perfect to enjoy when the weather starts getting cold like this.”I should have apologized, but why did I invite him to eat ramyeon instead? Stupid me!“Let’s go!” Owen replied casually. “I remember a new ramyeon shop just opened at the end of the street. Do you want to go there?”It was entirely beyond my expectations. I thought he would definitely reject it. And he should have dismissed my small talk, right? I was just flabbergasted now.We left the house the next second and walked to the new shop Owen was referring to. It was not far from the house. They sold typical Eastern food, including spicy ramyeon.I ordered a large portion of ramyeon with extra meat on top. When my order came, I felt even more guilty. Because I was eating alone, while Owen only ordered coffee.“You should have said from the start that you didn’t like ramyeon. I’ll wrap it up, and we can go to another shop you like,
JONEAI have never felt this nervous when I had to meet and face Hunter. Since when did we become strangers and awkward? Actually, I know where it all started. Even since that day, I have considered Hunter an enemy to be wary of.I arrived at the park where we promised to meet. After looking, I saw Hunter sitting on a park bench. He didn’t see me.I walked towards him. After getting closer, I realized that Hunter was not alone. My legs suddenly stiffened, and I couldn’t move.“I think I recognize that person. Could they be the same person? The person who sneaked into the warehouse at Daran’s house that night? What were they talking about? Are they really related?”I was suddenly struck by a strong awareness and urge to approach the man. I had to make sure.When I arrived, the man had disappeared, leaving only Hunter alone. How could that be?“Jonea?” Hunter was surprised to see me coming.My breath was still short. He smiled at me.“Are you running? No need to rush. I’m even ready to
HUNTER ABRAHAMI opened the refrigerator and wrapped some ice cubes in a towel. Standing in front of the kitchen counter, I carefully applied a compress to the bruise on my face.“Ow, this hurts so much. I’ve never felt a blow like this before. Who is that man in black? Why did he suddenly appear and beat me?”I slammed the ice cubes wrapped in a towel onto the counter hard. I swung my fist.“Fuck! He’s hurt my handsome face.”I massaged my jaw, which felt stiff and sore.“This is weird. Why aren’t my wounds healing right away? Usually, the wounds on my body will heal and disappear completely in a matter of seconds. Who is that man?”While carrying a bottle of mineral water, I rechecked my phone.“Should I call Jonea? Is she okay? What if that man meant something bad to her?”I should have stopped him before he took Jonea away. I couldn’t even watch them leave. He knocked me out for a while. This is so embarrassing!***JONEAI sat at the dining table, still shivering. Even though Dar
DARAN CARVERAll afternoon, I kept pacing and restless for no reason. I couldn’t even leave the house. Every now and then, I’d glance towards the door.“I’m home!”“Oh, you’re here?”I quickly got up from the chair and turned to Jonea. I really looked at every part of her body from top to bottom to make sure she was okay.“Yes, sorry, I came home a bit late.”I folded my arms across my chest and stood before her, showing her a slightly stern attitude.“I thought you would run away and break your vow to be my bride!”“No way!” Jonea said in panic.“I was kidding,” I replied briefly but in a cold voice. “I thought I set a curfew for you, didn’t I?”“A curfew?”“The one you always break!” I replied firmly. “Do you know why I did it? I set a curfew so I wouldn’t worry!” I shook my head and immediately corrected my words.“I mean… so that we don’t worry about each other. Do I need to emphasize it again? Starting today, you cannot come home later than ten at night. If you break this rule, I
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