JONEA RAWLINGI put the ring back in my coat pocket until the car stopped at a cemetery. Daran got out first. While I was still sitting in the car, looking once again at the velvet box containing the ring Daran gave me.A small piece of paper containing a handwritten note was apparently under the ring.[The right index finger is helpful as a pointer. PS. You still need to get ready for the ring on the left!]I smiled, reading it. Eve must have left this note without Daran’s knowledge. My cheeks became hot from holding back the shame. I no longer hesitated and immediately put the ring on my right index finger.How stupid of me! Why did I fall for Daran’s seduction? How could he give me a proposal ring? Even the way he gave this ring didn’t seem romantic at all. Of course, this ring had a different meaning. Why did I get my hopes up like this?“Jonea, get off!” Daran asked while opening the door.I was shocked and quickly got out.“Look, we’re here. That is the cemetery and on the right
OWEN RIVERSI opened my eyes and smelled the smoke from burning agarwood plants. It turned out that I was sleeping with Jonea’s feet as a pillow. I immediately sat up straight. Only then did I realize that my body was still in wolf form? Maybe because I was injured.“Are you awake?” Jonea greeted. “I’ve put up protective runes and burned magic barriers. Those strange creatures won’t come for a while.”“Where are we?” I asked.I still couldn’t return my body to human form, maybe because of the effects of the magic that was still mixed in my body.“In the forest around the cemetery,” Jonea answered, stroking my jaw. “Are you feeling better? I put some medicine on your wound. It might not help much, but it’s not bleeding anymore.”“Why are you alone here? Where’s Uncle?” I immediately became alert.“Ah, he’s on his way.”I growled and showed my annoyance to Jonea. “You shouldn’t have come here. It seems like Uncle was also fooled. Who gave you that task? Auction? I doubt they don’t know
JONEA“As you said, there is a strange man who is threatening us,” Arabel said. “He even took one of L’s hands as collateral.”“No wonder,” Daran muttered.“Please, do something for him!” Arabel pleaded, kneeling at Daran’s feet.“What’s in it for me?”“He already has a chimera running around,” Arabel continued. “The corpse over there and his wounds were all caused by his chimera.”“You mean Owen was injured?” Daran looked at Owen and me alternately. “Is that true?” Then I nodded in agreement.“I got a mission to get the black dog guarding the tomb, but it seems the black dog is your friend.”“He’s my nephew!” Daran said.“Well, you’ve indirectly involved yourself with the guard dog. So, the girl’s life could be in danger.”“Okay, I don’t mind! I’ll help you.”“Huh?” Arabel was shocked and confused.“Why are you so surprised?” Daran asked casually.“Oh, no, I just didn’t expect you to agree so quickly.”“Everything happened before my eyes, even involving my family. If I just let it be
JONEABefore I could reach Aland, Daran had already jumped and charged at the shadow dragon still on Aland’s back. I was so shocked to see the terrifying sight. Daran almost hit Aland if the dragon hadn’t protected him.“Daran!” I shouted desperately.Daran turned so brutal. He opened his jaws wide, filled with sharp, large fangs, to tear Aland’s dragon apart.The dragon was torn apart by Daran’s sharp fangs. When I was about to approach, black blood splashed right on the tip of my shoe. It was the dragon’s blood. I thought it was just a magical creature and wouldn’t have any effect, like the shadow wolves that often attacked me. However, this dragon was bleeding black blood as dark as the night. It was like a living creature.Aland’s previously calm face suddenly turned cold and hard. Even so, he didn’t do anything.Was Aland enduring pain? Impossible! Was the dragon connected to him? My thoughts and feelings became very chaotic.“Even though I made it with great difficulty. The mate
JONEA“His actions this time may have been wrong, but I can understand the wrong actions he has taken,” Miller said calmly.“You haven’t answered my question at all, Miller. Tell me where I can meet Aland? I want to ask him directly what really happened? Where has he been all this time? When a dragon took him that day—”Miller turned and slapped my hand away. “Instead of wanting to know where you can meet him, didn’t you have the chance to accept his invitation to come along?”I felt like I was slapped when I heard Miller’s words. I couldn’t say anything. I was hesitant to even reach out to him. That was when Daran approached us.“It seems like you two know each other and are connected. Why did he choose you?”“That’s none of your business!” Miller replied firmly. Then Miller continued coldly, “The lycan king, have you ever met him before?”“You mean the dragon rider? Never,” Daran replied casually.“Don’t think I’ll just believe your words,” Miller shouted as he walked away. “Make su
ALANDWe both gasped and laughed together. Jonea reached out and stroked my face.“Can you put me down? I must be heavy,” she said shyly.“No, you’re so light now. You should pay more attention to your food,” I pretended to be angry as I put her down.“Aland… Aland… I feel like I’m never satisfied. I’m too happy. I’m afraid this happiness will bring me back to suffering.”“Psst…” I stopped her.Jonea’s eyes filled with tears. She tried to touch me again, but suddenly, her face turned pale. Her eyes were wide open. Did something happen?Jonea stepped back in fear until she fell to the ground.I looked back. A giant, pale white dragon with large horns on its head was approaching me. Its entire body was covered in moss. Could it be that it was the one who scared Jonea?The dragon pampered me by rubbing its horns on my back. I stroked it gently.“It’s okay, Jonea. This dragon is tame!” I reached out to Jonea. She took my hand and stood up. “Try touching him!” I asked.“Who is this girl yo
JONEAWe returned to the blue sapphire, precisely in the underground crossing tunnel. The place where Daran first saw me and asked me to go for a walk. And that night, I asked him to take me to the dragon hill.When we returned, the atmosphere in the blue sapphire was still night, and the lights were still illuminated in the underground crossing tunnel. Only this time, the three of us were together with Owen.Daran walked in front of me. I walked faster and pulled his hand to stop him.“What’s wrong Jonea?” Daran turned to me.“There’s something I want to talk to you about.”I glanced at Owen, who was still standing beside us. He pretended not to know, then said he would go home first. Now, only Daran and I were left.“What’s wrong?” Daran asked once again patiently. “Tell me.”“It feels like we’ve been gone for days, right? But why did we return to the blue sapphire at the same time as we left?”“The blue sapphire and the land of magical creatures are in different dimensions. Time pa
DARAN“What’s wrong with me? Why am I so restless? I haven’t even slept enough for the past few days, no, to be more precise, I haven’t slept at all.”I couldn’t keep locking myself in my room, and I had to find out the cause of my restlessness immediately. I went out and went to the kitchen to find something to do.“Ah… Ouch!” Jonea was seen groaning in pain while holding her stomach.I stood behind her. I didn’t know what had happened to Jonea; I had gotten closer without realizing it but didn’t dare touch her.“What’s wrong?”“I don’t know, my stomach suddenly hurts.”“Is it because you’re tired after I took you around and did so many things?” I felt guilty.Jonea turned and looked at me. Her face looked so pale. She bent down while holding her stomach.“Come on, I’ll take you to the hospital now.”“No! No need,” she said while continuing to hold her stomach. She even looked more robust than before. “Tell me, what date is it now?”“I’m sure it’s still the tenth. What’s wrong? Did y
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