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“This one does.” She pointed left. “That way feels right.”

“That’s not even a road! That’s literally just trees—” The trees parted, revealing a gravel path I could’ve sworn wasn’t there a second ago. “Okay, what the actual?—”

“Language,” Eomma scolded, but she was smiling. “See? Trust mother’s intuition.”

An hour and a half later, after two near-death experiences with local wildlife and one very confusing encounter with what Eomma swore was just a “forest spirit,” we finally saw signs for Cedar Grove. My phone buzzed with a text from Kai.

Someone will meet you at Grove Diner. Look for Johnson. He’s… hard to miss.

“That must be it,” I said, spotting the diner Kai mentioned. The parking lot was half-full, mostly with massive trucks that made my car look like a toy. As I pulled in, a guy built like a military tank emerged from one of them. Dark hair, military cut, the kind of muscles that suggested he bench-pressed small cars for fun.

“Oh no,” Eomma breathed, her beads clicking rapidly. “Like Stones, but not Stone. Similar but… different power.”

“Different like Ice Eyes and his brothers?” I asked, watching as the guy noticed our car and started heading our way.

“No, no. More… direct. Less hidden.” She frowned. “But still dangerous.”

The man reached my window just as I cut the engine. Up close, he was even more intimidating, with steel-gray eyes that seemed to look right through me. But unlike Ice Eyes’ cold calculation, there was something almost warm in his assessment.

“You must be Luke,” he said, his voice a deep rumble. “And Mrs. Kim. The Stones are expecting you.”

I raised an eyebrow at the man mountain blocking my door. “And you are?”

“Johnson. Stone Security.” He stepped back, giving me space to open the door but maintaining perfect sight lines. Everything about him screamed military precision. “Mr. Stone asked me to escort you to the manor when you arrived.”

“Which Mr. Stone?” I muttered. “There’s like three of them.”

Johnson’s lips twitched. “Commander Stone. Derek.” He touched his earpiece. “Sir, they’ve arrived.” A pause. “Yes, sir. Understood.”

Eomma was studying Johnson with that same intense focus she’d given Ice Eyes and his brothers, but her beads remained still. “Good energy,” she announced finally. “Loyal. Strong.”

Johnson blinked, probably not used to being spiritually assessed in parking lots.

“She does that,” I explained. “Usually means you’re not secretly plotting our murder.”

“Not today,” Johnson agreed with surprising humor. “Though if you’re anything like Mr. Chen, I’m sure you’ll give us plenty of reasons later.”

“Ah.” Eomma nodded sagely. “Kai very good at making people want to murder him. Sweet boy, but…” She made a vague gesture that somehow perfectly captured Kai’s talent for chaos.

A few minutes later, we were following Johnson’s massive black SUV through Cedar Grove’s winding streets.

“You think Kai’s okay?” I asked, watching Johnson’s vehicle navigate the increasingly remote roads.

Eomma hummed thoughtfully. “Must be. Security man not worried. Just… cautious.”

“Yeah, well, after this morning’s creep parade, I’m good with cautious.”

The roads grew narrower, trees pressing in on both sides. Just when I thought we must have taken a wrong turn, the forest opened up to reveal wrought iron gates.

“Holy shit,” I breathed as the gates swung open silently. “Kai wasn’t kidding about the whole ‘rich supernatural boyfriends’ thing.”

Eomma clicked her tongue. “Language. But yes. Very impressive.” She paused, studying her beads. “Strong protection here. Old magic. Safe.”

As we followed Johnson’s SUV up the winding driveway, Stone Manor emerged from the trees like something out of a gothic romance novel—all stone and timber and casual displays of generational wealth.

“Well,” I muttered, parking behind Johnson, “at least Kai’s taste in supernatural stalkers is expensive.”

Chapter 10