Page 43 of Gumiho Kiss (Realm of Eternal Blossoms #1)

“H almeoni?” called little Hyun Soo one particularly stormy night. “Halmeoni?”

Feet shuffled down the hall just before the hanji doors to his bedroom slid open. A wizened face peeked inside, expression softening when it landed on him. “Yeh, Grandson?”

Thunder rumbled outside, making the boy so scared he nearly hid beneath his blanket. But he was much too old for that now. He was nearly eight, after all. “Would . . .” He cleared his throat to get rid of the squeak in it and put on his bravest face. “Would you tell me a story?”

His grandmother smiled and hobbled into the room. She sat cross-legged beside his bed mat, wrinkled hands folded in her lap. “What would you like to hear about tonight? I know a good story about an unlucky haetae.”

Hyun Soo shook his head. “No, I want to hear what happens to people who swallow fox beads.”

Halmeoni frowned. “I told you before that gumiho take back their beads once they’re satisfied with the amount of lifeforce absorbed. When that happens, the human will either grow sick or, if all his lifeforce has been consumed, he’ll die.”

The little boy shook his head again. “But what about the clever ones who kill the gumiho? What happens to the beads inside them? Will the bead still kill them if the gumiho is dead?”

The old woman pursed her lips, thinking it over.

Suddenly, she clapped her hands, startling Hyun Soo so much he jumped.

“Ah! I did hear a story once about a gumiho who was outsmarted by the human she gave her fox bead to.” Grandmother leaned closer, her countenance bright as she recalled the tale.

“He tricked her into opening it, and once she had, he scooped the bead up and ate it. As soon as he did, the bead released its power, giving him abilities no human could ever dream of.”

The boy’s eyes widened. “What kind of abilities?”

Halmeoni ruffled Hyun Soo’s hair with a wistful laugh and pushed herself to her feet. Another peal of thunder shook the house, but Hyun Soo barely noticed. He tugged at his grandmother’s clothes, urging her to give him an answer.

But she shook her head sadly. “I’m sorry, dear one. I wish I could remember. . . .”