The War of Gods (A Welcome to the Underworld Novel, Book 3) (77 page)

A prolonged silence to warn people about what’s coming, an insufferable silence that promises pain, and an epic silence that guarantees an event that will carve itself into history.

This particular silence was one that washed over the brothers as they stood outside in the apartment hall.

It had been a couple of hours since Tae Hyun kicked them out of his gang, and it had also been a couple of hours since they waited for Yoori to walk out of the apartment with her bags in hand.

The silence that moved between the brothers was a somber one.

After Tae Hyun walked out of his apartment, his face cool with impassiveness, they tried to reason with him. They tried to convince Tae Hyun to allow Yoori, and themselves included, to stay in Korea. Their pleas fell on deaf ears. The stubbornness that emitted from Tae Hyun was a decisive one. It was well-known that once the King of Serpents made a decision, he stuck with it no matter what. This was a trait that the brothers were more than aware of.

Yes, the silence was somber
. . .
that was until a sudden change in atmosphere occurred.

The temperature didn’t change, no one spoke, and no one was in their presence. Even so, they felt that change, that familiar feeling they only received when they were in the presence of one of the most important people in their lives.

The door to Tae Hyun’s apartment swung open, revealing the catalyst for the changing of tides.

Stepping through the door, as expected, was Choi Yoori. She was dressed simply in black jeans, boots, and a black hoodie. Yet, an unexpected emanation of power streamed from her. It was the aura of an entity who could move mountains, and with the absence of Tae Hyun, there was only one other person who could evoke such power.

Jae Won and Kang Min’s eyes enlarged. Their bodies froze in shock. They stared at her, their eyes unblinking as she walked down the hall. All that could be heard was the sound of her boots stabbing into the ground while she approached them. Her face was shrouded with determination, sternness, and reserved excitement.

The breath escaped their chests when she finally stood across from them. She thawed the once cool expression on her face and assessed the shock that consumed their eyes. Then, she smiled in a way that only their boss could give them.

“It’s been a long time,” she whispered, looking between Kang Min and Jae Won. She took in how tall they were and how much they had grown in her absence. “You two have grown.”

Shocked gasps escaped their lips.

Disbelievingly, they said, “
Boss?
”

She didn’t say anything, but when she extended her hands out, palm first, they knew who this woman was.

It was An Soo Jin.

An Soo Jin had finally returned.

Smiling uncontrollably, both in happiness and disbelief, the brothers whipped her beloved weapons out from behind their backs and placed the gold guns in the palms of her awaiting hands.

A wide, blissful smile danced across Soo Jin’s beautiful face. She closed her eyes in delight, luxuriating in the feel of her guns after three years of absence. She inhaled deeply before staring down at the black hoodie she wore. The hoodie still had remnants of wet tears that had yet to dry up.

“I think it’s time for me to be welcomed home at the party everyone seems to be at,” Soo Jin began with much amusement.

The competitive blood inside her veins pumped ecstatically when she held the fabric of the black hoodie in her hand.

Her smile became vindictive.

Her long-awaited homecoming brought back a war, and there was only one Underworld King worthy of it.

“And I think it’s time
. . .
for me to officially meet Kwon Tae Hyun.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Con Template currently resides in California. When she is not outside with her DSLR capturing reality, you can find her in between realities when she is writing about a “King,” a “Prince of Hell,” an “Architect,” an “Ancient,” and a “Titan.”

She is working on the final book of the Welcome to the Underworld novels and introducing a new series, An Eternity of Eclipse.

You can follow her at
contemplate13.wordpress.com
or
twitter.com/contemplate13
.