Damsels in Distress Part 1

Five days. Five freaking days!

For five days — the entire school week — I've been waiting for Yuna or Sullyoon to contact me for the second part of the interview. Yet I never caught even a single speck of dust that could have been a sign that Yuna is making contact. Nor did I see any of them wandering the campus.

"I don't share any class with Sullyoon, neither does Yizhuo," Minjeong answered when I asked her before I went home. "But we'll ask other sophomores, maybe they know something."

"Thanks, Minjeong, but please do it discreetly."

The girl nodded with a determination that reminded me of her sister's fire.

Now, it's a Friday night, and for some reason, Bae Joohyun and Kang Seulgi were sitting in my couch. They're not staring daggers at each other, but the air felt like cold steel, like blades will be drawn at any time.

"Coffee?" I flatly offered the two of them as they sat on opposite sides of the couch.

"Do you have honey?" Seulgi asked tentatively but sharply.

I nodded and opened my fridge to look for a jar I know I have.

"Spoken like a true bear," Joohyun quipped.

"At least I don't drink blood," Seulgi retorted.

"We both have blood on our hands."

"You have it in your mouth."

"What the hell are your problems?!" I raised my voice. I was already in an irritated mood by not being able to set the second interview, and these two are not helping. They could probably kill me if they want, but at that point, I didn't seem to care.

Joohyun's voice got dangerously low and cold, "Do not cross me, Vale."

"I can and I will. Blood Oath remember, you can't hurt me," I said. "And Seulgi's duty bound not to lay a hand on me, so I'll be as impertinent as you two are right now under my roof. What the hell is the problem?!"

"Bae Joohyun wants to detail Death Dealers for your protection," Seulgi grumbled.

"Again, I don't see the harm—"

"It's like saying that my team isn't enough!"

"They are not enough," Joohyun replied casually. "They can accompany Seren during the day, but where are they now when it's the dead of night?"

"We have other teams —"

"Yeah. The little cats and birds that are part of your reconnaissance and intelligence corps? What can they do when there's immediate danger?"

"They're better fighters in human form!"

"Not as good as my Death Dealers."

"I don't want any more protection." I tried to intervene — emphasis on tried.

"You don't want it —" Seulgi started.

"But you need it," Joohyun finished.

"You're constricting me, invading my privacy!"

"Hah, say that when you're under attack," Joohyun scoffed. "Then you'll wish you had someone to protect you."

My rage bubbled as I held the jar of honey.

"And you're not even trained yet," Seulgi adds.

"So when am I training then? So I could be rid of your damn protection detail," I growled as I passed Seulgi the jar which she received with a menacing glint in her eyes, like she's about to devour it all.

"You sure you want the detail revoked?" Seulgi teased as she took a spoonful of honey in her mouth. "Heard you quite enjoyed your... personal times... with Yeji, Ryujin, and Chaeryoung," her tone was both teasing and mocking.

"Don't worry, Seren, I'll send my most beautiful Death Dealers for you," Joohyun retorted, more to mock Seulgi however, I felt indirectly mocked as well for my, shall we say "encounters", with all of the members of Yeji's team.

"Can we get back on track?" I closed my eyes in irritation and sat on the kitchen counter.

"My brother is still arguing that you shouldn't be trained inside coven grounds," Joohyun replied. "But it must still be close enough so that his Moon Guard can still monitor us. So we're still looking for a secure spot that is not too close but also not too far from our coven."

"Can't you just overrule him?" Seulgi asked, her frustration tempered only by the honey in her hands. "You're the heiress, surely you can."

"That would be easy if my father wasn't adjudicating between us. I may be heiress, but in my father's eyes, me and my brother are still equals until I inherit his seat," Joohyun grumbled. "And what about on your end, huntress?"

Seulgi sighed as she placed her honey-stained spoon down. "The Triarchy is still debating who gets to train Seren."

Joohyun and I raised our eyebrows as another sigh came out of Seulgi's mouth.

"Lord Leoric — the Lion Lord of us, the predators'," Seulgi placed her hand on her chest, "and Lady Choi — the Hawk Lady of the Avians — both want to train you exclusively. While Lord Nara — the Stag Lord of the herbivores, want no part in training you and refuses to involve himself in the matter. So... with no one to break the tie, the Lord Leoric and Lady Choi are at an impasse."

"Shit," I remarked.

"Shit, indeed," Seulgi affirmed before stuffing her mouth with another spoonful of honey.

"Which makes it more paramount that you be protected, Vale," Joohyun emphasized. "When you're properly trained and can hold your own against most Night Folk, then we can consider removing your protection detail, until then, the huntresses guard you in the morning, and my Death Dealers will guard you at night."

"Do I have any say on this matter?" Seulgi asked incredulously.

"You can still keep your little cats and birds watching him. But know that my Death Dealers are better in a straight up fight," Joohyun replied.

"And what about my say on the matter! I'm not some kind of prey, or, or, contested territory you can just claim," I objected.

"Do you want to live or not?" Joohyun asked flatly. I glanced at Seulgi who glances back with a sharp but expectant gaze.

"Fine," I resigned bitterly.

Joohyun sighed, "If it bothers you that much, there's a way where my ladies can still watch you but remain far from you."