Zhuliya

19. CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Ilian

20. CHAPTER NINETEEN

Zhuliya

21. CHAPTER TWENTY

Ilian

22. CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Zhuliya

23. CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Ilian

24. CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Zhuliya

25. CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Ilian

26. SNEAK PEEK CHAPTER ONE

27. SNEAK PEEK CHAPTER TWO

28. THANK YOU

29. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

30. ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Pronunciation Guide

Ithaqua: ith-ah-kuh

Ilian: ill-ee-en

Zhuliya: Julia

Ulu: oo-lou

stoyuk: stow-yuck

Aisyth: eye-sith

tugan: too-gun

Dairfyn: dare-fin

Ulyen: ool-yen

Ekana: eh-con-ah

PROLOGUE

Ilian

I smell her before I see her—floral, earthy, delicious.

My mouth waters, saliva pooling around my tongue as I swallow it back and focus on the client before me.

Their appointment should’ve ended half an hour ago, long enough for me to grab a quick bite to eat before my seven o’clock showed up, but life happened and now I work hangry.

A knock sounds on the door, and my apprentice pokes his head in. “Ilian, the winner of the Inked magazine contest is here.”

I grunt in acknowledgment, never looking up or stopping the steady flow of the needle as it etches the final strokes into the man’s bicep before me.

When I finish, I lean back to admire my handwork. It depicts a beautiful unicorn with flowing rainbow hair, a surprising touch for the sour-faced Qilin who requested it.

“What do you think?”

The Qilin casts a critical eye over his arm. “Nice. I like how you made the tail curl around to my elbow. My daughter will love it.”

Ah, a tat for his little girl, the rainbow hair now makes sense.

“Great. Let’s get you wrapped up so you can go. You know the protocol for fresh ink, but I’m going to go over it again.”

He sighs but listens as I repeat my safety care speech. It doesn’t matter if he’s heard it before or that this is his twentieth tattoo from me, I take my business seriously.

Infections are no joke, although monsters are less susceptible than humans.

“Thanks again, Ilian. See you next year,” he mumbles as he gets up to leave.

I blink, recalling the new year is nearly upon us. “Right, next year. How long’s the wait now?”

The Qilin shrugs. “Not too bad. Yuri managed to squeeze me in for the end of May.”