Page 2

I chuckle, taking in the shop around us. Human students chat in the corner, a wolf shifter is flipping through a baking cookbook, and a ridiculously attractive nine-tailed kitsune is browsing the romance section. In Seoul, seeing a monster is a casual occurrence, but Creelin, Pennsylvania is known for it. Creelin is one of the first towns to fully integrate after the Halloween Wave two decades ago. The vibe here is electric, cozy, and wildly diverse.

“So, spill,” Ethan says, leaning against a display shelf. “Tell me about this mystery project that pulled you all the way back across the ocean.”

“It’s based on the bestselling novel by Chloe Lee,” I beam, practically vibrating with excitement. “A huge monster-romance fantasy with a Korean lead! Several streaming services including Netflix, battled for it before Ghouloo picked it up. The director personally reached out to my team. Apparently, he and the author are fans of my past dramas.”

“No way!” Ethan’s eyes widen. “That’s huge, Teag!”

“Right? I’m so freaking honored. And since the show takes place in a town just like Creelin, I convinced my new director and my agent, to let me enroll at Creepin U for the semester. You know, to submerge myself in the culture for authenticity.” I flash him a sly grin. “Which means I finally get to experience real college. Like a normal human.”

“Normal?” Ethan snorts, gesturing to me. “Bro, you have bright-ass violet hair.”

I run my fingers through my soft dyed strands with a smirk. “Purple hair, don’t care. It’s a brand, sweetie. Besides, no one here knows who I am. Look around. No paparazzi. No chaos. Just peace.”

I squeeze his shoulder affectionately, but he shoves my arm off with a laugh. “Dude, don’t touch the hair! You’d freak out if I did that to your precious style.”

I laugh, guiding him toward the adult fiction section. My fingers trail along the smooth matte spines until I spot the exact title I'm looking for. I pull it off the shelf and hand it to him.

“Empire of Beasts,” Ethan reads aloud, turning the book over to skim the back blurb. His eyebrows shoot up. “Damn. Spicy fantasy romance? And you’re playing the lead?”

“Mmmhmm. Co-lead. I’m playing Jin,” I say proudly. “And the best part? My filming schedule is insanely low-key. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays are for classes. Tuesdays, Thursdays, and the occasional Sunday are for filming. Which means...” I pause for dramatic effect, gripping his shoulders. “I have weekends off, Ethan. ACTUAL WEEKENDS.”

Ethan grins, shaking his head in disbelief as we walk toward the counter to buy the book. “A normal schedule? Yeah, not so much. A normal life? Maybe. Either way, I can’t believe it. You’re really back.”

“I’m really back,” I echo, paying the cashier with a light heart.

We step out of the shop into the warm August air. The breeze carries the faint scent of something sweet and familiar. I pause on the sidewalk, stepping toward a sunlit bench and taking a seat. I close my eyes and tilt my chin up to the sky as I soak in the warmth like a spoiled housecat sunbathing.

For the first time in seven years, I feel… free.

Whoosh.

A sudden, massive shadow sweeps over me, cutting off the sunlight.

My eyes snap open. Hovering high above the brick buildings is the most breathtaking creature I’ve ever seen: a massive gargoyle soaring through the blue sky, his giant leather wings catching the wind. But he isn't grey like the stone statues in the history books. His skin is a deep, iridescent shade of vibrant, shimmering purple.

I stare, completely spellbound, watching the muscular arc of his wings until he disappears over the tree line toward campus.

“Whoa,” I breathe, a strange flutter settling in my chest.

Setting my sunglasses back over my eyes, I lean back on the wooden bench to wait for Ethan to pull his car around. But as I get comfortable, my thigh bumps against something hard.

I glance down. When the hell did that get there? I would have seen it before choosing this spot. Resting on the wooden slats right beside me is an antique box wrapped in a dark red ribbon. It’s kind of creepy, if I’m being honest. Attached to it is a tiny card with my name written in sharp, rushed cursive:

Welcome to Creelin, Teagan. I’ll be watching.

What the actual fuck?

A sudden, cold shiver crawls down my spine, erasing any warmth from the sun. Opening the box, I peer inside and spot a gold coin. I recognize it instantly. It’s a souvenir from my idol days. Last week, in a live stream, I mentioned wishing I still had mine. It’s worth several hundred dollars now that I’ve made a name for myself.

Why the hell would anyone just leave it here for me to find?

Chapter two

Ryker

Perched on a bakery rooftop near the edge of town, I peer down at the busy street below. The afternoon sun kisses my shoulders, warming my skin. My deep violet skin that sets me apart from every other creature I’ve seen here so far.

Creelin, Pennsylvania is supposed to be my fresh start. A clean slate.