The Fall of Gods (A Welcome to the Underworld Novel, Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

“You’ll laugh at me.”
    “Yes, I probably will. But what else is new?”  
    Yoori turned and smacked him on his shoulder disbelievingly. “You’re suppose to say , ‘I promise I won’t!’”
    “I don’t make promises I don’t intend to keep,” Tae Hyun stated as though everyone had the same conviction as him. “Now answer the question.” 
    She bequeathed him one final, bitter glare before giving in. “Anywhere?”  
    “Anywhere.”  
    Yoori smiled to herself. “You better hold onto the dock. I’m about to give you a mind-blowing answer.” 
    Tae Hyun laughed, nodding knowingly. “Oh, I’m sure.”  
    “Okay. I want to go to Pari – ”
    “Paris,” Tae Hyun finished with her.
    Tae Hyun’s laugh grew warmer as Yoori blushed. “You’re right, Choi Yoori. I’ve definitely   never  heard that mind-blowing answer flow out of a girl’s lips before.” He shook his head and continued to smile to himself. 
    Yoori shrugged lightheartedly. She was unapologetic for her generic answer. “Hey, I can’t help but be honest – ”  
    “I could take you,” Tae Hyun suddenly interjected, his moonlit eyes falling onto her. There was no sign of teasing in his voice. He was serious.
    Huh?
    Yoori shook her head upon absorbing his words. She didn’t hesitate to refuse his offer. “But you  can’t take me.” 
    The smile on Tae Hyun’s lips faded slightly. “Why not?”
    “I’m saving the honor of seeking Paris for my future soul mate,” she answered with conviction, smiling to herself as she daydreamed about the future when this would occur. Lost in her fantasy world like a hopeless romantic, she was oblivious to any change in Tae Hyun’s countenance.
    At her enigmatic answer, the faded smile on his lips lit up with amusement. There was newfound curiosity in his voice. “There’s an honor that goes along with taking you to Paris?”  
    Yoori nodded, secretly glad that he asked because she wanted to share her thoughts.  
    “Paris is the city of love,” she began whimsically, a pair of twinkles illuminating her big brown eyes. “You can’t go to Paris unless you’re madly in love with the person who is taking you. And not just the type of love where you tell one another that you can’t live without each other. No…not  that  type of love. But the type of love that is unconditional—the type that is undying. You know…the type that can withstand anything…one of those once – ” 
    “Once-in-a- lifetime love,” Tae Hyun instinctively finished for her. 
    Yoori nodded happily, proud that he read her mind. That was her exact definition.
    Tae Hyun’s eyes lit up in interest. It was as if he was beginning to see her in a brand new light. “So that’s what Paris represents to you? A place where you can only go with a ‘once-in-a-lifetime love’?” 
    Yoori nodded. “That’s why you can’t take me…because we’re not in love. Well, at least not the first trip any way…because that’s like reserved. But you can take me anytime after I go with my soul mate,” she added teasingly, playfully pushing Tae Hyun’s shoulder with her own. Fulfilling her hopeless romantic desires aside, who would say no to a free trip to Paris?
    Tae Hyun nodded, laughing heartily.
    “Have you ever been in love, Choi Yoori?” he suddenly asked. His voice did not hide his overwhelming curiosity.
    She shook her head, her lips pouting. “That’s why I have silly expectations. I’ve never experienced anything  close to it. I just reason that since I haven’t found anyone, I might as well just wait for that one perfect guy to come along, you know? So I don’t have to deal with bullshit. But then again, waiting for that perfect guy is easier said than done. But a girl can dream, right?” 
    She paused, looking nowhere in particular as she gathered her thoughts. “I imagine falling in love must be nice though, since the whole world frets about it.” She smiled sheepishly at Tae Hyun.