Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 111252 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 556(@200wpm)___ 445(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111252 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 556(@200wpm)___ 445(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
From there, Kai would prod Xiang into several games of weiqi. He still didn’t love the game, but Kai was a much more enjoyable adversary than Chen. His martial brother didn’t allow talking during the game as it disrupted his train of thought and took away from the peace of the game. Meanwhile, Kai could chatter on about absolutely nothing at all and still play a hard-fought round.
What was best, though, was that Kai didn’t care if he won. He could lose four games in a row and seem just as happy as if he’d won them all instead. There was something in those black and white stones that held a secret joy for him that could not be touched by anything or anyone.
And if Xiang announced he didn’t want to play anymore, Kai didn’t utter a single complaint. He would carefully pack up the stones and board as if he were wrapping up his newborn child.
The previous day, Xiang had stumbled off to bed bleary-eyed and exhausted, while Kai still lay on the mound of cushions, reading a book. He didn’t know when the man had finally left. He woke to an empty hoard and stumbled into the marble-and-gold bathroom for a shower.
“Hey,” Xiang started. He shifted his arm so he could watch Kai on the sly as he returned the stones to their proper containers. “Where do you go?”
Kai’s hand paused in the air, a white stone pinched between two fingers. “What do you mean?”
“You know what I mean. Where do you go when you’re not in here?”
“To another part of the dragon’s cave.” Kai resumed returning the stones to the holders, but he wouldn’t look up from the top of the board, as if he were afraid to meet Xiang’s eyes.
“Where?”
“What does it matter? I’m in the cave like you.”
Xiang removed his arm from his eyes and sat up so he could face Kai. This didn’t sound good at all. Nope. Not one little bit. “Is it a room like this?” Xiang narrowed his gaze on Kai. “Do you have a working television?”
Kai sighed and rolled his eyes. “I do not possess a TV in my room.” After he placed the lids on the containers, he finally stared at Xiang. “It’s similar to this, but smaller and more simply furnished.”
“Before I arrived, did you stay in here?” Xiang pointed at the floor, indicating the treasure room.
“Yes.”
“Why did you leave?”
“It was thought that you would be more comfortable having a space to yourself rather than having a stranger nearby.”
A derisive scoff jumped from Xiang’s throat as he crossed his arms over his chest. “Was that your stupid thought or the dragon’s?”
Kai froze, his lips parted, but no sound came out. Xiang’s smile grew even wider. It wasn’t often that he could render the man utterly speechless, and he was quite enjoying the experience.
“I…I…” Kai stammered after a couple of seconds. “I didn’t think you’d want a stranger and spy of the dragon in here with you when you first arrived.”
Xiang snorted. “I think we’re well past that. Just stay from now on.”
The man made a noise in the back of his throat as he resumed clearing the board. “The only reason you want me in here is so you can continue to convince me to help you escape from the cave.”
With a chuckle, Xiang settled against the cushions with his hands behind his head. “Yeah, yeah. And what you keep forgetting is that when I escape, you’re escaping with me. I’m not leaving without you.”
“Xiang—”
“Besides,” Xiang plowed on, not letting his companion argue with him further. “If you’re staying in the treasure room, think of all the weiqi games you can now beg me to play with you.”
“I’m not begging you for anything,” Kai grumbled under his breath, but there was a brief twitch of the corner of his mouth as if the man were trying to hide a smile.
“Uh-huh. We can alternate who gets the bed, but you’ve got to help with the cooking duties. I’m running out of things I know how to cook.”
Kai finished putting the stones into the clay containers and placed both on top of the board, but his hands lingered on the lids. “Are you sure? It wouldn’t bother you to have me in here with you for longer periods of time?”
“Nah. My clan is usually around at all times. Even when I’m up during the day, I can hear and feel them sleeping nearby. Not having someone close is unsettling. You being here won’t bother me.” He turned his head and winked at Kai.
“I don’t understand. Why are you up during the day? Isn’t it dangerous for you?”
Xiang huffed a laugh. “Nah. I’m a daywalker. That’s my vampiric gift.”
Kai blinked several times like his brain had locked up on the idea. “You can be in the sun safely? That’s amazing.”