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)
“It is pretty handy. Of course, that means it’s always been my job to run the errands that need completing during the day. Otherwise, I’m watching over the clan to make sure they are safe from intruders.” His grin wilted a little. Being the only daywalker also meant being lonely during those daylight hours. Different members of his clan would pop up during the day and keep him company at times, but there was never anyone at his side when he ran to the market.
Xiang shook his head, shoving aside those dark feelings. It was an honor to protect his clan when they were at their most vulnerable. These were just silly thoughts.
He turned his attention back to Kai and continued with their prior discussion. “The cavern is huge. If you annoy me, I can walk to another part.”
“Nonsense. I’m not the annoying one.” Kai rose to his feet and picked up the book that he’d set on a nearby table. He returned to the cushions and lay near Xiang. There was no missing that the man held his book in his left hand while placing his right behind his head. That arrangement made it easier for Xiang to resume his normal position with his head on Kai’s chest.
Who was he to not take a hint?
Xiang shifted and scooted until his head was resting in its normal spot. It was only when he released a sigh of comfort that he realized he didn’t have his new phone. The damn thing was somewhere that required him to get up and search for it. But he was comfortable, and maybe he was feeling sleepy as he listened to Kai’s steady breathing and the soft scrap of paper as he turned the page.
Instead of getting up, he closed his eyes and let his mind wander. Kai had a good point. He should work harder to convince Kai to help him escape. He must know the dragon’s routine. Maybe they could slip out while the giant water lizard was sleeping or maybe during his hunt for something to eat. After all this time, Kai must have some clue as to their location.
He opened his mouth to poke at Kai about the dragon and the cave, but the words never left his tongue. Kai gasped and sat up, throwing Xiang aside. He twisted to see Kai had dropped his book and was holding his head with both hands. His handsome face had gone a stark white while his features were scrunched up.
“What’s wrong? What happened?” Xiang demanded. He held out one hand to touch him, but it was left hovering in the air above Kai’s head, unsure of what he could even do.
“I-I need to leave,” Kai ground out between clenched teeth.
“What?”
Kai ignored him and climbed unsteadily to his feet. He wobbled a couple of steps and Xiang caught him before he could tumble over to the stone floor. “Where are you going? What happened?”
“The fae. Queen. She…she’s summoning the dragon.” Each word he spat out sounded as if it were excruciatingly painful to say.
“What does that have to do with you? Is the dragon calling you to his side?”
“No, I—” Kai broke off and moaned deeply, his body doubling over. Xiang wrapped an arm around his waist and tried to usher Kai to the cushions. His heart pounded like a thing gone mad in his chest while cold sweat covered his skin. He didn’t know whether to take a sword to the hide of the dragon or the fae queen.
Kai gripped Xiang’s arms, stopping him from moving them. His head popped up and his eyes were red rimmed as tears of blood slipped down his cheeks. “I need to leave, but first, I need…you must…”
His fingers tightened on Kai, digging into his body to keep him locked to his side, but the man showed no signs of noticing it. “What? Anything? What can I do?”
“Say this is where you belong.”
“What?” Xiang’s voice cracked, and he nearly released Kai in his shock.
“Say it.”
“Kai…I can’t. I don’t belong in the hoard. I need to go back to my clan. That’s where I belong.”
The man’s body shook. Bloody tears streaked his face when he closed his eyes. It appeared as if Xiang’s words pained him more than whatever was happening to him, which was the last thing he wanted.
“Look, Kai, neither of us belongs here. You don’t belong to the dragon. You don’t belong in his hoard. We’re going to get out of here. I’ll make sure you escape with me, and the dragon will never come near you again. You’ll be part of my clan.”
The left corner of Kai’s mouth edged higher and trembled in a brief smile. “Thank you.” One cold, clammy hand cupped Xiang’s cheek for a heartbeat. “I must go, but I’ll do what I can to keep you safe. Just stay here. Wait for me.”