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 was a lot to take in. This was thousands and thousands of years of history dropping on his lap. Xiang took pride in being over two thousand years old. That was an impressive accomplishment, but when it came to Kai’s lifespan, that was still only a blink of an eye.
Xiang held up one hand and tried to speak, but still no words left him.
Kai grabbed his hand in his own and squeezed. “Just let it go. Forget everything I told you. It’s not important where the sword came from. The key here is that the sword is the heart of the hoard. With an accumulation of magical power, Queen Belladonna can wield the sword, commanding the dragon to do all sorts of things.”
After dragging a shuddering breath into his lungs, Xiang nodded, and it seemed to break through the block in his brain. “Okay. You’re right. Putting all that stuff aside, what we need to focus on is getting that sword.”
His fingers twitched around Xiang’s hand, and he fought the urge to withdraw from him. “And what do you think we should do with the sword once we get it away from the fae? What would you command the dragon to do? Kill the queen and all the fae?” It was a struggle to keep the bite from his voice, but the smile that spread across Xiang’s face said that he’d failed pretty miserably.
“Tempting. But why would I get the dragon to do the one thing I’ve been dying to do ever since the fae stole away my didi?” Kai pulled his hands away, but Xiang caught one of them and threaded their fingers together, holding him tight. “The fae held Wu Yichen, my shidi, for a hundred years. They tortured him and his mate, Rei, before they could escape. And it’s pretty clear the dragon isn’t fond of the fae queen issuing commands. He could have killed me at any time, but he didn’t.”
“The dragon doesn’t kill innocent people,” Kai whispered, unable to tear his eyes away from Xiang’s. There was a burning light in their dark depths that touched a cold part of his soul. Even as that light threatened to set him on fire, he couldn’t turn away. Didn’t want to.
“Queen Belladonna and her followers need to pay for the deaths and pain they’ve caused. I’m looking forward to handling that personally.”
Kai’s heart raced and the last of the fog in his brain burned away. There was something about Xiang’s bloodthirsty nature that was such a turn-on. Not that he’d let the vampire anywhere near the fight with the fae. No. No. Xiang needed to stay here in the hoard where he was safest.
“So, you wouldn’t command the dragon to do anything if you had the sword?” Kai inquired, shoving aside those stray thoughts.
“I didn’t say that.”
With Kai’s hand still held in his left hand, Xiang put his right hand on the mattress next to Kai’s left hip, leaning across his body and putting their faces incredibly close.
Why was he so close?
Kai was trying hard not to show his panic, but what the hell was happening here? He placed his free hand against Xiang’s chest, intending to push him away or at least restrain him so he couldn’t lean any closer. Except he didn’t push. His traitorous hand ended up resting there on his chest.
“I would ask the dragon to take us to my clan. You’d stay with me until we found your people.” Xiang’s voice had dropped to something low and husky. It was almost hypnotic. At the very least, Kai knew he wasn’t thinking clearly anymore.
“I-I told you before. I don’t have any people left.” That was what he’d said, right? Or was it that he didn’t remember who his people were? Fuck. Everything was getting confused. His thoughts were a mess. He couldn’t think with Xiang sitting so close.
“Then you’ll just have to stay with me from now on,” Xiang murmured.
Kai tried to huff out a derisive laugh, but his throat was growing more constricted and the sound didn’t come out. “I doubt your clan would have room for me.”
“We’d make room for you,” Xiang said, his voice full of sweet confidence. He leaned in and Kai’s breath caught in his throat as Xiang’s soft lips brushed across the center of his forehead in a tender kiss. As he spoke, his hot words caressed the slight dampness there. “I’d even let you bring along all of your hoard.”
With a broad smile and a twinkle in his eyes, Xiang pushed off the bed and turned toward the kitchen. “I’ll go make you some tea. That’ll help you feel better.”
“Okay,” Kai mumbled, his mind still reeling. Xiang kissed him.
He raised trembling fingers and lightly touched the spot, almost afraid that if he touched it too much, he’d rub off the residual tingling feeling. No one had ever—