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)
A bitter laugh broke from Yichen, stopping Xiang’s story. He dropped his face into his hand and dragged in a ragged breath. “So kidnapping me was never part of their plan. It was just luck that they grabbed me as they raced to their realm before the door closed.”
Xiang’s heart ached for his didi. Poor luck that put him in the fae’s path that night. That resulted in him being kidnapped and stolen away from his clan for a hundred years.
Rei shifted even closer, wrapping an arm about Yichen’s waist while resting his head on the vampire’s shoulder. His long blond hair fell in a curtain, almost completely blocking his and Yichen’s faces from view, but he could still hear his whispered words.
“Bad luck for the pain you suffered. Good luck that we had the chance to find each other.”
Yichen nodded once, his lips brushing Rei’s temple. “Together forever. They’ll never separate us.” He turned his attention to Xiang and Kai. “Sorry. Continue, please.”
“The sword itself has no special powers,” Kai said as he took over the tale. “It just happens to be a sword gifted by Huangdi shortly ahead of his ascension to godhood. The problem lies in the fact that I regarded it as something infinitely precious from the moment I received it. I built my entire hoard around that sword. It is the heart of my treasure collection.”
“Oh, now this sounds especially bad,” Junjie murmured.
“To lose the heart of anything is the same as losing everything,” Ming Yu calmly announced as she entered the room carrying a tray with a steaming teapot with several cups. Mei Lian followed a couple of steps behind with another tray with more tea.
Ming Yu slipped into the empty spot on the other side of Kai and smiled warmly at him. “Would you like some tea, Great Dragon Master?”
“I would love some, please, but it’s Kai. That is all.”
Xiang leaned in from Kai’s other side, his chin almost resting on his shoulder. “That’s Su Ming Yu. The jiejie I told you about.”
One corner of Kai’s mouth lifted. “The jiejie who cooks such wonderful food that you missed while you were stuck with me.”
Xiang huffed. “It wasn’t that. But you couldn’t cook, and I don’t know how to cook anything as good as my shijie.”
Ming Yu laughed softly as she poured a cup of tea and placed it in front of Kai. She also poured a second and gave it to Xiang. “You only love me for my cooking.”
“No!” Xiang cried as he reached for the cup. “I love Jiejie because she always has warm hugs for me and tells the best stories. You know all the old fairy tales and myths.”
“Smooth talkers,” Ming Yu murmured as she finished filling cups and passing them around.
Since they’d reached a break, Xiang took the chance to finish introductions for Kai, which was more or less pure chaos, thanks to the recent additions of Rei and Moon. Their clan was bigger and stronger now, but Xiang could see that positive influence both men had on their mates. Yichen was still coming out of his gloomy shell, following his time with the fae thanks to Rei. Meanwhile, Chen was grinning a little easier because of Moon’s nonstop antics.
“Forgive me for being so blunt,” Chen began, and Xiang winced. This would not be good. “But are you following the command of Queen Belladonna because you hope to find an opportunity to steal your property back?”
“He’s not—” Xiang shouted and jumped to his feet, but Kai grabbed his hand and pulled him to his seat.
“His question is fair,” Kai stated as he squeezed Xiang’s hand. And like that, the flurry of rage in his chest fizzled out. Chen’s question might be fair, but that brief look and squeeze were not fair. He wanted to be angry and shout at Chen. Shouting at Chen was fun. If he did it enough, Chen would snap and shout in return.
Xiang pouted while Kai returned his attention to the rest of the gathering.
“Not quite. There is an old legend that unfortunately holds a rather large nugget of truth. If you possess the heart of a dragon’s hoard, you hold the power to command that dragon to do whatever you wish.”
“Oh fuck,” Moon whispered.
Yeah, Xiang felt the same way.
“Mother can command you to do whatever she wishes?” Rei asked. The elf shook his head. “No. No, this can’t continue. The damage she wrought across the human realm. The deaths of even my people. And now she has a dragon at her command?” Rei jumped to his feet, his fists trembling at his sides. “I can’t sit here another moment longer, waiting to see what fresh disaster she creates. I know I can sneak into the castle.”
“Stop!” Yichen shouted as he grabbed Rei’s arms, holding him in place. “You’re not throwing your life away like that.”