Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 105815 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105815 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
As they traveled, his eyes danced over Junjie’s lithe form, taking in the short swords he had strapped to his back. When he’d wrapped himself around the man, he’d also felt a few other hidden blades. The vampire was very well armed and prepared for a fight. He would prefer it if Junjie didn’t have to put his life at risk, though.
They walked for about another ten minutes before they met up with Chen and Mei Lian, who were crouched beside an ancient oak tree with broad limbs outstretched in every direction. Mei Lian’s whispered sigh reached his ears as soon as she spotted them, and they both stood.
“About time,” she grumbled.
“Have you spotted anything?” Junjie inquired, ignoring her complaint.
Chen frowned and dusted some dirt off the knees of his jeans. “Nothing. Mei Lian was checking our position on the map. We’ve covered the area that the Variks thought we might find some activity. I was about to check in with the other team.”
“Other team?” Leo asked as he edged closer to Junjie. It was tempting to put an arm on his waist and his head on Junjie’s shoulder, but there was a new tension humming through the vampire’s frame. He was on edge, and Leo did not want to set him off.
“Xiao Dan, Huli, Yichen, and Rei are out surveying another section of these woods,” Junjie explained.
The teasing and playfulness evaporated as a fiery ball of anger formed in his chest. “What about the dragon? Why isn’t the dragon protecting your team, too?” The dragon had to be the one weapon the Zhang clan had that would make the fae reluctant to attack them.
Junjie tilted his head at him, his thick, arched eyebrows lifting toward his hairline. “He has wrapped himself around most of the buildings of the manor, protecting Erik with the help of Xiang, Moon, and Ming Yu.”
“Okay,” Leo mumbled. Part of him wanted to argue that it might be overkill to have three vampires and a dragon protecting a child when the fae had no reason to go after him. Then again, it was a relief he couldn’t quite explain to know Erik was so safe. It was just that something inside of him also wanted Junjie to be the same level of safe. But there was only one dragon.
That settled it. He’d have to take the place of a dragon.
Leo snorted and nearly choked on the laugh he tried to hold in. The heads of all three vampires swung about and they stared at him as if he’d lost his mind. Leo clapped both hands over his mouth to hold in his giggles.
Take the place of a dragon?
Yep, he’d lost his damn mind.
Junjie put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed. He dipped close to look into Leo’s eyes as worry dug lines into his brow. “Are you all right? What happened?”
Leo fell into those deep, warm-brown pools of concern. All his silly laughing was forgotten, and a hundred memories flashed through his mind of all the early mornings they’d spent together. As the sun crept toward the horizon, Junjie would sit on the patio, stroking his fur and whispering stories about other cats that had kept him company during the long, endless centuries. He’d learned to envy every one of those cats as he filled his belly with fish and cream, soaking in that affection. It didn’t matter that Junjie saw him as another stray to pass the time with. At that moment, he was Junjie’s stray. His one and only.
Now he stood next to him in the dark woods and something in his chest rose and cried out. It wasn’t enough to be a stray, grabbing a random meal here and there, stealing affection and giving nothing in return. Peering into those large, perfect eyes, Leo wanted so much more. He wanted to be worthy of Junjie’s soft heart and his beautiful soul.
“Leo?” Junjie repeated. This time he licked his lips and Leo’s gaze snapped to that slight movement, following it like a cat watching a bird hop along a fence railing. Yes, he wanted to be something more to Junjie, but right now, a taste of those lips sounded best of all.
He lowered his hands from his mouth and reached for the vampire, ready to pull him in close so he could taste that concern and everything else about Junjie.
A soft rustle of leaves not too far from where they were standing drew Leo’s eyes from Junjie to a point over his shoulder. His eyes widened as something metallic flashed as it caught a thin ray of moonlight. The warning was still on the tip of his tongue when Junjie moved. As he spun to face their attackers, Junjie shoved Leo behind him with one hand and reached for a sword with the other.