Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 55059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 275(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 275(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
Itako stopped, giving him her full attention. Her blind eyes met his as she told him honestly, “She must’ve experienced a painful event or death in that life.”
It felt as if he had been hit in his chest, knocking the breath out of him.
“The spirit of your dragon must’ve met her on the other side.”
His words were hoarse. “The spirit of my dragon?”
“You not only carry your soul, but the souls of all your ancestors that were dragons before you. My guess is they protected her, assuring that her soul was placed correctly to continue your lineage,” she explained.
He looked down at the creaky floor; it was bittersweet to know his ancestors had made Eira possible for him, but it bitterly hurt to know she might have suffered.
“I see.”
Itako reached for his hand, taking it in her withered ones. “Her past life doesn’t define what could happen in this one,” she assured him before placing a small bottle in his hand. “Have her take a drop of this before bed to sleep. She won’t dream, and I have reason to believe when you are mated, the dreams will stop … hopefully.”
“Thank you.” He nodded his head in understanding of the instructions. “But if our past lives don’t define us, then why are we broken in every one?”
“It is cold.” The seeress pretended to shiver. “Do you mind getting me some kindle to start a fire?”
“Sure.” Swallowing hard, he placed the bottle in his pocket before leaving. He knew she had only requested him to pick up twigs to spare him of the answer.
Fearing that Eira might end up like his mother as he gathered the supplies, he realized how strong his father must be to continue life without his fated mate. While he and Eira had only just met and were yet to be mated, he was certain he couldn’t live a single moment in this life without her.
Entering the old place once again, he saw Itako rocking in her chair by the fireplace as she smoked a pipe.
“Thank you,” she said, blowing out her words with a puff.
Bending down, he began starting the fire for her when she asked, “Could you hand me a stick?”
Ryu nonchalantly held out a stick, knowing even though she was blind, she’d know where it was. “Here.”
“Do me a favor?” she asked, not taking it. “Break it.”
Ryu snapped the long, skinny twig in two.
Leaning forward, she pushed his hands together, making him grab the now two sticks together as one. “And again?”
When he went to snap the twigs again, this time it didn’t break. Instead, they bent together.
The witch rocked back in her chair, pleased. “Do you understand now, Ryu?”
“Yes, Itako,” he said, smiling with relief.
“You are not meant to rule as a broken king, but as an unyielding one with Eira by your side. That is the only thing that remains certain in each of your lives. The rest is determined by fate.” She puffed her pipe strongly, and the flame grew brighter. “You can be one of the greatest Tei kings in dynasty history because of this.”
The wetness spilled out of eyes and hit his cheeks, unbeknownst to him. “I can?” he asked hoarsely, not believing it.
She nodded. “Yes, but you must make what you will of your destiny.”
Understanding now, he tried to make light while wiping his tears away as he went back to starting her fire. “You can see all that, huh?”
“Well—” Itako laughed. “Let’s hope.”
Laughing with her for a moment made him start to feel better, but he had one last question …
“My father …” he started to ask. However, she already knew what he wondered.
“Yes.” She puffed an air of smoke. “When he passes, his spirit will travel with you in this life, but when it’s your time, your spirit must move on to meet Eira’s in the next.”
As he finished up, Ryu felt strong enough to finally leave and claim the woman he was born to be with in each and every life.
When he left his village this time, he knew upon his next return that not only would he never get the chance to leave it again, but his arrival would be with his fated mate.
12
A Full-Fledged Dragon
Eira sat down near the cliff’s edge to watch the sun rise. Before Ryu, she felt like this was her special place, but after Ryu, she felt like it was their special place. She thought maybe if she returned where they had first met and last seen each other, he might come back. But the longer she sat there as the sun traveled the sky, the more hope she lost.
Her instinct had told her that it would all quickly feel like a dream when he had first disappeared and, unfortunately, she had been right. The only proof he had been there was the bonsai tree Ryu had planted for her grandmother in their front yard.