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)
Using his other hand to hold her chin, the excitement on her features only grew, as it was clear the moment she had been waiting for had finally come …
But then, suddenly, his hand became as firm as the grip he had on her hand.
“How didn’t I see what a jealous, vindictive snake you are before this very moment?”
“I-I …” The act she tried to continue only lasted a moment longer before she could see in his eyes that there would be no changing his mind—he saw right through her. And with that, the mask began to slip as sweetness faded into her true form. “You have been a fool to fall for an outsider, Ryu.”
“Tell me: was it your father who came up with the idea to kill her?”
“Depends,” she spat venomously through his grip. “Which time? The flower or the perfume?”
The grip on her face tightened even more as he slipped the ring off her finger with a force that showed he could keep the promise he was about to give. “If Eira’s dead, there’s no hope for you in this life or the next.”
“You wouldn’t dare hurt a Kai and a family member of this royal palace!” She hysterically laughed until she trailed off slowly.
And that was when she realized her mistake too late.
“You, Yuri”—Ryu’s grip tightened, becoming painful to his victim—“are no family of mine.”
Kage was a man of habit, and Ryu knew exactly where to find him. An eerie feeling of déjà vu flashed when Ryu saw Kage doing his meditation exercises, which he continued at Ryu’s approach.
Kage merely stared straight ahead, not even bothering to acknowledge his friend’s presence.
Oh, how Ryu wished he could go back to earlier this morning before he had known of the gut-wrenching betrayal and stay there, but Ryu wasn’t so lucky.
He began to circle his sensei, the teacher whom, until today, he had trusted with his life. Sorrow and fury had his dragon balking at being restrained, wanting to be given full rein on the man who had broken his trust.
“I want to thank you, Kage …”
Kage momentarily paused then resumed his fluid movements as Ryu continued.
“I never could fully understand why the males in my family had to bear the burden of having our brides chosen for us.” Ryu walked around his friend who had turned foe. “And why the fate of our island rested on marrying these women. But if we couldn’t find her, we would lose our dragon heritage forever. I don’t know if my other male ancestors felt the same way, but I was resentful.
“I admit there were a few of the women in the village I could have settled for, and I resented having the choice made for me. However, thanks to you, I no longer feel that resentment. The prophecy ensured I and my ancestors couldn’t be manipulated by others, to prevent evil from entering the dragon line.”
Kage made a disgusted sound as he proceeded with his exercise regime. “Your line is weak. The dragon holds so much power, yet never once has it been used to benefit the island. Everyone should be made to fear us, to pay homage to you. Instead, you protect them. Our people still are working as hard as my parents did. We could be rich while our people would never have to work another day.”
Ryu folded his hands behind his back as he continued to walk. “How? By using my dragon’s existence to inspire fear? The fear wouldn’t create wealth; it would lead to the downfall of our people.”
“So says our weak prince,” his sensei mocked.
“I am not weak. My ancestors were not weak. We are simply not greedy,” Ryu spat back, unbelieving of the change in the man who had taught him everything he knew about combat. “How have my father and I not seen you despise us so?”
“Because my ancestors and I did not want you to see. It’s not like we could steal the dragon away from your family—it was gifted.” Kage put his hands up to the sky to curse whoever that had been. “Unless one of your ancestors had a child with one of mine, then that child could assume the dragon heritage without being stolen. Unfortunately, females aren’t often born in our family, and when they were, your ancestors had already mated and birthed the next heir. Yuri is the only female in my lineage who’s been born during a time period that could have bred a dragon and heir.”
“So, you were prepared to kill anyone I mated with?”
“Yes.”
Ryu couldn’t believe the brazenness of Kage’s admission. “You don’t deny it?”
“I said you were weak, not stupid.” His backhanded compliment didn’t go missed. “Of all the mates you could’ve had, she was quite easy to want to kill. You should be thankful I have gone to such lengths to rid you of that girl. Eira is a frightened mouse; she doesn’t deserve to be queen. The prophecy has been fulfilled. The tree is no longer dying, and nothing has ever been written in history that says only a fated mate can bear a dragon and heir. My daughter will mother excellent children. She will give you a strong warrior, a son to be proud of, not a son afraid of his own shadow. And I guarantee you the tree would restart life again.”