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)
Xiang sat up, a chill threatening to freeze the blood in his veins. “Did you know Emperor Wu?”
Kai paused for a second before shaking his head. Never met him. The emperors I knew lived and ruled in the early part of the dynasty. I don’t think I was in Chang’An during Emperor Wu’s reign.
Something inside of Xiang relaxed, and he felt like he could breathe. His memories of those early years serving the emperor with Jiang Chong guiding them were too dark. He didn’t want to think of Kai being part of that. Didn’t want the dragon to be tainted by the ugliness he’d barely escaped.
Silence fell between them as Xiang settled against the dragon, his mind searching for some safe place to begin their conversation. He didn’t want to fight with Kai any longer.
I know you have to return to your clan.
Kai’s soft words not only shocked him, but the fragile tone threatened to break his heart. Xiang swore he could hear him saying, “I know you have to leave me.” It was on the tip of his tongue to shout that he had no intention of leaving Kai. That he’d stay there in the cave forever.
But that was nonsense.
“Going back to my clan doesn’t mean that I’m leaving you,” Xiang replied the moment he could get his own rampaging heart to settle. “You’re coming with me.”
You said that when you thought Kai was human.
“And I still feel that way about Kai the dragon. You’re going home with me. You have no choice.”
The dragon shifted his massive head so Xiang could see him lift a questioning eyebrow at him.
Xiang smirked. “You have to meet with my clan. It’s the only way we’re going to figure out how to steal your sword and defeat the fae with my family.” He lifted one finger and wagged it at Kai. “Don’t forget, we have an elf fighting on our side. He’s got to know some inside information that will help us defeat the queen and her army.”
There were other reasons that began with the kiss they’d shared and the tightness that grew in his chest whenever he thought about them going their separate ways. But he didn’t have any answers about these tangled feelings that were developing. Those things could only be sorted out after he was with his clan. Then he’d have time to figure out why everything within him was demanding he lock Kai up with his clan and never let him out.
Fuck. Now I’m thinking like Kai.
Nope. Getting home to his family was critical for both him and the dragon.
Okay. Kai’s agreement whispered across his brain.
“What?” Xiang’s head whipped about so he could look up at the dragon, who was resting on some pillows with his eyes closed.
I’ll return you to your clan…tomorrow.
“No.” Kai’s eyes popped open and his head lifted. Xiang pointed a finger at him and tried to slap his most fierce expression on his face while he was bubbling over with joy on the inside. “We’re going to my clan together. You’re not allowed to dump me off like some unwanted rubbish and fly away. You’re staying.”
Kai stared at him for several heartbeats before giving a small nod. Yes, I need to apologize to your clan for keeping you.
Xiang released an irritated sigh. Kai knew how to drive him crazy. That was not why Xiang wanted him to stay at all. “You need to stay so we can help each other. My clan and I are stealing your sword back.”
They will help even though I kidnapped you?
As insane as it sounded, it was time to take a page out of Moon’s playbook. “Nope. You rescued me. And for that, they’ll be happy to help you.”
He didn’t know if dragons could laugh, but Xiang couldn’t shake the feeling that amusement was rising out of Kai. It even wrapped around the thought he sent to Xiang.
Okay. Tomorrow.
Xiang smiled to himself as he settled on the dragon, a lingering tingle playing on his lips. He wasn’t sure if it was from the kiss they shared or his overwhelming joy at the idea of returning to his family, though.
Tomorrow, he would be where he belonged with the Zhang clan.
But how in the world was he going to explain Kai to them? Would they accept him even though he had technically kidnapped Xiang and held him against his will?
Pfft. Of course they would. They accepted Rei, and he was an elf. Who wouldn’t want a dragon in their clan?
This was going to be no problem at all.
Chapter 14
Kai
This was a disaster waiting to happen.
Kai’s stomach churned and knotted during the entire flight from his hoard to the Zhang clan. He took it slowly, hiding up among the high clouds so he couldn’t be spotted drawing closer to the vampires. The sun was sinking below the horizon, and they would arrive just as full dark descended on Connecticut. He expected them to greet him with swords, spears, and arrows.