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)
“Where?” Meimei demanded.
“Here.”
“What?” Xiang’s voice cracked. He jerked his head around to search the room, but Kai’s low chuckle brought his eyes to his face.
“I moved the hoard and the cave. It is now below this house.”
“What the…how?”
This time it was Chen who laughed. “He’s a dragon. They’re known for having immense magical powers. It was probably nothing for him to move a treasure hoard and a cave.”
Kai shrugged one shoulder as he smirked at Chen. “Well, it was a little work.”
Xiao Dan cleared his throat. “Xiang, why don’t you give our guest a tour of our home and make sure that all his needs are met?” Then Shixiong bowed his head to Kai. “Please, think of our home as your home.”
Yes, Kai had a new home, and Xiang was going to make sure he wasn’t going anywhere for a very long time. They had many things that needed to be discussed, starting with that last kiss.
1 Huangdi – the Yellow Emperor. A person from ancient Chinese mythology who was the founder of Chinese culture and civilization. Upon his death, it was believed that he was carried to the heavens by a dragon and made a god.
2 Yinglong – first imperial dragon. His name means ‘dragon who responds’
3 Da-ge – senior older brother, a sort of respectful endearment
Chapter 16
Kai
It felt too easy.
They were welcoming him in because he was a dragon. Or more specifically, the imperial dragon Yinglong, famous for aiding Huangdi.
Under normal circumstances, his ego would argue that they were doing the proper thing, but these weren’t normal circumstances. He’d stolen away a member of their clan, held him against his will. They should hate him. Threaten him. At the very least, they shouldn’t have him staying under the same roof as him.
However, Kai knew he wasn’t strong enough to turn them down. He was determined to remain close to Xiang. The vampire too easily found himself in danger, and someone needed to look after him.
As the meeting broke apart and the others rose to their feet to go about their usual routines, Xiang leaned on the table and grasped one of Ming Yu’s hands in both of his. Kai bit the insides of his cheeks as the vampire blessed the woman with his sweetest smile.
“Jiejie, can I beg a favor?” Xiang pleaded.
She clucked her tongue at him and gave a roll of her eyes, though Kai didn’t miss the grin she was hiding poorly. “What is with all this nonsense? What could you want?”
“Sweet Jiejie, could you make Kai some of your special spareribs? Maybe some soup? Kai is still recovering from the injuries he suffered from the fae when he was protecting me, and he had only my cooking to see him through.” The extra jut of his bottom lip was unnecessary.
Ming Yu jerked her hand free of Xiang’s on a gasp, her wide eyes snapping to Kai with such a look of sympathy. “Absolutely! Li Xiang, I can’t believe you were so thoughtless. You should have brought him to me immediately.” She placed gentle hands on Kai’s shoulders. “Don’t worry. I will make you something good to fill your stomach. You’ll be feeling better in no time at all.”
Kai unstuck his tongue to argue that he’d not given Xiang a chance to bring him to the clan sooner, but he never got the chance. Rei and Moon were climbing over furniture and almost knocking over their own mates to hurry to Ming Yu’s side.
“Jiejie, what about me? I need your yummy cooking too,” Rei cried.
“Shijie, I’m still getting used to my vampire body. I need your cooking, too,” Moon begged. It was a pathetic sight, but Ming Yu smiled at them, touching their cheeks.
“Of course, I’ll make enough for you both as well,” she promised before disappearing down a corridor into what Kai guessed was the kitchen. Moon and Rei trailed after her, continuing to sing the praises of her cooking and offering to keep her company as she worked.
Kai looked over to see Xiang smirking at him from where he was still half laid across the table. The vampire appeared so smug, but also very relaxed. Yes, he’d relaxed well enough while stuck in Kai’s hoard, but this was so different. It was clear Xiang was in his home territory and hidden layers of tension had fallen off his frame.
“I told you that my shijie would take care of you. She is the best cook. All her food is made with love. Way better than mine.”
“You didn’t need to ask her for that. I don’t like that she’s going to that trouble for me.”
Xiang made a dismissive noise in the back of his throat and pushed to his feet. “Su Ming Yu is a natural-born caretaker. She’s told us many times that she feels most useful when she’s cooking for us and making sure we’re happy.”