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)
The vampire turned and frowned at him. “Three minutes.”
“What? That can’t be right.” Kai marched over to scowl at the sun that refused to set and the man who refused to return to his side faster.
“Sucks being left behind,” Yichen mumbled, his hands shoved into his pockets.
Kai had a feeling this was the part where he was supposed to say something reassuring about how Xiang and Rei could handle the fae on their own and that they wouldn’t find any trouble. But those words were trite, and he didn’t believe them. Xiang was very good at finding trouble, and Rei seemed as capable on that front. Xiang needed Kai at his side to keep him safe.
“They will not return faster with you two hovering at the front door.” The gentle voice with a hint of laughter had Kai and Yichen turning at the same time to find Xiao Dan standing in the foyer watching them. “They’ll be fine.”
“Shixiong, did we disturb you?” Yichen inquired, his shoulders slumping.
“I couldn’t sleep.” With his admission, Xiao Dan’s smile wilted on his lips as if he couldn’t keep his weariness at bay. Yet he drew in a deep breath and pressed the corners of his mouth higher. “I heard everything from when Xiang swallowed a weiqi stone. Come with me to make some tea, and we’ll talk.”
Yichen nodded and started after Xiao Dan as the older vampire turned toward the kitchen. Kai hesitated. Was he supposed to accompany them? This was the first time he’d been left alone with Xiang’s family. He was an outsider. No! Worse! He was still Xiang’s kidnapper.
He was still debating what he should do next when Yichen stopped and walked back to his side. Grabbing Kai’s elbow, he motioned for the dragon to precede him. “That was an invitation for both of us. Shixiong’s ‘we’ll talk’ really means that he’ll listen while we explain why we’re pouting at the front door like a pair of sad golden retrievers.”
“Oh,” Kai murmured, allowing Yichen to lead him through the house to the kitchen, where Xiao Dan was placing a kettle on a stove burner. Yichen motioned for him to sit on a stool at the center island before he moved to pull down some cups and a container of tea leaves.
“I feel I should begin our talk with an apology,” Kai stated. Both vampires stopped what they were doing and turned to stare at him, their eyes wide and mouths hanging open without making a sound. “I never apologized for stealing Li Xiang and keeping him.”
Xiao Dan and Yichen shared a look that Kai couldn’t quite interpret. At the very least, Xiao Dan didn’t seem angry. Bemused, maybe?
Clearing his throat, he tipped his head to the kettle while holding Yichen’s gaze and then turned his full attention toward Kai. He walked over to stand opposite of him with the island between them. The vampire was very handsome, with neatly trimmed short hair and a clean-shaven face. He’d been older than the others when he’d been changed, looking to be a man in his early thirties.
“I appreciate your apology, but I don’t think it’s necessary. Queen Belladonna didn’t give you any choice but to take him. We’re grateful that you kept him safe for us,” Xiao Dan said.
“Rather than eating him,” Yichen chimed in from the stove.
Kai grunted, dropping his eyes to the countertop where his hands were folded together. “Yes, I had considered it, but I thought maybe that was what the fae wanted, and I was in no mood to follow her orders. But I didn’t return him quickly.” Kai raised his head and stared at Xiao Dan in earnest. “He wanted to return to his clan much sooner, but I thought if I kept him in my hoard, the queen would forget about his existence. I thought he’d be safer with me. Xiang convinced me that if I helped you to defeat the fae, you would help me regain possession of my sword.”
“Yes, we are going to help each other,” Yichen agreed as he moved the steaming water off the hot burner and poured it into a ceramic teapot with the leaves already in place.
Xiao Dan threw Yichen a look. It disappeared as soon as he turned his gaze to Kai. “I’m glad we can help each other on this matter. However, I have to say that it feels like you’re not too eager to release Xiang from your hoard even now. Do you think he won’t be safe with his clan?”
Kai opened his mouth, but the words become lodged in the back of his throat. He pressed his lips together and let out a loud huff through his nose while his body slouched on the stool. “No,” he mumbled. “Xiang is very safe and happy here with his clan.”