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)
But that meant leaving Xiang.
His entire body ached at the idea of not holding his Xiang again. He’d rather have died spiked to the fae’s courtyard than not see the vampire.
He could tell himself that he could return to Xiang’s side after he destroyed the fae, but he knew deep down he wouldn’t survive that confrontation. He only hoped to at least take Queen Belladonna’s life before he lost his own.
Carefully, Kai slid out from under Xiang’s arm and climbed to his feet. His legs were weak and wobbled under him, but most of the pain was now gone. With a wave of his hand, he dressed in a pair of jeans, a black T-shirt, and soft boots—something to match his bleak mood.
Looking at Xiang, he drank up the sight of the man’s bare skin and his tousled dark hair as it covered tiny glimpses of his face. He would cherish every memory he had of their time together. Every second of their shared past was a rare gem, more valuable than all the treasures in his hoard.
As he was leaving, Kai waved his hand and the black weiqi stone that had been sitting in the pit of Xiang’s stomach now rested in his palm. After giving it a bitter smile, he shoved it into his pocket.
The rest of the house was silent as he strolled along the winding hallway. He peeked through doorways to find the common area rooms were all empty. The more distantly spaced bedrooms were filled with the soft breaths of the sleeping and some bits of whispered conversation. Out the windows, he glimpsed darks skies slowly turning to paler shades of gray with the rising sun.
Wanting to walk through old memories one last time, Kai passed through the kitchen and was about to step onto the rear porch when he found Junjie sitting on the edge, a fat orange cat stretched out across his lap. The low guttural purr was ridiculously loud coming from such a tiny creature, but its pleasure was clear with every pass of Junjie’s hand over his stomach.
“You shouldn’t leave,” Junjie murmured before Kai could retreat into the house unnoticed.
Kai hesitated. It would be nothing to erase the memory of Junjie seeing him that morning, but it felt disrespectful after everything they’d been through and how this clan had accepted him within their ranks.
To his surprise, he sat on the edge of the porch next to the vampire, watching as Junjie stroked that thick orange and white fur again and again. There was something peaceful about being near Junjie. Xiao Dan was almost as peaceful, but there was a weight to his presence as well because of his position as head of the clan. A nervousness crept into Kai around Xiao Dan, wanting his approval because he knew that mattered to Xiang.
But with Junjie, there was a quiet stillness that he wanted to soak in for as long as possible.
“Are you feeling better?” Junjie inquired, as he moved his hand to scratch the cat’s chin. Its big yellow eyes closed, and the purring grew even louder. It was enough to make him wonder what it would feel like if Xiang scratched his belly while he was in dragon form.
No!
No belly scratches!
He was supposed to be leaving, getting away from Xiang so he and the entire Zhang clan would be safe.
“I’m feeling much better now. Thank you for your help and concern.”
“Why do you think leaving Xiang is a good idea?” Junjie asked. “Has he not shown his love and willingness to sacrifice himself for you?”
Ouch.
For all his quiet, Kai had not expected the vampire to be so blunt. However, he could not fault him for his direct approach or his concern for his clan mate.
“I’m afraid that Xiang is too willing to sacrifice himself. The risk he and Rei took was too great to rescue me. While I appreciate their efforts, I don’t want them to put themselves in danger like that again.” Resting his elbow on his knee, Kai bent his head and shoved his hand through his hair before resting his forehead on his hand.
“Xiang and Rei are both adults capable of deciding for themselves. They’re also trained fighters, experienced in deadly battles. They understand the risks and their own limitations. Leaving now shows that you don’t respect Xiang’s ability to decide.”
Kai frowned at the man next to him, but Junjie kept his eyes locked on the cat, who continued to stretch out more and more in his lap. “This isn’t about Xiang’s abilities or disrespecting his autonomy. I’m afraid he is allowing his emotions to cloud his judgments. He and Rei went up against hundreds, if not thousands, of fae to rescue me. It’s a miracle they survived. That was not a sound decision. It was a decision based on…on…”