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)
Smiling, Eira closed Yuri’s hand over it. “For your kindness.”
Yuri violently shook her head. “Oh, I couldn’t possibly.”
“You can, and you will.” She let her know she wouldn’t take no for an answer. “Besides, I have so much that Ryu will never know.”
“Thank you,” Yuri finally gave in, putting it in her pocket before grabbing a dainty necklace that Eira thought was much more suited to her.
“Now, that is perfect.” Eira beamed, seeing that she was being so easily understood.
Grateful someone here besides Ryu was nice to her, and that she had a confidant, it finally felt like, for once, Eira had actually made a friend.
22
Is That a Deal?
“He hates me.” Eira helplessly slumped down on the bed once they were in the confines of her new room.
“Who?” Ryu asked, raising a brow. “My father?”
“Yes,” she breathed like it was obvious.
“No, he doesn’t.” He approached to comfort her, then placed his arm over her shoulders and let her know why his father had perhaps been the least welcoming. “He is disappointed in me for almost costing us the dynasty.”
“Well, you’re his son, so he’ll get over it.” She tossed his arm off her shoulder and got back to her feet, unable to keep from pacing. “Look at me, though. I’m simply … inadequate.”
“Eira, don’t say that about yoursel—”
“It’s true. Look at me.” She gestured at herself, trying to send her point home, but Ryu simply wasn’t having it.
“Enough.” This time, his tone came out rather harshly; he didn’t appreciate her manner of speaking about herself. “I don’t want to ever hear you talk about yourself that way again. Do you understand me?”
She didn’t know how or when he had gotten up and closed the distance between them, only that she now stood staring up at an enraged man who could change into a dragon at any second if it pleased him so.
“Do you understand?” he repeated when she had been too breathless to answer.
Managing a nod was the best she could do in this moment.
“Good,” Ryu said once he was certain she wouldn’t be making that mistake again. As he continued with his next critique, he let his voice soften. “Your choice in attire, however, leaves a lot to be desired.”
Even though he tried his best to say it in a joking manner, she knew the truth held behind it, making her feel completely defeated now. “You don’t like it?”
Seeing her hurt, he desperately tried to sound nicer but still had to be honest. “I’m not that fond of the color. I had something like that in mind for if you were mourning.”
“Mourning?” She was appalled at how horrible he was with his words in this moment. He was quite literally being the opposite of comforting when she had just literally flown across the ocean to live in his home.
Sensing that he was making things worse, he quickly explained his thinking. “As royalty, it’s best to wear them for such occasions.”
“Oh …” She licked her dry lips, remembering his mother’s fate. “I see.”
Ryu sighed. “Did you not like the things I bought?”
“What? Of course I did.” She was taken off guard and now felt guilty, understanding why he had brought it up in the first place. She could now see the hurt in his eyes when she reached for his hand. “They are all lovely. Every single thing is extraordinary, and I thank you for all the thought and care you clearly put in picking each piece.” She made sure he knew she was sincere because she was. Truthfully, she was. “But … I just don’t want all that attention, at first,” Eira clarified before she could get his hopes up. “I need to get used to it, is all.”
The corner of his lip lifted in a slow smile. “I understand. You need time.”
“Thank you.” Relief flooded her that she could hold on to the security of wearing darker colors a bit longer. His comment, however, brought her to the next point she had wanted to ask during dinner. “Ryu … how old are you?”
Silence enveloped them for a few moments before he finally answered, “Old-er.” At once, he knew by her face that she was clearly not only unimpressed by his particular wording, but he answered with a shrug, “Honestly, at my age, you kind of lose count.”
“And you didn’t think to tell me?” Frustration was evident in her voice.
“Time moves differently for me, so I’m technically your age, give or take a few years. Besides, it doesn’t exactly change the fact I’m your fated mate, now does it?”
“No,” she grumbled in defeat after several cursed thoughts. “But it would have been nice to know.”
“I apologize for not telling you,” he said sincerely.
“Is there anything else you’d like to tell me?”
“Well …” It was obvious by his starting tone that there was. “You will age slower now, too.”