Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 117167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 586(@200wpm)___ 469(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 586(@200wpm)___ 469(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
After ordering Xiang to clean up the blood on the floor, Ming Yu threaded her arm through Yichen’s and led him along several halls and turns to a lovely bathroom. She was about to step outside the room and wait for him, but he held on to her arm and closed the door behind them both.
“Nope. You’re staying here. You’ve got to help me catch up.” He dropped his voice to a harsh whisper. “What is going on with Chen Bo Cheng? Has his mind snapped? I’ve never seen him act like that. We’ve known him for two thousand years. I was gone for a century, and it’s like he’s acquired an entirely new personality.”
Ming Yu giggled, lifting her hand to cover her mouth as if she were still wearing a wide-sleeved robe. “His mind hasn’t snapped. He’s in love.”
“Love?” Yichen repeated dully. Maybe Chen wasn’t the only one to have lost his mind.
Ming Yu lightly slapped his shoulder. “Clean up. I’ll try to catch you up.”
He didn’t hesitate to turn on the water and scoop some into his mouth. After swishing it about, he spat it out, trying to remove the taste. Normally, the taste of blood wouldn’t bother him, but ever since he’d become dependent on Rei’s blood, any other upset his stomach. He repeated the process several times while Ming Yu picked up a soft, ivory-colored hand towel and placed it on the dark marble counter.
“Er-ge located Moon a few days before the fae door opened. Through his friends, he helped us locate where the door would appear. We hoped to rescue you the moment the fae entered the world, but things proved to be more complicated than we’d planned for. Moon helped us fight the fae army and protect our home. He saved Chen’s life more than once,” she explained, her soft voice a soothing balm over his frazzled nerves. Gods, how he missed listening to her talk. So calming. Like Rei when he wasn’t being a playful shit.
“So, they fell in love?” His hands muffled his words as he rubbed them over his face, washing away the blood.
“They did. Chen is so much happier now. Moon lifts his soul and fills him with laughter. And I think Moon has found a home in Chen that he’d not enjoyed for a very long time.”
Yichen’s brain was struggling with the idea of it all. Chen…well, he loved Chen as a brother, but he’d never thought of the man falling in love with someone. First, it would mean noticing someone outside their clan, and the only thing that had ever mattered to Chen was the clan. And second, it would mean making himself vulnerable. That never happened.
At least, it hadn’t until Moon.
“What’s his problem with the blood witch performing magic?” Yichen grabbed the towel and straightened as he dried the drops of water from his face.
When Ming Yu remained silent, he lifted his eyes to her reflection in the mirror to find her frowning.
“You must not have noticed. It was chaotic when you arrived.”
“What?”
“Moon isn’t just a blood witch. He’s a vampire now. Er-ge had no choice. He had to change him to save his life. King Ash nearly killed him during the battle to rescue you.”
The towel tumbled into the sink from his dead fingers and he whipped around to demand to know how that was possible, but in the next heartbeat, his brain conjured up the answer. Chen and Moon had remained behind to cover his and Rei’s escape.
“Moon…did he…” The words fractured in his throat, making it impossible for him to continue.
Ming Yu grasped his hands in hers and squeezed. “Moon made the choice freely. He says he has no regrets and is happy as a vampire. What happened to him is not your fault or Rei’s. Neither Chen nor Moon blame you.”
“But his magic?”
His shijie sighed and nodded. “Apparently, his new vampire magic is creating complications with his blood witch side. He loses control easily and becomes a danger to himself. We are proceeding cautiously while we try to find ways to help him. Have patience.”
“Is there another blood witch who could help us? A friend of his?”
Ming Yu was shaking her head even as he spoke. “Blood witches are incredibly rare. Other than Moon’s mother, he’s known no others in his lifetime.” She gave his fingers a last squeeze and pressed a reassuring smile onto her lips. “We should hurry and join the others. I’m sure your Rei is worried about you.”
He didn’t bother to correct her. Not that he was confident that Rei was worried about him, but he wasn’t comfortable leaving Rei alone with his brothers.
Or maybe he wasn’t ready to allow Rei out of his sight, period.
They’d been together so long now and since escaping the royal family, Rei hadn’t been away from him for more than a few minutes. It was easier to breathe when he could see the elf.