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)
“Zelda proved he can remain here. There’s a way to provide him with the magic he needs to survive. And if I recall correctly, he didn’t appear to be opposed to the idea of remaining here with you. So, assuming he wishes to remain with you, the problem we face after the extermination of King Ash and Queen Belladonna is finding someone to seize power who will take the fae to their own realm.”
Ridiculous.
What Chen was saying was that Rei would choose to give up the throne. Rei would choose to give up the chance at power for Yichen.
Impossible.
His own father had chosen the throne and power over his son. Why would Rei do something that his father could not?
Yichen narrowed his eyes on Chen, who continued to sit with such a serene expression on his face. “This is not as easy as you’re trying to make it sound.”
His er-ge’s lips twitched as if he were fighting a grin. He cleared his throat and lowered his gaze to the tea still in his cup. “Did I tell you that I walked through the Underworld with Moon to escape the fae?”
“It was mentioned,” Yichen said with a wince. There was some wild talk about demons and minions. It was all too much, and he’d tried to tuck it away as a bad memory. He didn’t like thinking of his clan mate being in that kind of danger.
“Mn. It was after our first encounter with the fae when the door opened. King Ash had injured me. I narrowly escaped death with Moon, but the rising sun left us trapped in a tiny cave. We had to get somewhere safe and our one option was a friend of Moon’s, a necromancer named Sky. He led us through the underworld—a shortcut of sorts—to his home. Along the way, the king of the underworld stopped us. Zalramon wanted to keep my soul there because I’d eluded death for over two thousand years. By demon logic, I was overdue for my next life.”
“No,” Yichen choked out. He knew Chen had escaped, because his gege was sitting right in front of him, but the thought of him being so close to death was threatening to stop his own heart.
The smile that had teased Chen’s lips finally formed as he stared at his left hand, his pinky curling up slightly. “Prior to entering the underworld, Moon cast a blood spell that bound our souls together. An unbreakable red thread that stretched from his heart and soul to mine. Not even the demon king could break it. Moon told the king that if he wanted to take me, he’d have to take Moon as well.”
Chen placed his left hand on the table and lifted his eyes to Yichen. “When you find your forever love, there are no obstacles you won’t face to keep that person at your side. Even if it means fighting the king of the underworld.”
A fractured chortle rumbled up Yichen’s throat, and he nodded. “You and Moon are a good match. You’re both insane.”
“A little. The demon king wasn’t the only person we encountered on our journey.” Chen paused and leaned forward, a big, broad grin spreading across his face so wide his eyes turned into thin crescents. “I saw Shifu.”
“What? Our Shifu? You saw Zhang Shi Lei? You spoke to him?” He choked out each word, forcing them through the sudden tightness of his throat. Shifu Zhang had been the father he’d dreamed of having. The man had been a firm but patient instructor. Shifu loved each and every one of his disciples. There wasn’t a day that went by that he didn’t miss the head of the Zhang clan.
“Our meeting was brief, but he said he missed us all. He has been waiting with Meng Po at the riverside for each of us to pass. When we spoke, he gave me messages to pass along. He admonished me that when you and I met, I would need to listen to you and trust you. Shifu saw that you would have a hard road ahead of you, but it is the path you must follow. He said that you’re strong enough to succeed.”
Blinking away tears in his burning eyes, Yichen let out a choked laugh. Strong? Just hearing the words of his shifu, he felt as small and weak as a baby.
“When I first heard Shifu’s words, I thought he was merely talking about your escape from the fae. But now I wonder if your hard road is the path to following your heart,” Chen continued.
Yichen sank into a heavy silence for more than a minute, staring at the half-empty cup in front of him. It was a small clay cup that had been glazed a stone gray, but there was a cherry blossom branch painted along the side with tiny dots for the pink petals. He had a feeling if he picked up the cup and looked at the bottom, he would find Meimei’s name stamped into the clay.