Page 20 of Whispers of the Dragon
Nine Petals Remained
Ryu entered the bedroom window without making a sound. Earlier, at the mountaintop, he had just needed a moment to get himself under control, fearful of changing next to her. He was certain if she saw him in his other form, she would never let herself get close enough to touch him, and all would be lost.
As he sat on the bed beside the sleeping beauty, he couldn’t believe the woman before him was actually made for him. She was unlike anything he had ever seen, as he had only heard about women who had her features in tales.
He had been carefully studying her over the last few days and the way she covered her scars with her clothes and her veil of hair. She probably thought her burned skin was why people stared at her, but she was wrong. They stared because her beauty wasn’t from this side of the earth.
When he heard the lulls of sleep, he could sense the nightmare beginning. If he hadn’t made that forsaken promise to her, he would touch her, and this all would be a bad dream in itself. But he had, and he was determined to keep it. Also, his pride wanted her to choose him out of choice and not magic.
He sat there for a few moments, wondering if he should save her from the nightmare that was turning worse by the second. That only, in turn, made him feel worse by the second as well. Ryu didn’t have to wake her to know she’d lie about having the dream, as she didn’t want him to feel bad about it. They both knew he was causing them. Him sitting down beside her only proved that to be so, as she had been sleeping peacefully until he entered.
Having made up his mind about what he should do, he stood up, leaving the way he had come in. However, when he closed the window, he did it rather loudly and was satisfied when the glow of her bedside lamp turned on.
Where he was going, she wasn’t strong enough yet. This, he needed to do alone.
Ryu stared up at the barren Sakura tree. The pit in his stomach at seeing it this wilted frightened him for his village’s future.
I haven’t been gone that long, have I?
When he’d left, a quarter of the pink leaves had remained. But now, only nine petals remained, hanging on for dear life. He was frightened to even breathe, afraid it would cause some more to fall.
The connection the two beings shared was almost gone. He was able to feel the tether between them stronger when he placed his calloused hand on the trunk of the tree. He felt as if he not only let the magical sapling down, but his father and the whole village.
His pride of letting Eira choose was costing him everything, but he couldn’t imagine going back to her and breaking his promise, either.
With footsteps approaching behind him, he could practically hear the disappointment before he even spoke. “You’re back,and without a fated mate.”
Ryu cleared his throat before looking back at his father, facing him, knowing nothing he was about to say would go well.
“I found her.”
“You did?” Relief flooded his older features before revelation finally dawned. “Ryu, why is the tree still dying, then?”
“I—” He didn’t know what to say, knowing his father would never understand. “She’s special, Father. I can’t …”
“Touch her?” he asked, like it was hard. The disappointment in his voice wasn’t because of his son but in himself, as he felt responsible for not letting Ryu leave the village. Now all the blame was put on his son’s shoulders. “You simply touch the girl, son. I would have thought that would be easy for you. What does her being special have anything to do with that?”
“It’s not that easy,” he stated, his fear that his father would never understand confirmed. “She’s been hurt in the past. I don’t want to be the cause of any more pain.”
Tatsu knew exactly what he meant. “No, your pride wants you to talk her into bed, which I’m sure you need time to do with a girl like that. But time is a luxury you don’t have—none of us have.”
Ryu stood there, unable to find the words. His father’s disappointment was not only valid but harsh to take.
As if on cue, a precious bloom began to fall, dancing in the wind to the ground.
“I wondered why the cherry blossoms suddenly started to fall so fast. It’s because you found her and are practically mocking the gifts we receive.” A displeased Tatsu couldn’t even look at hisson anymore as he started to walk away. “Is your pride worth the village? Or maybe it’s your pride wanting you to be the last Tei so the songs that will be sung of dragons all mention your name.”
He violently shook his head, unbelieving his father would even say something so blasphemous. “That isn’t true—”
“Proveit …” his father hissed as another cherry blossom fell.
Alone, Ryu stood, looking up at the dying tree in defeat.
Seven remained.
“Come in,” he heard her say when he approached the open door.
Entering, he found the old seeress sitting at the small table with a smile on her face.
