Page 36 of Whispers of the Dragon
Yuri smiled sweetly at Ryu. “We both couldn’t be happier.”
At her smile, Eira felt like a dull caterpillar next to an alluring butterfly. Yuri made the villagers outside look less than in comparison, and Eira had already thought herself inadequate enough next to them.
She hated comparing herself to other girls, but Eira found she couldn’t help it as she stood next to Yuri, who was flawless perfection. Lowering her sleeves out of habit to cover more of the scars on her hand, she let her veil of fiery locks do the same to her face. She only hoped Ryu wouldn’t take notice of her sudden lack of already barely-there confidence.
“Is Father here?” Ryu asked.
“In the other room, I believe.” Kage motioned with his head in the correct direction. “I hope to see you tomorrow, bright and early. You haven’t trained in a while, and I expect to get you back in shape.”
Ryu simply laughed and said from over his shoulder, “Yeah, you wish.”
“Nice to meet you both,” Eira quickly said before they disappeared.
Not finding his father where he had expected him, Ryu decided for them to stay put. “I’m sure he will be here any minute.”
Her nerves only somehow seemed to skyrocket knowing she was going to meet his father, but truly, the palace was such a work of art that it kept her distracted for another moment. Her eyes landed on a smoky black vase that had golden veins branching out like lightning that reminded her of the scars on her body.
Noticing her fondness for the piece, Ryu smiled, clearly remembering a fond memory. “My mother picked that vase.”
Her fingertips carefully ran along one of the golden veins. “Well, she has good taste.”
“That she did,” a strong voice echoed across the walls. “I see you have returned and, this time, with what you should have brought with you last time.”
“I have,” Ryu forced out with a squared jaw, bowing to his father with what seemed like difficulty. Then he introduced her, “This is Eira, my fated mate.”
She tried her best not to blush again, though she really didn’t think she’d ever get used to him introducing her that way. It made her heart sing that he would introduce her with such pride.
“Eira,” he continued the formalities, “this is my father, Tatsu.”
“Well, Eira …” his father drawled out, giving her a once-over, “nice tofinallymeet you.”
Eira bowed to him as low as she could, hoping to hide her nervous expression, but she was certain her voice gave her nerves away. “Lovely to meet you, too.”
He gave her hand in his a squeeze; it was as if Eira could understand so much in just a touch, and she was grateful.
“So …” Ryu seemed to take on nerves of his own. “Did it happen in time?”
Tatsu looked at the hands intertwined between them, noticing something that Eira would soon find out later. “Go look for yourself.”
21
A Friend
Eira stared up at the impressive but barren tree. She could only imagine what it must’ve been like full and in its prime.
“Did he tell you about it?”
Looking over at the man who had just joined her peacefully on the bench, she nodded. “He did.”
Ryu had told her everything about it, all the way from the tether between them to how the cycle restarted with each new heir …
Dropping her hand when they reached the sight of the tree, Ryu seemed heartbroken.
“I was too late.”
She watched the tears form in his eyes with his shattered emotions. She had never seen him like this, and there was nothing she could do or say for him in that moment because she simply didn’t understand what he was talking about nor the importance of the tree.
Moving toward the mythical beast, Ryu placed his hand on the trunk and dropped hard to his knees. “How …? What …?” he began to croak out in disbelief.
