Page 37 of Whispers of the Dragon
Eira wasn’t sure, but the tears that streamed down his face now seemed …happy?
Quickly, Ryu shot up to his feet, looking up at the bare branches as if he were searching for something.
He disappeared from her sight at the vastness of the base of the tree as he went around, and it wasn’t until she heard him say, “Eira, come here,” that she followed him around and found him staring up toward the top of the tree. “Do you see it?”
Trying her best to line her eyes up with his line of sight, she was about to give up until she finally saw it. A perfectly pink cherry blossom petal that lightly swayed in the wind.
And that was when he began.
“One day, new life will blossom this tree again, and you’ll see it filled with a million of them …”
All that she had learned had been a lot for her to take in, so she had asked for a moment alone.
The pressure that was now placed on her shoulders had instantly weighed her down, and she knew instinctively that her fated mate’s father wasn’t about to make it any better.
“The tree’s leaves had only half-fallen when I met my Kana.”
She could hear so much in that sentence—pride and loss for his wife mainly, but there was something else hidden in his words that she didn’t quite understand yet. However, she was almost certain he would enlighten her.
“I’m sorry to hear about her,” was simply all she could think to say before he continued.
“I remember sitting right here with him when the first one fell when he was only seven. He has waited many years to findyou, Eira. And you must know that things liketimeare very different for us.”
Eira listened intently, knowing he was about to reveal something Ryu had ceased to mention.
“To be born with the magic of the dragon means time moves differently for us.” Seeing she was quickly catching on, he told her before she could ask, “Ryu is much older than you probably think him to be.”
Her eyes grew wide in shock. “Really?”
“He has lived three of your lifetimes already,” he confirmed.
“Three?” she whispered in disbelief.
“It was one of the reasons why I kept him here on the island so long before I let him leave in search for you—I simply thought his fated mate hadn’t been born yet.” Taking in her look of age, he didn’t want to sell himself short. “Turns out I wasn’tnecessarilywrong.”
Now her head practically spun with questions, but Tatsu seemed to know the first one that came to mind.
“Our magic is definitely a wonder, but you need not to worry; our fated mates are born with a little magic themselves that only activates when you meet. So, your aging clock will now slow with Ryu’s.”
Some bit of relief flooded her. “That’s good to know.”
“However,” he began again, his tone slightly harsh, “the magic you hold is very dull, so whatyou feelisvery littlecompared to what the dragon inside of him lets him feel.”
Eira wasn’t understanding the point he was trying to make …until she did.
“For instance, the pain you feel by not completing the mating dance is simplypitifulin comparison.” His words started to lash against her. “The pain you are causing him, Eira, is cruel.”
“I …I …I …” Her mind had gone blank, and her mouth didn’t know what response it should give, either. It was true; she didfeel pain, but to know she was causing Ryu an insurmountable amount cut her to the quick.
Glossy tears coated her eyes, daring to fall. Truthfully, in that moment, she was close to running away but only stayed put when they gained an audience.
“My King.” Yuri bowed lowly. “I’d love to show Eira to her room.”
“That would be nice, thank you, Yuri. I’m sure Eira will have much to learn from you.”
The way Tatsu looked at Yuri warmly, with kindness in his eyes, was how she hoped her fated mate’s father would look at her but, pulling down her sleeves to cover her burns, she knew that was never,evergoing to happen.
“Thank you for your …knowledge,” Eira said, struggling to find the right word before gratefully leaving. She had hoped her eyes wouldn’t dare spill the salty liquid, and she was thankful when they hadn’t.
