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)
“Are you going to tell him that you love him?”
Every muscle in his body froze. He couldn’t even lift his head to meet Xiang’s gaze. He hadn’t expected the vampire to call him out so bluntly. Of course, he’d been fooling himself by believing he’d hidden his affections from all eyes. Or maybe he’d underestimated the keenness of Xiang’s eyes.
After swallowing hard, he pushed his smile back in place from where it had slipped and lifted his head to regard the vampire with the concerned expression. “There’s nothing to be gained by telling him except for pain for both of us. Yichen doesn’t reciprocate my feelings. I count myself lucky that he views me as a friend rather than an enemy, thanks to my family.”
“A man must be judged by the sum of his actions. Not the actions of others. That includes his family. Didi knows that,” Xiang stated. “You’ve stood against your family. You’ve protected him. That’s how he sees you.”
“He sees me as a friend, and I am content with our friendship. Soon enough, I’ll return to my realm and become a distant memory for him. I’d rather not have my words make it a bad memory.” Unwilling to argue with him more, Rei nodded to Xiang and swept into the house. He turned all of his brain to making his legs carry him through the building to his private room.
Only when the door was shut did he raise a trembling hand to his aching heart. Yes, he could say the words, even accompany them with a smile, but it did nothing to silence the screams of his soul demanding more. Demanding forever with his Yiyi.
But forever wasn’t possible for him.
Yichen needed to stay with the safety and love of his family.
Rei needed to destroy his parents and drag the rest of the fae into their realm before they could destroy the human world. Love had no place in his future.
Chapter 11
Wu Yichen
Phoenix was nothing like he’d expected.
The world had definitely changed in the last century.
Prior to being kidnapped, he’d traveled to Shanghai with his clan mates and maybe they’d popped into a few bars and lively night spots for some entertainment. And maybe a quick bite. Gambling, some live music, and lots of drinking. That had been the standard.
But stepping into Phoenix was like slipping into jaw-dropping decadence and sin.
The walls were a mix of red and black while lights flickered and flashed as if they’d walked into a living flame. Booths of black leather framed a giant dance floor filled with scantily-dressed partygoers. There was even a man dancing in a golden cage hanging above the dance floor. More people gathered along a bar where three different bartenders were slinging drinks in a near blur.
The throbbing beat of the music was deafening, pounding against his chest with enough force to nearly knock his heart off its rhythm.
“Woooooh!” Moon cried, thrusting his arms into the air as he stood beside Yichen. “I love this song!” With a wide grin, he grabbed Chen’s wrist and pulled the vampire almost off his feet, dragging him toward the writhing crowd of dancers.
Chen shot him a panicked look, his face pale in the flashing lights, as they were both swallowed up by the crowd. Yichen threw his head back and laughed. He’d thought nothing could scare Chen, but that was wrong. Er-ge was terrified of dancing with his mate.
A pair of long, slender arms draped over his shoulders and Rei’s scent overpowered the aroma of sweaty human and alcohol as he leaned close.
“I don’t think Chen can dance,” Yichen stated, lifting his voice to make sure he was heard over the music.
“Can you?” Rei’s question tied Yichen’s tongue into a knot.
Dance? Here? He couldn’t be serious.
The elf stepped away from him, only to thread their fingers together. As soon as he locked them hand in hand, his wicked friend chuckled and tugged him to the dancers. Rei was very serious.
His heart sped up and his palms grew sweaty. Dancing…in public…where others could see him? This was insane. And yet, he couldn’t bring himself to pull free of Rei’s hold. It wouldn’t have been that hard, but that smile, those eyes, the absolute joy of the people surrounding them. Yichen kept walking forward, squeezing between people until they were nearly in the center of the crowd.
Giving themselves up to the pounding beat of the music, he and Rei danced, moving their bodies in time to the rhythm. Despite being surrounded, Yichen couldn’t take his eyes off his companion. Rei had tucked his ears under his long blond hair, hiding them away from the prying gaze of others. However, there was still a magic about him. Rei’s pale skin glowed under the lights, and his green eyes sparkled like rare gems. Every movement was graceful. This was the side of Rei he’d never gotten to see while they’d been trapped in the fae realm. So much carefree joy erupted from him. Something he wasn’t sure Rei had ever experienced.