Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 55059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 275(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 275(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
“I have a surprise for you first, though.”
“You do?” she asked, intrigued.
“Yes, I just need you to stand right here.” He moved her quite a bit from the edge, placing her right where he wanted her. “Now close your eyes … and no matter what, don’t move.”
Laughing through dark lids in excitement, she seemed to miss the seriousness in his tone at that last request. “Why?”
“Don’t worry about it. Just promise me you won’t move, all right?”
She swore, finally catching on that she really shouldn’t move. “Fine, I promise.”
“Good. Now wait here and keep your eyes closed.”
And Eira did just that, knowing he’d give her hell if she peeked, but she really couldn’t help it when the wind picked up and started rushing over her face. What harm could one little peek do?
Trying to peek through slitted eyes was when she saw it—the dragon-sized version of Ryu rushing right toward her. I mean, he had told her not to move and, truthfully, as much as she wanted to run, she couldn’t. Becoming completely immobile in fear kept her frozen like a scared statue.
One second, her feet were firmly on the ground and in another, they were high in the sky. Again, she found herself flying in the clutches of the dragon.
“Ryu!” she screamed out, hoping he could somehow hear her.
Mocking laughter rang in her head. Yes, darling?
“Put me—”
No need to scream. I can hear you just fine.
“—down!” she continued anyway, hoping he’d get her message.
I will once we get home.
Eira managed to open her eyes back up, seeing her adored cliff get smaller and smaller. “You’re going the wrong way!”
No, I’m not, his dragon whispers assured her.
She should’ve known he’d pull a stunt like this.
“But what about my stuff? I didn’t finish packing.”
You don’t need anything where we’re going.
“But my grandmother, she’s still packing—”
She’s not, he assured her.
“How do you know?” She was rather tempted to hit him if it wouldn’t cause her to fall to her death.
The dragon simply laughed. Why do you think she said to go for a walk?
“It was her idea?” Eira screamed, again in shock.
Well, she didn’t know we’d be flying to get there, but I told her I could be convincing enough to get you to keep walking to my home.
She almost couldn’t believe it, and flying through the sky in the clutches of a dragon wasn’t what she couldn’t believe. It was the fact that they’d do something like that to her.
But then Ryu told her what her own heart knew to be true.
We both knew you would never go if you weren’t tricked into leaving, Eira.
20
Welcome to Kasumi Island
Once Eira’s feet had safely touched the ground, the pit in her stomach eased.
“I can’t believe you did that.” As soon as he started to shift, she began to lay into him. “Take me back home—”
“Ahem.” Ryu tried to interrupt her, but Eira continued on, still not noticing.
“Right now, Ryu!”
“Eira …” he grumbled out a whisper, but it was his synthetic smile he was putting on that made Eira finally take notice.
Oh no. Immediately, that pit in her stomach returned upon seeing the crowd of villagers that surrounded them. Her earlier need to touch the ground had kept her from noticing their audience in the first place. Of course, the villagers of the island could see Ryu in his dragon form unlike the rest of the world, so they had witnessed their arrival. It made it clear to Eira that she had a lot to learn.
“Just smile,” he whispered over to her again, taking her hand in his as they started walking. Giving her strength, he gave her hand a squeeze. “Welcome to Kasumi Island.”
Feeling self-conscious for a girl like Eira was a severe understatement for how she felt in this moment. Especially considering how beautiful the women not only were but in what they wore— beautiful, embroidered silks of all different lustrous colors. It wouldn’t have mattered if Eira knew she was coming and had picked her nicest outfit—nothing would have been nice enough to come here. It was no wonder Ryu had said she didn’t need to bring anything—not a single thing she had belonged here, not even her …
Holding on to his hand for strength, she prayed for this to be over quickly as they continued walking. And as they passed the people, her mouth began to drop when each one bowed. At first, she thought it was only to him, but then she got an eerie tingling feeling on the back of her neck that it was also for her. Hearing the whispers of “queen” whispered throughout the crowd solidified those feelings.
Afraid she was about to pass out from the attention, Eira dragged her feet slower, thinking she’d rather go back to flying the skies in the clutch of a dragon than this.