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)
She went to the bathroom, where she took her time washing up. She was almost done when she heard the doorknob to her bathroom door turn.
“I’ll be out in a minute, Ryu,” she called out, but instead of Ryu, she was greeted by Yuri’s voice.
“Sorry, it’s me,” her friend quickly announced herself. “I was just checking on you. It’s a bit after noon.”
“Oh.” She found it strange. Usually, Yuri never let herself into her bedroom. She always waited for her outside of the door. Eira guessed she just hadn’t heard her knock and grew so concerned that she had let herself in. “I’m fine, just tired.”
“I’ll wait to help you get dressed for the day.”
“That’s okay, Yuri; I can get myself dressed. I don’t plan on doing much today, anyway.”
Yuri could be heard giggling through the door. “I’ll let you get your rest before Ryu’s return, then.”
Eira was glad that she couldn’t see her blushing. “Thanks.”
“Oh, and Eira,” Yuri called out before leaving. “Try using the perfume. I think Ryu would really enjoy it.”
“I will,” she assured her. “See you tomorrow, Yuri.”
“Bye,” her friend called out, and then Eira was finally alone to finish up.
Looking at the beautiful bottle Yuri had gifted her, she picked it up and was just about to spray herself with it when Yuri’s words entered her mind.
“Try using the perfume.”
Something about it didn’t sit right with her, and then it dawned on her.
How could she know I still haven’t used it? For all Yuri knew, she had used it last night when she had come up to her room after the celebration.
Every hair on Eira’s body stood on end as her instincts tried to tell her something was amiss, and all she could think about was finding Ryu. She couldn’t explain it. Maybe it was because they were mated now, but her instincts told her that she needed protecting, and Ryu’s safety.
Quickly, Eira threw on something from the closet and ran to search for him.
Hearing Kage’s voice coming from the library, she went to open the cracked door, figuring Ryu was probably with him, when she heard another voice coming from the other side of the door …
“She still hasn’t touched the perfume yet.”
If she hadn’t talked about the gift, Eira wouldn’t even know that the lethal tone had come from Yuri’s mouth. Anytime she’d heard her friend speak, butter could melt in her mouth it was so sweet.
“How do you know?” Kage dared to ask.
“Because that bitch is still alive,” she hissed at her father.
Eira’s hand shot up to cover her mouth in shock. Not daring to move in fear they’d find out she was overhearing them, she was forced to continue to listen.
“Your time will come, daughter. She will use the perfume when the time is right. The longer she waits to use it, the less likely anyone will think you laced poison in her gift.”
“But if she doesn’t die before the coronation, then I’ll never be the queen our people will accept. Did you see the way everyone was staring at her last night, in awe? It made me sick that they’d accept an outsider as their queen!”
“Shh … Yuri, or someone might hear you.” He desperately tried to calm her rising voice, but it was clear Yuri was coming to a breaking point. “I’ve been reading up on the history of the island again, and while it’s rare for a dragon king to take another wife, it has happened before. There’s still hope.”
“Sorry,” Yuri muttered after taking a deep, calming breath. “It’s just that if I have to keep pretending to be her friend while she takes all the things I have dreamed of having, I’m going to lose it. I’m running out of ugly things to dress her in, and I already had to watch her wear my wedding dress.”
“Yes, well, we got unlucky with the poisonous flower, and again when she didn’t use the perfume before the wedding, but she will. Just give it another day or two, and Ryu, along with all the things we dreamed of, will come true.”
“Hmph,” Yuri madly pouted. “I wish she would just hurry up, use it, and die!”
Oh my—
“I agree.” Her father’s voice somehow became even more distasteful. “Then those dimwitted grandparents of hers are next.”
No!
With that, Eira wasted no time in backing away and running as fast as she could, hoping they didn’t hear her take off. Being blindsided by someone she thought was genuinely her friend and Ryu’s most trusted people, she could no longer trust anyone on this island. There were only two people here who had good intentions for her, and they were now in danger as well.
It wasn’t that she thought Ryu didn’t care for her. Especially after last night, she knew he did, but how was she supposed to tell him what she had just overheard? She wasn’t so sure he’d believe her right away, and Tatsu definitely wouldn’t. At the end of the day, Ryu had known them much longer than her; she couldn’t chance that he might not listen. She could get her grandparents and herself off this godforsaken island, and then Ryu could come find her and decide if she was telling the truth when they were safe.