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)
“There is no leaving,” he continued, careful not to touch her, though he twirled a strand of her silky black hair around his finger. “You’re mine now, Chloe.”…
Eira suddenly awoke, grateful to not have woken up Ryu with her night terrors. She didn’t know how he would have felt about her not taking her potion when she’d told him she had. Truthfully, she had no idea why she hadn’t just taken it. All she had was a feeling that she was dreaming these dreams for a reason. But after that one, she no longer cared to find out the reasoning. The man named Lucca was simply too menacing.
Quickly adjusting her eyes to the darkness, she quietly took the vial sitting on the bedside table that was supposed to keep her dreams at bay and dropped a single drop to the tip of her finger before placing it on her tongue. Taking a deep breath, she put it back and got comfortable again, watching a peacefully sleeping Ryu with a content smile on her face.
Eira was able to go back to sleep with the thought she was certain that Ryu was nothing—nothing—like the man who had been haunting her dreams.
23
Sensei Ryu
“Can you tell me where we’re going now?” she asked after they had left the palace doors. She was happy to get fresh air, though she still saw the man’s strange eyes from her nightmare, but she quickly pushed it out of her mind, knowing today would be a good day, as she could go home tonight, if she pleased.
“No.” Ryu laughed, sensing her eagerness. “It’s a surprise.”
“Fine,” she grumbled, giving in. The excitement of what he was going to show her had been eating away at her since he’d told her to get dressed this morning. Looking over at Ryu, she noticed he still looked as tired as he had earlier, only now he seemed to walk a bit stiffly. “Are you all right?”
Ryu rubbed his shoulder a bit, trying to massage out a kink. “Yes, I trained with Kage while you slept early this morning, and I think he was right; I did get out of shape.”
“We can go back and let you rest—”
“I’ll be all right,” he assured her, having no thoughts of turning back. “Besides, what we’re about to do will loosen me up.”
Eira knew that was his one and only hint about where they were going, and now she was worried about what she was wearing. “I’m not sure I’m dressed for an activity.”
Ryu scanned at her long silk dress robe. “You’re dressed fine.”
She could tell he still didn’t care for the color, but Eira had loved it the second Yuri had shown it to her.
As they passed by some villagers, one old man came up to her and bowed his head at them. “For you.”
Eira looked at the beautiful red flower being held out to her. “Thank you.” She smiled politely and accepted it. Spinning it between her fingertips, she took in the spikey, strange yet wonderful-looking petals. When she was about to lift it to her nose to smell it, Ryu took the precious gift from her before she could.
“Allow me.” Sweeping the strands of hair that covered the left side of her face, he tucked them preciously behind her ear to reveal his scarred beauty in all her glory before placing the flower there to rest above her ear.
The red flower against her red hair showed the difference between fire and blood. Two red colors so similar yet so different.
Ryu bowed at the gentleman’s kind gesture before he took her hand to continue their journey, which wasn’t much farther at all.
When they came upon an empty, warm wooden building with large windows, it only made her more confused, as she didn’t have any inclination what they might do. She took her shoes off, like Ryu did, and sat on the floor right where he told her to.
It wasn’t until young children started flooding in and calling him “Sensei Ryu” that she knew exactly what was happening.
I’ll be damned.
“What’s so funny?” Ryu asked with a sly smile when he took his position.
“So, you really do teach martial arts to children.”
Once Ryu clapped, she got her answer as each kid took their place and perfectly bowed.
“Everyone, this is Eira,” he introduced her to the kids. “Give her a big hello.”
All the kids yelled out at once with only some of them not in perfect unison, “Hello, Eira!”
“Hello, everyone.” She waved, blushing at all the attention from the little wide eyes.
She looked at each one. They all seemed to be cuter than the next in their white robes that none seemed to fit, as they swallowed them whole.
“I expect you all to make me look really good in front of her, okay?”
“Yes, Sensei Ryu!” they all screamed out.