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 suppose not,” she said with her own relieved smile that she hid behind her fan.
Taking the cue, her grandmother went to the curtained-off wall. “Ready?”
Keeping her fan up to cover the lower half of her face, Eira took one last deep breath before she nodded and hoped she sounded as brave as she felt when she said, “Ready.”
With slumped shoulders, withered hands pulled the curtain open to hear gasps from the small amount of seated guests.
Frightened, Eira took her first few steps alone as she clung to her fan for dear life, grateful that it could conceal her nerves. Once she reached the curtained entrance, her grandmother joined her in taking the final steps of ending her old life and starting anew.
She kept her head lowered, too nervous to meet Ryu’s gaze once she reached the end of the aisle and took her place. She slowly lifted her eyes over her fan as she told herself if she didn’t see love for her in Ryu’s eyes, she wouldn’t complete the wedding ceremony.
When his gaze met hers unflinchingly, her doubts of Ryu not wanting to marry her fled under his loving gaze. So, she stayed put as the beautiful ceremony began and they bound themselves to each other before all their loved ones.
It was a short, sweet, and warm ceremony, and before she knew it, Ryu was reminding her to lower her fan.
Once she put it away, Eira was unable to keep her heart from doing a happy dance at the way Ryu took her into his arms to seal their marriage with a kiss.
Their kiss, much like their ceremony, left her pleased and content. Joy erupted from their few guests, and even Eira could see the pure happiness on Ryu’s father’s face as he introduced the new couple. It heartened her to know that Tatsu clearly hadn’t been trying to persuade his son against the marriage and, in fact, wholeheartedly meant it when he had blessed them.
When she was finally able to see their guests’ faces, she met the same joy, until her eyes skimmed over Kage’s.
Struck at the hatred, which was gone just as soon as it had appeared, she wondered if she had imagined it as they walked away together.
“Come, Eira. You need to get changed for the reception,” her grandmother said, reminding her that they were on a strict schedule.
Ryu gave his bride a quick kiss on the cheek, clearly thinking it was still wedding nerves. “See you soon, darling.”
Pulling herself out of Ryu’s arms, she avoided his gaze, still stunned at the hatred she had witnessed on Kage’s face.
Eira followed her grandmother to the room she had just left and changed into the more elaborate gold kimono that had belonged to her grandmother. Ryu had flown back over to retrieve it from the back of her grandmother’s dusty closet. Tiny flowers and cranes had been embroidered with gold threads. As she stared in the mirror, she was almost afraid to wear the priceless garment.
“Turn around.” Her grandmother mopped her cheeks with the sleeve of her kimono, staring at her proudly. “How I wish your mother and father could see you.”
Swallowing her own tears at the reminder of her parents, she turned back to the mirror to take it all in. “Me, too.”
“You look too pretty to cry.” Her grandmother stopped her from ruining her looks by distracting her with something else. “Here, don’t forget this.”
Turning away from the mirror, she saw a silver dagger in her grandmother’s hand and allowed her to hide it in special pocket, which had been sewn into her kimono. The dagger was a symbol of protection for her family.
She didn’t feel comfortable having the dagger on her, but her grandmother was determined she carry out the old traditional customs that she herself had followed.
She couldn’t help but laugh. “And you say Tatsu is prehistoric.”
“Oh, hush,” Grandmother shushed, refusing to admit she was anything like Ryu’s father.
Stifling her laughter, Eira placed the fan in the belt of her kimono when Ryu knocked before entering to take her to the dinner portion of their wedding.
She blushed at the admiring way he looked at her once her grandmother had left them to have a moment alone. He was wearing the same gold kimono, which had a white lining. On the front, his family’s crest of a dragon had been embroidered with the same gold thread. He looked so handsome that she had to flip her fan open to fan herself.
“My wife looks absolutely beautiful,” Ryu breathed as he held out his arm so she could wind hers around him.
“You look good yourself, husband,” she complimented back with a twinkle at using their new titles.
“Our guests are waiting,” He had to tell not only her but himself so they could get to the dinner. “We can admire each other tonight.”