Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 110079 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 550(@200wpm)___ 440(@250wpm)___ 367(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110079 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 550(@200wpm)___ 440(@250wpm)___ 367(@300wpm)
Haru nodded. “Agreed. I only wish to keep my Adrian safe.” As he spoke, he tightened his arms around Adrian, tucking him against his chest.
“Good.”
Adrian rested his chin on Haru’s shoulder. “You said you’re not a prisoner here.”
“Mn,” he grunted. “I thought it best while I was adjusting to the powers of the goddess that I put some distance between myself and the clan for their protection. I have gotten a handle on the powers much better. Especially now that I have my Adrian in my arms.”
Heat burned Adrian’s cheeks, but he ignored it. Right now, the only thing that mattered to him was Haru’s happiness and health. If he was feeling better holding Adrian, that was what he was going to do.
“Do you think it would be safe for you to move to the clan compound for the night? You could soak in a hot bath, and we can get you something to eat.”
Haru hummed. “And my Adrian will sleep beside me in my bed. Yes, this is an excellent plan.”
Oh yeah, they were blowing Nori’s plans for him to stay away from Haru out of the water. It was going to be okay. He hoped.
FOUR
OMARI HARU
Nori was waiting for them, looking tired and annoyed, when they returned to the clan. Haru moved ahead of their group and kneeled before his clan leader and uncle, bowing his head.
“Please do not be angry, dear Uncle. Adrian and the others disobeyed you out of fear for me. If you must be angry, be angry with me.”
Nori huffed and grabbed Haru’s arms, pulling him until Haru climbed to his feet. He tapped Haru on the chin, his annoyance melting away. “I’m not angry, you frustrating child. I’m worried about you.”
“Don’t worry. Adrian will stay with me through the night to keep me and the clan safe.”
Another disgruntled noise escaped Nori, as if he knew the methods he planned to use to keep Adrian at his side and his mind distracted from the powers that roiled inside him. “Fine. Fine. I’ve had some food sent to your room. Eat, please. You need to keep up your strength.”
“Thank you for your patience, Clan Leader,” Adrian murmured with a bow of his head. “I promise to watch over him.”
“Good. Do not let him cause you to lose sleep, though. He is too much of a troublemaker.”
Haru bussed a quick kiss to Nori’s cheek, making the old dragon bluster as Haru snagged Adrian’s hand and pulled him deep into the clan’s buildings, heading toward his chambers. During Adrian’s first visit to the Isle of Stone, he’d not had the chance to show Adrian his quarters. He would not miss the chance again.
Leaving the others far behind to deal with Nori, Haru pulled Adrian along at a quick pace, weaving down corridors and through courtyards until he reached his rooms, close to his sister’s.
“You will sleep with me in here tonight,” Haru announced as he slid the double doors open. Familiar scents from old incense and the nearby night-blooming jasmine filled his nose. Some of the tension that continued to tighten his shoulders unwound as he stepped into his domain. When he’d first returned to his home, he’d not even attempted to sleep in his rooms. He hadn’t trusted his own mind and had wanted to put as much space as possible between himself and his clan mates.
Adrian’s strong arms wrapped around Haru’s waist from behind while he rested his chin on Haru’s shoulder. “It looks exactly as I expected it to.”
Haru blinked, trying to see the room lit by low-burning candles and lamps through Adrian’s eyes. At the entrance was the main sitting room with an assortment of chairs and a cushioned daybed set by a low table. He entertained little, but on the rare occasions that he read, he preferred to lounge comfortably. There was an assortment of delicately painted scrolls on the walls, featuring flowers or distant mountains. Either his sister or his mother had painted most of them.
To the right and up two short stairs was his barely used study with a desk and several shelves that held books and scrolls.
To the right was his bedroom with its enormous bed and mountain of pillows. Attached to the bedroom was a bathroom with a tub that wasn’t big enough to accommodate him and Adrian. That would need to be changed.
But that was for later.
For now, it was enough that Adrian was here in his domain. He wanted Adrian’s scent to permeate this room as much as the jasmine. His mate needed to be at ease moving among his collection of things. And then Adrian needed to add his own things—clothes, weapons, and items he’d picked up during his travels. These rooms needed to belong to both of them.
The voices that had whispered nonstop in his mind since he’d first accepted the powers of the Goddess of Nightmares had grown quiet. He could still sense them there, watching and shifting in his mind. Coming home had helped to soothe the storm of energy, but having Adrian here had tipped the scales in his favor, giving him peace at last.