Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 140780 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 704(@200wpm)___ 563(@250wpm)___ 469(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140780 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 704(@200wpm)___ 563(@250wpm)___ 469(@300wpm)
“Do something,” I whispered under my breath.
“What? With him standing there?” she hissed back.
She...had a point.
Groaning, I pinched the bridge of my nose before striding forward to console Uncle Wen and figure out how to help his beloved bonsai.
“What in the heavens happened?” he wailed as I drew to a stop beside him. “My poor plants.” Spinning around, he searched the terrace, lingering over the many earthen jars and empty plates we’d devoured. Giving up trying to understand how his plants spontaneously combusted, he shuffled as fast as his arthritic knees would let him to the hose by the pond.
While he fiddled with the tap, I studied the blazing trees.
Fuck, if this was what my power could do by accident...imagine what I could do when it was aimed.
Turning on the water, Uncle Wen hurried back and drowned the entire row of badly charred bonsai. Only once the last wisp of smoke had disappeared did he return the hose, turn off the flow, and come back to me.
I should’ve left while he was distracted.
I should go now—
“Luxin?”
I jolted as his calloused hand landed on my arm. “Are you okay? You’re not looking so good.”
I backed up and forced a smile. Whisper padded silently to my side, still wary of the people who’d helped raise me. “I’m fine.” I cleared my throat. “Just drank a bit too much.”
Rook stayed behind me. I couldn’t see her, but I could sense her. Sense her worry that I would say the wrong thing. That Uncle Wen would figure out it was me.
Apparently, I couldn’t even be trusted to kiss her without setting something alight.
“Are you feverish?” He rose to his tiptoes and pressed the back of his hand to my forehead. “Heavens, you’re burning up.”
I backed away from his touch. “Like I said, I’m fine, Uncle Wen. Just need to get some sleep, that’s all.”
“Did you catch something on the journey here?” He dropped his arm. “Mei has studied TCM over the years. She has an apothecary full of herbs and tonics. I’m sure she could help.”
“I’m not sick.” I backed up again, putting distance between us just in case.
“If you need sleep, why have you been up all night drinking?” He scowled. “You know better than to skip sleep, Xiao Lu. Look at you. You look like you’re on death’s door. Your skin is all patchy and you’re far too hot for my liking.” His eyebrows drew together in fatherly command. “Go.” Pointing at Rook standing in her black shirt, he added, “Take my niece and go to bed.”
Niece?
Fuck.
I wasn’t prepared to deal with how that word made me feel.
A word that implied she was already my wife.
One of the crisped leaves on the closest bonsai tried to ignite again. “You know what? That’s a great idea. Goodnight.”
“Wait.” Drawing himself up, Uncle Wen blurted as if he’d been choking on questions ever since I appeared from the grave yesterday. “Where have you been all these years? Why have you never visited? Why haven’t you just called us?” Tears appeared in his eyes. “Do you know the toll it took on us, thinking you were dead? We lit incense for you every day. We never left Ashfall Cliff—even though it was haunted by you and your parents. Mei never lost hope that someday you might be back...and now here you are, yet you won’t tell us anything.”
He slouched and shook his head. “What are you hiding? Why are you avoiding us?”
I hated that I’d caused him such grief but...I couldn’t answer any of those questions.
Not without making him feel a thousand times worse—
“Uncle Wen.” Rook stepped forward.
She didn’t sound drunk anymore, but calm and wonderful.
Locking down a crest of heat, I sucked in a breath as she slid to my side and threaded her fingers through mine.
Soothing coldness darted through me.
“It’s my fault.” She smiled softly. “I’m not good with big crowds and Lucien was protecting me yesterday. It was also me who couldn’t sleep and he kindly accompanied me so I wouldn’t be lonely watching the stars. You’re right that we got carried away with the wine but...” She smiled at the sun as it kept creeping higher and higher into the sky. “You’re right that sleep is important and...I’m tired now. Do you mind if I steal him away one last time? When we wake, you guys can catch up properly.”
Just like I hadn’t stood a chance around this woman, Uncle Wen suffered the same fate. His face softened, his eyes turned liquid, and he looked like he wanted to tuck her under his arm and never let her go. “You look after him very well.”
“He looks after me.” She smiled.
They shared a look that I didn’t fully understand. Emotions bled off her that felt soft and gentle before she nodded at something unspoken.