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What? Xiang’s mind screamed.
Kai’s voice faded until it was barely even a whisper. “You belong here now. Mine.”
The fingers he held went slack, and Kai’s body seemed to relax as if he’d fallen into a deep sleep.
That was fine with Xiang. He was too busy freaking out to speak with Kai anymore.
What had he heard?
Just us.
I’ll die before I follow that bitch’s order to kill you.
Was Kai confused…or was he the dragon who’d abducted Xiang in the first place?
Chapter 10
Kai
Kai drifted toward consciousness. His head throbbed and his mouth was pasty. Water. He needed water.
Peeling dry, scratchy eyes open, his first sight was of a sleeping Xiang. He froze, all those little needs forgotten as he focused on the slumbering vampire lying on his side, his handsome features relaxed in sleep. Dark brown hair tumbled across his forehead and stuck up in various directions.
But the important thing was that Xiang was alive and safe. There didn’t appear to be a scratch on him. Kai hadn’t tried to kill him when he’d returned to the cave. He hadn’t attacked him in any way. Somehow, he’d beat the magic.
How?
That shouldn’t have been possible. At the very least, he should have been dead. Not that he was complaining. He was feeling very grateful that he was still alive and had a chance to destroy the fae queen.
Something was wrong. Or had changed.
What?
“Hey, you’re awake.” Xiang’s slurred voice pulled Kai from his swirling thoughts. He blinked to find the vampire stretching and smiling even as his eyes fell shut again.
“Why are you in bed with me?” Kai demanded, simply because he didn’t know what else to say.
Xiang huffed a sleep-rough laugh. “Because I was tired. You’ve been unconscious for two full days. I was going to sleep on the cushions, but I was afraid I wouldn’t hear you if you needed something. It was better to be close.” He pushed up on one arm and smirked. “Besides, the bed is enormous. I didn’t touch you in your sleep.”
Kai opened his mouth, but nothing came out. He didn’t know what to say to that. So he chose the safer route and closed his mouth. This was all very unexpected and weird. None of this should be happening. He didn’t recall making it to the cave after leaving the fae. There were flashes in his mind of Xiang and an overwhelming feeling of panic mixed with the pain.
“I think…I would like to get up,” Kai mumbled.
“I’ll grab you a change of clothes.” Xiang bounced up off the bed and crossed the room to where several bureaus stood filled with a variety of clothes. With his attention elsewhere, Kai pressed his hands into the soft mattress and pushed himself into a sitting position. His head spun and his arms shook, forcing him to lean on the headboard. Okay, so maybe he wasn’t as healed as he thought he was.
“Do you need some help?” Xiang asked as he returned with a pair of soft pants that appeared to be pajama bottoms and a heather-gray sweater.
“I think I can manage. Could you get me a glass of water?”
While Xiang left to fetch the water, Kai kicked off the covers and pulled on the pants as quickly as he could manage. He was still fighting with the sweater when Xiang returned to his side. He placed the glass on the nightstand and helped him pull the sweater over his head with gentle hands.
“I get that you want your privacy, but you’re still weak. I won’t take advantage of you in your weakened state.” Xiang’s tone was playful but also full of concern. At least until he smirked at Kai. “I like my men with some fight in them.”
Kai stiffened, while his heart leaped in his chest. “Do you?”
A bark of laughter broke from Xiang’s throat. “I’m teasing you!”
“Oh.” His stomach sank, and he wanted to growl in frustration. What was this disappointed feeling weighing on the pit of his gut and tightening his chest? None of this made sense.
