21. A Friend
21
A Friend
E ira stared up at the impressive but barren tree. She could only imagine what it must’ve been like full and in its prime.
“Did he tell you about it?”
Looking over at the man who had just joined her peacefully on the bench, she nodded. “He did.”
Ryu had told her everything about it, all the way from the tether between them to how the cycle restarted with each new heir …
Dropping her hand when they reached the sight of the tree, Ryu seemed heartbroken.
“I was too late.”
She watched the tears form in his eyes with his shattered emotions. She had never seen him like this, and there was nothing she could do or say for him in that moment because she simply didn’t understand what he was talking about nor the importance of the tree.
Moving toward the mythical beast, Ryu placed his hand on the trunk and dropped hard to his knees. “How …? What …?” he began to croak out in disbelief.
Eira wasn’t sure, but the tears that streamed down his face now seemed … happy?
Quickly, Ryu shot up to his feet, looking up at the bare branches as if he were searching for something.
He disappeared from her sight at the vastness of the base of the tree as he went around, and it wasn’t until she heard him say, “Eira, come here,” that she followed him around and found him staring up toward the top of the tree. “Do you see it?”
Trying her best to line her eyes up with his line of sight, she was about to give up until she finally saw it. A perfectly pink cherry blossom petal that lightly swayed in the wind.
And that was when he began.
“One day, new life will blossom this tree again, and you’ll see it filled with a million of them …”
All that she had learned had been a lot for her to take in, so she had asked for a moment alone.
The pressure that was now placed on her shoulders had instantly weighed her down, and she knew instinctively that her fated mate’s father wasn’t about to make it any better.
“The tree’s leaves had only half-fallen when I met my Kana.”
She could hear so much in that sentence—pride and loss for his wife mainly, but there was something else hidden in his words that she didn’t quite understand yet. However, she was almost certain he would enlighten her.
“I’m sorry to hear about her,” was simply all she could think to say before he continued.
“I remember sitting right here with him when the first one fell when he was only seven. He has waited many years to find you, Eira. And you must know that things like time are very different for us.”
Eira listened intently, knowing he was about to reveal something Ryu had ceased to mention.
“To be born with the magic of the dragon means time moves differently for us.” Seeing she was quickly catching on, he told her before she could ask, “Ryu is much older than you probably think him to be.”
Her eyes grew wide in shock. “Really?”
“He has lived three of your lifetimes already,” he confirmed.
“ Three? ” she whispered in disbelief.
“It was one of the reasons why I kept him here on the island so long before I let him leave in search for you—I simply thought his fated mate hadn’t been born yet.” Taking in her look of age, he didn’t want to sell himself short. “Turns out I wasn’t necessarily wrong.”
Now her head practically spun with questions, but Tatsu seemed to know the first one that came to mind.
“Our magic is definitely a wonder, but you need not to worry; our fated mates are born with a little magic themselves that only activates when you meet. So, your aging clock will now slow with Ryu’s.”
Some bit of relief flooded her. “That’s good to know.”
“However,” he began again, his tone slightly harsh, “the magic you hold is very dull, so what you feel is very little compared to what the dragon inside of him lets him feel.”
Eira wasn’t understanding the point he was trying to make …until she did.
“For instance, the pain you feel by not completing the mating dance is simply pitiful in comparison.” His words started to lash against her. “The pain you are causing him, Eira, is cruel.”
“I …I …I …” Her mind had gone blank, and her mouth didn’t know what response it should give, either. It was true; she did feel pain, but to know she was causing Ryu an insurmountable amount cut her to the quick.
Glossy tears coated her eyes, daring to fall. Truthfully, in that moment, she was close to running away but only stayed put when they gained an audience.
“My King.” Yuri bowed lowly. “I’d love to show Eira to her room.”
“That would be nice, thank you, Yuri. I’m sure Eira will have much to learn from you.”
The way Tatsu looked at Yuri warmly, with kindness in his eyes, was how she hoped her fated mate’s father would look at her but, pulling down her sleeves to cover her burns, she knew that was never, ever going to happen.
“Thank you for your … knowledge ,” Eira said, struggling to find the right word before gratefully leaving. She had hoped her eyes wouldn’t dare spill the salty liquid, and she was thankful when they hadn’t.
However, there was certainly no fooling the girl.
“Don’t worry,” Yuri tried her best to comfort her. “He was quite intimidating the first few years I was around him.”
“I don’t know if that’s a good thing.” Eira laughed through fallen tears now, instantly feeling comfortable around the sweet woman. She supposed she should be happy that Tatsu had even treated Yuri coldly at first. Then again, having to take years to warm to a person seemed a bit much.
“It will get better, I promise,” Yuri assured her quietly as they walked through the palace. “I am your lady in waiting, so feel free to call upon me for anything you might need.”
“My lady in waiting?” she asked, not understanding.
Yuri smiled, reiterating for her, “Just consider me your personal helper.”
Oh my, Eira thought, nodding in understanding. Tatsu was right … there was quite a lot she needed to learn.
When they reached two huge doors, Yuri pushed them open. “This is your room.”
Eira’s jaw practically hit the floor. “M-my room?”
“Of course.” She laughed at her like she was silly and waved for her to go inside. “Hopefully, it is to your liking.”
“Yeah.” She desperately swallowed, trying to wet her dry throat. “You could say that.”
Thankfully, her sarcastic tone hadn’t gone over Yuri’s head. “I’m sure it’s a lot for you to take in.”
Eira nodded and finally entered, realizing she could put her grandparents’ whole house into just this room. The sheer size of it was what had taken her by surprise at first, but now that she looked around, it was the things inside, like the luxurious bedding that had her even more overwhelmed by the difference in how she and Ryu had lived.
Yuri went to the closet door and threw them open to reveal it was large in size as well, and stuffed full. “Would you like to pick something to wear for dinner, or shall I?”
Eira entered the closet, speechless, touching the lush fabrics, her belly fluttering. “Whose things are these?”
“Yours,” Yuri said simply. “I’m sure some things may have belonged to Ryu’s mother, but I’d say, considering how sentimental Tatsu is over his late wife’s things, most of it are items Ryu has chosen over the years.”
Again, Eira lacked the words for not only a response but for how she felt. Everything in here was beautiful and didn’t lack for taste.
Overwhelmed by choice, she finally got her tongue and mind to work in unison. “It might be best for you to choose. I’m not quite sure what would be best.”
“Certainly,” Yuri agreed with a twinkle in her eyes.
Eira could only imagine the girl had waited for this moment to finally look through the many beautiful things that had been collected. She could tell her lady in waiting had impeccable taste as well, with not only what she chose for Eira to wear but in how put together she herself looked.
When she was fully dressed, she was thankful Yuri had chosen something demure in comparison to the flashy things she had seen the women wear outside of the palace. She was used to wearing dark colors so as not to stand out, and she really was happy that Yuri seemed to understand her so well already. Even when she had helped brush her hair, Yuri had pulled her hair back off her face, but once she saw how uncomfortable Eira looked, she let the silky red strands go without so much of a word needing to be said.
“Now it’s time for my favorite part,” Yuri continued on, making her feel comfortable. “Jewelry.”
Both looked over the many different and ornate options when Yuri landed on a beautiful pearl ring. “This is stunning.”
“It is,” Eira agreed, seeing the twinkle brighten in her eyes.
She held the ring out for Eira to take. “This will match perfectly.”
Smiling, Eira closed Yuri’s hand over it. “For your kindness.”
Yuri violently shook her head. “Oh, I couldn’t possibly.”
“You can, and you will.” She let her know she wouldn’t take no for an answer. “Besides, I have so much that Ryu will never know.”
“Thank you,” Yuri finally gave in, putting it in her pocket before grabbing a dainty necklace that Eira thought was much more suited to her.
“Now, that is perfect.” Eira beamed, seeing that she was being so easily understood.
Grateful someone here besides Ryu was nice to her, and that she had a confidant, it finally felt like, for once, Eira had actually made a friend.