Still reeling from the vision – Nong tried her best to keep steady as she followed the lady in waiting through the halls. Her hand kept going to her stomach checking for blood. That woman with the hat was from the temple. She’d stabbed Nong. And Nong was dying. The feeling made her tremble. Was she even able to help Ru Feng at all? Was her mission doomed from the start?
She held back her tears as they came to King Houavin’s room. It was spacious but tidy and simple. Nong thought it was fitting. The man seemed to have no desire for anything. He did have a huge balcony though, to which Nong made her way out quickly in an attempt to calm herself. Her heart skipped a beat at the view before her. The sea stretched endlessly into the night. Sparkling as if it was one half of the sky.
She leaned over the banister feeling the cold wind bite into her skin. In a way, she could understand why King Houavin didn’t mind the cold. The chill had an ability to freeze her emotions and yet awaken all her senses. It helped clear her mind from the horrible vision she’d just had. She sucked in a deep breath. She had to keep holding on to hope.
And she wanted to see Ru Feng desperately.
“I’m here,” a voice said quietly.
Nong jumped but swiveled at the familiar tone. Her heart could have burst from her chest.
Ru Feng stood in the King’s bedroom with a small smile. He seemed different. Dressed in fur lined clothes that was significant to the northern territories he looked almost normal. His glamour no longer swirled around him like it was dancing between bodies and souls. It was relaxed and instead ran along his skin in glittering stripes. They shimmered ethereally like someone had painted him with ink from heaven.
He smirked at her longing stare.
“What?” Nong asked shyly.
Ru Feng shrugged.
“You seem different. How did you get here?” Her voice shook. She begged for this to not be a dream.
“Well…it’s not much…but I found a bit of an old god in me,” He raised his palms. “My brother, The Sage Turtle, helped me. As he helped me to find you. I have brothers!” He smiled widely, “And I no longer need anyone’s body in order to roam but I am still visible to only you it seems,”
He approached her after Nong didn’t immediately reply. His brows creased slightly in concern. Nong’s head tilted instinctively so their eyes could meet. His golden eyes were the same. His grin. His hair. His beautiful everything. A tiny part of Nong was glad that only she could see him like this. As selfish as that sounded. She wanted to hold on to this image forever.
Finally she said, “Are you…”
He sighed, “I’m still the beast. But I’m determined that I can best it. I have hope,”
“I’m proud of you,” Nong smiled. “And I’m sorry for -”
He put a finger to her lips and stepped closer. His rain and pine scent surrounded her like an embrace. And she could feel his warmth. She didn’t realize how much she was missing it. It was real. He was real. He wasn’t a ghost or a spirit. He was Ru Feng. He was hope. His finger brushed her lower lip tenderly. She noticed his gaze drop down to her neckline. A look of desire flashed across his eyes. Her whole body lit aflame.
“Be mine,” She asked softly.
He took her hand, “I am…” He whispered. “In all my forms. I am yours until I’m no more,” His golden eyes settled into hers. Her heart fluttered like they had possessed their own set of wings. Then she pushed herself onto him and kissed him.
Their bodies melted in to each other.
Nong kissed him over and over. Her arms went around his broad shoulders and she pulled him in as close as possible. She never wanted to let him go. Like the starry stripes that ran along his skin – on his toned arms and hands that now brushed against her shoulder blades down to her back – she wanted to be a part of him.
He lifted her onto him and she wrapped her legs around his torso. Pressing her against a wall, Ru Feng went for the nape of her neck. The sounds she made tempted him to roar. Their lips met time and time again like the waves that crashed below. Until Nong noticed that snow had begun falling all around them.
“We should…” Nong panted.
Ru Feng gently released her. She flushed as she regained her composure and started to fumble with her crown. A flower had gotten tangled in her hair and Ru Feng stepped in to help. Her heart was still racing and beat loudly in her ear. He paused and his gaze lingered over hers making her feel warm again. She selfishly wished that time would just stop. She wondered if there was a spell for it.
But the icy snowflakes that landed on her lashes brought her back to reality as King Houavin entered the room.
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