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The moon hung low over the Fox Realm, casting a silver sheen over the ivory towers of the palace. Inside the grand suite, the air was thick with the scent of night-blooming jasmine and the unspoken tension between a prince and his mortal bride-to-be.
The Truth in the Shadows
Jade sat on the edge of the sprawling bed, her heart hammering against her ribs like a trapped bird. Justin was above her, his presence an overwhelming shadow that smelled of sandalwood and ancient magic. He leaned down, pressing her back until she was bended backward against the soft silks. His face was inches from hers, his eyes burning with an intensity that made her breath hitch.
Slowly, he reached out and placed the Truth Jade against her forehead. The cool stone sent a shiver through her soul. Jade looked at it,and throws it,her voice trembling. "It's fake, right? Why did you act like it was original? Why let me believe I was bound by its power?"
Justin's icy resolve seemed to waver for a fleeting second. His eyes softened, a wave of hidden sorrow flickering in his gaze. "Because I didn't want to upset you," he whispered, his voice low and jagged with a rare vulnerability.
The gentleness in his tone caught Jade off guard. It wasn't the voice of a cold prince, but of a man who cared too much. Before she could respond, he straightened his back and walked away into the shadows of the room. Jade's eyes fell to the bed. There, lying on the silk, was a jade bangle.
She picked it up, her fingers tracing the familiar carvings. "Is that mine?" she whispered to the empty air. "But I lost it five years ago... how is it here?"
Schemes in the Heaven Realm
High above the clouds, in a bedroom draped in celestial silk, Merin sat with her sister, Merida. Their quiet conversation was interrupted as Ryan, their elder brother, strode into the room with a dark cloud over his brow.
"Let's talk later," Merin murmured to Merida, who bowed to Ryan and slipped away.
Merin turned to her brother, her face pale. "I don't think I can find the Soul Crystal, Ryan. He is going to marry her."
"Who?" Ryan's voice cracked like thunder.
"A mortal girl," Merin replied, her voice cold. "He introduced her to me today."
Ryan's eyes widened, a dangerous glint appearing in his gaze. "Is it her?" he whispered to himself.
"What?" Merin asked, but Ryan shook his head. He reached out, stroking Merin's hair in a hollow gesture of comfort. "Are you upset because he chose someone else?"
Merin smiled, a chilling, hollow expression. "Me? No way. I am only upset that I couldn't accomplish my mission. But tell me... why do you want that Soul Crystal so badly?"
Ryan's smirk was predatory. "It is the soul of the entire Nine-Tailed Fox lineage. Endless power. Whoever holds it becomes a god among gods." He turned to leave. "Find another way to get into that realm. We need that crystal."
In the corridor, Ryan encountered Zerath, an ancient demon with eyes like dying embers.
"Did you find her?" Zerath rasped.
"She is in the Fox Realm," Ryan said, his voice dripping with malice. "But bringing her out won't be easy. She's gonna marry Justin."
Zerath paused, then a cruel smile spread across his withered face. "Wait. Let Leo do it. I have already instructed him."
Ryan chuckled, a dark, vibrating sound. "Then it must done. Nothing is impossible for my brother."
The Barrier and the Betrayal
The next morning, Jade stood at the edge of the village, staring at the shimmering, invisible wall that separated the Fox Realm from the world she once knew.
"Jade!"
The voice was faint but unmistakable. Jade's head snapped up. Outside the barrier stood Emily, her best friend. Jade rushed forward, tears blurring her vision, but she slammed into the invisible wall.
"Emily! How did you get here?" Jade cried out, her hands pressed against the cold air.
"It's a long story," Emily sobbed from the other side. "How do I get in?"
Jade looked around frantically. "Wait here!" She turned, and her heart nearly stopped. Justin was standing behind her, his regal robes catching the sunlight, his expression unreadable and cold.
Jade swallowed her fear and grabbed his hand, her voice a desperate plea. "Please... help her. She's my friend. Let her in!"
Justin remained motionless. "I do not allow outsiders into my kingdom," he said, his voice like a winter frost. He grabbed Jade's hand to drag her back toward the palace.
"No! I'm an outsider too!" Jade screamed, digging her heels into the dirt. "If she can't stay, then throw me out too!"
Justin's eyes flared with annoyance, but beneath the anger was a flicker of pain. He couldn't stand her tears. He turned, his hand glowing as his royal ring shined with a blinding light. With a sweep of his arm, the barrier parted.
Emily rushed in, collapsing into Jade's arms. "Thank you," Jade whispered, looking at Justin. But the Prince didn't acknowledge her. He simply gripped her hand tighter and began walking, dragging her toward the heart of the kingdom.
The Prince's Punishment
After ensuring Emily was taken to the guest quarters by Daisy, Justin dragged Jade into his private chambers. He kicked the door shut, his face darkened with a possessive fury.
"Why were you there, Jade?" he asked, his voice a husky growl.
"I... I just wanted to see..."
"Do you want to escape from here?" He leaned in, his eyes narrowing. "Don't lie. I can sense it when you lie."
Jade trembled as he suddenly lifted her, placing her firmly on the edge of the dressing table. He caged her in with his arms, his face inches from hers. His gaze dropped to her lips, then back to her eyes.
"I don't like it when you lie to me," he whispered, his breath hot against her skin. He grabbed her hand and pressed a lingering, soft kiss into the center of her palm.
Jade's heart felt like it was going to explode. "I am going to punish you," he murmured.
Terrified and overwhelmed, Jade placed her hand on his chest to push him back. Justin smirked playfully, a dangerous spark in his eyes. He caught her hand, pinning it to the table, and swiftly grabbed the back of her neck.
He crashed his lips against hers. It wasn't a gentle kiss; it was intense, deep, and wild—the kiss of a man who had been starving for her for five years. Jade's eyes widened, her senses reeling. She tried to pull back, but he caught both her hands, raising them above her head and pinning them against the mirror.
"You are so addictive," he whispered against her mouth before diving back in. The kiss grew longer, more desperate, claiming her entirely. When he finally pulled away, he leaned his forehead against hers, a playful, triumphant smile dancing on his lips.
Jade could only look at him, breathless and lost in the storm of his love.
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To be Continued........
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