The doors to his hall burst open with a force that rattled through the building. He gripped his fists tightly as his sandalwood pheromones filled the air.
"That ungrateful brat," he muttered, and walked toward his ebony desk, slamming his hands on it. Books fell to the ground and scattered across the floor. "He always does everything to get on my nerves," he let out another scream and slammed his hand on the desk, harder this time, sending the whole desk to the ground.
His pheromones filled the room like brown smoke, circling every corner of the room.
Xuan Han was losing it.Because of Ling Yue.
He had thought that showing up would matter, but that stupid little omega had proven him wrong and instead tried to kiss him again.
Feng Lan, I have failed you again.
"Ling Yue," he gritted his teeth as he remembered the little omega's face. Instead of fear, he had noticed mockery.
Was he doing it deliberately? Trying to get on his nerves so he could sin against Feng Lan?
The temptations were becoming stronger, and for an emperor who had gone thousands of years without any form of intimate contact, Xuan Han found it hard to control his urges, especially around him.
"Wow, this is the first time I have seen you in years so angry," a voice sounded behind him.
Xuan Han spun around immediately, his hand raised, ready to strike whoever had barged into his room without invitation. His eyes met a purple-masked face and widened at recognition. "Xuan Wei?" he gasped.
"Well, hello there, brother dearest," Xuan Wei said, raising his hands and chuckling. His legs were crossed, his back against the carved headboard. He placed a hand on the mask around his nose and groaned. "I am glad I was prepared while coming in here, because who knows—you might be out of control and releasing your pheromones like normal."
"It's—" Xuan Han tried to explain, but he groaned and heaved a deep sigh, a sigh so deep that for a few seconds his heart raced so fast he felt it could burst.
He shut his eyes and tried to stop releasing the sandalwood scent. Finally, when he succeeded, he fluttered his eyes open and met his brother's violet ones. "Tell me, Wei, what are you doing here?"
"Not even a hug from my lovely brother?" Xuan Wei stood up from the bed and spread his arms wide as he walked toward his brother.
But when he reached Xuan Han's front, he dropped them. "You don't look too happy to see me," he groaned, then clapped his hands gently and circled him. "Does your outburst here relate to what happened in the throne room days ago?"
Xuan Han grabbed his hand and stopped him from circling. "How did you find out, and what the hell are you doing here, Wei?"
"Rumors are spreading everywhere brother and I came to visit you," he responded, yanking his hand free from Xuan Han's.
He rubbed his wrist and ran his hands through his loose silver hair.
Their eyes met again, and they glared at each other without another word.
Xuan Han was shocked to see his brother after thousands of years. Ever since the heaven's war ended, he had left the heavenly realm to guard the border where the demon Yan Xi—sealed by Feng Lan was imprisoned.
Both brothers differed in personality, actions, and appearance.
While Xuan Han had silver eyes, Xuan Wei's were violet. Their faces bore no strong resemblance, though they shared the same father and mother. The only similarity was the silver hair. As for their personalities, they were both cold and cruel.
Xuan Wei's cruelty was on another level; it earned him the cold general title. While Xuan Han ruled heaven like an emperor, Xuan Wei punished those who broke the laws.
"Why are you here?"
"Regicide pardoned is a first."
Both said it at the same time and then growled at each other.
Xuan Wei continued speaking, moving closer until his hands clasped Xuan Han's shoulder. "Have you gotten weak, brother? That you would pardon someone who tried to kill you?"
Xuan Han slapped his hands away. "Mind your fucking business, Wei."
"Oh, I won't, brother," Xuan Wei grinned and rubbed his hands together. "It's my business even if it might not seem like that. You are the emperor, and I am the spare. If anything happens to you—" he paused and locked eyes with Xuan Han with an intimidating glare that would send anyone to their knees begging for forgiveness.
Except that such a thing didn't work on Xuan Han.
"If anything happens to you," Xuan Han continued, "it means I will be forced to take the throne, and I hate such boring positions because they mean I wouldn't be able to spill blood the way I want." He chuckled and rubbed his eyes gently.
"So tell me, brother," he said, placing a hand on Xuan Wei's chest, "should I help you get rid of the attacker? One slit to the throat and he is gone." He snapped his fingers sharply.
Xuan Han grabbed his fingers and twisted, but Xuan Wei showed no sign of pain and continued grinning. "Try that and I'll cut your tongue out, brother."
"Oh really?" Xuan Wei burst into laughter, then yanked his fingers from his brother's grip and rubbed them gently. "So the rumors are true, brother. That omega means so much to you."
Xuan Han frowned and turned away, folding his arms. "If you are done here, Wei, go back. And why the hell are you even here?" he snarled as he faced him. "You are supposed to be at the mirror tomb. Yan Xi—"
"One of the reasons I came back," Xuan Wei cut in. "The portal is glitching now." He walked back to the bed and crossed his legs. "There have been signs that Yan Xi is waking up. The barrier has been affected. At dawn, it grew weaker, and it usually takes at least ten of my men to keep it under control."
Xuan Han heaved a deep sigh and touched his forehead, pondering what his brother had said.
Yan Xi wasn't supposed to be able to break out of the mirror tomb where he was sealed; thousands of years ago, when Feng Lan sealed him, it was meant to be for eternity.
"Then make sure to triple the guards, because Yan Xi should be locked forever. His return to the world will bring disaster we can't avoid."
"Already given the order. You are—" Xuan Wei paused and sniffed the air. Just then, the door slid open without a knock. "Well, well," he purred. "If it isn't Wei Jin, my brother's favorite lapdog."