When Su Ningyan woke the next morning, the first thing he noticed was the absence of warmth.
The bed was empty.
Just hours ago, he had been wrapped securely in Lan Meishan's arms, held close, steady, safe.
Now, nothing.
Ningyan exhaled slowly, pushing himself upright as the weight of last night settled heavily in his chest.
"Ugh…" He rubbed at his eyes, then his forehead, before drawing his knees up and hugging them loosely. "This is going so badly."
Now that he knew what was inside him… he didn't know what to do.
How was he supposed to explain that the crystal had already fused with his beast soul?
Would Rong Yue still try to rip it out of him? Would that kill him?
…and how, of all things, had something Lan Yunlai wanted so desperately ended up inside him?
Ningyan let out a quiet breath and rested his chin against his knee.
His gaze drifted downward, then stilled.
The winged markings around his ankles.
Frowning slightly, he lifted the hem of his robe. And froze.
