Chapter 13. A morning full of decisions
AT THE SAME TIME
MEI SHEN’S POINT OF VIEW:
The faint golden light filtered in through the tall curtains of his chamber, brushing warmth across my skin. The room was quiet, still, almost too gentle for the kind of storm I carried inside. I blinked slowly, trying to remember where I was until I felt it. A heavy arm around my waist. A heartbeat behind my back. Lianwei.
Last night’s conversation came rushing back. His quiet plea. The words I should’ve said no to but didn’t. I had stayed. And he had fallen asleep holding my wrist like it was the only thread keeping him from unraveling. Slowly, I tried to shift. To rise quietly, like a ghost before dawn. I wasn’t planning to run, just... breathe. Just sit near the window again, where the space didn’t feel so thick with emotions I didn’t know how to handle. But the moment I moved his grip tightened. Strong. Warm. Anchoring. I froze.
"Lianwei." I whispered, not sure if he was awake.
No response. Only a low breath near my ear, steady and calm. But his arm had locked tighter around me like his body knew what his mind hadn’t caught up with.
"Well, this just got cozy." Zeyrith murmured inside my head, absolutely amused. "Is this the part where you sigh, stare at the ceiling, and wonder how you ended up in a prince turned clingy lover storyline?"
"I didn’t stay for this." I muttered under my breath. "I only arrived to bring the medicine."
"You stayed." The god said with a knowing look.
"And that’s how all great disasters begin."I muttered.
He shifted slightly behind me, just enough for his face to press closer into the crook of my neck. I could feel the heat of his breath.
"Ahem." The system interrupted coldly. "This level of physical proximity is... ill advised."