attempted exit ♡

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His quip nearly brought the laughter back to her lips, which was a delightful sensation after being vacant of it for quite some time.

However, with her jaw fused shut as it was, she could not utter the sound – and instead, expressed it through a crinkling in the outer corner of her eyes. Again, he tested his limits, but it did not inflame her inquietude as it had before.

"I’ve told you, haven’t I?"

No. Not with the amount of detail that I prefer, she chided, bending to turn around at the neck and shoulders. This, Yue, was used to. Only rarely were others forthcoming to her with the loftiness of their pursuits, but that was their loss! As Batu had likely begun to realize, the Empress was a generous and benevolent creature.

She desired to fulfill the wants of her people.

Her tail cut a line through the air, as if placing her judgment upon his mention of something. Yue lifted her nose, as if to denote her point made. It is fair, if you do not wish me to know the details, the Empress uttered softly, unsure if she should meet him with yielding grace or the same sort of provocation that he, himself, was skilled in.

after all, these are only our imaginings.

The pale orchid straightened out the lines of her body, swinging her nose around to face forward, away from the guard Batu. Again, she spoke her words to the winds. – and you, Wei Jun, are supposed to protect me from those.

The Empress fell silent for a moment. There was nothing, save the rustling of wind through the vines and branches of the misty jungle.

Without looking backwards, Yue made to take a step forward. The woman hesitated a moment, her long legs held aloft and ready to unfurl. Her gaze fell, unsure what she needed in this moment, and feeling as though it was quite unfair to siphon whatever this was from the horse-man.

A willing participant he might be, but the Empress appreciated him too much – needed him to much – to distract him with wordplay and emotions, unbridled.

Please excuse me. I must pray.

That was not the way of Tianlong. That was not the way of Yue.

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