"Where do you keep your night garments?" Sheng Fei asked softly once Hua Ren was settled.
"Right behind you," Hua Ren murmured, nodding toward the wardrobe.
Sheng Fei glanced over his shoulder and walked toward the wardrobe, pulling open the doors. Inside, he found row after row of robes folded with meticulous care, nearly all in shades of white, cream, or a soft, milky hue. Sheng Fei shook his head, a faint smile tugging at his lips. ’Typical Ivory Warlord’ he thought. ’Always dressed in white.’
With a small sigh, he picked out a set of soft, milk-colored trousers and a matching shirt, turning back toward Hua Ren. But the sight that met his eyes made him pause, the garments momentarily forgotten in his hands.
Hua Ren had already slumped onto the bed, his strength clearly spent from the blood loss and mental exhaustion. Against the white sheets, he looked almost ethereal, like some deity that had fallen from heaven. His snow-white hair fanned out across the pillows in a gentle cascade, framing his delicate face, which was now relaxed, every trace of tension smoothed away. The torn edges of his shirt revealed a sliver of fair, smooth skin, only adding to his fragile appearance.
Only that Sheng Fei knew the Ivory Warlord was anything but fragile.
His gaze lingered, caught by the serene beauty before him. The faintest scent of sweet peaches filled the air, subtle but intoxicating and it seemed to wrap around him, pulling him closer without a word. His pulse quickened, warmth flooding his body as he felt the familiar, unsettling rush of blood to his groin.
He swallowed hard, a soft groan escaping before he could stop it. He then realised that he had been releasing his pheromones unconsciously which may have triggered Hua Ren into also unconsciously releasing his. Finally, he took a steadying breath, calming his racing heart and also retracting his pheromones.
Reluctantly, Sheng Fei averted his gaze, silently commanding himself to look away. Yet, even as he stood there, his eyes flickered back, and he found himself wanting to stay just a bit longer, to drink in the sight of Hua Ren lying there, serene and unguarded. A sight he never thought to see.
Due to the way Hua Ren had been rejecting him since they met, he never thought such a day would come so soon.
His hold on the night garments tightened as he stared at Hua Ren’s sleeping form. He would be a fool if he didn’t make use of the opportunity.
Hua Ren found himself standing alone in the middle of a dimly lit street, his features obscured by the long veil attached to his hat. A dagger, tightly gripped in his hand, ready for a fight.
Across from him stood the Emperor, his face concealed by a mask and in his hand was a sword gleaming, aimed at Hua Ren.
"Do you really wish to fight me, Hua Ren?" The Emperor asked, his voice calm, yet there was a dangerous edge to it.
Hua Ren gasped. "H-How did you know it’s me?" he stammered, not expecting his identity to be exposed so easily.
"How would I not know?" The Emperor chuckled darkly, a sound that echoed off the empty street.
In an instant, his form wavered, and before Hua Ren could blink, he felt the Emperor’s cold presence directly behind him, the sharp edge of the sword resting against the base of his neck.
Hua Ren tensed, shivers running down his spine as the chill of the steel touched his skin.
"How can I not recognize the figure of the very man who once vowed to spend eternity with me?" the Emperor murmured close to his ear. "Or have you had a change of heart, my general?"
Hua Ren’s breath hitched, his heart pounding. "I cannot serve a man who condones such barbarity, Your Majesty," he declared.
A sigh, soft yet heavy with disappointment, escaped the Emperor. "And here I thought you would agree to be my bride," he said, his tone almost regretful. "But I no longer have use for you, general. Goodbye."
With one swift, fluid motion, the Emperor’s sword slashed across Hua Ren’s neck, and a searing, blinding pain erupted—
Hua Ren jolted awake, springing upright in bed with a strangled gasp, his chest heaving. His entire body was drenched in sweat, his heart racing as if he had truly been on the brink of death. He reached instinctively for his shoulder, wincing at the burst of pain that flared under his fingertips. To his surprise, he felt a thick layer of bandages, clean and carefully wrapped around the wound.
As his breathing slowly steadied, the events of the previous night flooded back to him.
The auction, his clash with the Emperor, the injury he sustained, and Sheng Fei’s gentle presence as he tended to his wound.
He brushed back his hair, letting out a deep sigh. The last thing he could recall was Sheng Fei guiding him to bed. Everything beyond that was a blank.
He frowned, laying back on the bed. He noticed that his clothes had been changed and knew Sheng Fei must have done so. But what could have happened after that? Did Sheng Fei just leave?
In the silence of the room, Hua Ren’s nose caught a faint yet familiar whiff of sage. The earthy scent drifted over him and it was surprisingly comforting.
His turned to his left, his gaze dropping to the pillow beside him, where the fragrance seemed to linger the strongest. Tentatively, he reached over, pulling the pillow close to his chest. He buried his face against it, inhaling deeply.
The scent of sage was delicate, a hint of something herbal and woodsy, like fresh leaves crushed between fingers. There was a warmth in it, too, like the dry heat of sunlit earth.
The aroma filled his senses, wrapping around him like a protective embrace, soothing the erratic beats of his heart. Hua Ren held the pillow closer, letting the scent calm him as he exhaled, his body slowly relaxing into the bed.
Eyes closed, he murmured, "Sheng Fei..." The name slipped from his lips in a whisper, barely audible, but tinged with an emotion he didn’t quite comprehend yet.
Sheng Fei might not have been there in person, but his scent lingered, leaving Hua Ren with a strange sense of presence. For a moment, he felt as though Sheng Fei was right beside him.
Hua Ren was fully aware of what this meant. As an Omega, his instincts were tugging him toward his mate, making him find comfort in Sheng Fei’s scent.
Days ago, he wouldn’t have believed this could happen. He would have maybe been in bed, wishing he could perceive the Emperor’s pheromones but now, the thought of the Emperor’s scent didn’t even cross his mind.