The chamber was round and smooth, like it had been carved by a giant hand. The air was warm, but Lin Xue looked colder than ever. Frost crawled up her neck like a scarf trying to choke her. Her lips turned pale. Her breath came out thin, then thinner, like it was running out.
Wei Chen caught her before she fell. He held her tight against his chest, trying to give her heat with his body alone. Her skin felt like snow.
"Lin Xue," he said, voice rough. "Stay with me."
Her eyes fluttered. "I… can't," she whispered. Frost formed on her lashes. "It hurts."
Su Mei stood a step away, watching the walls. Her purple qi flickered like a candle in wind. "This place is closing," she warned. "Look."
Wei Chen looked up. The stone walls were moving. Not fast, but steady. The room was shrinking, like the altar wanted to press them into one tight point.
In the dark above, the eyes opened again, closer now. The voice was pleased. "Branded one," it whispered. "She freezes. You burn. Say yes, and I save her."
Wei Chen's black sun brand pulsed on his chest. Cold hunger pushed into his ribs, and a sweet lie slid through his mind. I can fix it. Just let me in.
Wei Chen clenched his jaw. "Shut up," he muttered.
Su Mei stepped in, impatient. "If she freezes fully, your bond snaps," she said. "Then your Nine-Suns will roar. Then we all die."
Wei Chen looked at Lin Xue's face. Her proud cold mask was gone. She looked small, even though she tried to stand tall.
Su Mei pointed at Wei Chen's wrist mark. "You can heat her through the bond," she said. "Not a little. A lot. But you must do it the right way, or the altar will drink it."
Wei Chen's eyes narrowed. "Tell me."
Su Mei spoke fast. "Three breaths. Three links. You hold her. You kiss her. You push Yang through her Yin on the exhale. I seal the leak with demon qi. If you lose control, stop. If she says stop, stop."
Wei Chen swallowed and looked down at Lin Xue. "Rules," he said softly. "Stop means stop."
Lin Xue's fingers gripped his sleeve weakly. Her voice was thin. "Stop means stop," she whispered. "But… don't stop. I choose this."
Wei Chen's chest tightened. Even in pain, his mouth found a naughty line, like he needed it to breathe. "Ice Queen," he murmured near her ear, "after this, you owe me a kiss you don't pretend to hate."
Lin Xue made a tiny sound that was half anger, half relief. "Wei Chen…"
He smiled against her hair. "Say my name," he teased, gentle.
"Wei Chen," she whispered, and her voice shook.
"Good," he said. "Stay."
Wei Chen sat with his back against the stone and pulled Lin Xue onto his lap so she wouldn't fall. He kept his hands on her waist, firm and steady. Her robe was cold against his skin, but his heat rose fast, begging to pour into her.
Su Mei circled them, drawing a violet ring on the floor with her fingers. "Don't break the circle," she warned. "It's a truce line. It bites if the altar tries to drink."
Wei Chen lifted Lin Xue's chin. Her lips were cold. Her eyes were wide, scared, and stubborn.
"Do you want this?" he asked again, clear.
Lin Xue nodded once. "Yes," she whispered. "Now."
Wei Chen kissed her.
Slow at first. Then deeper. Lin Xue's fingers tightened on his collar, pulling him closer like she didn't want air. Wei Chen's hands held her like a promise. His heat rolled into her in waves, not wild, but guided.
Wei Chen breathed out into the kiss, pushing Yang through their bond like a warm river. Lin Xue shuddered. Frost on her lashes trembled, then softened. A faint blush rose on her cheeks, like winter finally saw the sun.
Su Mei pressed two fingers to Wei Chen's chest, right beside the black brand. Violet qi sank in, sharp and cool. "Again," she ordered.
Wei Chen pulled back just enough to whisper, "Second breath."
Lin Xue's lips parted. "Don't tease," she whispered. "Do it."
Wei Chen's grin flashed. "Bossy even while dying," he murmured, then kissed her again.
This time Lin Xue kissed back harder, like she was angry at the curse, angry at fear, angry at needing him. Her cold body pressed closer, not forced—chosen. Wei Chen felt the bond mark flare gold and silver, bright enough to glow through their sleeves.
The room hummed. The eyes above brightened.
"Yes," the altar voice purred. "More."
The black sun brand on Wei Chen's chest pulled—hard. It tried to drink the heat passing through the bond.
Wei Chen broke the kiss and spoke one word, sharp. "Stop."
Everything stopped.
Lin Xue's eyes snapped open, breathing hard. Su Mei's fingers tightened on Wei Chen's chest, violet qi flaring like a whip.
Su Mei hissed, "Good. It's feeding. Hold steady."
Wei Chen's voice was low. "Lin Xue, are you okay?"
Lin Xue swallowed, then nodded. Her breath was still frosty, but it was stronger. "I'm… here," she whispered.
Wei Chen kissed her forehead instead, softer. "Third breath," he said.
Lin Xue looked at him, and something fragile showed in her eyes. "Don't leave me," she whispered.
Wei Chen's grin faded. "I won't," he said. "I swear it."
Then he kissed her again, slow and deep, like a vow he couldn't take back. Lin Xue's hands slid into his hair. Wei Chen's heat flowed on the exhale, and Su Mei's violet qi sealed the edges, keeping the altar from stealing it.
The frost on Lin Xue's neck cracked like thin ice and melted away.
Lin Xue gasped into Wei Chen's mouth, then leaned her forehead to his. She looked dazed, flushed, and angry at how good it felt to be alive.
Su Mei stepped back, breathing hard too, like she hated that the scene moved her. "It worked," she said.
But the walls groaned again.
A black pillar rose from the center of the chamber, carved with the thorny sun symbol. Chains of shadow slid out from it, slow and curious, like fingers reaching.
The altar voice smiled. "Beautiful," it whispered. "Now pay."
One shadow-chain lifted toward Lin Xue's wrist, aiming for her bond mark.
Wei Chen's eyes went wide. He snapped his fan open and slashed at the chain.
The chain didn't cut.
It wrapped around his fan like it was soft rope.
Lin Xue tried to stand, but her legs shook. Su Mei's violet ring flickered, weak now, like it used too much.
The altar voice turned sweet again. "Branded one," it whispered. "Say yes. Accept me. I save her forever."
The chain moved closer to Lin Xue.
Wei Chen's black sun brand burned cold, and the whisper in his blood became a command.
Say yes.
Lin Xue looked at Wei Chen, breath trembling, eyes wide. "Wei Chen…" she whispered.
And the shadow-chain touched her skin.
To be Continued
© Kishtika., 2025
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