He finished quietly, turning to the side to press his hands against his heart. Doing so, his feet banged into the bookshelf and a book fell. Blinking at it, he noted the soft green and red ribbon. Letting out a sigh, he crawled over to pick it up. No title, no name. Wiping his swollen eyes, he opened the cover and paused.
I don't regret it.
That sentence was written large like a statement. Flipping the page, his eyes started to read and glazed over as he stared at the blank page.
Hand holding the brush, he could feel himself emotional as he made his strokes.
'My story is not one people will envy,' he wrote, 'nor would any unfortunate soul wish for.'
'As long as I have known, I was Heaven's Conduit- chosen to do their bidding, to bring balance to this world. I had no name, no true family, only my master and two brothers. They were cultivators, meant to rid the villages of evil entities, and I thought I was the same. Meditation, sword practices, visiting villages, and helping others were what we did. Master found a cabin up on a hill where we settled. Life was boring. Until I met him.
My very first friend.
I liked him the first time we met and wanted to meet him again. A bit clingy, I know.
The lake at night were just for us, in our own little world away from others. The way he made me feel, I could not describe fully for it will take up this entire book and more.'
He let out a laugh and sighed.
'When I joined him in the palace, I truly felt like I was part of a family. They were all so kind to me and Wang Li… Wang Li was my favorite person. We were the best of friends. We did everything together and then we became more.'
A smile on his lips, he closed his eyes for a moment as the memory of their first kiss, their first touch, their first statement of love.
'When I found out he was also a chosen one from the Heavens, I was confused. Did Heaven not send only one to do its bidding? Why were they both conduits of Heaven? This question would haunt me later in the darkness of my heart.
If his purpose was to bring balance too, then what was mine? I thought maybe Heaven made a mistake with me. That the true chosen was Wang Li and I could live happily with him. So, I stayed despite the visits from the Jade Emperor. I stayed despite the changes in Ah Li. I stayed until I found out the truth.
I must leave. Leave this family, leave the man that I love, my favorite person. It will hurt us both, I know, but if I do not go, he will get worse. I cannot in good conscience do that to him.
If only I knew then, what I knew now… I would not have yearned for his company or his heart. Then, he would be happy without me.
I will stay away, even if it cost me my life.'
Ying Yue placed the brush down and covered his face, feeling the tears slipped through his fingers.
"The Heavens truly despise us this much," he whispered into the room, "Wang Li, forgive me."
He wiped his tears with his sleeve and looked down at the book. Green eyes blinked and blinked until it was focused enough to see the signature. Fingers brushed over it and he pursed his lips. Hiccupping, he slammed the book close and stood up pacing the room. Shaking his head, he rubbed his temples as thoughts and memories flew through his mind.
Sitting on the bed, he looked over to the corner and saw an instrument.
'I thought there weren't any musical instrument,' he frowned and picked it up.
A wooden instrument with seven silken strings was in his hands. Feet moving on their own, he placed the guqin on the floor table. Fingers running over the strings, he closed his eyes and felt his fingers plucking lightly. The soft tone floated in the air and he found himself smiling.
'Hm, anywhere I plucked sounds pretty,' he hummed, 'Maybe I can play in the festival.'
He stopped himself from continuing and stood up. Blowing out the candles, he stood in front of the opened door and looked back.
"I'm sorry Sheng Shui," he whispered, "I am not you, but I love him as much as you. Please, just leave us alone. Go rest in peace."
He closed the door and headed to his room. He wondered if Wang Li would be there or if he was still away. Letting out a sigh, he slid open the door to see a figure in bed. Smiling, he took off his shoes and stepped in. Closing the door behind him, he took off his coat and outer robe before sidling under the sheet.
"Ah Yue," his sleepy voice mumbled when the blonde lifted his strong arm.
"Did you get a chance to eat?" He whispered softly placing the king's arm over him as he pressed himself close to the man.
"Mm," the Ghost King sounded and pulled him in tighter, "What were you doing so late?"
"Ah, do not worry," he smiled and kissed thin lips, "Let's sleep, my husband."
He felt his lover move closer to him, nuzzling his neck and Ying Yue hummed with a smile. Tongue swiped along his curve and his heart jumped. A palm moved down his side to his hip and back up again, before moving to his chest. Slipping the hand under his inner robe, Ying Yue bit his lips as his face reddened.
"Hm… salty," Wang Li mumbled as the tongue dragged along his skin under his jaw.
"W… what?"
The flat of long tongue slid up his cheek and paused under the eyes. The warm palm dragged down his stomach and back up to play with his nipple. Ying Yue's mouth parted and he licked his lips, wrapping his legs over his king's hip.
"Are you alright? What is bothering you, my wife?"
Ying Yue stared at Wang Li, memorizing every dip, every lash, every perspiration on his lover's face. He bit his lips and lifted his head up to kiss his king. Almost lost in the way Wang Li's tongue sent lightening through his body, grunting, Ying Yue quickly flipped them over. He saw the surprise color his husband, before a slow coy smile curled on such pretty lips.
"Are you not wearing too much clothing, my love?"
The blonde kneeled up and Wang Li's hands slid over his skin, leaving heat wherever they touched. Lips were back on his and tongue stroked his. Moaning into the kiss, Ying Yue pulled back to rid himself of his clothing. Now naked straddling his lover's naked body, he couldn't help flushing from anticipation. His penis was twitching and beginning to leak just from seeing how handsome his king was, even more when he had his husband beneath him.
Something about that made his entire body trembled.
"Husband," Ying Yue looked at his husband with wide inexperienced eyes. Wang Li laughed softly and wrapped fingers around the back of his neck, bringing him down to meet lips. Ying Yue felt as if he could just live in his husband's mouth. The nails at his nape brought a shiver through his body, gasping and moaning loudly in his lover's mouth.
His hips moved and he pushed up with a groan. His cock was pressed to his lover's beautiful abs as the other hand of Wang Li's pushed his ass forward, signaling to him what his lover wanted. Wet mouth and panting, the blonde followed and thrust against cut abs, while his husband spread his ass cheeks. Flushing deeply, Ying Yue continued moving and bit his lips when he felt the hard shaft snugged perfectly between his cheeks.
"So perfect for me, my beloved."
Gosh, the way Wang Li spoke, Ying Yue would not know what he would do if he had met his husband in his other life.
'I'm sure I would end up obsessed with him like I am now.'
Wang Li thrusted up and Ying Yue's mind jumbled as he inhaled sharply.
"Ah, my… uh… mm… love you… love you."
He panted out as Wang Li took control with large palms on his ass, squeezing it hard. He kissed his lover with panting lips, before he could no longer participate as his eyes rolled back. Trembling, he tucked his head against his husband's neck as his lover continued to thrust up. Then-
"Ah!"
Ying Yue shot up with his body frozen and eyes wide with fear. He was hyperventilating and felt as if his heart was just going to let out and he was going to die and he would leave Wang Li and he would be alone and, and, and-
"Ying Yue, breathe."