Seeing a heavenly screen pop up, Ester was shocked that Ryan was a cultivator.
But as she began to read, her mouth kept dropping further open.
"Wha-... What is this?!" Ester yelled.
"Y-You're the heavenly chosen who took a critical level oath!" Ester stammered, pointing at the screen. "How? Why?"
"It doesn't matter how or why anymore," Ryan said. "What matters is what you'll do now."
Turning her eyes on Ryan, Ester looked at him, truly looked.
As they gazed into each other's eyes, neither moved nor said anything. The only sound was the slight squeak of the chair legs as they scraped across the floor.
A moment later, the Frost General broke eye contact and let out a deep breath. "Okay, I'll trust you."
Feeling like he had just crossed a dangerous chasm, Ryan let out a breath that he didn't realize he had been holding.
"Good. Now we can begin discussing the payment for my cure," Ryan said, his smile never leaving his face.
Feeling something was wrong with that sentence, Ester frowned but couldn't quite put her finger on it.
"Are you serious about paying for the cure?" Ester asked with disbelief in her voice. "I mean-" she cut herself off and gave a curt nod before continuing, "Okay, fine! How much do you want?"
Ryan grinned, shaking his head. "I don't want money, sweetheart. I want you."
Ryan started stalking forward, his eyes filled with lust. His every step sent goosebumps down Ester's back as he stalked toward her until he was mere inches away from where she sat at the table. She could feel him breathing heavily as he leaned over to whisper into her ear. "You will submit to me and become mine."
"I will teach you the pleasures you've been missing out on. I will heal you, restore you, and change you."
"I will make you mine," Ryan said huskily into her ear.
Ester shivered as the man whispered words of desire. He was right. She had missed this... this feeling of being wanted and needed... loved.
But when he said he would 'make' her his own, the word made her shudder.
"Make?" Ester questioned softly, unsure if she heard correctly.
"Yes, frosty goddess. You must give yourself up to me," he said, looking directly into her eyes with a promise-filled gaze. "And once you are mine, I will make you strong. Stronger than you could ever imagine."
His voice changed pitch and became deep and seductive. It sent a shiver down Ester's spine that felt like it traveled down to her toes.
The Frost element slowly dissipated from Ester's body as she continued listening to his voice. Her heart began beating faster, sending blood pumping throughout her veins.
"B-But how?" she asked in disbelief as Ester stared at him.
"The first step is to trust me, sweetheart," Ryan replied. "Just believe in me."
With the sound of ripping fabric, the two came together in an instant. Ryan pressed himself against Ester, reaching behind her and grabbing her hair tightly. His hands were rough on her soft locks as he pulled them forcefully back.
Not one to be outdone, the Frost General's instincts kicked in. She wrapped her arms around his neck and drew Ester's lips towards his as Ryan brought his face closer to hers.
With their faces mere inches apart, Ester locked eyes with Ryan and began kissing his cheek passionately.
"I can't believe I'm doing this," she said after a moment. As she looked at the man, she had just kissed.
Seeing his audacious grin, Ester began chuckling, realizing she had just given a man what he wanted.
"Why are you so confident?" Ester questioned while staring into those captivating emerald-green eyes that seemed to glow. "How do you know you can beat her?"
"Because of who I am, darling."
"I will bring down the human empire."
"I will kill the Grand Empress."
"I will conquer this world."
Ryan paused, looking into Ester's icy-blue eyes.
"But I'll start by claiming you."
Ester was startled and went stiff. This man knew how to get a girl's attention.
Not even her cold nature could stop her from wanting him.
"What does that mean? How could I be yours? Our ranks are so far apart, she asked, trying to play it cool, as her voice shook slightly.
Ryan placed his hands on either side of her head as he leaned forward, bringing his lips close to hers as he whispered, "I'm no ordinary man."
"I don't understand what you're talking about!" Ester said breathlessly. She felt butterflies in her stomach and found herself fighting the urge to giggle or laugh.
"I want you..."
Ester froze.
This wasn't what she had expected, not one bit! She had expected this man to come into the room and beg her to spare his life, throw himself at her feet.
But she couldn't deny the growing feeling inside.
The Grand Empress had forced her emotions from her body by injecting her soul with the frost element.
But now that this strange yet captivating man was before her, Ester felt like her body was regaining what she had lost.
Seeing how Ester looked at him, Ryan knew his instincts were right. 'Like mother like daughter.'
Ryan remembered his first encounter with Mara and how frosty she had acted toward him at first.
All it took was a little bit of Ryan magic to make her a squirming mess.
The moment Ryan's tongue touched her skin, Ester's cold demeanor disappeared entirely.
'I don't know why I have this power over the elements, but maybe I can use it to my advantage in other ways... but we'll save that for later,' Ryan thought as he licked her collarbone.
"That tickles," Ester said, her voice shaky and unsteady. "But I won't be yours." She shook her head from side to side.
"I am going to possess you."
Ester shuddered slightly at the sound of those words.
"And you will submit to me."
Ester froze again. A part of her wanted to do just that, especially after the way he kissed her.
"I-I can't-"
"You can and you will. You belong to me now, darling," Ryan replied. His eyes burned brightly into hers like hot coals from the depths of hell. "Do not fight against your fate any longer and accept your destiny." He then leaned closer, closing the distance between them until their lips almost touched together.
She knew she should stop him before it was too late... but she didn't want to stop. Being wrapped in Ryan's arms, she couldn't help but wonder what would happen if she gave in.
If she became his, giving herself over to a man.
"Yes," Ester said with a husky voice.
The word sent a shiver down Ryan's spine, making the hair on the back of his neck stand up. Then, with his face only inches away from Ester's, he paused briefly as he stared into her beautiful icy blue eyes.
When he saw the desire and longing reflected within those cold orbs, he immediately pressed his lips forward. He kissed Ester passionately, savoring every moment as he moved one hand behind her head while using the other to grab onto her waist tightly.
"You've made the right decision."