The metallic tang of Chu Yun's blood still coated the inside of Xiao Zai's mouth when he pressed their lips together in a searing kiss.
He could feel his own blood sing in satisfaction at having laid his claim to Chu Yun. He imagined he could feel an answering throb from the mark on his own nape. He cupped Chu Yun's neck while they kissed, protecting the tender skin.
When they broke away, Chu Yun nuzzled against his neck with a contented sigh. "Was that everything you dreamed of?"
Xiao Zai chuckled and kissed his forehead. "Everything and more."
Chu Yun grinned in reply, but then, after a moment's quiet, asked, "Do you feel any different?", his voice small and hesitant.
"No. Do you?"
Chu Yun looked up into Xiao Zai's eyes and shook his head. "Are you...disappointed?"
"Only that you think I would be," Xiao Zai whispered, brushing another kiss against Chu Yun's forehead.
He hadn't thought about soulbonds in a long time, especially whether or not that was something that would happen to him or Chu Yun. The truth was that it no longer mattered, not after everything they had gone through.
He still remembered the dismissive way Chu Yun had talked about them when they first met, and how he had gone along with him -- not wanting to admit to his own romantic fantasies.
But he also remembered his own fancies when they learned about the pregnancy. How he'd been so sure, that it was a sign there was something extraordinary about the two of them, that the heavens had chosen to reward them-
Chu Yun had never believed that.
Chu Yun was hard to satisfy, but Xiao Zai delighted in rising up to the task, again, again and again. When they dove back into the pool they were much dirtier than when they'd first gotten in.
Xiao Zai's eyes kept drifting towards the angry, raw wound on Chu Yun's nape, who noticed his attention and showed off whenever he caught him staring.
They had to leave the bath room eventually, but it was a disappointment sweetened by the prospect of seeing the twins again.
They found both asleep when they reached the royal rooms, the servants and the wet nurse retreating into their own quarters upon their arrival.
Chu Yun went right to the crib and picked up the little girl, and bounced her up and down softly. "How is papa's little girl?"
She gurgled sleepily, and reached out tiredly for him, who held her close against his chest. Xiao Zai looked in on their little boy, who had twisted the blankets around himself so thoroughly it would take two people to disentangle him.
"He's sleeping so soundly, I don't have the heart to wake him," Xiao Zai said, touching the tip of his son's round little nose softly.
Chu Yun let out a chuckle, and smacked a loud kiss against the little girl's cheek, making her giggle. "We're their parents, at this age the only thing they can do is be cute for our amusement. I'm going to pester them as much as I want."
Xiao Zai sighed indulgently. He had a feeling their children would learn to speak very quickly if only to tell Chu Yun they were tired. Perhaps the world's first instance of children being tired from a parent's attention instead of the other way around.
But then again, Chu Yun was not like anyone else.
Xiao Zai left the crib with his sleeping son and went up to Chu Yun, to wrap his arms around his waist and look over his shoulder at their daughter in his arms. "We still don't have names for them."
He felt Chu Yun's smile against the side of his face. "I might have a few ideas."
"And we won't be able to hide that they aren't alphas for much longer."
Chu Yun's smile turned into a smirk. "I definitely have an idea about that."