She lay beneath him, tears not yet dry, breath still trembling.
But this time—Yu didn't press down.Didn't tease.Didn't take.
Instead, he leaned down… and kissed the corner of her eye.
"You don't want to hear it," he whispered,"But I'll say it anyway."
She turned her face away.
But his voice was soft—like he was telling the story to himself.
"Three years ago… I fell from the sky.I was wounded.I was being hunted.And I crashed into your master's camp."
Her breath caught.
"But I didn't kill him."
He looked at her now.His eyes were clear, cold as frost, still as water.
"The ones who did… were crow demons.Monsters who hid in my shadow.I failed to stop them.And for that, I carry the sin."
"I never explained—because no one believes a golden-winged beast could feel remorse."
"But you… you were different.You were the only one I'd take an arrow for—just to be near."
Her body trembled.Like the truth had pierced her deeper than any arrow ever could.
Before she could speak—Wind shrieked outside the cabin.
A shadow crashed through the window—Black feathers swirling in the air!
Yu's eyes went sharp.In the same breath, he pulled her into his arms, wings curling around her, shielding her completely.
"Crow demon," he growled, voice like steel,"You dare come back?"
The figure landed, black wings soaked in shadow and venom.
"The golden eagle is wounded," it hissed."You can't protect her now."
Yu's smile was cold. Deadly.
"Then try me."
With a sweep of his wings, he pushed Su Sheng behind him.
His feathers shimmered gold, then sliced forward like blades—A single flick of his wing cut down a storm of black feathers, raining across the floor.
Su Sheng stared at his back, heart pounding.For the first time, she saw him truly fight.And for the first time…She knew—
He wasn't a monster.He was the divine beast that would burn for her.
"He took that arrow for me," she whispered.
Yu glanced back.And—somehow—smiled.
"Are you regretting it now?"
She shook her head, tears in her eyes—Then reached behind her back… and pulled out her bow.
"I just want to stand beside you."
She pulled.Released.
The arrow shot like lightning, breaking through the air with the sound of justice.
Yu froze.
She had drawn her bow…For him.
And there she stood—still marked with his kisses from the night before,But holding her bow steady, eyes fierce as wind—
"He's a beast, yes.""But he's my beast."
"No one touches him."
Yu gave a low laugh, voice rough with something like wonder.
He leaned in, lips brushing her ear.
"That…"
"That's the sentence I want to hear for the rest of my life."