Ningyan lay still, the feather resting between his fingers.
On either side of him, Jun Haoxuan and Rong Yue slept, their breaths slow, presence calm, their warmth lingering even in stillness. He remained between them, aware of the faint ache in his body, a quiet reminder of the night that had passed.
It should have been enough to calm his thoughts.
But now that silence had returned, so had the unease.
The phoenix. Again and again, the thought circled back.
If someone had truly followed him, then they had been watching… waiting.
But for what? What was happening?
His brows drew faintly together.
Before the thought could settle, the chamber doors opened.
Ningyan froze.
Lan Meishan stepped in. He paused just inside, his gaze falling briefly to the bed... To Ningyan.
Then, without preamble, he moved forward and spread his arms. "I want an embrace."
There was no hesitation.
