Chapter 44 #2
Her fingers dug into his shoulders and she wound her legs around his waist. “Forever,” she whispered when he gave her enough room to breathe. The intoxicating scent of him made her body nearly melt in his hands. “I want to be with you forever, Nik.”
“For as long as I breathe, I am yours.” He took her face in his hands, eyes blazing with a possessiveness that only made her smile wider. “I’ll always love you. Now and forever.”
When he kissed her next, all the walls guarding her heart crumbled completely, turned to dust, and she embraced him even tighter.
The goodbyes were the hardest part—for Nikator, at least. Biyu didn’t have to bid farewell to Yat-sen just yet—he was also traveling to Sanguis, so they would go together until parting ways.
Muyang had gifted them with enough money to start a new life without worries.
Buy saying goodbye proved harder for her husband.
The entire Peccata was present in the gardens.
She had only conversed with a few of them before, but seeing them all was a bit of a shock.
Remus, the demon with silver hair and black-red eyes, stood beside Nikator with a crestfallen expression on his normally stoic face.
Thera wept into a handkerchief, with Vita consoling her.
Minos punched Nikator’s shoulder and grinned at him, Atreus appeared shocked by the whole thing—he had missed out on everything, since he had been away, and had returned to this.
Muyang and Daiyu hung further back from the group as they embraced and spoke to one another.
His arm was around her shoulder, while she held onto her round belly.
Daiyu’s eyes brimmed with unshed tears. Yat-sen stood a few feet away from them, politely watching the exchange with an awkward expression—he, like Biyu, wasn’t exactly close to any of these people.
General Han and his wife were present, as were Bohai, Li-ling, and a few other military people Biyu didn’t recognize.
They all seemed saddened about Nikator’s departure, but also were happy for him.
They were likely all part of Muyang’s tight circle of loyal allies, all of whom had played a big part in Nikator’s life.
Minos clapped Nikator on the back once more. “I should have known you’d fallen in love the day she burned your ass to a crisp.”
Nikator shoved him off playfully. “Oh, fuck off.”
He laughed and reached for him again, but Nikator dodged his embrace. Minos grinned wider, casting Biyu a look. “Whenever he pisses you off, be sure to light him on fire. It’ll reset whatever’s going on in his brain, and he’ll fall back in love every time.”
Biyu couldn’t help but crack a grin while Nikator shouted obscenities at him. “I’ll be sure to keep that in mind.”
“Enough teasing,” Vita said, swatting Minos’s head.
“Oh, Nik,” Thera cried again, wiping her eyes. “I’m going to miss you.”
“I’m not dead.” Nikator swept his sister into a tight hug. “I’ll send letters, I promise.”
“But it’s not the same.” Her beautiful face crumpled. “I’m happy for you, I really am! I’m happy you found someone you love. I’m so, so freaking happy. I just—I’m just going to miss you.”
“I know, I know.” He patted her head and gave Biyu a lopsided grin, mouthing, “She’s a bit sensitive.”
Biyu had never spoken to the woman before, but she appeared to be the friendliest of their bunch, followed by Minos. They were birds of a feather. Though Minos had a more playful, flirty side that Thera lacked.
Thera smacked his chest playfully, sniffling as she pulled back. “Promise to write as much as you can. And treat her well, okay?”
“I promise.”
She then turned to Biyu, taking her hands in her own.
“I’m happy to have another sister,” she said with a wide grin, her eyes red from crying.
Through the tears, though, Biyu could tell she was genuinely happy for them.
That alone made her own eyes sting. “Take care of my idiotic brother for me. I’m thankful someone can tolerate him. ”
“Thera, what the hell—” Nikator grumbled just as Atreus grabbed his head and locked him in a headlock. They both quickly began wrestling with one another.
“You didn’t tell me you got married,” Atreus said, ruffling Nikator’s red hair, while the latter swept his ankle behind his and tried tossing him over his shoulder.
“You didn’t ask.”
“Of course I didn’t—”
Thera pulled Biyu into a tight embrace. “If you need anything at all, we’re only a letter away. We can always find a warping spell to get to you if you’re in trouble.”
“Thank you, Thera.”
“I only wish we could have spent time to know one another.” The other woman’s eyes filled with tears once more. “Oh, gosh. I wish we could—”
“We’ll be back,” Biyu said, squeezing her shoulders reassuringly. “I promise.”
She bobbed her head while Vita came to embrace Biyu next.
Despite her cold disposition, and her previous dislike for Biyu, the icy woman had warmed up slightly around her.
She had also promised to help smuggle her out when they had thought that was their only option.
Biyu couldn’t fault Vita for being loyal to Muyang and wishing the best for Nikator.
“Take good care of him,” Vita said with a rare smile.
“I will.”
Nikator continued to play-wrestle with all of his brothers. Remus literally plucked him off his feet with ease, despite being a head shorter, while the other two tackled them both to the ground. Biyu went on to where Daiyu, Muyang, Li-ling and Bohai stood.
She lowered her head in respect. “Thank you for everything.”
“Don’t thank me,” Muyang said with a frown.
The usual darkness and cruelty that swirled in the depths of his void-like eyes were missing, faded to something more relaxed.
Here, without the prying eyes of his vicious court, he appeared content.
“I caged you for a long time, Biyu, and I apologize for that. So please, don’t thank me for anything. ”
“You could have imprisoned me in the dungeons, or a worse place, really. Or you could have had me executed. Thank you for doing what you could to make sure I was safe.”
His frown deepened, like he truly didn’t like that either, but he waved a hand. “I did nothing to garner your thanks, Biyu. You don’t have to thank me for the bare minimum.”
Daiyu lightly elbowed his chest before he could continue speaking. “Just accept the thanks and move on, Muyang.”
He scowled at her, but it wasn’t serious at all.
In fact, it was quite the opposite. Biyu had never seen such a look of amusement pass over his face.
His eyes blazed with such life that it was hard to look at him—she was so used to him being shrouded in shadows, wickedness, and power that seeing this side of him was jarring.
Daiyu took ahold of Biyu’s hands in her own, a smile gracing her lips. “I’m so happy you found love, Biyu. Please write to us as frequently as you can, and when your exile is up, please feel free to live in the capital. And don’t hesitate to let us know if you need anything.”
“Thank you.” Her heart warmed at how many people were genuinely happy for them. It was strange and foreign, having a family that cared—most of the attention was on Nikator, but they were happy for her too. She knew that, with time, she would easily become one of them.
She went down the line thanking everyone else and bidding them goodbye; Bohai was polite and wished her the best, Li-ling excitedly gave her congratulations, and the others did the same.
Biyu eventually stood beside Yat-sen, Muyang, and Daiyu.
She watched as Nikator continued to speak to his siblings.
A pang shot through her chest; the only person who was missing here was Liqin. She had been married off to who-knew-where. Speaking of which …
“Your Majesty?” she asked
Muyang glanced over at her and Yat-sen. “Yes?”
“Why did you want Liqin and I to get married? And what about … my betrothed, Wu Jian?” She didn’t like thinking of that sour man, but after everything had happened, she wondered what would happen to him.
He had been gifted Biyu’s hand in marriage—which obviously went nowhere—so would he retaliate in his own way?
“Don’t worry about him.” Muyang shrugged like it didn’t matter.
“I’ll see that he finds a new bride. As for Liqin and you …
” His expression softened. “I truly did wish for you both to have a life. I thought if you each married someone within my court, you could be something other than political prisoners.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty, but …” Biyu frowned.
“I truly do not think …” She hesitated; she didn’t want to tell the emperor that she didn’t think Wu Jian was a good ally to have, but she didn’t want to overstep.
Although Muyang was being kind to her, she wasn’t a part of his council.
“I would hate for another woman to have to—to deal with Wu Jian.”
Muyang canted his heat, suddenly interested. “What makes you say that?”
“He … is a cruel man.”
He nodded slowly. “I see. I will have to investigate the matter. Thank you for bringing it up to me.”
Her anxiety quickly faded; if it had been her father, he would have snapped at anyone who would dare try to counsel him, or give an opinion, on a matter he hadn’t asked for.
A gentle breeze swept over the gardens, and the smell of sweet flora filled her nostrils. She tried to smile, though it came out wobbly. “Is she … safe? My sister.”
“Zihao would never hurt her,” Muyang said with a nod. “You have my word.”
Biyu could only nod, her throat too tight to speak.
Despite Liqin’s sharp words and overall mean attitude, they were still sisters and she had been her companion ever since the usurpation.
She wished she could say goodbye to her, too.
Maybe she’d write to her one day. Maybe …
they could have a chance at a true sisterly relationship one day, when the bitterness of palace life had vanished, overtaken by their other life experiences.
Nikator did another round of farewells, lingering longer. It was like he didn’t want to leave, and she could feel the same energy from everyone else. His siblings, in particular, didn’t want to part from him. He embraced Muyang last.
“Thank you for saving me and raising me,” he said, voice hoarse. “All those years ago—”
“Don’t.” Muyang pulled away from the embrace first—he appeared flustered by all the gratitude everyone seemed to be giving him lately. “I did the bare minimum. I’m proud of you, Nikator.”
Nikator dipped his head in appreciation and respect, before moving on to a final round of hugs and goodbyes, then finally coming back to Biyu. Their hands intertwined once more, his fingers weaving into hers.
The smile he gave her was equal parts sad and joyful—the personification of bittersweet.
“Where will you go first?” Daiyu asked them.
“We’re thinking of Sanguis,” Biyu said, glancing up at Nikator. “Then …”
They had already spoken about this, but it wasn’t something he had shared with everyone else.
He squeezed her hand, as if trying to grasp onto her strength.
Releasing a breath, he raised his head. “Then we’ll go to Lebel, my home country.
We’re hoping to see if we can find out about … my life before.”
Muyang gave a small, approving nod. “I hope you find the answers you’re looking for.”
They left shortly after. It was only when they were in the carriage headed to the border, their things packed away, Yat-sen asleep across form them in his seat with Jade curled up on his lap, and the heaviness of night falling over them, that Nikator brought her knuckles to his lips and planted a chaste kiss there.
“I am terrified, Biyu.”
Her eyebrows knit together and she stroked his arm. “Of what?”
He swallowed, choosing to stare out the window of the small carriage. “Of what we will find when we reach Lebel.”
“I’ll be there, Nik.” She touched the side of his face gently, urging him to stare at her. “We have each other now.”
The corner of his mouth rose and he bent low to capture her lips in a quick kiss. “Thank you.”
“Please, don’t thank me,” she said with a soft laugh.
“It appears the awkwardness on receiving gratitude runs in the family,” he said drily, eliciting a giggle from her.
Moonlight filtered through the window. The wheels of the carriage rolled and bumped along. The horses clopped their hooves, and the night air swept inside their space. Biyu rested her head against his shoulder and stared at their laced hands.
“Nikator,” she whispered, afraid that speaking too loudly would wake Yat-sen.
“Yes?”
“I’m sorry I threw that rotten apple at you.”
His eyes widened a fraction of an inch. “So that was you.”
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have missed.”
“You—” He wound his arm around her waist while she laughed uncontrollably.
Yat-sen’s head jerked up and he sat straighter, wiping the drool off his mouth. Jade leaped off his lap and went to find a more comfortable spot at Biyu’s feet. “Are we there yet?”
Nikator and Biyu exchanged glances before bursting into laughter. Her brother tilted his head to give them a strange look.
For once, she felt at ease.
She laid her head against Nikator’s shoulder and smiled up at him. While her brother grumbled something and tried to position himself to fall asleep again, she mouthed, “I love you.”
His lips grazed the shell of her ear. “And I love you.”
For the first time in a long time, she was truly home.