Chapter 139: Shattered

Qingyue froze when Ru Yi’s lips pressed against her soft ones. Not because of the contact itself, but because of the meaning it carried with it.

Her mind did not process it immediately, did not categorize it into something she could understand or control. Because there was nothing in her past that prepared her for this.

The sheer intimacy of having another’s tongue in your mouth, searching...deep and warm.

She’d never allowed herself this level of closeness, never indulged in the quiet curiosity of her body with others.

Until now—

Ru Yi pulled away with wide eyes when Qingyue didn’t respond to her kiss. "Do you not like it? Should I stop?" She searched the older woman’s face for any sign of discomfort.

She held Qingyue’s delicate face between her fingers. "Talk to me."

Shen Qingyue tried to look away, her cheeks darkening with embarrassment. But Ru Yi tilted her head back until she was looking at her again.

"What is it?" Ru Yi asked in a frustrated voice. "Do you not feel this fire between us?" She grabbed Qingyue’s wrist and put her palm directly on her chest. "My heart is beating this fast for you."

Qingyue blinked in rapid procession. "I—" She was going to combust if Ru Yi didn’t touch her that instant. But...she also didn’t know what to do, or how to let the deepening need growing in her lower stomach take the lead.

"Maybe it’s time to relinquish the control you hold so dear," Ru Yi whispered, seeing the fight going on in Qingyue’s head. She pressed her forehead against Qingyue’s.

Qingyue’s breath remained uneven, caught somewhere between inhale and exhale, as if she’d forgotten how to complete the motion.

She tried to hold onto reason instead of the raging emotions that were slowly taking over.

Ashen Fortress. The map that would take them there. The possibility that Ru Yi could betray at any given moment.

All that disappeared when Ru Yi called her name.

"Qingyue...stop fighting it," Ru Yi whispered like she was trying to coax a child. "You’ve always been in charge all your life, I know that must be exhausting. Having to look out for everyone without having anyone to look after you..."

Qingyue found herself leaning into Ru Yi’s touch. "How do you know that?"

"I’ve seen the way you take care of others. Making sure that everyone is safe." Ru Yi shook her head. "But that burden must be heavy." She rubbed her cheek.

Qingyue felt her heart spill warmth beneath her chest.

"It’s okay to let go sometimes." Ru Yi moved closer. "Let me carry that burden for you, even if it’s just for tonight."

"Ru Yi..."

"Can you do that for me?" Ru Yi asked, her lips grazing Qingyue’s lightly. "Let me take control."

Qingyue put her hand on Ru Yi’s shoulders, barely noticing the height difference between them. "I’ve not done this before. And there is Yexue..." she closed her eyes. "I don’t know what is happening to me." She opened her eyes. "To us."

The pull of the ring snapped around them, its magic awakening something deep and primal in Ru Yi as she stared at the woman in front of her.

It threaded itself through Qingyue’s veins, tightening gently but insistently around her until it was no longer clear where her own desires ended and the magic started.

The edges of her restraint were blurred.

There was nothing forceful in the way Ru Yi’s hands slid down her cheeks and ran down her arms.

"Don’t question it," Ru Yi purred. "Give in...tell me exactly how you feel."

Qingyue’s eyes fluttered close when Ru Yi’s arm wrapped around her waist. "I’m..." she could bring herself to say all the thoughts racing through her head that involved the bed that was just inches away from them.

Ru Yi leaned in, standing lightly on her toes to reach Qingyue’s ears. "Tell me...I promise to take care of you."

Qingyue’s face was a pleading mess when she looked at Ru Yi. "Kiss me again."

Ru Yi adjusted herself as she pulled Qingyue closer. She could feel the hesitation but chose not to push past it, she’d rather Qingyue followed on her own.

"Are you sure?"

Qingyue gave her a small nod.

Ru Yi’s lips stretched in a bright smile before she lifted her head and kissed Qingyue again. This time her rigid control loosened enough for her to respond, tentative at first, then a little less so.

For the first time in her life, Qingyue wasn’t the one leading...wasn’t calculating...wasn’t holding everything together with sheer will.

But as terrifying as that was, she kissed Ru Yi back, her lips trying to match the fast pace that had been set.

She let the younger woman guide her slowly to the bed, two of them falling into the soft feel of blankets.

Ru Yi pulled away, positioning the two of them so her knees were straddling Qingyue’s hips. She looked at Qingyue properly for the first time.

The triplets might be identical but they had very distinct features if you looked hard enough.

Qingyue had striking light brown eyes. Nothing prepared Ru Yi for the quiet undoing she felt as she looked into them.

It was like polished wood warmed by firelight, like deep earth after rain...rich and alive.

"You have very beautiful eyes," Ru Yi whispered, shocking the both of them.

Qingyue said nothing as she stared at the woman above her. She’d never felt so vulnerable like she did at that moment.

A gasp fell from her lips when Ru Yi bent down and kissed her eye lid, one after the other, as if cementing her compliment.

"Why didn’t I notice it before?" Ru Yi asked herself as she claimed Qingyue’s mouth again. She could tell from how uncertain Qingyue acted that it was her first time.

It sent the urge to conquer through Ru Yi’s veins as her hands pushed down Qingyue’s robe, baring the woman she’d learned to fear since their first meeting. She was going to take everything Qingyue was willing to give.