Sana looked at her partner, they were seated in the carriage, face to face. She had expected to make this part of the journey alone. It was something that made her feel nervous, but now, it didn't. In fact, she looked out the window of the slightly bumpy carriage, powered by two 3rd realm Bloodstorm Mares, speeding down the ancient roads, and wondered what chaos someone like Zahar would cause.
Her mate was amazing. She wasn't sure whether her expectations were too low, or he really was amazing. The zenith emperor looked at her, and smiled. "It's good you are not worried."
"Have I ever asked you- like- why are you here?"
Zahar laughed, and then pulled his concubine closer for a kiss. "I'm here to have a damned good time."
"Really? And what does that involve?" Sana wondered.
"I'm not sure if the coachman would allow me to do it in his beautiful carriage." Sana flushed, and playfully pushed him.
"Pervert."
The man laughed, his chuckle was loud. "I'm being honest. I really am here to just have fun, and enjoy my time. Cause some mess, beat some stuckups, fight battles I'm supposed to lose and win anyway. You know, things like that. Shatter expectations too."
"So you're going to be showing off all the time?"
"Eh. Not at all." Zahar laughed. "The key to having a good time is to set low expectations, and then surprise them. I love the faces of those when they see me do what they think is not possible."
"You're just cheating and bullying those weaker than you." Sana pouted, and adjusted her dress. Mother told her to wear slightly more revealing clothing, and that often involved wearing open top robes that really flaunted her assets.
"You're quite right, actually." She noticed Zahar's ogling. He wrapped his hand around her waist, and then touched those parts. "I like the tips you're getting from your mother. She understands me really well."
Her face turned red. "You knew?"
"Of course. A young woman doesn't become so sweet and seductive without a more experienced woman guiding her every move." Zahar gently nibbled her ears. "But I like it. So keep it up."
Her body tingled, as she remembered their night time together.
"The first thing we'll do in the Roaring Dragon Sect is stain our accommodation with our fluids."
Sana's face paled, horrified at the mess that would create. "Uh- is that a good idea? That- that doesn't sound like a good idea. It'll-"
Zahar laughed. "I kid. We'll just stain the beds."
"Not much better!" Sana looked at the man touching her. The trip took three days at the incredible speeds of the Bloodstorm Mares, passing through cities and all. But they didn't stop, the carriage would take them to the Roaring Dragon Sect directly.
The Bloodstorm Mares are special property of the Roaring Dragon Sect, and it is only because of the Roaring Dragon Sect of the special treatment granted to former disciples that they would be able to use it.
Invited disciples, they call them.
In normal times, they'd have to arrange for normal Beast Mares, and the trip would easily take four times as long.
***
Sana looked at her partner as they traveled in the carriage. When he wasn't teasing her or fondling her body, there were moments when she noticed him staring at the scenery outside quietly.
All she felt from him then, was a really intense loneliness.
Like someone who re-lived their lives all over again to experience youth once more.
Like someone who did this all over again to regain the spark that was long gone.
Like someone who had regrets that he never quite figured out how to solve.
He may be an immortal of some kind, but why would a man go through the cycle of finding beautiful women for his harem, if not to reestablish some kind of connection?
Sana wouldn't dare ask the question. She felt it would make him mad.
Instead, she remembered the words her mother told her.
"There will be times with your partner, where nothing needs to be said. If you feel like there's nothing that needs to be said, but you still need to be there, just sit next to them, hold their hand, or touch them gently. Your father sometimes stews in frustration, and all I do is be there for him."
There was another day to the trip. She got up, and then sat next to him. She then rested her head on his shoulders.
She felt him look at her, and then his arm curled around her, pulling her closer, and her head rested on his chest. His eyes continued to look outside, quiet.
His hands felt warm, and slightly fleshy. He gained weight over the past two months, no longer the skinny man when he first barged into the mansion.