Astra indulged in her meal as brunch arrived, then resumed her work. An hour passed before she decided to change for her upcoming visitor.
As she descended the stairs, a sudden sound caught her attention. Astra quickly checked on Archana before her brows furrowed.
Astra opened the door and stepped outside, where her gaze landed on two bodyguards stationed on either side. After confirming with Archana, she understood that they were shadow guards.
Perplexed, Astra inquired, "Why are you out in plain sight?"
One of the guards responded, "Your grandmother has sent us as your bodyguards. We're to accompany you whenever you're out."
Astra's expression turned into a frown, prompting her to call Camilla.
"Hello, dear. Is everything alright?"
Astra immediately said, "I don't need bodyguards."
Camilla countered gently, "You do. The front of the hotel is crowded with paparazzi, and you'll have eyes on you wherever you go. The bodyguards are here to ensure your safety."
Astra attempted to object, "I assure you, I don't require their presence. I..."
Before she could finish, Camilla interjected, her tone firm, "Did you think I was asking for your permission rather than informing you?"
Knowing better than to press further, Astra fell silent. Her grandmother was the kindest person, but crossing her was not wise.
Camilla added, "If you need privacy, simply tell them to withdraw, and they'll fade into the shadows."
Astra let out a resigned sigh, conceding, "Alright."
Camilla discerned the poutiness in her voice and chuckled, saying, "It'll set my mind at ease."
Astra acknowledged, "I understand. They won't leave my side. I should go now; we'll talk later. Love you."
Camilla responded warmly, "Of course, love you too."
After ending the call, Astra turned her attention to Archana and pondered the presence of the bodyguards. Once she had figured it out, her dark eyes shifted towards Elias' suite.
Astra approached the door and rapped her knuckles on it three times. After a brief pause, Elias swung the door open, an arched eyebrow questioning her, "Is that how you knock on my door? Have you forgotten who I am?"
Astra brushed off his remark and entered, causing Elias to shut the door behind her. He couldn't help but wonder if she was attempting to seduce him with her attire.
She was donning a short top in an alluring shade of peach that hugged her curves with elegant precision. The V-neckline traced a teasing path across her décolletage, while dainty straps adorned her shoulders, adding an ethereal charm.
The fabric's subtle texture clung to her body's contours, creating a mesmerizing silhouette that exuded both confidence and captivation. The top's abbreviated length playfully exposed a hint of skin above her navel, leaving an enticing secret to the imagination.
Complementing the top, the short skirt mirrored the allure in the same peach tone. Its hemline daringly rested just above mid-thigh, inviting gazes to appreciate her long, toned legs. With each step, the skirt swayed gently, evoking a sense of allure and provocation.
Seeing her crossed arms, Elias realized she wasn't there to seduce him. He sensed her anger as she demanded, "Why did you tell my grandmother I need constant bodyguards?"
Elias had unexpectedly advised Camilla to assign the guards. Astra knew he was trying to uncover the source of her power and had his shadow guards reporting her activities. She was convinced of this; no other explanation made sense.
Elias spoke, "Camilla reached out for my guidance, and I provided it."
Dismissing his explanation, Astra asserted, "Don't lie. You delegate your clients to your second while you manage Veritas Estate. You've never intervened like this before."
Stepping closer, Elias asserted, "I offer recommendations based on my clients' situations. In your case, I believe having bodyguards is the best approach."
Astra questioned, "Do you think I don't realize they're just spies? You want to uncover the origin of my supposed power, and you believe monitoring my every move will reveal it."
Elias merely grinned and held her gaze in silence. Astra stepped closer, her voice firm with a warning, "You'll never get any answers. And you best stay out of my affairs, Liangyi, unless you want to join my enemies list."
Having spoken her piece, Astra turned to leave. However, before she could get too far, Elias suddenly pushed her against the door, his grip strong on her wrist. His eyes had shifted from their usual emerald green to a darker shade of green.
Suppressing her unease, Astra met his gaze head-on, determined to display her strength. She needed to show him she was just as powerful, if not more so.
Her advantage lay in the fact that Elias had yet to understand the full extent of her abilities. She aimed to alter their power dynamic—Elias would begin fearing her from now on.
Elias sneered, "Blossom, you want me to stay out of your business after you manipulated my date to punish your friends and fiancé?"
Astra retorted, "Don't pretend you care about Amy. You're well-known for your fleeting romances. While you're deliberately meddling in my matters."
Elias tilted his head, a hint of challenge in his expression. "And who told you I haven't fallen for Amy?"
Astra responded with a touch of skepticism, "Common sense. Unless you plan on seeing her again tonight, I won't believe your words. You know my actions had no impact on your one-night stand."
Elias declared, "We're having a romantic dinner, and afterward, she'll spend the night here, perhaps every night after that."
Astra stifled an inward sneer. She hadn't expected the leader of the shadow guards to be so petty. With his three thousand years of age, one might anticipate more maturity.
Elias inquired, "How did you manage to keep the elevator's recording when you know my place erases recordings from the past 24 hours, and no device works within?"
Astra answered confidently, "Unlike you, my power is boundless. It's why you should be cautious."
Elias narrowed his eyes and questioned, "Are you issuing a threat to the leader of the shadow guards?"
Astra responded, unfazed, "How did your date with Amy go?"
Elias tilted his head for a moment, slightly surprised by the change of topic, then responded, "It went well."
Astra nodded and inquired further, "What did you do?"
Elias replied straightforwardly, "I fucked her."
Astra simply nodded, though inwardly she wondered why she had even asked, knowing full well what he must have done.
She was attempting to discern what kind of person Elias truly was. The image of an immortal cultivator she had in mind didn't match this behavior.
She hadn't expected him to indulge in promiscuity and exhibit the same desires as ordinary humans. His millennia of existence should have propelled him toward self-improvement, but it seemed he had veered in the opposite direction.
Mockingly, Astra teased, "Aren't cultivators meant to seek enlightenment?"
Elias leaned closer and retorted, "I'm a dark cultivator. My focus lies in embracing shadows and harnessing their strength."
Astra raised an intrigued eyebrow, "Embracing shadows, isn't that risky?"
Elias met her gaze confidently and leaned in, his voice drawing her in like a magnet, "Risks add thrill to life, Blossom. And there's a certain grace in mastering the art of darkness."
A half-smile tugged at Astra's lips, "Grace, you say? You're making it sound almost enticing."
Elias' grin broadened, "Because it is. There's allure in the forbidden, in dancing along the boundary between light and darkness."
Their eyes held each other's, and Astra's skepticism gave way to curiosity. "And where do you fit into all of this, Elias?"
Elias leaned back a bit, adopting a more serious tone, "I'm the one who walks that line, Astra. I've learned to wield shadows to protect and maintain balance in a world on the brink of chaos."
Astra's expression softened, a glint of comprehension in her eyes. "So, you're a kind of protector?"
Elias nodded, keeping his gaze locked on hers, "Precisely. I employ my mastery of darkness to maintain equilibrium."
Astra had an inkling of that, but she hadn't quite grasped the impurity of his powers. That insight shed light on his behavior and his unlikely friendship with the idiot twins, whose habits closely mirrored his own.
With a playful smirk, Astra quipped, "Did your time with Amy contribute to maintaining equilibrium?"
Elias responded with a smile, "Indeed it did. Care for a demonstration?"
Astra blinked in surprise as Elias intertwined their fingers, leading her up the stairs. They entered the master bedroom, where Elias positioned Astra before the bed.
Elias wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close against his body. His voice was a whisper, "Here are the rules to achieve it: first, you kiss her."
Before Astra could react, Elias' lips met hers in a kiss that seemed to have been anticipated for ages. She couldn't help but wonder if the intensity she sensed was real or just her imagination.
The kiss deepened quickly, both of them entwined in the moment. After a few breathless minutes, Elias withdrew.
As their lips finally parted, a faint shiver ran through Elias, rendering him momentarily breathless. The unspoken tension lingered heavily in the air, and the silence between them carried a surge of emotions.
Elias struggled to dismiss the fluttering in his chest during that first kiss as mere curiosity. Yet, as he looked at Astra now, the undeniable pull he felt toward her was impossible to ignore.
The sensation of her lips against his had ignited an uncharted fire within him, a feeling he had never encountered before.
Elias gently pushed Astra onto the bed, positioning himself above her. He kissed her again, gradually trailing kisses along her body until he reached her neck.
With a whisper, Elias instructed, "Next, you kiss her neck."
Astra's heart raced even faster, her anticipation growing as his lips brushed her neck. She licked her lips, a soft moan escaping her.
Elias pulled back to admire the mark he had left before kissing the other side, creating a matching imprint.
He met Astra's gaze and continued his guidance, "And then, you kiss her body."