ROWAN
It was overwhelming. How did they expect me to remember everything in just one night? The queen seemed to be having a great time, watching as the ladies swarmed me with questions. Some of their inquiries were sharp and insightful, while others were blunt and pointless. Tara, on the other hand, had already made friends and was lost in her own conversations. Finally, I saw my chance to escape and hurried out, leaving the noise behind. The night outside was dark, but the festivities were still in full swing. Fireworks lit up the sky just as I had planned, their colorful explosions reflecting off the plum trees as I ran past them, trying to avoid a few persistent ladies who had followed me.
I found myself in a quiet corner of the garden, my heart still racing. The garden was simple, with a massive apple tree standing tall in the center. Beside it was a long, glowing lake, its waters shimmering under the moonlight. A bush of glowing flowers nearby added a magical touch to the scene. The immortal realm had a way of captivating me like nothing else, and I felt a thrill of excitement as I wandered deeper into the garden, soaking in the beauty around me.
"You really should present yourself properly," Roderan's voice suddenly broke the silence, and I turned to see him emerging from the lake. He was completely soaked, his upper body bare, with water glistening on his dark, smooth skin. He wore only a pair of drenched shorts, and the sight of him made me stop in my tracks.
Roderan had always been dressed in martial robes or traditional hanfu, so seeing him like this was unexpected. His muscular build was more impressive than I had imagined—his powerful six-pack abs and broad chest were perfectly defined, his muscles rippling as he moved. His dark skin seemed to glow under the soft light of the moon, each drop of water accentuating his strength.
I couldn't help but stare, my breath catching as he walked up the marble stairs out of the lake. There was something incredibly captivating about him, the way he moved with such confidence and ease. The air out felt charged, the tension growing with each step he took up the stairs, it felt like he was in a slow-motion animation. My heart pounded in my chest, and I felt a flush rise to my cheeks as I realized just how intensely he had transformed.
Gulp
I swallow hard, my legs moving on their own as I walk toward him, my eyes locked on his abs. I don't dare to look up at him. My hand stretches out, and with my index finger, I begin to trace along his rock-hard muscles, counting them one by one. They're so firm, solid under my touch.
Before I know it, his left-hand grabs me, pulling me closer, and his right hand wraps around my waist, lifting me onto my tiptoes. Our eyes finally meet, and I swallow hard again. Under the soft glow of the moonlight, this man looks so incredibly beautiful, almost unreal.
"What is this, little bride?" he asks, his voice deep and rich, with an edge that sends a shiver down my spine. "Eager to know me before you attain your immortal bone?" His tone is teasing, but there's something darker, more dangerous, beneath it. "I might indulge you," he continues, his eyes holding mine with an intensity that makes my heart race, "but I wonder if you could handle my immortal strength."
Mmmhu.
"What is he talking about?" I wonder, but before I can think further, he pulls me even closer. His body presses hard against mine, and I can feel the dampness of his wet skin seeping through my clothes. The heat from his body floods over me, a powerful warmth that makes my heart pound faster and faster. I'm overwhelmed by the intensity of his presence, each breath coming shorter as his closeness consumes me.
"Trust me, mortal," he says, his voice deep and intense. "We don't take things slowly or gently. I'm going to be rough, and I won't care if you're mortal. If you want it, I'll give it to you fully." His face inches closer, and he gently touches my lips with his thumb. "When I'm done with you, don't expect to walk for days. You won't move an inch for months."
I feel my face burn with embarrassment and a mix of surprise. His words triggered thoughts and feelings I wasn't ready for.
"Damn it, Rowan, get a hold of yourself," I think, trying to pull away. But he grips me tighter, spinning me around and catching me in his arms. The moment feels oddly familiar like he's done this before. We freeze, our faces so close that I can see every detail of his face. My hands are around his neck, and his arm is firmly around my waist. I'm overwhelmed by a wave of emotions—confusion, excitement, and a strong attraction. It feels like something is pulling me to stay close, to hold on. His brown eyes look deeply into mine, making my heart race. I find myself wondering what it would be like to kiss him.
Water drips from his wet hair, and steam rises from his body. We're lost in our own world until we hear whispers nearby.
I glance over and see the queen, the Lord, Master, and Athera. Royeel is watching us with her usual cold stare, then quickly turns away, hiding behind a statue.
"Why did you have to be so nosy?" the queen complains, giving Athera a playful smack. "They were about to kiss."
"It wasn't me," Athera says, pulling away as she rubs the spot smacked. "I bet Royeel's intense stare finally shot some flame"
I turn back to Roderan, who is still holding me. As he tries to adjust me, I slip and end up falling onto him. Our lips meet in an unexpected kiss. For a brief moment, we're caught in this intense connection. That intense familiarity again, like I have kissed him before and like I have longed for this kiss. so much that I was tempted to deepen it but...
I pull away, hearing laughter from the others. I look around and see not only the queen, master, and Lord but also some other immortals who have witnessed the kiss. Lairon grins and raises his drink in a silent toast to me. The queen and Lord both wear satisfied expressions, while Athera is practically bouncing with excitement.
"Shit…" I gasp as I try to run away in embarrassment, but Roderan grabs me and lifts us both into the air. Before I can fully grasp what's happening, I'm sitting on the head of a dragon. My hands instinctively reach out to hold its long, curved horns.
WoooooW!!!!
I look down at the dragon's massive head, which is covered in blue scales and has two impressive horns. Its long face and large nose are striking against the night sky. The dragon roars and takes off, flying high above Yulden. The city below looks tiny, and people rush out into the streets, staring up at us in awe.
Despite the dragon's incredible speed and the wind whipping around us, I feel strangely calm and warm. The ride is so smooth and exhilarating that I can't help but cry out in excitement. I've never imagined I'd be riding a dragon, and it feels like a fantastic blessing.
As the dragon gains altitude, we enter what seems like a fantastical dream world. The surroundings blur into an ethereal haze, where reality and illusion intertwine. We glide past fantastical creatures that shift forms—a horse morphs into a bird, a bird into a rabbit, and so on, each one glowing softly in the twilight. Even people we pass seem to glow with an otherworldly light. The entire experience is mesmerizing, a breathtaking spectacle that leaves me awestruck by the magic of this surreal journey.
The more we went the more it seemed so unreal as he headed to a long blue crystal-like bridge. He then turns and we land on the bridge a ripple appears as we walked to the edge and he drops to his ass as he sits with one leg up. I was overwhelmed by the scene before me. Glowing butterflies, emerging from pastel-colored flowers, fluttered around us. They landed lightly on me and then took off again, creating a magical dance. Unable to contain my excitement, I spun around, laughing as they followed my every move. I dropped beside Roderan, tugging at his arm in my eagerness to share the wonder of it all.
""Where are we?" I cry out, my voice brimming with excitement.
Roderan casually pulls away, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "I call this place Canvas. It's where all realms exist and don't exist at the same time," he explains. The words seem abstract, but before I can ponder them, he gestures toward the sky.
I look and see a sprawling sky dotted with countless stars. "When someone reaches a false deity level of cultivation, their star is formed up there," he continues, pointing to a particularly radiant star. "That's Dragon Bone, my star."
A smile spreads across my face. "It's absolutely beautiful."