Chereads / the devil king and fox queen / Chapter 4 - Chapter 4: Forbidden Desire:

Chapter 4 - Chapter 4: Forbidden Desire:

The air in the palace felt heavy that evening, the faint scent of burning incense mixing with the chill that crept through the stone walls. Outside, the winds howled across the courtyard, tugging at banners and scattering fallen leaves like restless spirits.

Wang Jo stood at the head of the grand war chamber, his imposing figure framed by the dim glow of the lanterns. His face, sharp as carved marble, was unreadable as always. Even the fur-lined cloak draped over his shoulders couldn't soften the icy air of authority he exuded.

"You're staying here," he declared, his voice low but final.

Way'Lee, seated on a bench near the chamber's corner, shot him a glare that could cut glass. She crossed her arms, leaning back as though testing the limits of his patience. "You've made your point. You've already won this round. Let me go."

Wang Jo's gaze flickered toward her, his dark eyes narrowing. "This is not up for discussion. You'll stay here until I say otherwise."

"Why?" she pressed, her voice rising. "Is it because you don't trust me? Or because you can't control everything outside this room without keeping me under lock and key?"

Her defiance sent a flicker of heat through him, something he hadn't felt in years. The calm exterior he wore like armor cracked, if only for a moment, and his tone sharpened. "You misunderstand. It's not a question of control. It's strategy."

Way'Lee laughed bitterly, shaking her head. "Strategy? What kind of strategy involves imprisoning someone who's already surrendered? You're not making sense, Wang Jo."

He stiffened. She was right, of course, and that infuriated him. The truth was something he couldn't admit—not to her, and barely to himself. Keeping her close had nothing to do with military plans or politics. It was about the way she unsettled him. The way she challenged him.

It was about the way her fiery presence had melted the frost in his veins, forcing him to feel things he thought he'd buried long ago.

"You wouldn't understand," he said finally, his voice taut with frustration.

"No," she retorted, standing now, her hands clenched at her sides. "I think you're the one who doesn't understand. Whatever game you're playing, I'm not a piece on your board, Wang Jo. You don't own me."

The words hit him harder than they should have. Wang Jo turned away abruptly, striding to the large window at the far end of the chamber. His reflection stared back at him, stern and cold, but the truth simmered just beneath the surface.

Way'Lee watched him for a moment, her anger mixing with something unexpected: curiosity. He was a man who commanded armies and moved nations, but here, alone in the flickering light, he looked… tired. Vulnerable, even.

"You're afraid," she said softly, the accusation lacking the edge it had before.

Wang Jo's hands tightened on the windowsill, his knuckles whitening. For a moment, she thought he wouldn't respond. Then, finally, he spoke, his voice quieter than she'd ever heard it.

"I've fought for so long," he admitted, still facing the window. "Fought to rise above, to survive, to win. And now that I have it all, I realize… it's not enough."

The admission startled her, but she said nothing, letting him continue.

"When you came here," he said, turning to face her, "I told myself it was about the war. About strategy. But the truth is…" He trailed off, his jaw tightening as though the words themselves were a battle.

"What?" Way'Lee prompted, her voice a whisper now.

His dark eyes locked onto hers, and the intensity of his gaze stole the breath from her lungs. "The truth is, I can't let you go. Not yet."

The air between them grew heavy, charged with unspoken words and forbidden emotions. Way'Lee felt her heart race, though whether from anger or something else, she couldn't say.

"That's not fair," she said finally, her voice trembling with a mix of defiance and vulnerability. "You can't just keep me here because you don't know how to deal with your feelings."

Wang Jo took a step closer, the distance between them shrinking until she could feel the warmth radiating from him. "I'm not asking for your forgiveness," he said, his tone soft but unwavering. "But I can't let you go. Not when—"

He stopped himself, the words hanging in the air.

"Not when what?" she demanded, her voice barely above a whisper.

He hesitated, then took another step closer, his hand reaching out as though to touch her but stopping just short. "Not when I'm starting to feel… like I'd regret it for the rest of my life if I did."

Way'Lee's breath caught in her throat. The raw honesty in his words left her reeling. For so long, she'd seen him as nothing more than a cold, calculating force, but now… now she saw something deeper. Something real.

Her instinct was to push him away, to protect herself from the storm she could feel brewing between them. But part of her—some reckless, curious part—wanted to see where this path would lead.

"I can't promise you anything," she said finally, her voice steady despite the storm inside her. "But I'll stay. For now."

Wang Jo nodded, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. "That's all I ask."

As the winds outside continued to howl, the two of them stood in the flickering light, caught in the dangerous dance of forbidden desire. Both of them knew the risks, but neither could bring themselves to walk away.