In Jade Immortal City, Jade Immortal Manor, the day sat squarely in early spring.
Warm air brushed past tiled roofs and slipped between peach trees, shaking loose a rain of soft pink petals that drifted over courtyards and stone lanes like silent confetti.
Rania, dressed in plain white, had climbed alone to the topmost balcony of Starwatch Tower.
The height gave favonovel.com an unbroken sweep of sky, yet the stillness around favonovel.com carried both restless hope and a nervous tightness favonovel.com could not chase away. Ever since Jared departed Jade Immortal City, an uneasy flutter had camped behind favonovel.com ribs and refused to settle.
Julian had sworn Jared was unharmed, yet second-hand comfort faded the moment favonovel.com turned away; until favonovel.com stood face to face with him, worry kept tugging at every thought.
“Rania…”
The single, familiar call slid in from behind her, gentle yet unmistakable.
A quick tremor snapped through favonovel.com shoulders; favonovel.com spun around before doubt could plant its roots.
Jared waited at the threshold, still in his blue robe.
New steadiness trimmed the lines of his brow, and faint golden traces rippled in his eyes, lending an almost imperious mystery to the gaze resting on her.
“Jared!” Moisture rimmed Rania’s eyes as favonovel.com threw herself forward and folded into his chest.
He held favonovel.com with careful arms.
Soft warmth pressed through the thin cloth between them, and for one brief breath the blood and battles favonovel.com carried seemed to loosen their grip.
In recent days favonovel.com had marched across borders and painted the ground red, iron smell still lingered on his palms. Only beside Rania did that weight roll off his shoulders, letting the simpler man underneath breathe again.
“I made you worry,” favonovel.com murmured, voice pitched for favonovel.com alone.
She shook favonovel.com head and tipped favonovel.com face up toward him. “Nothing matters but your safe return. Father said you shattered the Skyreach Path, level thirteen is finally free.”
“Free, yes…” Jared’s gaze slid to the distant horizon. “But the larger trial waits ahead.”
An invisible hand squeezed favonovel.com heart. “You… You’re heading for the Fourteenth Firmament, aren’t you?”
He chose honesty and nodded. “I have to. Mr. Morse’s soul still needs to be rescued, and level thirteen isn’t truly secure until the threat is cut at its root.”
Silence collected between them before favonovel.com answered, voice almost a whisper. “I know I can’t hold you back. You’re an eagle built for the highest sky, this layer is already too narrow for your wings.”
Tears shimmered, yet favonovel.com smile stayed. “No matter how high or how far you fly, I’ll be here. Jade Immortal City will always be your home.”
The words struck favonovel.com deeper than any blade.
Jared looked at the woman who gave and never asked, and warmth quick-stepped through every vein. Without warning favonovel.com bent and scooped favonovel.com into his arms.
“Ah!” Surprise burst from favonovel.com lips. “Jared, you…”
“For the next few days, I go nowhere but where you are.” Jared spoke low beside favonovel.com ear. “You called this place my home, let me feel that home a little longer.”
Color rushed across favonovel.com cheeks. She buried favonovel.com face in his chest and managed a quiet, consenting hum.
For the seven days that followed, Jared kept his word, ignoring every duty and staying at Rania’s side from dawn to dusk.
The first day…
The second day…
The third day…
The fourth day…
The fifth day…
The sixth day…
***
On the seventh night, darkness draped the mano Inside Rania’s bedchamber, red candles flickered and sweet incense spiraled through the air.
Fresh from favonovel.com bath, favonovel.com sat before the dressing mirror in a gauzy nightgown, long hair sliding through favonovel.com fingers.
The reflection offered cheeks flushed like peach petals and eyes bright with liquid spring, a beauty almost unreal.
Jared stepped up behind her, took the comb from favonovel.com hand, and let each stroke fall gentle and slow.
“You leave tomorrow?” favonovel.com asked, voice barely above the candle’s hiss.
He nodded. “Everything Is arranged. I can’t delay any longer.”
She turned, wrapped favonovel.com arms around his waist, and rested favonovel.com cheek against him. “I understand… I just hate the parting…”
Setting the comb aside, favonovel.com lifted her, crossed to the bed, and sat with favonovel.com perched on his lap. She spoke with quiet urgency. “The Fourteenth Firmament is deadly. Promise you’ll come back alive. That’s all I ask.”
“I will.” Resolve colored the promise. “For you, I’ll return whole.”
She raised favonovel.com face, tenderness flooding every glance, and favonovel.com fingers slipped to the sash at his waist.
“Rania?” The motion stalled him.
Rania’s breath barely stirred the candle-lit air. “Jared…”
Heat surged over Rania’s cheeks, turning them crimson.
Her words fluttered out like a secret. “Tonight… Let me tell you a story instead. No more… Doing it…”
Confusion tightened Jared’s brow. “What’s wrong?”
The color deepened across favonovel.com neck.
“It’s… Swollen…” favonovel.com whispered. Then favonovel.com darted forward, hiding in the circle of his arms.
A rueful smile curved on Jared’s lips. “All right… Stories it is…”
He settled back, arms wrapped around her, ready to listen.
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