Something Beautiful and Wicked

4"Shun, there's something I need to tell you," Shi Yen said against the crook of his neck, breaking his daze.     2

Yuan Shun peeled away from her. He looked at her so earnestly that Shi Yen felt as if she was breaking. She trembled slightly, her hands shaking.     

He grabbed one of her hands, trying to steady and smooth out her nerves. "If you don't feel comfortable saying anything, then don't. Don't force yourself," he took her fingers to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss.     

"No—no," she stammered. She recollected herself, knowing that she couldn't quiver now. "I have to tell you," she said again, even if Yuan Shun left her afterward.     

Yuan Shun looked at her guardedly, still comforting her hand.     

Shi Yen released a breath. Her face tightened, her expression unreadable. She wasn't trembling, or on the verge of tears anymore, she was withdrawn and self-contained. Grabbing her hair—which was long enough to tie without a hairband—she quickly fastened it. She turned around, showing her bare neck. In some ways, showing him the tattoo felt more vulnerable than their intimate moments. She hadn't shown the mark to anyone, not even Master Wong. The only person that had seen it was the creator, the tattooist that marked every member, no questions asked.     

But she kept it hidden for so long that it felt unnatural to show it.     

Shi Yen felt the hard stare on the nape of her neck. His hand slipped away from hers. She then loosened her hair, allowing it to tumble over her shoulders again. She craned her neck slowly, knowing that confusion would cross his face.     

Yuan Shun's brows scrunched up, not knowing how to make of it. "You're from the Lion organization?" he questioned.     

Shi Yen grabbed one of his hands to encourage him to focus on her, on what more she had to tell him. Her mouth quirked into a sad smile. "Shun, my darling, I am the Empress. The one that came before the new Emperor."     

Yuan Shun stilled, his body was unmoving, his eyes gawking. He only stared at her, waiting for her to say that she was jesting with him. His eyes spaced out, searching through his memory. He hadn't seen Shi Yen in a full fight, but he had seen her response, agility, and speed, and that wasn't even with half-force. Yuan Shun remembered that whenever he tried to touch the back of her neck, she subtly avoided his touch. She also had those faint scars on random parts of her body, but he'd always believed it had been from accidents during her martial arts training.     

Now that he was trying to fit the pieces, he realized that Shi Yen had a similar height and frame as the one who saved him.     

His eyes collided with hers. Shi Yen's expression was so detached that Yuan Shun had realized it was a response mechanism for her to cope with the bad news if there was any. She was preparing herself for his rejection, and it disheartened him.     

He lifted his hand, taking a few strands of her hair, running his fingers through them. "That night was windy when you pulled me out of the burning building," he said unconsciously. "Your hair flew like a banner as you looked down at me before you disappeared. I never understood why you saved me. I went to look for you, and I thought you perished with him that night."     

Shi Yen chewed her lower lip. "I don't remember much. I'm sorry about your brother, but I don't have the answers you're looking for."     

Yuan Shun pulled her against him, cradling her head over his chest. "That doesn't matter now." He kissed her head. "I'm just glad—relieved that you're alive."     

Shi Yen clung onto him. "I was terrified about what you might think, Shun. It's still not too late to dump me."     

Yuan Shun huffed a laugh. "I don't want too," he said. "I have to admit, though, that my family is from the Wolf organization. I don't flaunt prince around, but I am the sole successor."     

Shi Yen rose suddenly. "You're a prince?" she questioned, shocked.     

"No. I've been rejecting that part of myself for a very long time. I wanted nothing to do with it. Luo Wanting has been watching over my members, but the Emperor has been trying hard to undermine him."     

Shi Yen was still shocked. "So what are you?" she asked.     

"I'm still not sure," he replied. "But Luo Wanting assured me that if I ever wanted to take my place, they'd be waiting."     

Shi Yen gaped. "So, we're both two people who ran away from these titles?" Not only titles, but they also escaped a harsh, cruel world.     

"I imagine it's been hard," Yuan Shun said. "It had been difficult for my brother. He was my predecessor."     

Shi Yen furrowed her brows. Holy shit. His brother was the former prince while she had been the Empress. It was such a small world.     

"It was," she admitted. "I'm only hoping that we can hide forever, and forget about our worries. I don't want to apart of it anymore knowing that it only brings danger to my friends and me. I didn't use to care since I felt like if something happened to me, it didn't matter, now I have more people to worry about." She thought of him, of Fang Qi, of Luo Wanting and all the others who arrived later in her life.     

Yuan Shun faced her sincerely. "Yenni, I will do everything I can to protect you," he assured her.     

Shi Yen smiled, her nose wrinkled. "That's cute," she said. "But I'm sorry to break it to you. I most likely can kick your ass."     

Yuan Shun smiled, wide and sheepishly. "Let's see if you can," he said, mounting her over the velvet settee. He began to tickle her without mercy. "Stop! Oh my god, stop!" She gasped, laughing to tears that she had involuntarily spilled. "Your defences are low," Yuan Shun responded.     

Shi Yen tried to calm down as he slowed his movements. "Maybe I want to lower them," she breathed, trying to resist his gentle assault. "Only with you."     

Yuan Shun paused. He caged her with his arms on either side of her. He looked down, his eyes darting over her beautiful, delicate face. "Yenni," he breathed, "thank you for trusting me."     

She had trusted him for a long time now. "I want you," she whispered, "Take me." She wanted him to take her home, to take her physically, in bed.     

Yuan Shun widened his eyes. He rose, taking her hand to stand with him. He pulled her close. "Let's go," he said eagerly.     

Shi Yen allowed Yuan Shun to guide her out. The smile on her face didn't want to die out. Yuan Shun's mother had stopped in front of them, relieved that they made up. "Please come back, you two."     

Yuan Shun kissed her on the forehead. "Of course," he said.     

Shi Yen hugged her tightly after him. "Thank you for letting me stay."     

Yuan Shun's mother stepped back to Yuan Xinyi's side, both smiling as they waved them good-bye. Shizi had followed them into the car, and they rushed home.