A Love Written In The Stars

Mei's pov:

I could feel my heartbeat, giving away the calm front I was trying so hard to keep. I shouldn't have been here. I knew that the moment I stepped into this chamber, but seeing him, so unexpectedly vulnerable as he rested quietly, held me transfixed.

My eyes followed the lines of his broad chest, lingering on the firm muscles visible beneath his thin undergarments.

I held my breath, afraid that even the smallest sound might break the magic of the moment.

My eyes wandered to his hair—dark as the night sky—spilling over his strong shoulders and flowing down his body. One loose strand fell forward, lightly touching his chest.

My fingers itched with a sudden, forbidden desire to reach out, to hold that soft strand between them. What would it feel like, I wondered, to touch him? To let my fingers slide through his hair, to gently tease it as if it were mine to hold?

The thought was reckless, treacherous that it sent a shiver through me, one I struggled to suppress. I shouldn't be thinking like this. I shouldn't even be here, standing so close, soaking in his presence with a hollow yearning that twisted painfully in my stomach.

Even as he stood silently, Cheng radiated power. It was in his presence, the way he filled the room without effort, commanding it. Just thinking about that power, so close and almost within my reach, sent a thrill through me—both precariously and invigoratingly.

I tried to look away, but my eyes betrayed me, snapping back to him like I were bound to the sight of him. The proximity was overwhelming, a tide of emotions threatening to pull me under.

I needed space.

But my feet refused to move, rooted to the ground. Every part of him seemed to pull me closer, and I hated how easily I was drawn in, how impetuously I craved what I could never have.

Then he called my name and It was the most intoxicating sound I had ever heard. "Mei."

I knew then I had to leave, to get away from the hold he had on me. What was I even doing here? What was I doing... wanting this?

Cheng held her pressed against the door, he couldn't help but ruminate on this vexing woman.

Cheng's pov:

What was it about her that pulled at my heart in ways I couldn't explain? I had been surrounded by countless women in this palace—royals, servants, even my intended—but none of them had ever reached the depths of me the way Mei did. Was it her fierce spirit, the way she defied every expectation without hesitation? Or was it her sharp mind, always quick with a clever remark?

I watched her closely, almost like I were seeing her for the first time.

My eyes trailed on the lines of her face, the stubborn curve of her lips that showed the strong willpower she always had within her. She was beautiful, yes, but not in the fragile, delicate way so many seemed to admire. No, Mei's beauty was something fiercer, much more alluring.

She wasn't weak. She wasn't the type of woman who could be easily bent to another's will, and it was that which held me spellbound. Mei was a force of nature, untamed, wild, and impossible to ignore. It both exhilarated and terrified me, the pull she had over me, something that seemed to grow more intensely.

My heartbeat leaped and I wasn't sure why, maybe it was the sudden closeness between us, or maybe it was the way I had crossed the room to her without even realizing how fast I'd moved. My body had acted before my mind could catch up, and now that I was here, so near, the space between us felt charged, alive.

I needed to step back, to give us both some distance, but I didn't want to. I couldn't want to. There was something deeply entrancing about this moment that made retreat feel like a betrayal of something I hadn't yet allowed myself to fully understand.

Then, I felt it. A faint rise in my chest, the dark presence of something I had tried so hard to bury deep within me—Lokiàn Shén.

It wasn't strong yet, just a faint whisper, like a shadow rising from deep within. But I felt it all the same.

It crept at the edge of my mind, like a dark cloud ready to smother the clarity I had worked so hard to keep. Why now? I wasn't angry or filled with intense emotion… or was I?

Was it her?

Was it the way she ignited something raw and primal inside me, something I didn't want to acknowledge?

The curse always fed off extremes, off the chaos within me, and with Mei so close, I could feel it starting to coil in my chest, I knew then I wanted her.

I clenched my fists tightly, willing the curse back down, trying to control the rising storm. But standing so close to her, I couldn't help but wonder if it was already too late.

Mei's breathing slowed as her composure returned and she became acutely aware of the compromising position she was in, trapped between Cheng's hard body and the solid door.

Straightening herself, she placed her hand against Cheng's muscular chest and pushed back with force, creating a small gap between them.

"You've been avoiding me," he stated, more an accusation than a question. His breath was warm against Mei's cheek, sending an unwelcome shiver through her body.

Mei took a deep breath. "I apologize for intruding on your private chambers without permission, your highness."

"Your Highness?"

The words took him by surprise, cutting through the haze of all his thoughts. Mei had never addressed him so formally before. The title, usually just a name to him, felt oddly heavy on her lips, as if it created a distance between them that hadn't existed moments ago.

He studied her, searching her face for clues he had missed. Why now? Why was she suddenly retreating behind the veil of formalities?

Cheng's pov:

"Mei…" I finally spoke in a low voice. I took a step closer, feeling the air crackling with everything left unsaid.

She didn't move, but closed her eyes, giving off some internal struggle, I could see it.

"Unhand me."

she gasped, her voice breathless yet sharp. It wasn't just fear I could feel, there was something more.

I felt the trembling in her wrist as she tried to pull away, but I was ready, my grip tightening reflexively. Every move she made, every step she tried to take, I was there, matching her.

She thought she could slip through my fingers like she always had, but not this time. My arm slid around her, pulling her closer, and before I knew it, I'd spun her into my chest. Her back pressed against me and her heartbeat so close I swore it was syncing with mine.

Why did it have to be like this? Why did she always have to fight me?

I felt the heat of her body, the subtle rise and fall of her breath, shaky and uneven. I wanted to let her go, I really did, but the moment I pulled her in, something inside me shifted. There was no going back now.

I pressed my forehead to her shoulder and shut my eyes for a brief moment. I needed time to breathe, struggling against the turmoil inside me.

She smelled like the earth after rain, like everything I thought I'd never have. My head swam, her presence overwhelming my senses, drowning out the noise in my head. All the anger, all the confusion, it melted away in that second.

My breath came out in shallow, shaky bursts, i wasn't even sure if I was still in control anymore. I felt her warmth seep into me, the soft skin of her neck just inches from my lips. Every ounce of discipline, every rule I had ever followed, told me this was wrong, that I should release her, step back, give her space. But there was a darker part of me, selfish, desperate... that wanted to stay right here, where I could feel her, where she was close enough to touch.

Her breathing was slow now, she was trying to calm herself. Her skin was soft beneath my touch, and despite everything... despite the rage that brought us here, this moment felt fragile. I could feel the pressure in her muscles, the urge to fight, to throw me off. But she was conflicted, whether to fight or to surrender, even if for a fleeting moment.

What if she leans into this? What if…

I felt her hesitate some more. She could have fought harder, I knew that, yet she wasn't breaking free. At least not yet.

"I have missed you." The words slipped from my lips before I could stop them and I felt her heartbeat became erratic again within my touch.

Those words were as true as ever. I had missed her deeply. More than I ever let myself admit. She had a way of filling the space around her, and when she was gone, I felt that emptiness more than I should have. I thought I could manage. I thought I could endure it. But now, with her so close,  all those days spent without her crushed me.

Then, as if feeding off the intensity of the emotions I was drowning in, Lokiàn Shén rose deep within me, moving with a force that made my pulse stutter. It surged like a dark wave, clawing its way up.

I didn't know what to do.

No. That was a lie. I knew exactly what was needed to be done. I had learned the ritual, the ways to quiet it, to subdue the curse's hold before it could worsen. But my stubbornness, my weakness, kept me from doing it. I didn't want to listen to the warning thrumming through my mind.

Instead, I leaned in, closer to her neck, pressing my lips on her skin. My eyes shut tight as I fought frantically, willing myself to remain calm, to bury this madness deep inside before it broke free.

Then my body reacted without my permission, a shudder running through me while my muscles tensed as it pushed against the edges of my control. Mei must have felt it, the shift, the barely restrained power writhing beneath my skin. I felt her tense in my arms, almost as if she could feel the danger just as clearly as I did.

She didn't pull away, though, and that only made it worse. Her reaction, the way her body moved against mine, sent a pulse of a stronger and dangerously deeper sensation through me.

I was losing my grip, and she could feel it. But I didn't want to let go.

Mei was taken aback by his boldness, uncertain of how to respond. Her mission to seek the administrative office too had fled her mind.

"You are promised to the southern princess. It would cause ruin if rumors circulated of you alone with another."

Cheng's pov:

It was in that moment I finally understood why she had been avoiding me. She heard of my engagement with princess chàn juán.

"In my heart, there is only one woman." The words escaped me, raw but I meant them, every syllable.

"The kingdom should be your foremost concern." Her voice was calm, but the way she shifted, preparing to pull away, felt like a dagger to my chest.

"Mei,..... please." I didn't even know why I begged. Perhaps it was because I felt exhausted—not just from the battle with the curse but from the endless distance between us. I was tired of her constantly running, tired of the ache that grew each day without her. But still, she slipped deftly from my arms.

"Consider well the consequences before acting on personal feelings. The people's faith in their leader mustn't be in vain."

With that, she made her exit, leaving Cheng staring after her retreating figure. Her words carried wisdom, but his heart refused to accept them.

Sinking onto the silken bed once more, he took in a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm. The darkness pulled severely at his inner being yet he couldn't allow it to take over.

He centered himself, channeling his internal force. It coursed through him like a current, and in his mind's eye, he shaped it into a barrier—a resilient shield, holding back the chaos that threatened to break free.

Mei was right—he should have known better than this.

And yet, the mere thought of pushing her out of his life unsettled him. No, he had never desired the forbidden, his life had been shaped by duty, lived within the strict confines of expectation, dedicating himself only in serving his people. But with Mei, for the first time, a life beyond obligation seemed possible.

How could he keep her close without jeopardizing the very realm he was sworn to protect?

Cheng let out a frustrated sigh. It had been so easy before, to abandon everything for the sake of the realm, but now...

Meanwhile

Mei quickly turned a corner and ran straight into a solid figure. "Apologies, I wasn't-" The words died on her lips as she gazed up to meet familiar eyes. "Prince Yizong."

Yizong eyed her outfit curiously."The administrative office is that way." He gestured down the corridor.

Mei paused. "Don't you wonder...why—

Yizong chuckled. "Meiying, I've known you since we were children. Whatever matter brings you here, I'm certain it is of great importance. You would not go to such lengths for trivial reasons."

Mei nodded in appreciation, "You have my thanks."

"Good luck, Meiying." With a final smile, he continued on his way.

Finally, she entered the administrative office, scanning for watchful eyes but no one was present.

Stepping lightly, she wove between desks until reaching her target, a stack of outgoing documents for the next court meeting. Mei slipped the documents among them, then left.

Her mission was accomplished.