the devil king and fox queen

Way'Lee had been planning this for days. Every night, she studied the movements of the guards, the patterns of the torches that flickered along the stone corridors, the subtle lapses in Wang Jo's watchful eye. He might have been an intimidating presence, but even he had to sleep sometime.

Tonight, the moon was her ally. It was nearly full, but clouds rolled across the sky, casting shadows deep enough to hide within. She pressed herself against the cold stone walls, her fox-like ears twitching at the sound of approaching footsteps. Two guards. She had timed it perfectly. They passed by her hiding spot without a glance, muttering about some trivial palace matter.

She exhaled slowly, steadying herself. Now.

Darting forward, her bare feet made no sound against the polished floors. She clutched the silk scarf she had torn from her bedding, tightly wrapping it around her wrists to appear bound in case she was spotted. The disguise had worked once before; it would work again.

She had nearly reached the outer courtyard when a gust of wind carried his scent to her—Wang Jo.

Her breath hitched. She had been so careful. But before she could react, a firm hand clamped onto her wrist. A powerful yank spun her around, and she collided with his chest. The heat of his body, the sheer force of his grip, made her shudder.

His dark eyes burned with an intensity she had never seen before. But there was no rage. No punishment. Only something deeper—something raw.

"Way'Lee," he breathed, his voice barely above a whisper. "Don't do this."

She struggled, twisting in his grasp, but he didn't tighten his hold. He wasn't trying to hurt her. His grip was steady, desperate—but gentle.

"Let me go," she hissed, her golden eyes flashing. "You can't keep me here forever."

His fingers twitched, and for a moment, it seemed like he would release her. But then, his grip firmed again, his entire body trembling.

"I don't want to," he said hoarsely. "I can't."

She had expected anger. Punishment. But not this.

Wang Jo suddenly sank to his knees before her. The mighty warlord, the ruthless ruler, was on his knees—for her.

Way'Lee's breath caught in her throat. She had seen many men bow to her before, but never like this. Never with such raw, unguarded emotion. His face was turned up to hers, his expression filled with torment.

"Please," he whispered. "Don't leave me."

She took a step back, but he caught her hand, his fingers trembling.

"Way'Lee, I—" His voice cracked, and he clenched his jaw. Then, as if something inside him broke, he lifted his hand and pressed it against his chest. "I don't know how to say this, but you must understand—I can't lose you."

Her ears twitched, her heart pounding. What was he saying? Why was he looking at her like that?

"I don't belong to you," she said, though her voice lacked its usual sharpness.

He nodded, a bitter smile touching his lips. "I know."

Then, before she could move, he reached out—not to grab her, not to restrain her, but to check her. His hands skimmed over her arms, her shoulders, her waist, as if searching for wounds. His touch was featherlight, filled with worry.

"Are you hurt?" he murmured. "Did they—" He cut himself off, his jaw tightening. "I should have made sure you were safe. I should have—"

He closed his eyes, inhaling sharply, his entire body tense with restraint.

Way'Lee stood frozen, watching this powerful man crumble before her. He was not the Wang Jo she had known before.

And then—so suddenly she barely registered it—he leaned forward and kissed her.

It was not rough, not forceful. It was hesitant, questioning, full of something fragile and unspoken.

Her entire body locked. Her mind screamed at her to push him away, to run.

But her body betrayed her.

She did not move. She did not fight. She only stood there, caught in a storm she did not understand.

When he pulled away, his face was a battlefield of emotions. He searched her eyes, looking for something—maybe fear, maybe anger.

But she did not know what she felt.

For the first time since she had been captured, she was not certain of what to do next.