The tunnel lights went white like a sheet of lightning, and Lin Xue felt Wei Chen's chest jump under her palm. The black sun brand opened like a mouth, but not on the outside. It opened inward, pulling the cold and the heat into the same place, like two storms crashing in one heart.
Wei Chen grabbed her waist and held her tight against him. His breath was hot on her lips. His eyes were wide, but steady. "Rules," he rasped. "Stop means stop. Do you want me to do this?"
Lin Xue's throat moved. Fear shook her bones, but she didn't look away. "Yes," she whispered. "I choose."
Wei Chen kissed her fast and fierce, like a vow he couldn't take back. Lin Xue clutched his collar and kissed him back, breathless, tasting heat and frost and danger. He pulled away just enough to ask, low and clear, "Do you want me to stop?"
"Don't stop," Lin Xue whispered. "Just… stay real."
Wei Chen pressed his forehead to hers. "Say my name," he whispered. "Anchor my mouth."
"Chen Wei," Lin Xue said, clear as ice. "Stay with me."
The bond rope flared warm, and then the world pulled sideways.
Lin Xue's stomach dropped like she was falling off a cliff. The tunnel vanished. The cold eye in the cracked wall vanished. Even Su Mei's black stare vanished. There was only white… then black… then a deep gold glow like the inside of a dying sun.
They landed on something that wasn't stone. It felt like smooth metal, warm in some places and freezing in others, like the floor couldn't decide what it wanted to be. Above them hung a sun made of black glass, cracked with thin lines of gold. Each crack looked like it was breathing.
Wei Chen was on his knees, one hand on his chest, the other gripping Lin Xue's wrist like he was scared she would fade. His messy hair fell into his eyes. His roguish grin tried to appear, but it shook at the edges. "Welcome to my problem," he muttered.
Lin Xue's breath came fast. The air here smelled like ash and clean snow at the same time. She grabbed his face with both hands and forced his eyes onto hers, because she did not trust this place. "Chen Wei," she snapped. "Say my name. Stay real."
Wei Chen swallowed. "Lin Xue," he said.
"Again," she demanded.
"Lin Xue," he said louder, and the gold cracks in the black sun above them flickered like they heard it.
Lin Xue exhaled, shaky. She leaned down and kissed him—slow and steady—because her mouth was the strongest anchor she had. Wei Chen kissed her back like he needed it to breathe. His hand slid to her lower back and held her there, warm and firm, making her body press close to his.
He pulled back just enough to ask, "Do you want me to stop?"
Lin Xue's cheeks were hot. "Don't stop," she whispered. "Hold me. We fight."
Wei Chen's eyes darkened, and for half a second his grin returned—naughty and brave. "Bossy," he murmured.
Lin Xue pinched his side. "Idiot."
A soft laugh echoed across the metal floor.
Not Wei Chen's laugh.
The laugh came from the cracks in the black sun above them. A shadow spilled out like smoke and gathered into a shape with long fingers and a thin smile. It didn't have a face, but it wore one anyway—like it was trying on masks.
"Two lovers in one cage," it whispered. "How sweet."
Lin Xue's skin went cold. Her curse stirred, excited and terrified. She stepped forward, planting herself between the shadow and Wei Chen. "You don't get him," she said.
The shadow tilted its head. "He opened the door," it purred. "That means he invited me."
Wei Chen's jaw clenched. "I opened it to drag you inside," he growled. "Not to let you out."
The shadow's smile widened. "Then fight me," it whispered. "With your name."
Wei Chen's throat tightened. Lin Xue felt it at once—the pull, the pressure, like words trying to climb out of him without permission. She grabbed his wrist and squeezed hard. "Chen Wei," she snapped. "My name is your anchor. Look at me."
Wei Chen forced his eyes to hers. "Lin Xue," he rasped.
Lin Xue nodded, then leaned in close, mouth near his ear, voice low and fierce. "Say this: 'My name is mine.'"
Wei Chen spoke it loud. "My name is mine."
The gold cracks in the black sun flared.
The shadow hissed, annoyed. "Cute."
Lin Xue's hand slid up into Wei Chen's hair, gripping gently but firm, holding his head like she was holding his mind. Her voice softened, but it was still a command. "Say: 'I belong to my choice.'"
Wei Chen's breath shook. "I belong to my choice."
Lin Xue's cheeks warmed hard at the words, because they felt like a confession even here. She didn't look away. "Say my name," she whispered. "Like a vow."
Wei Chen looked at her, fierce and real. "Lin Xue."
The shadow recoiled for one heartbeat.
Wei Chen stood up, shoulders squaring. His Nine-Suns heat rose around him, gold flames hugging his skin like armor. "You wanted my name," he said, voice like steel. "You don't get it."
The shadow's long fingers stretched. "Then I'll take hers," it whispered, and its hand snapped toward Lin Xue's wrist mark.
Lin Xue's wrist mark flared with pain. She hissed and pushed frost out, forming a sharp ring around her mark like ice armor. "No," she snarled.
Wei Chen moved fast. He grabbed Lin Xue's waist and pulled her behind him, shielding her with his body. "Stop," he growled at the shadow.
The shadow laughed. "Your 'stop' is not law here."
Lin Xue grabbed Wei Chen's sleeve and yanked him back to her, angry. "Don't hide me," she hissed. "I'm not weak."
Wei Chen's eyes flashed, and his grin flickered again—naughty even in a nightmare. "I know," he murmured. "That's why I like you."
Lin Xue's face heated. "Focus!"
Wei Chen leaned in, lips brushing hers, and whispered, "Do you want me to stop touching you?"
Lin Xue swallowed. She hated her own answer. "No," she whispered. "Just… don't let me go."
Wei Chen kissed her once—quick and sealing—then turned back to the shadow. Golden heat gathered in his palm, shaped like a blade. "Come," he snarled. "Inside my door means you die inside it."
The shadow smiled wider and opened its mouth—
and Wei Chen heard his own voice come out of it.
Perfect. Smooth. Wrong.
"Lin Xue," it said, wearing his tone like skin.
Lin Xue froze.
Because it didn't say her name like Wei Chen did.
It said it like a claim.
And Wei Chen's eyes—just for one terrifying heartbeat—flashed gold-black.
To be Continued
© Kishtika., 2025
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