Wei Ying POV
Gold and silver eyes snapped open. Wei Ying felt the grip on his hand tighten and heard his jade's sharp intake of air. His own heart skittered inside his chest at his grandmother's unexpected announcement.
"What do you mean, he's not alone?"
"Exactly what you think it means." Baoshen Sanren answered calmly. "I suggest you take a moment." she continued, her gaze focused on the young man in white. "We will make them comfortable until you're both ready."
Before Wei Ying could ask any more questions, she turned and left.
With practiced ease, Wei Ying climbed into Lan Zhan's lap.
"What are you feeling?" he asked calmly.
The polished gold of Lan Zhan's eyes met his curious silver ones.
"I...I am unsure."
Wei Ying smiled understandingly. "Well, this is the perfect opportunity to practice what you've been learning the last few days. Are you ready?"
With a deep breath, Lan Zhan relaxed his tense shoulders.
Taking his jade's hands in his, Wei Ying said, "I want you to answer my questions with the first thought that comes into your mind. Don't think about it too much. Go with your gut."
A puzzled look crossed Lan Zhan's face. "Go with my...gut?"
The tilt of his head only made him cuter and Wei Ying couldn't help but kiss him on the tip of his nose.
"Yes! Let your instinct be your guide. Understand?"
Looking more serious than ever, Lan Zhan nodded.
"Alright. First question. No matter who is here with your brother, no matter what they say to you, will you stop loving me?"
"No." Lan Zhan's answer was sharp and quick.
"Good! Now tell me, is there anything they could do or say to stop you from marrying me?"
"No."
Relief softened Lan Zhan's nervous gaze and Wei Ying felt a rush of want washing over him. He cleared his throat and placed his hands on both of his jade's cheeks.
Looking Lan Zhan directly in the eyes, Wei Ying asked, "So does it matter who is here with your brother or how many came with him?"
"No." Lan Zhan's voice grew steadier with each answer and Wei Ying couldn't be prouder.
"Does it matter what they are going to say?"
Wei Ying saw the instant Lan Zhan realized that the fear trying to pollute his mind was nothing more than a weed looking for a weak spot to root. Excited golden eyes blinked back at him with awe-filled tears.
"No." Lan Zhan replied. "Nothing...no one can come between us. I am yours and you are mine. Soulmates."
The slide of warm lips over his had Wei Ying's head spinning like a falling maple seed. Strong arms pulled him closer, his body molding perfectly with Lan Zhan's. As the kiss deepened, Wei Ying got up on his knees which made him temporarily taller than his fiance. His new position allowed him to deepen the kiss, his tongue exploring from a different angle.
They parted unwillingly, out of breath. Their foreheads rested against each other as they centered themselves.
"You know, your brother may have brought someone because he's scared." Wei Ying suggested.
Lan Zhan's head whipped back. "Xiongzhang is...afraid?"
Wei Ying chuckled. "Maybe. The last time he met my parents, you know, the leaders of the clan your clan has been at war with for oh...say, five hundred years, was back at the night hunt when my mother was seriously injured and in a coma for weeks. Your brother might be afraid that they still hold a grudge against you considering you basically confessed to trying to kill her by freely agreeing to marry me. He doesn't know everything we've learned over the past few months. So it wouldn't surprise me that, even though reason says he has nothing to fear, there isn't a tiny part of him that worries about his didi."
"But Wei Ying's parents are kind. And...they like me, I think." Lan Zhan said timidly.
"Oh! Sweetheart! They love you! But your brother doesn't know that. All he knows right now is that you are with my grandmother who, by the way, he's also met and probably doesn't trust, and my parents. Both of whom have grown up their entire lives taught to hate and trained to kill the Lan Clan."
A small smile tugged at the one corner of Lan Zhan's well-kissed lips. "Wei Ying's parents love me." he said thoughtfully.
Wei Ying snorted a chuckle. "That's the only part you heard?"
He took his jade's still smiling face in his hands and said, "Have I told you how much I love you lately?"
Wei Ying kissed the tip of Lan Zhan's nose, his silver eyes sparkling like a million shooting stars.
"I don't think your brother is afraid for himself, my love. I think he's afraid for you."
Lan Zhan's smile faded with a sigh. "Xiongzhang does not worry about me. He knows I can handle myself."
Wei Ying lowered himself and nestled into Lan Zhan's ready arms. He breathed in the scent of his mate. Sandalwood was known by many to induce calmness and promote clarity and concentration. So why was it that when he smelled Lan Zhan his body became excited and he couldn't think of anything else?
"Do you remember which circle you wrote your brother's name in?" Wei Ying asked.
"Mn."
"Why did you put him in there?"
When Lan Zhan did not answer him, Wei Ying lifted his face to get a better look at his still struggling fiance. One hand caressed his beautiful jade's pale cheek as he waited patiently for Lan Zhan to come to terms with his emotions.
Realizing Lan Zhan needed a little push, Wei Ying whispered, "It's okay to say it. Not only to me, but to your brother."
Lan Zhan swallowed slowly. "He...He's there because...I care about him."
"That's right. But how much do you care about him? Enough to worry about him if he got hurt or sick?"
"Yes." Lan Zhan answered with a little nod.
"Enough to be afraid for his safety if he were to go to battle?"
"Mn."
"Then say it. It's okay for men to say these words, especially if they mean them. Remember, this is our safe space and nothing that we say here ever needs to be shared with anyone else if we don't want it to be."
Lan Zhan swallowed again. "He's in the second circle because...I love my brother."
The last four words out of his jade's mouth were filled with happiness and relief. Wei Ying could hear it in every syllable and feel it in how the words were spoken. The light in Lan Zhan's eyes brightened like the rising summer sun. His smile was as warm as the late day breeze in Yiling. Everything about this man was pure beauty and Wei Ying was hopelessly in love with him.
"And your brother loves you. Which means he's probably worried about your safety now that he knows my parents are here and my mother's awake and well. Have you met my mother, by the way? She has a temper just like her mother. Gosh, I'm so glad I didn't inherit their bad behavior."
Wei Ying helped Lan Zhan up, giggling the entire time.
Lan Zhan took him in his arms and kissed him on his forehead.
"Wei Ying does not have a temper. He has a fire. And it makes him sexy."
Soft lips began kissing and nipping their way down Wei Ying's neck. Low moans made their way out of Wei Ying's parted lips as he was consumed by the white fire that was his jade. As those same lips passed under his chin and over to the other side of his neck, Wei Ying surrendered to the power growing inside him.