The sunlight was completely swallowed by the dark clouds, which pressed down heavily. All the sounds of insects vanished as the wind rustled the leaves noisily, and a chill permeated the air.
Ji Zhaoxi lit a fire and inspected every drainage ditch. She actually checked them every day, but it was safer to go over them once more before the rain.
“Miss Dragon, could you dig this ditch in front of me a little deeper? I’m a bit scared.”
Ji Zhaoxi patted the mushroom cap and deepened the drainage ditch. Maybe that one time had really scared them.
The squirrel had scattered its pinecones everywhere again, with no sense of tidiness at all!
She stuffed the pinecones into the squirrel’s home, knowing she’d have to help them find them later.
She really couldn’t be bothered.
She walked on, noticing that one drainage ditch was blocked by gravel. She crouched down to clear it.
Just then, she felt something heavy drape over her. Looking down, she saw it was a waterproof oiled cloak.
“Why are you always following me? Go be your prince.”
Ji Zhaoxi snorted and continued digging the ditch.
Celeste joined her in digging and said softly, “A servant is meant to stay with their master.”
Ji Zhaoxi didn’t want to bother with him.
The oiled cloak was something he’d grabbed hastily when he came. It hadn’t been shaped for dragon horns, so when she wore it, her horns pushed the cloak up awkwardly.
Celeste couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh at the sight.
Ji Zhaoxi stopped moving and looked at him suspiciously. Had he just laughed at her?
She was especially sensitive to how others looked at her.
Celeste didn’t meet her eyes. He wiped the mud off her face.
No sooner had the ditch been cleared than the forest began to pour down rain. The mushrooms had changed their moods faster than ever—just moments ago worried, now already asleep.
Rain hammered dully against the big trees, filling the forest with a mist of moisture. Lightning flickered on and off, and thunder rumbled occasionally from the sky. The two carefully made their way deeper into the woods.
Halfway there, Celeste let out a low grunt. Ji Zhaoxi glanced at him curiously.
It wasn’t until they returned to the cave that Ji Zhaoxi realized Celeste was injured.
The cave was warm, and Ji Zhaoxi stood nearby, restless.
Celeste gave her a gentle smile. “It’s all right, Miss Dragon. Go take a bath first. I just got scratched by a branch.”
Ji Zhaoxi knew exactly that Celeste had been scratched by a branch, and that was why she felt so guilty.
Because it really was partly her fault.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have cared at all.
The fire crackled inside the cave as Celeste sat before it, calmly tending to his wound. The firelight carved his bare body into sharp, cold lines.
The gash on his arm was completely torn open, with blood sliding down his muscles. Celeste soaked a piece of linen with alcohol and pressed it directly over the wound.
When Ji Zhaoxi came out from her bath, she saw this. Looking at the wound on Celeste’s arm, her guilt deepened. Why was it so bad?
Celeste’s gaze fixed on Ji Zhaoxi. She was still steaming with moisture, and her skin, exposed above her clothes, was flushed pink. She stood a short distance away, hesitating as she watched him.
Celeste’s breath caught, and he looked away in discomfort.
Ji Zhaoxi placed a bottle of medicine beside him and said awkwardly, “This heals things quickly.”
Celeste thanked her politely. “Thank you, Miss Dragon.”
While Celeste treated his wound on the other side, Ji Zhaoxi polished her gemstones without any joy. A faint scent of blood filled the air. She actually liked the smell and secretly took a few whiffs.
Ji Zhaoxi’s hair had already dried by the time Celeste finished with his wound and came over to brush it. He was still bare-chested, his presence washing over her.
Ji Zhaoxi shifted away uncomfortably, but Celeste acted as if nothing was wrong, focusing only on brushing her hair.
The wound on his arm split open again, and the smell of blood gradually spread through the cave. Ji Zhaoxi lay limply on the wool blanket, her gaze fixed on the blood seeping from him.
“Miss Dragon, is this all right?” Celeste asked softly.
The scent of blood filled Ji Zhaoxi’s nostrils. Her breathing grew rapid. Her dragon horns emerged, and she rubbed them against Celeste’s body restlessly.
Celeste looked down at her, his eyes low. Finally, she couldn’t bear the emptiness any longer. Tears fell like a broken string of beads, splashing onto his abdomen.
“Miss Dragon, what do you want?” Celeste brushed her hair gently.
Seeing her just cry without saying a word, Celeste sighed. He squeezed her dragon horn softly, then pulled the sobbing Ji Zhaoxi into his arms, soothing her restless desire.
Miss Dragon was actually quite cunning. She knew that as long as she cried, he would give her everything she wanted.
She didn’t even want to say it out loud.
Celeste cupped her face and kissed her on the lips. Instinctively, she bit down on him, and the taste of blood spread between their mouths.
He let out a quiet laugh. Instead of pulling away, he invaded her mouth, biting her tongue. He seized every breath from her, forcing her to only make muffled noises through her nose.
With his other hand, Celeste gently stroked her dragon horn. She panted heavily, every press sending a tingle down her spine.
Then Celeste released her lips and softly bit the tender flesh at the back of her neck. He kissed her delicately behind her ears, and she cried from the sheer pleasure.
When he bit down hard on her nape again, she went silent, collapsing limp in his arms, her mind gone blank.
Celeste’s eyes were thick with desire. Breathing lightly, he pressed a kiss to Ji Zhaoxi’s forehead.
“Miss Dragon, do you feel a little better?”
He had almost forgotten—blood could stir a dragon’s lust.
Ji Zhaoxi didn’t answer. She buried her face in his chest, gasping for air, with only her bright red ears visible.
Celeste couldn’t resist kissing her ear. He held her tightly and reached for a piece of silk from a nearby chest.
Just as his hand touched the hem of her skirt, it was caught by hers.
He coaxed softly, “Miss Dragon, it won’t be comfortable if I don’t clean it up.”
Her ears burned even redder.
The cave suddenly went dark.
She pulled the silk over from him. The cave was so quiet that every sound was amplified.
Celeste could sense her careful movements. After a moment, the noise stopped.
“Miss Dragon, I’ll wash your clothes.”
The cave fell silent before a soft bundle of clothes was pushed into his hands. When the cave lit up again, she was burrowed into the wool blanket, as far away from him as possible.
Celeste held the clothes to wash, his expression unchanging as he spotted the silk rolled up and hidden in a corner. He picked it up and placed it into his bundle.
“Miss Dragon, have a good rest now. I’ll go wash the clothes.”
Celeste said this with a perfectly serious face.
“Miss Dragon—”
“Say one more word, and you’re fired!”
Celeste fell silent. He pressed his face into the clothes in his arms and walked out of the cave.
