Lin Yue woke with her head in someone's lap.
More specifically:
The Night Emperor's lap.
She nearly flung herself off the bed, but Xuan Mo's hand pressed gently against her shoulder.
"You will not stand," he said calmly. "Your body is unstable."
"You're unstable," she muttered.
"Correct," he said without shame. "Rest."
She blinked. "…That wasn't an insult."
His fingers brushed her pulse, checking it. "Then choose better insults next time."
Before she could argue, a voice from outside boomed:
"Night Emperor! Open the gates!"
Xuan Mo's eyes narrowed.
Lin Yue stiffened. "Who is THAT?"
"The Celestial Dawn Emperor," Xuan Mo said, rising. "He rules the Eastern Realm."
"What does he want?"
"You."
Lin Yue facepalmed. "Why is everyone collecting me like I'm a rare trading card—?"
Xuan Mo lifted his aura to lethal levels.The entire palace trembled.
When he stepped outside, the Dawn Emperor stood tall in gold armor, radiant with sunlight qi.
"Night Emperor," he said coldly, "that girl is a celestial anomaly. Hand her over, and I will overlook your violation of cosmic law."
Xuan Mo stared at him with the bored contempt of a cat watching a goldfish threaten litigation.
"No."
"She is a danger to the realms!"
"She is mine."
The Dawn Emperor clenched his fist. "Claiming a mortal is beneath you."
Xuan Mo lifted one eyebrow.Space distorted.
"And challenging me," he said, "is beneath you."
The Dawn Emperor faltered.
Lin Yue stepped outside despite her shaking knees. "Can we NOT start a celestial war over me?"
Both emperors looked at her.
Both.
At.
Once.
The heavens themselves winced.
"You are the catalyst," the Dawn Emperor said. "A prophecy foretold of a woman whose soul can rewrite fate."
Lin Yue froze.
Prophecy?
Xuan Mo's aura sharpened instantly. "Explain."
The Dawn Emperor's eyes slid to Lin Yue with discomfort. "In the Celestial Archives, there is a verse: 'The moon-born stranger will break the sky's design.'"
Lin Yue groaned. "Great. I'm a walking horoscope."
The Dawn Emperor continued:"Our sages believe she could either save the world… or destroy it."
Xuan Mo stepped in front of her.
"She will destroy nothing," he said coldly. "Except those who threaten her."
The Dawn Emperor exhaled, defeated.
"Very well. I will withdraw. But remember—if she loses control, the heavens will fall."
Xuan Mo didn't blink. "Then I will catch them."
The Dawn Emperor vanished in sunlight.
Lin Yue stared at Xuan Mo, voice small but steady:
"You're going to get yourself killed defending me."
He met her gaze, calm and unwavering.
"I cannot be killed," he said softly."But even if I could… some lives are worth the risk."
Her heart stuttered.
She hated him.
She did not hate him.
She was doomed.