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The Empress was reduced to nothing more than her sensations. She kept record of it all in her head, so that she might be able to call upon it later; details that, if her awareness had not passed over it, might have gone unknown for another lifetime.

For example, his voice, and how it sounded speaking her language, the gruffness of his tongue caressing the syllables in a direct reflection of how he now laid it against her. The gentle pressure that his aura exerted on hers, like two atoms bumping into each other's orbit, which made her shift backwards to accommodate. The grass and how it felt intertwined with her quicksilver fur, his stomach as he positioned above her,

and Yue pressed in-between, burning alive.

The perspective was new, and Yue took a moment to acknowledge it. At first, she could not understand it: she had not looked up at someone in this way since she was in the cradle — who was this man who gazed at her, who was not her husband? Where was this land, that was not the Tianlong she had known, yet had claimed her as easily as Wei Jun claimed her now?

Empress steadied a deep breath, half expecting this to be a most vivid dream. Her mind was prone to imaginings, after all.

Was the silent gasp that escaped her pale lips because she realized the one who hovered so close truly was Batu, meaning that she was safe – or because the reality of Batu had become so suddenly clear, meaning that she was not safe? She lay on the cusp of all the things that had felt so impossible just a moment before, and it had taken nothing more than the want of it and the Mongolian's evocative pressuring.

Truly, it took nothing more than that. What were laws, in the face of sheer desire?

It would be easy to say yes to him, to pursue the belief that his wanting of her was unique. It was, however, more than unique – it was natural. It was so natural that even the snails that hung off leaves did it. Shenlei could do it with Kexin. Batu could enliven her nerve endings, just as was the pleasure-drive of all things that lived.

Lying there, the two were just like anyone else. However –

Any other man would have never approached her. Never would have asked so forwardly for the position of her protector. They would have halted when they had seen her so upset, and carefully selected their words instead of becoming her devil’s advocate. They would have sought to assuage, instead of conflagrate. Any other man would have taken her two prior requests as decree.

Batu did none of these things.

Not even Shenlei would behave with such brazen behavior, without first providing her with the most lavish succor. It was respectful. It was the way Yue was familiar with. It was according to their culture to be noble. However, the comparison gave Yue sight into how the Emperor allowed his desire of her to be secondary to his many, many other pursuits.

There were reasons – years of diplomatic responsibility and heartbreaking losses – that might make him prefer so. The Empress would never question how the Son of Heaven chose to shoulder his incredible responsibility.

She did not feel secondary to Batu.

Nor did she feel this was the place where she needed to force orders in order for her will to be heeded.

Force was not an ability she yielded often, nor was it expected of her when she had Generals and Soldiers to exert force for her. In lieu of force, she clung to belief. The entirety of Tianlong clung to belief; it was the Dynasty’s main structure. They believed that rules were laws written into their soul. The composure of hierarchy had been a gift of the gods.

To subvert it, would be to crumble the foundations of society itself.

Yue began to realize that this was a moment upon which everything hung. Within this moment, she would learn what type of man Batu was – this man, who had been brought to his knees, so willing to lose all that he had for a mere taste of her. This man, who placed himself above her when no other had even thought to. Had he pledged himself to her in truth, and able to honor such vows when held to the fire?

It was not within her capabilities to act with force, not then, not with his eyes raking upon her intimate curves. With a most mechanical gathering of breath, she managed to utter words on her trembling exhale.

Please, came her plea, unhand me.

Then Teng Yue closed her eyes, breath knotted in her throat. The Empress did not need to command to be heeded. If the man abided, they could pretend to be incensed over Shenlei’s treachery and continue as they once were.

If he denied her word thrice, then Yue would have the hard-fought knowledge that Batu could not truly be governed.

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