"Xiang Liu, I know why the bug entered your heart so willingly. I know why, even if it meant betraying your mission to conquer Xiyan, you promised to never harm my brother or Jing. Look at me, will you?" Xiao Yao yelled the last part. 

Despite wanting nothing more than to stay together forever, Xiang Liu doubled his efforts to push Xiao Yao away. His eyes turned into slits. Red filled his irises like that of his animal form: a serpent. He stepped closer, and his hand came to rest on his soulmate's shoulder. He stared into Xiao Yao's eyes, searching for a glimpse of terror and apprehension. But the woman stood her ground. 

'I really didn't want it to come to this, Xiao Yao, but you leave me no choice. If anyone finds out who you really are, your life as you know it will be over. I can't afford that. I need you safe.' Before he could complete the line of thought, his nails grew longer and buried themselves into the princess's shoulder. He kept his eyes empty and cold as pain shot through his shoulders. Of course, how could he forget that if she hurt, so would he? 

Tears rolled down Xiao Yao's cheeks, "Is that all you got?"

"No!" The demon snapped.

Xiao Yao shrugged, "Just as well. Now let me try something," she said, and without waiting for the demon's permission, took another step towards him. Grabbing him by his shoulders, the princess went on her toes and captured the demon's lips between hers.

The struggle to not reciprocate the gesture was real and painful. Before long, Xiang Liu's restraints crumbled, and his arms snaked around the princess's waist. At Xiao Yao's persistent insistence, his lips parted, letting the woman take what she desired. Vowing to take what she offered and ask for nothing more, the demon snaked his arms around her waist. 

Breaking for air, Xiao Yao stepped back and giggled. 

"What's wrong?" Xiang Liu asked, and the woman replied, "When I frolicked around as a man, you wanted to undress me every chance you got, but now that I am like this, you hesitate? My lord, why is that?" 

The query made the demon smile, especially because she had referred to him like she used to when she wasn't Xiao Yao but Xiao Liu. "I am a serpent; I don't have a preference, my lady," he replied, and sounding much like Fangfeng Bei, added, "That doesn't mean that I am unwilling to turn shameless at your command."

Xiao Yao  wrapped her arms around his middle. Melting into his chest, she asked, "My lord, who are you?"

It was Xiang Liu's time to smile. Holding his treasure close to his heart, he answered her with a question. "Who do you want me to be?"

Xiao Yao glanced up. Catching her soulmate's sincere eyes, she replied, "Mine. I want you to be mine."

The demon nodded, "As you wish, Grand Princess," he said the words with more confidence than he felt in his heart, but it was what Xiao Yao needed from him now, and by the heavens, he was going to give it to her. 

Xiang Liu didn't know what the future held for him or them, but that didn't mean he couldn't live in the here and now. He deserved happiness, even if it was fleeting. He figured it was better to love and feel loved than to wait endlessly, knowing that no amount of waiting would bring him close to how he felt now. 

Chapter word count: 592
Final word count: 5753