The image of Xu Ling, naked and aroused, vanished in his head and that infuriated the spirit KUANG BAO, who attempted to jump through Jiang Lang's skin and attack.
Jiang Lang found himself snarling, too, craving another glimpse of her in his mind.
Luo Chen's serene voice penetrated the haze, telling Jiang Lang to calm down.
He warned that if he kept this up, they would be forced to chain him, and then who would protect Xu Ling?
His blood chilled, sobering him. He knew they would do it, and chains, chaining him, no way, he could not allow it.
Not during the day. At night, yes, he was a menace then, and there was no other way. He thought to himself that he was a menace now, but if he were bound now, when he was barely hanging on to his sense of self, he might as well admit defeat and stop trying to be anything other than a demon.
All of the men were staring at him, he noticed.
He grumbled an apology, thinking something was very wrong with him and that this hair-trigger dance with the spirit was utterly ridiculous.
Another female voice in his head commanded her to hush and not incite them.
The girl responded, "But, Grandma, they—"
Their voices trailed off. The girl was probably being dragged away from the door. Jiang Lang liked her courage. It reminded him of Xu Ling, how she had stood up to him in the cell and demanded he lift his shirt.
She had wanted to run to him the desire had shone brightly in her eyes, but she hadn't. Just the memory caused his blood to heat and his body to harden.
She had even stroked his wound, sparking something to life inside him. Something he hadn't understood.
Tenderness, perhaps?
He shook his head in denial. He would fight that emotion until his last breath—which should take place in about thirteen hours, he thought wryly. He did not, would not, have tenderness for bait, or a divine punishment, or whatever she was.
He thought to himself that next time he saw her, he would take her hard and fast, pounding... pounding... She would moan and scream his name. Her thighs would tighten around his waist and—No, no. Of its own accord, the image realigned in his head, shifting to please Violence.
She would be on her stomach, braced on her hands and knees. That lovely hair would cascade down her elegant back, and he would grab hold of it, tugging.
Her neck would arch; her lips would part on a gasp of pleasure-pain. In and out he would pound, her cunt hot and wet. Tight. Yes, she would be tighter than a fist. His testicles would slap at her legs.
His earlier thought, "When I finally have Xu Ling in my bed, I'm going to be gentle. Remember?" was ignored. She would beg for more, and he would give it to her. He would—
Suddenly Yan Lie pushed him hard, slamming him into the wall, saying that this was becoming tiresome. He noted that Jiang Lang was panting and sweating, and his eyes were starting to glow with red fire, asking if Violence was about to erupt.
The image of Xu Ling, naked and aroused, vanished—and that infuriated the spirit, who attempted to jump through Jiang Lang's skin and attack. Jiang Lang forced himself to calm down.
It was even worse—it was humiliating. They usually fought amongst themselves, but never like this.
Maybe he needed more training, or another bout with Yan Lie.
"Are you all right?" Luo Chen asked him, a question he seemed to have repeated endlessly today.
Jiang Lang gave a rigid nod.
Luo Chen clasped his hands behind his back and looked at each man. "Now that's settled, let's discuss why I brought you here."
Feng Yue cut in, "Let's talk about why you brought the women here instead of leaving them in the city. Yes, Yan Lie has a task, but that doesn't explain it."
Luo Chen interrupted him, "The women are here because we didn't want them leaving Buda and possibly forcing Yan Lie to follow. Also, I wanted you to see them so you wouldn't harm them if you found them wandering the fortress. If they get loose, just bring them back to my room and lock them inside.
Don't speak to them, don't hurt them. Until we figure out how to free Yan Lie from this burden, the women are our unwilling guests. Do you agree?"
One by one, the men nodded. They had no other choice.
"For now, leave them to me and relax. Rest. Go about your day. You'll be needed soon enough, I'm sure."
"I, for one, plan to drink myself into oblivion." Yan Lie ran a hand down his face. "Women in the house," he mumbled, walking away, "Why don't we invite the whole city over for a party?"
"A party would be fun," Lin Fan said, amused again. "It might help me forget all this maddening male bonding." Then he, too, left.
Bai Long said nothing. He simply unsheathed a blade and stomped down the hall, making his intentions clear.
Jiang Lang would have offered to cut him, or whip or beat him to spare Bai Long the pain of self-infliction, but he'd offered before, and the answer was always an abrupt no.
He understood Bai Long's need to handle it himself. Being a burden was almost as bad as being possessed.
They all had their literal demons, and Bai Long didn't want to make it worse for any of them.
At the moment, though, Jiang Lang might have welcomed the distraction.
"I'll see you losers later," Feng Yue said. "I'm going back to the city." Fine lines of strain creased his eyes—eyes that were now a dull blue instead of bright with satisfaction. "I didn't have a woman last night or this morning. All of this," he gestured toward the door, "has messed with my schedule, and not in a good way."
"Go," Luo Chen told him.
The warrior hesitated and glanced toward the door. He licked his lips. "Unless, of course, you'd allow me inside your bedroom..."
"Go." Luo Chen gestured impatiently.
"Their loss." Feng Yue shrugged and vanished around the corner.
Jiang Lang knew he should offer to guard the women. After all, he was probably the reason they were there. But he needed to see Xu Ling.
No, not needed. Wanted. Better. He didn't need anything, especially a human with questionable motives who was already marked for death.
But not knowing what these courtiers would do next, he realized he didn't want to waste another moment. He would go to Xu Ling even though he hadn't completely subdued the demon inside him.
Besides, he might never be calm when it came to that woman. And it was better to do what he wanted with her now, before he was forced to—he couldn't even bring himself to think it.
"Luo Chen," he began.
"Go," his friend said again. "Do whatever you need to do to get yourself under control. Your woman—"
"Xu Ling is not up for discussion," Jiang
Lang replied, already knowing what Luo Chen meant to say: Your woman needs to be taken care of as soon as possible. He knew that, too.
"Just get her out of your system, then do what needs doing so that at least part of our lives can return to normal."
Jiang Lang nodded and turned, part of him wondering if his normal life was even worth returning to.