The war lasted for over a year.
It was hard bringing the snake tribe into submission and they were slippery opponents , if not that the Huli Jing soliders had nine lives, they would have been defeated.
Winter could not go over to the borders to check on them , he couldn't even receive letters because of they were afraid that the enemies would use messengers and smugglers to infiltrate the clan.
Every night he would sit under the tree and watch the stars , his thoughts racing.
He shouldn't have agree to put them together, what if Summer and Thunder start getting along now? While they are in the face of war , will their past feelings ignite ? In the end, if they do fall in love was there anything he can do ?
He wished Summer only liked men , then he don't have to worry about Summer having feelings for thunder again. What if Summer end up liking thunder so much he starts to covert the throne?
He squeezed a stone so hard it broke to pieces.
No Summer was a respectable demon , he won't go after a married demon. Thunder was loyal too , she said she loves him so she won't go after Summer.
She would protect Summer from the target on his back , she will become his hands and legs , they won't bother Summer again. Thunder have to stay safe too , he loves her the most.
"King Winter, your presence is needed at the court"
Winter snapped out of his thoughts and nod his head.
He should focus on keeping the clan safe , everything will be alright
💖💖💖
The day that they came back , he was in morning court. As the sounds of the triumphant drums , shouts and salute roar through the palace , he couldn't stop himself from standing up and running outside.
Thunder haven't changed out of her armor , her hair was washed messily and put it into a bun , her skin have turned dark , she looked shy as she waved at him.
Winter felt tears well up in his eyes.
She smiled , her eyes were filled with tears too "I am back my king"
Winter ignored the stares and ran towards her , Without caring about his height or the fact he was bigger than her , he jumped into her arms and hugged her tightly.
"Thunder..."
She wrapped her arms around him too , burying her face into his shoulders.
"Winter..." She let out a soft laughter " I missed you so much"
He could feel the devotion and love pouring out of her , that was good, she still loves him so nothing probably happened between her and summer.
He raised his eyes and started to look around for Sumner figure, his heart only settled when he saw summer among the crowd of soldiers.
Summer was standing at a corner watching them with a still face. His hair was packed into a small bun , the amour looked valiant on him.
Summer eyes locked on his own and Winter couldn't pull away. The red eyes swirled with emotions he can't identify and it was like it was the two of them in the world.
Winter was hit by a realization, he really missed his best friend, he should have given him that pendant.
Summer eyes separated from his and looked at thunder. His gaze unreadable.
Winter swallowed a gulp and pulled Thunder closer to his chest . His voice went cold.
"I am so happy my wife is back, you should all bow to the Queen of the Huli Jing clan"
Everyone except Summer went on their knees.
Thunder voice was soft "Winter you didn't have to"
"I have to, you're my wife anyway" He swallowed a gulp and rocked her "Umm what do you think about Summer"
There was a thick silence before she answered stiffly "He's good but you're my husband"
Winter nod immediately, his posture relaxed immediately . He looked at Sumner, he was no where to be found anymore.
"Winter I love you"
Winter nod his head again " I love you too "
💖💖💖
It was late at night.
Thunder have gone straight to sleep out of exhaustion , the palace was silent without any pin drops , Even the guards were drowsy and their heads were swaying with sleep.
Winter can't sleep , he can't help but recall Summer eyes , those red eyes bubbling with emotions, it's like they were calling out to him.
"I need to see him"
He gently climbed out of the bed and walked to the garden, if Summer wasn't there , he would forget about everything and go back to sleep.
As usual , Summer was leaning against the tree enjoying the moon bath , his white hair sprayed messily over his shoulders , his eyes were half closed and his lips pursed in thoughts.
Winter swallowed a gulp, how can someone be this beautiful? Even more beautiful than a woman?
"You know watching me won't get you anywhere"
Winter snapped out of his thoughts and walked forward ;
"Summer..."
"I am just hearing your voice in such a long time.." He opened his eyes and looked hazy at him " Your hair have grown longer "
"Summer I need to talk to you "
Summer nodded his head and went back to looking at the moon " Hurry up ... "
"Summer..." He took a deep breath " Do you want the throne ?"
Summer took his time answering the question , he waited for a full 5 minutes before saying in a small voice.
"I don't want it "
"Do you want Thunder then?"
"Do you think I want her?"
A bitter feeling aroused in Winter heart ; it was like it curled around him , suffocating him "She's a married woman "
"And what about it?"
"I.. I married her , you won't want to take her from your best friend right?"
Summer let out a bitter laugh.
Winter took it as silent approval , the feeling came up to his throat, he could taste the bitterness.
He was right, the long time together must have kindled Summer feelings towards her. He should have not allowed thunder to go with Summer , it would have been better if she stay over here acting her role as a queen and Summer would go and come back.
What if that feeling drives Summer to want the throne? What if the feeling drives Summer to leave the Huli Jing clan? What will he do without his best friend?!
No Summer can't leave, he needs to do something, he needs to tie him down, he needs to have Summer under his control.
He clenched his teeth before looking up at Summer. There was determination in his eyes.
"Summer you will hate me for this "
Without waiting for Summer to react , he pounced on him straddling him with his body. Summer lazy attitude disappeared and a rare panic replaced it .
" W.. What are you doing ?"
Winter have already grew out his fangs ; he held Summer waist with one hand then held his face with the other ; his blue eyes were bright .
"I am sorry "
He then sank his teeth into Summer neck.
Summer roared and started thrashing but Winter didn't let go , instead he gripped him tighter.
There was a binding technique that binds the soul of a demon to a master. It involved sucking the blood of a demon through it's neck leaving no room for them to escape until their blood mixes with theirs.
The technique ensured that the demon stayed loyal to the master. If the master want , the master could call him back. No different than a slave or a pet only with agency.
That was the big reason why demons mostly protected their necks even during marking and love making , It took a lot of trust to even stay careless around themselves.
Summer moaned in pain , Winter hugged him to his chest tighter as if hoping it will comfort him in a way , beg him to forgive him.
"I told you I didn't want the throne , I told you I didn't want the throne Winter... you said you trusted me... " Summer stopped thrashing and laid limply in Winter arms , he curled up and sobs broke from his mouth " I trusted you but in the end you couldn't even trust me up till the end ... Winter why ? Why do you keep hurting me ?"
Winter buried his fangs tighter into his neck , his eyes dripped tears.
'I am sorry ... I am so sorry...'
Perhaps he wasn't all that naive , perhaps deep down his heart , he really couldn't hide from the dark side of himself, the insecure part of himself.
He wanted to protect the throne, he wanted to secure it but at the same time , he really wanted to protect their friendship , he was scared that one day something would get right in between them.
Thunder was a factor he can't trust, thunder could cause a rift between them , thunder could make Summer greedy for the throne.
Even though Summer can't avoid his feelings for thunder, at least, he won't dare to act on them now, he knows summer cares for him too much to kill him in order to get rid of the binding contact.
As long as Summer was still under his thumb, right where he could see him , hold him , control him.. then it's alright... everything will be alright.
hahahaha hahahaha
It was as if he could hear The laughter of the two moon goddesses echoing all over the garden.
I did it for Summer sake , it's all for his own good, no one can get in between us now , best friends forever just like he says.
💖💖💖
The next day when he woke up , he was lying on the hard ground , the cold wind blowing into his body.
If not for the taste of rust in his mouth and the blood stains in his robe, he would have thought that what happened yesterday was a dream.
He sighed and looked at the ever dark sky.
He have taken care of Summer now , he was sure that Thunder will never betray him , she says she loves him every time.
It is all for the stability of the Huli Jing clan, it's to ensure personal feelings doesn't trump political emotions.
He sighed and lowered his head on his legs.
"I did nothing wrong"
When he went back to the room , Thunder have woken up already. She was rolling the jade pendant between her fingers , a strange emotion in her eyes.
"Thunder..."
"Where did you go ?"
Winter sense of guilt overcame his thinking " I went to see Summer "
There was a thick silence , the only sound was the scratch of the jade pendant between her nails , After a long while she spoke.
"Let's make love , it's been a while "
He nodded , anything to show how much he loves thunder.
In an inhumane speed , Thunder grabbed him and pushed him on the bed, He have not even landed when She pinched his chin and started to kiss him aggressively.
Winter moaned and allowed her to raid him.
Thunder have always been a mellow on the outside, aggressive on the inside kind of demon , She was the type that will hold in her anger then let it all out in bed.
He didn't like the aggressiveness but it was the only way thunder showed love , he needed to accept it.
She kissed him till he lost his breath , after that she ripped off his clothes and pulled his n*pple into her mouth.
Winter arched , his eyes watered " Thunder .... let me touch you too , it's not fair as.. Argggggh"
She s*ckled on the n*pple for a little while before looking deeply at him, her eyes sparkled electricity.
"I love you"
Winter didn't know why but tears spilled down his face "I love you too .... I really really really love you"
He loves her , he had love her since he saw her standing in the falling rain looking really beautiful.
But why , why does Summer like her ? She was beautiful but he was Summer best friend. Why choose her over him? Why did he have to force winter to use the binding technique just to stay by summer side.
It wasn't fair !!!
Winter grabbed thunder head and kissed her , his kiss was violent as if wanting to punish her.
She let out a moan of joy and kissed him back, her hands moving with urgency.
She allowed him to ride her , Through it
all , they locked eyes and fingers hoping to communicate. She was the first to fly before he finally did.
Right before he took flight , he heard her whisper , the voice was light like the wind ; subtle but powerful.
"Mine "