Eternal Melody

YUHI

For five entire years he put up with all the slander towards him, and even after he stopped residing in the mountain. He knew there were many people who still thought poorly of him. It was an act, but perhaps he went overboard.

Sumire blinked. "But-"

"The village was indeed burned down by dragon fire, but it wasn't me who did it."

"Ah, it was done by another dragon."

Yuhi nodded. "It was certainly rare during those days but there were other dragon shifters. There was a particular fraction that was being lead by a cousin who wanted to take my throne, they are the ones who did it."

"Then why did you take the blame?"

"Because it was my fault. They only targeted that place because they wanted me. What they don't realize is my life is tied to those lands, if I died. Everything they coveted would vanish."

"Oh."

"Until I formed a proper plan, I decided to seclude myself in the mountains. I wanted them to think I was afraid, and that they destroyed my reputation."

"Then-"

"Yeah, I was gathering forces in secret to take them down. I didn't want to make a big deal out of it. I wanted to get rid of them quietly. But then they somehow managed to break the barrier in the mountains."

Sumire gripped her hand understanding. "They attacked me?"

Yuhi nodded. "Truthfully you were defeating them. I didn't have to intervene. But one of them used a dirty trick and you ended up caught in the middle of it."

"They aimed for you."

"As fellow dragon shifters, they know how to keep my dragon tamed. They shackled me, even if they stabbed me I wouldn't have died so easily. But, you silly girl didn't know that. You stepped in front of me and took the blade meant for me."

"My dear-"

By this point in the story he found himself trembling badly. Just talking about it leads to this reaction. His thoughts break off when Sumire started to place kisses on his neck. "So, you cut the bond to save my life?"

"Your life was tied to mine, after we first slept together. If I cut the bond, the wounds you sustained would vanish too. I wasn't injured, so you didn't take on the injuries for me but you stepping in to take the blade meant for me was the same thing." Yuhi trailed off. "If I left you in that state, you would have died. Even if I took you to the nearest village healer, you would have died. That blade cannot kill dragon shifters but it could kill a regular goddess."

"My dear, wasn't it painful?"

"It was painful. I didn't want to do it, but I knew I had to. I cut the soul bond, but I still watched over you. I wanted to make sure it found the right person for you."

"And that person was Lennon-?"

Yuhi nodded. "It was, and you two started getting along well. But, all of a sudden I heard that you were engaged to the other brother. I was confused, so I personally went to visit your family and asked what was going on."

"My family knew about you?"

"They did, I contacted your brothers to fetch you from the mountain. I explained everything. Your brothers really looked like they wanted to kill me for dragging you into my mess, I had no excuse. But your eldest brother said 'your her soul bond partner aren't you?'"

"Ah, eldest brother knew."

"He did, and he told me if I was sure. I cut the bond to save your life but if I gave it enough time, I could restore the bond between us."

"But you didn't." Sumire pouted. "My dear, you need to fight harder for me, how could you just let me go to someone else?"

"I thought what I was doing was for the best. Life as the phoneix god isn't easy, I will always have a target on my back. I knew if you stayed with me, you would have continued being a target. Until your powers bloomed, it was too risky."

"My powers bloomed when I was nineteen." Sumire poked his chest. "You couldn't have fetched me then?"

"You and Lennon were getting along, I thought there was no need. It was only when you were engaged to Alex, did I start to think something was wrong. When I visited your family, they explained that the soul bond went to Alex, that's why they agreed to the engagement. I was confused, so I went to se Alex myself and sure enough when I passed by him. I felt his thread of fate connected to yours."

"I think, the soul bond was still getting used to the change that's why I didn't sense it on Lennon. Lennon ended up corrupted by those artefacts, and thus the bond went to someone closer, his blood related brother." Sumire mumbled.

Yuhi nodded. "I wanted to continue keeping an eye out on you. But it hurt watching you with Alex. So after your wedding, I went away for awhile. I knew when I returned there was a chance you'd have kids already. But I couldn't stay. I didn't know you would suffer so much."

"It's not your fault. But, you didn't think of following me to the human kingdom?"

Yuhi shakes his head. "I was still being targeted. It was easy to watch you in secret in the spirit realm but in the human Kingdom? I would have been discovered. Alex seemed like a good guy too, and considering what happened with Lennon. I thought it was a good thing that you didn't marry Lennon."

Sumire sighs deeply. "I think I understand now my dear. I wish I could remember. How long were we together?"

"Just six months."

"I wonder what you taught me in just six months."

Seeing the mischievous glint in his eyes, Yuhi sighs. "Quit messing around. Weren't we supposed to paint?"

She really needs to get off his lap before he starts having odd thoughts.

"The mood has shifted." Sumire traced his neck sensually with her fingers. "Don't you think we can do something fun?"

Yuhi looked at the girl with a complicated expression. She really needs to stop messing around.

"We already did it, before we came." Yuhi reminded her,

"I know."

"Then-"

"After hearing the story of our first meeting, I have to say I ended up feeling very turned on." Sumire trailed off. "Do you have the courage to say no and refuse me, Yi?"

Yuhi is carrying her onto the bed in just seconds. He tossed his shirt aside and turned to the woman on the large bed. "I could never refuse you, Norah."