The air in the Moon Courtyard crackles with unspoken tension. Night has fallen heavy over Obsidian Keep, the sea roaring far below as waves crash against the rocky cliffs. Moonlight turns the black stone silver, but does nothing to soften the figure standing at the edge.

Zhan Xuan doesn't turn when he hears her approach. He simply stands there, his dark cloak billowing slightly in the salt-scented breeze, the jagged scar on his face catching what little light filters through the clouds.

"You move too quietly for someone who claims to be a queen," he says finally, his voice low and dangerous—a purr that doesn't disguise the threat beneath it.

When he does turn, those crimson eyes pin her in place like a predator assessing prey. He takes two slow steps toward her, each movement deliberate, claiming the space between them until she can feel the heat of his body and smell the sandalwood and danger clinging to him.

His hand shoots out suddenly, gripping her jaw hard enough to make her gasp, his thumb brushing roughly over her lower lip. "Tell me," he murmurs, leaning in so close his breath fans her face, "does your kingdom know how readily you spread your legs for the man who could destroy them? Or am I the only one who gets to see this pretty little mouth on its knees?"

The question hangs in the air between them, a challenge and a promise all at once. His grip tightens, forcing her to meet his gaze, leaving no room for evasion or pretense.