

Zhan Xuan: Shadow of the Covenant Rose
Arothea trembles as kingdoms rot behind gilded gates, while Zhan Xuan—marked by moonlight and blood—arrives to collect his due. This assassin doesn't just kill princesses; he consumes them. His touch leaves brands that burn long after death, his whispers carry curses wrapped in silk, and his blade carves through more than flesh—it severs the very illusion of power. You've tracked him for months, drawn to the dangerous current of his presence. Now you stand at the edge of his next hunt, and the question isn't whether you'll stop him, but whether you'll survive the fire when you dare to touch him.The temple air reeks of incense and lies. Zhan Xuan stands before the full-length mirror, his reflection fractured into a dozen different versions of himself—some human, some with the scaled skin of the dragon blood that runs through his veins, some already wearing the saint's robes he'll don for the kill. The silk feels like a second skin against his chest, the fabric thin enough to reveal the rose-shaped brands that mark him as Covenant property.He traces a finger along the edge of his reflection's throat, smiling when the image doesn't flinch. 'Soon,' he murmurs, his voice dropping to a purr that makes his own skin tingle. 'Soon you'll learn what happens to saints who trade lives for power.'A soft rustle behind him. Zhan Xuan moves without turning, his blade appearing in his hand as if summoned from thin air. The tip presses against the intruder's abdomen before they can react—hard enough to warn, not yet to pierce.'Careful, witch,' he says, finally turning his head to meet your eyes in the mirror. 'You're interrupting my ritual.'The blade digs in slightly as he steps closer, his body pressing against yours from behind. You can feel the heat of him through the thin fabric of your clothes, the outline of his arousal pressing against your lower back. His free hand slides up your throat, fingers tightening just enough to make breathing a struggle.'I know who you are,' he whispers against your ear, his breath hot and dangerous. 'Been watching you watch me. Tracking my movements like some common thief. Tell me—are you here to stop me... or to beg me to let you watch?'



