The moonlit night stirred the heart, a crescent moon poised to set.
Dusk fell completely, darkness swallowing every last trace of the sunset.
The evening breeze grew cold among the trees, rustling their branches and leaves. The glorious sea of flowers from daytime gave way to heavy shadows after nightfall, steeped in an eerie quiet.
Li Xiang put away the softness in her eyes and turned to look at Shrike beside her.
"My lord, it's dark. The night has grown too deep. We should head back."
Shrike looked up at the dark, somber sky and nodded lightly.
"All right."
The whole day he had spent with her had been his most relaxed and pleasant time in recent memory.
The girl before him was gentle and considerate, without the flattery of the others in the Harem. Her innocence made it impossible to look away, and his indulgence toward her only deepened.
They headed back through the night. The entire lane leading to the palace was unlit and pitch-black, with only scattered starlight falling from the sky to faintly outline the path.
Neither spoke along the way. The atmosphere was quiet but not awkward, still holding the gentle warmth of their daytime picnic.
Shrike walked slowly beside her, escorting Li Xiang safely to the gate of her courtyard. Only after watching her open the gate and enter did he turn and head straight back to his own quarters.
Everything seemed to have ended peacefully, with no one noticing the danger lurking in the shadows.
Behind a tree farther in, dense branches and leaves concealed a figure entirely. Layer upon layer of shadows hid an eerie silhouette.
Thorn stood silently in the darkness, watching the entire scene as the two returned together.
His murky, narrow eyes squinted slightly, sinister darkness churning in their