"Wuhen." Rong Yue's voice cut softly through the heavy air from the doorway.
The nine-tailed fox lifted his head, Ningyan still held securely in his arms.
His head rested against Wuhen's shoulder, his face deceptively peaceful despite the faint, dark veins still crawling beneath his skin.
Rong Yue's gaze fell onto Ningyan before rising to meet Wuhen's eyes. "What did you do?"
Wuhen's fox ears twitched. "Do not judge me." His voice was quiet, but there was nothing apologetic about his tone.
He carried Ningyan over to the bed and lowered him carefully onto the soft mattress, drawing the heavy silk blankets tenderly over his chest.
"You are the one being far too gentle with him," Wuhen continued, smoothing a stray lock of white hair from Ningyan's forehead. "He is supposed to go to the Azure Dragon Clan. Instead, we are allowing him to linger here in Earth City while the corruption devours him from within."
