During the long, silent hours of his training, Wangchen had realized a fundamental truth.
Lin Ji'an was not a bird that could be caught by force. If he displayed his raw, suffocating jealousy, if he acted like the possessive monster he truly was, Ji'an would panic. He would run away, look at him with fear, just as he had in the bathing chamber.
And Wangchen refused to be feared by her.
If raw aggression made her flee, then he would simply eliminate the aggression.
He would become the perfect, calm, understanding companion. He would indulge her "sworn brother" fantasy.
He would listen to her, support her, and integrate himself so deeply into the fabric of her daily life that she wouldn't even realize what was happening.
He had changed his tactics. He was no longer the raging blizzard trying to freeze her in place.
