Yun Lintian's entire body trembled violently, his arms tightening around Long Qingxuan until his muscles ached.
A million years. A million years trapped in this prison, alone, with her memories twisted and stolen from her. His throat constricted, his vision blurring as a hot, suffocating pressure built behind his eyes.
"Qingxuan, I..." His voice broke, raw and shattered.
Long Qingxuan gently pressed her palm against his chest, right over his pounding heart. She could feel it—the storm of emotions raging inside him: guilt like a blade twisting in his ribs, grief like a wildfire scorching his lungs, fury like thunder cracking his bones apart.
She smiled softly, her fingers curling into his robes.
"It's alright," she whispered. "I'm here now. That's all that matters."
But Yun Lintian shook his head violently, his hands gripping her shoulders as if she might vanish. "No—it's not alright! A million years... a million years of suffering because I wasn't strong enough—"
