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He wasn’t human. Yu Wenzhou could see past the glamour, past the illusion to the golden eyes, pointed ears and undertone of green in the fae’s skin. He rubbed the tip of his finger against the protective charm around his wrist, mentally sending thanks to his teacher who insisted upon him wearing it. The fae tilted his head to the side, smile stretching his lips and Yu Wenzhou took note of the sharp teeth, burned the image in his mind, reminding him of the danger before him.
Wei Chen had tried to instil a sense of wariness around the fae, stressing that their games were designed for humans to lose. Yu Wenzhou pointed out that neither one of them was human and Wei Chen had cuffed him gently around the head for his cheek. His eyes, normally relaxed, carefree, were dark with warning as he spoke.
“Do not engage the fae Wenzhou, if you play with fire, you burn.”
Yu Wenzhou liked to play with fire. So when the fae smiled, he smiled back, eyes open and inviting as the stranger weaved through the crowd to lean against the bar table. His posture was languid, relaxed, as if nothing could touch him and Yu Wenzhou supposed, that if he truly was fae, then that was true.
“Am I welcome here?” Yu Wenzhou sensed the magic in the air, knew every word from the fae was laced with power, extracting binding promises if one was careless with their words. He merely inclined his head, not committing to an answer either way and the fae’s eyes narrowed briefly, sensing this may be harder than usual.
When Ye Xiu approached the bar and spotted the human with intelligent eyes, he’d wandered over the moment the other had smiled at him, intent on luring him back to his realm. The charm at his wrist only piqued his interest further, the prospect of a challenge causing a sly smile to creep across his face, the need to tempt the human into removing his protection near irresistible. His first words were laced with a promise.
A promise the human avoided by not speaking, merely inclining his head, a gesture Ye Xiu could interpret either way. The human became even more desirable, Ye Xiu grinned at his intelligence, enthralled with the want to pit it against his own. The chance, albeit slim, of being beaten at his own game had Ye Xiu’s full attention as he slid into his seat at the man’s table.
The game was beginning.
“Why are you here?” Yu Wenzhou’s first question was blunt, softened by his smile but Ye Xiu hid a grin as he realised how careful he’d have to be to avoid getting trapped. The fact that this human, initially a target solely due to his pretty face, was now a clear challenge, had Ye Xiu delighted.
“You looked very pretty and I wished to come closer.” Ye Xiu watched the bob of the human’s throat as he swallowed and waited for his response.
“Did I meet expectations?” Yu Wenzhou wondered if the fae would be dissuaded from pursuing him when it was clear that he harboured suspicions. To his surprise, the other seemed more interested than before.
“You far surpassed them.” Ye Xiu smiled, hoping to disarm the other, throw him off as he asked his next question. “What’s your name?” Yu Wenzhou had to smile at the blunt question, but he knew enough that he wouldn’t be revealing what the fae clearly desired. His Name would bind him to this fae, would bare too much of himself to be safe and his answer reflected his caution.
“Swoksaar,” Yu Wenzhou knew that many would tell the fae, you may call me, but in doing so, reveal that this was not their Name. By seemingly offering his Name freely, Yu Wenzhou felt a slight tug, a weak bond between them and he hoped it would be enough to fool the fae.
“It suits you,” Ye Xiu felt a bond settle in place and cursed the charm on the human’s wrist for the weakness of the connection, knowing that if he wanted to keep Swoksaar, even if it was only for a little while, he’d have to convince him to remove his bracelet.
“Do you have a name?” Yu Wenzhou kept his voice light, so as to not let the fae catch wind of his deception.
“My name is Ye Qiu.” Yu Wenzhou knew that this wasn’t his true Name and contended himself with finding that out soon enough. Unlike warlocks, fae could not lie. Bend the truth perhaps, hide behind veiled meanings but fae were bound by truth and Yu Wenzhou looked forward to luring the fae into his own trap.
“Will you be visiting long?”
“I don’t know how long I’ll be staying.”
“Why not?” Ye Xiu cursed Swoksaar’s blunt questioning, knowing that admitting his goal could backfire but having no choice as it would be a lie to say anything else.
“I don’t wish to leave until my goal is achieved.”
“What is your goal?” Yu Wenzhou wanted to hear Ye Qiu admit, out loud, his true purpose, not dance around the seduction as if he were a fool. He enjoyed the look of conflict on the fae’s face, knowing that he likely didn’t wish to reveal his goal.
“My goal is to seduce you,” there was more to it than that, Ye Xiu wished to seduce Swoksaar, that much was true, but he left out that he wanted the pretty human enthralled by him, lost in him, until Swoksaar was so wrapped up in him that he’d follow him home without a second thought.
“What if you’re unsuccessful?”
“I rarely lose.” Ye Xiu’s smile is full of teeth and he kept his gaze on Swoksaar, searching for any kind of trepidation in his eyes, and finding none. What he could see was wary excitement, as if Swoksaar knew that he was challenging a fae but instead of doing the intelligent thing, instead of backing down, the pretty human smiled at him, the smile clearly spelling out: your move.
Yu Wenzhou knew that if Wei Chen could see him now, he’d be yelling at him to leave before he got any more entangled in the fae’s game, to leave while he still had his Name, still had his life. He was aware that those who entered the fae realm did not leave of their own accord but Ye Qiu was so smug, so certain of his victory- Yu Wenzhou couldn’t help but be lured in.
He worried at the edge of his protective charm once more, keeping his eyes on the fae as he rubbed the iron charm with repelling chams engraved onto the metal, drawing Ye Qiu’s eyes to the bracelet. He knew he was taunting the fae, forcing him to acknowledge his lack of power over him. Yu Wenzhou also knew that he was likely appealing to the competitive streak he could sense in the fae and he smiled before he spoke.
“If you do lose, do I win a prize?” Ye Xiu mulled the human’s words over in his mind for a moment, the question not having a straight answer.
“Very well, if I lose then you win a prize.”
“Do you decide if you lose?”
“The other fae will judge.” Yu Wenzhou hesitated, wary of putting his fate in another pair of fae hands but certain enough that he wouldn’t lose.
“Do you swear to fulfil what I choose as my prize?”
“I promise.” Ye Xiu felt his magic bind around him, knowing that he would be forced to accept whatever terms the human laid out if he was bested. Fortunately, they’d never set out what the terms of him losing would be. If he got Swoksaar to follow him into the fae realm, he’d be hard pressed to argue that he’d won their wager. Ye Xiu was confident that he would not lose.
He slipped into the seat beside the human, pressing himself closely to him, enjoying the way he shuddered at the touch, pale throat bobbing as he swallowed. Ye Xiu smiled at Swoksaar, letting his glamour slip enough to reveal his golden eyes, expecting a reaction, at the very least a gasp. To his disappointment, Swoksaar merely tilted his head to the side, eyes knowing and Ye Xiu wondered if the human was fully aware of what he was or was merely wary.
Avoiding the iron charm was easy and Ye Xiu brushed a thumb beneath Swoksaar’s eyes, admiring the way his pretty blue eyes widened at the touch, Ye Xiu tilting his head to the side with a gentle brush of his fingertips, smiling as Swoksaar seemed to follow the touch. After a moment, Swoksaar’s eyes narrowed and he leant forward, words hushed, Ye Xiu straining to hear him.
“How long will you be around?”
“Until I grow bored.” Yu Wenzhou slid out of his seat, smiling as Ye Qiu’s fingers twitched, as if he wanted stop him from leaving but he remained still, waiting for his next words.
“Then I’ll have to keep your attention.” Ye Xiu narrowed his eyes as Swoksaar slipped into the throng of people, vanishing from his sight, the human’s last words playing over in his head. This one was certainly going to be a challenge, one Ye Xiu was ready to meet and conquer.
If Yu Wenzhou hoped to hide his meeting with a fae, he’d be sorely disappointed as he didn’t even get the opportunity to speak before Wei Chen was lecturing him, frustration lacing his features.
“All those lessons where I told you not to mess with the fae, no matter how pretty and shiny they may be, everything ends in loss there.”
“Lao Wei-“
“And not to mention, you may be intelligent, and you may have a sharp mind and quick words, but the fae steep themselves in word games, every promise they make is dripping in nuance, with loopholes and carefully hidden restrictions. Any human who plays their games will suffer.
“Lao Wei we’re not human.” Wei Chen, as he’d done all those years ago, despite Yu Wenzhou being fully grown, despite the fact that it had been nearly a decade since he’d been his apprentice, he still tried to cuff him around the head for his cheek. And as he’d done before, Yu Wenzhou dodged the blow with ease. Wei Chen had to turn back to his potion in order to hide the welling up of emotions that seeing his old student elicited in him.
“Didn’t Wang Jiexi win against the fae?”
“He was fortunate enough that the fae in question had a soft spot for him, it will not happen for you.” Yu Wenzhou hummed in agreement but he was already planning to pay Wang Jiexi a visit. He settled himself in a chair before he left, taking to opportunity to catch up with his mentor.
“Are you working on anything new?”
“Since I passed on my name to you, I’ve needed to re-establish my reputation, there have been a few curses popping up, jilted spouses, jealous ex-lovers, children messing with things they don’t understand, mostly curses these days.” Yu Wenzhou stood to peer over his mentor’s shoulder and pointed at one of the runes on the page.
“Shouldn’t this one have negated the effects?” Wei Chen stared at the page once more and felt a strange mix of pride and sorrow surge up in his chest when he realised Yu Wenzhou was right.
“Correct,” he scanned the page again and realised where he was going wrong and made a note for the counter-curse. He refused to look at his old student, keeping his eyes on the page and keeping his voice as steady as possible. “I always knew you’d surpass me.”
Yu Wenzhou found himself with a variety of emotions in his chest, unsure of what to say, thumbing at his bracelet once more, trying to find the right words.
“You taught me.” Wei Chen found himself pushing down on the well of mixed emotions his old apprentice’s words pulled out of him. He found the will to meet Yu Wenzhou’s eyes, glancing down at the bracelet around his wrist, comforting himself with the fact that his student should remain protected from the fae.
“Stay safe Wenzhou.” Yu Wenzhou blinked at the concern in his mentor’s eyes and he nodded before he left, making his promise.
“I will,” but Wei Chen couldn’t help but feel this would be that last time he’d see his old student. He nearly called him back, wanting to talk to him, wanting to ensure that he would stay away from the fae. But Yu Wenzhou was already gone and all Wei Chen could do was hope that he’d come back.
Wang Jiexi lived at the edge of the forest, a forest that everyone knew was teeming with the fae. Many suspected that the witch was mad for choosing to live so close to such a dangerous area, that the fae had enchanted him, that the fae had sway over his heart. They were nearly right. But they had it backwards. It wasn’t that the fae had captured Wang Jiexi’s heart. It was that he’d captured a fae’s heart.
Fang Shiqian was lounging on the sofa when Yu Wenzhou entered and he didn’t bother with a greeting, merely yelling for his husband until Wang Jiexi appeared, seemingly frazzled. He smiled when he saw Yu Wenzhou, gesturing for him to sit and pouring them both a cup of tea. Fang Shiqian came to drape himself over his husband’s back, like a protective housecat and he made no attempt to hide his teeth when he smiled at Yu Wenzhou.
The warning was clear, albeit unwarranted and unnecessary.
“What brings you here?” Wang Jiexi tried in vain to dislodge his husband but Fang Shiqian seemed resolute to stay where he was, content to show off his teeth to Yu Wenzhou.
“I may have had an encounter with the fae. I wondered how you won your wager with the fae.” Fang Shiqian scoffed from where his head was resting on his husband’s shoulder.
“He didn’t win, I liked him so I kept him.”
“It seems more like he kept you.” Fang Shiqian bristled at the implication but Wang Jiexi placed a warning hand on his arm, soothing his offence away.
“What do you hope to gain?” Yu Wenzhou mulled the question over in his head for a long moment, unsure of what he was aiming for, realising that he had no clear goal.
“I wish to win.” Fang Shiqian tilted his head to the side and his smile changed, showing no less teeth but there was a lack of the distinct threat that the fae was ready to rip his throat out. Yu Wenzhou was 90% sure that Wang Jiexi would stop his husband before it got to that point however.
“How do you plan to win?”
“I want his Name.” Wang Jiexi opened his mouth to speak, ready to try and convince his friend that this was a terrible idea but Fang Shiqian shot him a dangerous smirk before his lips were sealed shut and his husband ignored his glare.
“It isn’t easy to learn a fae’s true Name. And they could have found a loophole to give you a name that holds no power.”
“How did Jiexi know he had yours?” Fang Shiqian’s eyes went soft as he gazed at his husband, remembering how he’d fought the other fae to keep him.
“He could feel the shift in magic, I didn’t know his name, but he knew mine. He could sense that he had influence over me.”
“But you told Jiexi your name?”
“I did, I needed to be bound to him, to make my claim and he refused to relinquish his own name to anyone.” Wang Jiexi found that he could speak once more and he met Yu Wenzhou’s eyes firmly, concern clear.
“Why are you playing games with the fae?” Like Wei Chen, Wang Jiexi seemed convinced that Yu Wenzhou was going to lose and the warlock offered a reassuring smile.
“Knowledge.” Wang Jiexi sighed, if his friend was committed to learning more about the fae, then there was nothing that he could do to dissuade him.
“You shouldn’t tempt the fae,” Wang Jiexi felt a wave of relief when he heard his husband’s words but the impressed look on his face, and his next words changed his mind. “But if you want to play games with a fae, then I have some advice.” Wang Jiexi blanched at his husband.
“Shiqian-“ He was cut off by his husband shutting him up once more and he was helpless to do anything but glare.
“First, never give them your name. Second, don’t remove your bracelet. Third, don’t eat what they offer you. Fourth, don’t think you’ve won. Fifth, don’t let them kiss you.” Yu Wenzhou’s head snapped up at that, confusion flickering in his eyes but he didn’t want to ask. “It’s different for Jiexi and I, we’re bonded.” Yu Wenzhou hummed in understanding, burning the rules into his mind.
“Thank you for your guidance.” Fang Shiqian waved goodbye to the warlock, waiting until he was out of earshot before he allowed his husband to speak again. Wang Jiexi levelled a supremely unimpressed look at him and Fang Shiqian kept his smile on his face, refusing to be cowed.
“Why would you encourage him to play games with the fae?” Fang Shiqian hummed softly, mulling the question over in his head, searching for the answer that wouldn’t have him banished from their bedroom.
“If he’s set on challenging the fae and you cannot convince him otherwise, better for him to understand what not to do.” The fae was proud of himself for his answer, certain that he’d managed to avoid aggravating Wang Jiexi any further but his husband didn’t look convinced.
“What is the real reason?” Wang Jiexi’s voice was flat and unimpressed and Fang Shiqian cursed his inability to lie. He didn’t often want to lie but in cases like this, he thought it would come in handy.
“I want to see if Yu Wenzhou is as intelligent as he seems.” Wang Jiexi looked as if he would be content with kicking his husband out of the house and Fang Shiqian followed him into the kitchen, voice pitching into something that was definitely not a whine. “If he gets trapped I’ll go and get him back for you!”
“Wenzhou is not a runaway puppy, you cannot just encourage him to challenge the fae.”
“He would have done it with or without our help.” Fang Shiqian rested his head on his husband’s shoulder, arms wrapped around his waist. “As long as he isn’t going against Lord Grim he’ll be fine.”
Wang Jiexi held onto his anger for a few more moments before letting it bleed out of him to be replaced with worry and he leant into his husband’s embrace. All he could do was have faith in his friend and hope that he wasn’t challenging Lord Grim.
Yu Wenzhou didn’t know it, but he was in fact challenging Lord Grim. He smiled at Ye Qiu when they passed each other in the market and the fae attached himself to his side, returning his polite smile, though his teeth were too sharp to really sell the illusion.
“Where did you stay last night?” Ye Xiu grinned mentally at the blunt questions, glad the human was willing to keep playing their game, even if Swoksaar was going to lose.
“I returned home, it isn’t far.” Yu Wenzhou hummed at the answer, mulling over what he should ask next.
“Does everyone call you Ye Qiu?” Yu Wenzhou kept his polite smile but the look of shock on the fae’s face was gratifying, reassuring him that he had a chance of keeping his life by the end of their game.
“No.” Ye Xiu kept his answers short, aware that Swoksaar was likely aware that he wasn’t human, aware that he was fae and couldn’t lie. He kept his face smooth and calm however, certain that he could still win their unspoken wager.
“What do people who are close to you call you?” Ye Xiu wanted to curse, knowing that he’d have to relinquish his name to the pretty human. He didn’t give away his inner turmoil, certain that the human wouldn’t be able to sense the shift in power, even if one would take place.
“Ye Xiu.” Yu Wenzhou felt the shift in power between the two, the sense of a chain falling on the fae’s shoulders, binding Ye Xiu to him. He wanted to grin, certain of his victory, forgetting Fang Shiqian’s advice to not to think that he’d be victorious.
“Ye Xiu,” Swoksaar repeated the name softly and Ye Xiu repressed a shudder at the words falling from the human’s pretty lips and he knew he’d have to lure him into his realm soon, before he became aware of the power he now held.
“Will you come home with me?” Yu Wenzhou startled at the question, expecting the fae to be more subtle in his questioning and he pursed his lips slightly.
“May I get back to you tomorrow?” Ye Xiu hoped that the night wouldn’t be enough time for Swoksaar to learn how to sense power shifts between fae and humans but he had no choice but to acquiesce, no power to force the human to follow him.
He returned to his home, only to find Huang Shaotian lounging on his sofa, eyes half-lidded as he took in the distinct lack of a human beside his friend. Ye Xiu rolled his eyes as Huang Shaotian’s lips stretched into a smug smile and braced himself for the other fae to begin talking.
“Ah couldn’t you get your human to follow you home today either? If I have to judge the results of your wager, I have to say that between the two of you, the pretty human is doing far better than you, he still has his freedom-“ Huang Shaotian was cut off by a pillow colliding with his face.
“Tomorrow.” Ye Xiu’s tone was certain, “tomorrow you’ll judge the results.”
Yu Wenzhou met Ye Xiu at the edge of the forest and the fae motioned to the bracelet still encircling his wrist.
“You cannot wear that.” Yu Wenzhou heard Fang Shiqian’s voice in his head, warning him to keep his bracelet on and he had the words ringing in his mind as he slid the bracelet from his wrist.
Yu Wenzhou felt the air of the fae realm burn in his lungs, like an icy hand gripping his lungs, as if the air itself was warning him that he didn’t belong, that this was a gamble that may backfire horribly if he’d misjudged. He swallowed down his nerves, determined to meet his fate head on, keeping his smile even as another fae came bounding out of the trees.
“You need me to judge who won?” Yu Wenzhou met the other fae’s eyes, intrigued by the liveliness in his eyes, making them gleam, even in the low light of the forest. The fae stayed silent for a long moment before his eyes went wide and he began to laugh. He laughed and laughed for several long moments, doubled over, clutching at his stomach, looking near tears until Ye Xiu cut in.
“Who won?”
“He did!” The fae burst out around his laughter, eyes now bright with mirth and tears while Ye Xiu’s golden eyes went round with shock.
“How did he win?!”
“He knows your Name Ye Xiu! How could he not have won?” Yu Wenzhou took a moment to preen, glad that he’d managed to get the fae’s true name out of him.
“But I know his Name.”
“No, you don’t, see,” Huang Shaotian turned to face Yu Wenzhou, eyes piercing, “what name did you give Ye Xiu?”
“Swoksaar.” Ye Xiu strained to feel the shift in the magic, strained to feel the shift of power between the two and when it didn’t come, he realised he’d lost.
“What do you want as your prize?”
“To be able to come and go from the fae realm as I please. I wish to be able to study it.”
“You’d need to become a fae’s spouse to do that.” Ye Xiu offered a shrug casually crafted, “I could marry you if you wished.” Before Yu Wenzhou could say a word, Huang Shaotian cut in.
“Marry me.” Yu Wenzhou’s eyes went wide at the proposition but he was still speaking, “my Name is Huang Shaotian, you beat Ye Xiu at his favourite game, marry me.”
Yu Wenzhou tilted his head to the side as he mulled his options over in his head. He couldn’t help but sense a slight rivalry between the two, Ye Xiu’s eyes had narrowed when Huang Shaotian had asked for his hand and that, more than anything cemented Yu Wenzhou’s decision.
“I’ll marry you, Huang Shaotian.” The moment the words were spoken, Yu Wenzhou was tugged into Huang Shaotian’s arms and a warm pair of lips covered his own. The kiss was chaste and the two broke apart soon after but Yu Wenzhou could feel the change within him. He was married.
Yu Wenzhou glanced over at Ye Xiu, the other fae’s eyes were narrowed, clearly frustrated that his last bid to keep him had failed, Yu Wenzhou winning their wager in every way that counted. He glanced at Huang Shaotian, at his husband and noted the soft look in his eyes, similar to how Fang Shiqian looked at Wang Jiexi and he smiled, small but warm, enjoying the way Huang Shaotian lit up.
Yu Wenzhou hummed to himself, satisfied with his choices. He could fall in love with Huang Shaotian he thought and he now had access to a new world of knowledge. And he’d only broken three of Fang Shiqian’s rules. Yu Wenzhou would be remembered as the one who’d challenged Ye Xiu, renowned for his skill and ability to trap humans, and won. Even now, with his marriage to Huang Shaotian, Yu Wenzhou still had the upper hand, the fae not knowing his Name despite Huang Shaotian offering his own, likely an attempt to reassure him.
Huang Shaotian was content with how his day had gone. Swoksaar was not only pretty, but he was intelligent enough to play one of Ye Xiu’s games and win, seeing through the other fae’s ploys with ease. Though he didn’t know the human’s name, he had an eternity to have his husband fall in love with him and reveal it himself. Huang Shaotian grinned up at his new husband, they’d both triumphed over Ye Xiu that day.