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Caelus whimpered when cold scales grazed the skin on his stomach. “Dan Heng, it’s cold.”
“Sorry.” That’s what Dan Heng said, but he didn’t pull away his tail, snugly wrapping it around his waist and stomach.
Caelus could feel Dan Heng's lips kissing his neck and shoulder, sending shivers all over his body. He pulled at Dan Heng's long obsidian hair in frustration. “Are you sure you’re only absorbing my magic?”
“I am. Don’t you feel your magic depleting at steady rate?” He could feel the smile on Dan Heng's lips through his skin.
It’s true, his magic was being absorbed by Dan Heng. It’s a slow and steady progress, but it did felt good to not feel so charged up from his own magic. As a Stellaron children, his body was like a factory of magic. His core produced so much magic everyday that normal lifestyle wouldn’t be able to deplete even a quarter of it. He had suffered through his childhood, pain wracking his body as magic accumulated so much it felt like he would explode at any time.
His village tried their best to spend his magic, but it’s just a small seaside village. They couldn’t do much. So they did what they thought was best: giving Caelus to the dragon that lived in the sea. The dragon accepted Caelus and blessed the village with bountiful catch for the next ten years.
As for Caelus himself, he no longer lived in pain since Dan Heng ‘eat' his magic daily, but…
“I miss the days when you take my magic just by holding hands.” Caelus petulantly sulked, sitting on Dan Heng's lap. The dragon was floating in the air just above the surface of the sea, keeping watch of his territory while snacking on Caelus’ magic. It’s normal for Dan Heng to do this, but it’s rare for Dan Heng to do it at night. The cold winds of night would feel cold normally, but he’s wrapped from head to toes in Dan Heng's magic that kept him warm.
“That’s because you’re still too young.” Dan Heng wrapped his arms around Caelus’ arms, above his own tail. “Before, your core wasn't as developed. It only takes three hours of hand holding to deplete all of your mana. If we do that method now, even after the sun rises again the next day you will still be barely half empty.”
Body contact was the easiest and painless way to transfer mana. So Dan Heng wasn’t lying. But still!
“Then stop groping me out here! Don’t you dare to use the excuse of ‘it’s night so no one will be able to see anyway', hello mr. Dragon, I know you mythical creatures laugh at darkness.” Caelus swatted the naughty furred tip of the tail that started to slither up inside his clothes. “No! Bad dragon!”
Dan Heng leaned his head to Caelus’ shoulder so he couldn’t see, but he could feel the trembling of his lover's chest on his back. “Don’t laugh at me or you will sleep outside!”
Dan Heng smiled and kissed Caelus’ cheek. “To think there’s a human that dared to banish a dragon from their own lair…” Dan Heng's lips then trailed to his ear and he whispered, his voice tinged with hunger and amusement both. “How adorable.”
Caelus blushed, leaning his head away. “More than that, why are you taking me out so late in the night? I can’t see anything, you know that.”
“I know. Wait a bit more, my treasure.” Dan Heng patted Caelus' head. “She should come soon.”
“She?” Caelus looked at Dan Heng in confusion. Did someone would come so late? Sometimes there were guests and even some that Caelus had befriended like March and Sushang who would come to visit, but Dan Heng usually would tell him days in advance.
Dan Heng's ear twitched, hearing something that Caelus' human ear couldn’t catch. He turned his head, looking to the distance. “Oh, there she is.”
At first, Caelus couldn’t see it. But as time passed, he saw something glowing in the distance. His eyes widened when he saw a flock of birds, glowing the prettiest cerulean color he had ever seen, flew just above the sea water. He saw a woman with long wavy chocolate hair wearing long and beautiful flowing red robes standing on top of the flock of birds. In her hand was a glowing lantern, it’s light warm and comforting.
The flock of birds flew towards them. Caelus was worried that they would crash into them, but the birds stopped near the two of them. The beautiful woman bowed to the two of them, not saying anything of the way Caelus was sitting on Dan Heng's lap. It wasn’t the first time Dan Heng accepted a guest with Caelus seated on his lap, but Caelus still couldn’t get used to the embarrassment. He didn’t understand why Dan Heng liked to do it, maybe it’s the same as how a human would show off their lap dog?
The thought of being treated like a pet by his beloved stung his heart. He leaned back to Dan Heng’s chest instead, his hands clinging to Dan Heng's tail around his stomach. The tail tightened a bit, the furred tip tapped his side in reassurance. Oh good, it’s someone nice, he could relax a bit. If it’s someone hostile, Dan Heng’s tail would be loose instead. So Caelus could run if a fight broke out and get into safety.
“Greetings, the King of the Luofu Sea.” The woman's voice was as clear and melodious as a bell. “I seek your aid this year as well.”
“Granted.” Dan Heng nodded, his voice regal and cold, unlike how he was with Caelus just a few moments ago. It made butterfly fluttered in his stomach to know Dan Heng was so open with him compared with others. Oh, but why did he have to be on guard against a weak human? “Pay your price.”
“As your Majesty wish, I bring the item.” A small bird, looking so adorably plump, took a small wrapped up box from the lady’s hand and flew to Dan Heng. Dan Heng let go of his hug, letting the bird dropped the small box carefully on his hand before flying back to its master.
Dan Heng opened the beautifully wrapped box and on the inside were a pair of pearl necklaces. It was the most beautiful pearls he had ever seen in his life. Unlike most pearls he had gathered with March, his mermaid friend, these were gold colored pearls and shaped like water drops. Beautifully crafted jade dragon encircled the pearl, like a true dragon protecting their treasure. Gold and jade interwoven into chain hold the pendant.
“It’s satisfactory.” Dan Heng closed the box and gave it to Caelus to hold. Caelus held the box tightly, trying to hold back the intrusive thought of chucking them away as far as he could. “You may pass.”
“My deepest gratitude to your Majesty.” The woman bowed once again. “May your Majesty be blessed with happiness from his union.”
Union? But before Caelus could wonder more, an ivory and obsidian ball appeared above Dan Heng's hand. Awakened under the silent command of it's king, the sea roared and trembles underneath them. Caelus covered his face from the spray of seawater, watching in awe as the sea raised to the sky like a towering wall of water. Then to his surprise, the wall of water poured down, creating a huge tunnel of water. The seawater continued to cycle, the unnatural phenomenon made alive thanks to Dan Heng’s magic.
Caelus felt more of his magic was being drained through Dan Heng's tail on his stomach. It’s normal, since moving this huge amount of water would required a huge amount of magic too. But even that much only made his reserve went barely less than half empty.
‘Guess I will have to sit on Dan Heng’s lap longer then.’ As long as they’re alone, he didn’t mind. Dan Heng’s lap was comfortable. He liked being spoiled by Dan Heng too, because Dan Heng liked to hug him and patted his head whenever he sat on his lap.
The woman bowed again at Dan Heng before she commanded the birds to fly to the tunnel. Caelus watched as the flock of bird and the woman entered the tunnel, the light from the glow from the flocks of birds and the lantern in the woman’s hand reflected on the wall of water, creating a stunning sight that made Caelus wished he could do March's magical photography. He's sure his friend would appreciate the photo, and having something to hold by as the souvenir of their date would be nice too. Dan Heng would probably forget this night soon, the memory insignificant compared to more majestic and enchanting sights he had seen in his long life. But for Caelus, this night would be a memory that he wanted to remember until the end of his life.
On the other end of the tunnel, a portal appeared. A man, wearing humble clothes and riding a bull, was waiting on the other side of the portal. The woman let out a cry of happiness seeing the man. Without hesitation, she jumped inside the portal, caught within the man's arms. The birds flew all around them, chirping cheerfully. Caelus felt envious, seeing the obvious joy from the pair of lovers. But more than his envy, he's happy for them too. He knew the joy of reunion after a long time of separation.
The portal closed, and with it, the tunnel of water also collapsed with a loud crash. Caelus watched as the sea returned back to its slumber, calming down without more command from its king.
“Who are they?” Caelus asked, curiosity finally couldn’t be held back any longer now they’re alone again.
“The princess of the sky kingdom. She fell in love with a human farmer, but her father didn’t agree to their marriage and killed the man, trapping his soul under the sea for eternity. The princess cried for a hundred years, secluding herself in her castle. Feeling bad, her father finally let the princess to be reunited with the man's soul once a year. Since the sea is my territory, the princess had to pay for me to open the portal to where the man's soul is sealed.”
Seeing the disbelief on Caelus’ face, Dan Heng smiled and patted his head. “Don’t look at me like that. I had already agreed to let her pass without paying, but she’s a petty woman and everything she used to pay me is straight from her father’s treasury. She had already given me legendary magical items, miraculous elixirs, and priceless artifacts. I'm sure his Majesty is having the worst migraine ever.”
“Oh.” He could agree with that. If he could, he wanted to give the princess a high five. “So what’s the treasure this time?”
“Most people would think that these were trash compared to the sky kingdom's treasury, but I want this.” Dan Heng opened the box again and took one of the necklace. The necklace glowed beautifully under the moonlight and the glow from Dan Heng's horns. “This is for you.”
“Eh.” Caelus squeaked in surprise. Dan Heng had given him many things, but a gift from other royal? His heart beat loudly in his chest, already panicking what he should do with this priceless item. “What-“
“It’s a life sharing necklace. When you’re wearing this necklace, I will share my life force with you. As long as I'm alive, you too will stay alive.” Dan Heng frowned. “But if I die, so will you. That’s the only thing I dislike from this necklace.”
Caelus gasped. Sharing a life with a dragon? A dragon, who could live for thousands of years and reincarnated if they did die? He had thought that he's just a fling, a beloved pet that Dan Heng wouldn’t even spend enough time with to get tired of. When Dan Heng had confessed to him after he turned twenty, Caelus didn’t even dare to hope that it would last. Dan Heng had already gotten a lot of bad rumors for taking care of a human, who most habitants of the sea thought nothing more than food. His existence as a Stellaron children had made him think Dan Heng wanted his magic, but why went to that length when Caelus couldn’t live for one week without Dan Heng?
But this. This was the proof that Dan Heng wanted him more than just a fleeting relationship, right?
“I love you, my treasure.” Dan Heng's finger tilted Caelus' chin up, golden eyes and jade eyes meeting. One filled with hesitant hope, while the other filled with love and desire both. “A dragon doesn’t love easily, I told you so before. I will share my kingdom, my lair, and my life with you. Do you accept, Caelus?”
Caelus let out a sob, before he practically tackled the dragon with a hug. Dan Heng's eyes widened, surprised from the sudden hug. His concentration broken, the two of them fall into the sea.
Caelus flinched and shuddered when his body hit the freezing water. He clung hard to Dan Heng, hugging him tightly as he held his breath. Dan Heng’s face came closer to his, his long obsidian hair flowing around them in the water like a net.
Dan Heng had always been beautiful. But within the water, with the light of the moon showering him from the above, Caelus' breath was taken away. The human’s hands let go of the hug to cup his cheeks instead. His hands were warm against the dragon's colder skin. Caelus mouthed three words that he previously was so afraid to say, afraid to hope for more. Dan Heng's jade eyes' pupils shrunk into serpentine slits. His lips were so close to Caelus’, but he stopped there. It’s Dan Heng's way to ask for permission.
Caelus' heart fluttered and he closed his eyes, leaning forward and pressed their lips together. Warmth spread from the thin skin on his lips, spreading all over his body as Dan Heng's magic protected him from the cold. Serpent tongue licked his lips and Caelus obediently opened his lips, his moans muffled by the water and Dan Heng’s own lips. A breath of life was blown into his mouth, filling his lungs with air.
Long, narrow tongue wrapped around his, licking deep inside his mouth. Caelus could feel his body warming up, his hands clinging to Dan Heng’s shoulders. Dan Heng keep kissing him, deeply, passionately, making Caelus melted and whined as they both drowned deeper and deeper under the sea.
Caelus wanted to share many more memories with Dan Heng. He wanted to share a life with him, to understand Dan Heng more, seeing things from the perspective of long lived species. He wanted to love Dan Heng, and to be loved.
Dan Heng’s kisses and touches conveyed of the same desire, the same love. They were a human and a dragon, yet fate had brought them together and they refused to be separated ever again.
Even if Caelus lost his Stellaron.
Even if Caelus could no longer provide mana to Dan Heng.
Even if Dan Heng lost his crown.
Even if Dan Heng become a human.
They would still choose each other. Their hearts beating as one. A bond stronger than magic, and just as eternal as myth.
The next morning, the Luofu sea's habitant were all in uproar. Their King had taken a human as his Queen. March was so, so happy that she took a lot of pictures of the wedding. In the picture, Dan Heng and Caelus were both smiling, leaning their foreheads together. On both of their necks, were the golden pearl necklaces.