Chapter 4: The Forbidden Meeting

Lily's heart raced with determination as she slipped out of the palace under the cover of night. The city of Lewish was quiet, with only the distant hum of the river and the occasional sound of a night bird breaking the stillness. It was as though the world itself was holding its breath.

The Emperor's warning still echoed in her ears: "You will never sneak out of the palace again." But Lily had made a decision. After the strange power surge earlier, she knew she had to find answers. She had to learn more about the mysterious connection between her and Ao Bing. If she stayed within the palace walls, she would never understand the truth.

Her mind was set. She would find Ao Bing.

The night air was cool as she crept through the quiet streets of Lewish, the lanterns hanging on the buildings casting soft pools of light on the cobblestones. She couldn't go to the beach—the guards would surely patrol that area. Instead, she headed toward the forest on the outskirts of town, the place where she and Ao Bing had shared their first meeting. Her heart swelled at the thought of him.

She could feel the familiar warmth in her chest again, almost as though her power was guiding her, pulling her toward something—toward him.

Lily had no idea where he was, but she felt a strange pull toward the heart of the forest. The trees loomed like silent sentinels, their branches twisting above her like old, gnarled fingers. The deeper she walked, the thicker the air became, as if the forest itself were holding its breath.

Suddenly, she spotted something—faint movement between the trees. Lily's pulse quickened. She stepped closer, her heart thudding in her chest, until she saw him. Ao Bing stood at the edge of a clearing, his figure bathed in moonlight, his blue scales gleaming faintly under the pale glow. His horns, usually hidden beneath his hair, were now visible, gleaming like delicate ivory. He turned toward her, his face lighting up with surprise and relief.

"Lily," he said softly, his voice a mix of relief and concern. "What are you doing here?"

Lily's heart leapt at the sight of him, the connection between them more tangible than ever. "I had to find you," she said, her voice low but full of conviction. "Something strange happened tonight—something inside me. I can feel it. This power, I can't control it. I thought... maybe you would understand."

Ao Bing's eyes softened as he stepped closer, sensing the sincerity in her words. "You're not the only one," he said. "I've been feeling it too. It's as though our powers are... connected."

Lily frowned, feeling a chill run through her. "But why? Why now?"

Ao Bing looked down at the ground, a shadow passing over his face. "I think it's because of us. Because of what we are."

Lily's eyes widened in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Ao Bing took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. "I was born with the blood of a dragon, yes. But... I've always felt different. My powers are connected to the water, not the fire like the other dragons. And you—" He paused, his gaze meeting hers. "You are the Emperor's daughter. But I think there's more to you than that. I think your powers are tied to mine. You may not realize it yet, but you and I are bound by something much deeper than either of us understand."

Lily stood frozen, her mind racing. Connected? Her chest tightened as she remembered the strange warmth she had felt earlier. The power that surged inside her. Could it really be because of Ao Bing?

Before she could speak, Ao Bing continued, his voice barely above a whisper. "We can't keep meeting like this. It's too dangerous. The Emperor will never understand. You and I—our powers are too much for this world to accept. They will come for us. The gods... the dragons... they won't let us be free."

Lily's heart sank. "I don't care about the gods or the dragons. I care about what I feel inside. I want to understand it. I want to understand us."

Ao Bing looked conflicted, his face torn between his desire to protect her and his own fears. "I want to help you, Lily. I truly do. But I don't know if we can fight what's coming."

The conversation hung in the air between them, thick with unspoken fears and a deep, unbreakable bond. But just as Lily opened her mouth to say something, a voice broke through the fragile moment.

"Lily!"

The sharp command made both of them freeze in place. A figure emerged from the shadows—The Emperor.

Lily's heart skipped a beat as her father stepped forward, his robe flowing behind him like a storm cloud. His face was filled with fury, his eyes dark with a mix of anger and disappointment.

"I warned you," the Emperor growled, his gaze narrowing on Ao Bing. "I told you what would happen if you defied me."

Lily stood her ground, her body tense. "Father, please," she said, her voice trembling with emotion. "You don't understand. Ao Bing isn't a monster. He's not what you think."

The Emperor's eyes flicked between Lily and Ao Bing. His expression was one of cold calculation. "You don't know what you're dealing with, Lily. He's a dragon. And the moment you align yourself with him, you make yourself a target."

Ao Bing's eyes flared with a mix of fear and defiance, but before he could speak, the Emperor raised his hand. "I've given you many chances, my daughter," he said softly, dangerously. "But this... this is where it ends. You will return with me. Now."

Lily's heart raced, her mind whirling. She couldn't let it end here—not like this. She couldn't go back.

Her thoughts were frantic as she stepped forward, her gaze locked with her father's. "I won't go back with you," she said, her voice strong despite the fear coiling in her chest. "I need to understand why I feel this way, why I'm connected to Ao Bing. You have to trust me."

The Emperor's gaze darkened, his voice cold as ice. "I trust you, Lily. But you must understand this—you are my daughter. And I will not allow you to walk this path, no matter how much you fight me."

Lily's eyes glistened with tears, but she refused to back down. "Please, Father, don't you see? There's something inside me, something that calls to him. You don't know what it's like to feel this way. Please... let me learn. Let me figure it out."

For a moment, the Emperor seemed to soften, his fierce exterior cracking just slightly as he glanced at Lily. But then, his expression hardened once more. "No. Your safety is my responsibility, Lily. And I will not let you put yourself in danger."

Ao Bing stepped forward, his voice shaky but firm. "If you try to take her, I'll stop you."

Lily's breath caught. It was the first time Ao Bing had shown such defiance. The Emperor's eyes flicked to him, but there was no fear in his gaze—only anger. The moment hung in the balance.

The Emperor's voice was low, but it carried an undeniable weight. "Then we will see whose strength is greater."

But before the situation could escalate further, the ground beneath them seemed to shift. The wind howled through the trees, and Lily's heart thudded in her chest. Her hands glowed faintly with golden light, an instinctual reaction to the rising tension. The world around them seemed to pause—like the calm before a storm.

Lily stood between Ao Bing and her father, a realization settling deep within her heart. No matter what, this was just the beginning. Her powers, her bond with Ao Bing, her father's control over her—everything was changing. And she could feel it in the pit of her stomach: there would be no turning back.