My Celestial Ascension Chapter 928: Feelings

From the hallway, the moon shone brightly while Yuan trailed after Isolde, her steps resounding gently through the quiet as she glided with effortless poise.

He found it impossible not to admire her refined silhouette—the subtle curve of her hips, the assured rhythm of her gait, the subtle dominance in each motion. She held him spellbound, her allure nearly mesmerizing.

'I must confess...this vampire possesses genuine beauty...Could a human and a vampire ever truly share the same road...?' Yuan mused, a touch entranced as he kept following her.

Isolde led him to the balcony atop the castle—her personal sanctuary—offering a stunning panorama of the lake and far-off peaks glowing beneath the moon's glow.

She secured the door silently to prevent any eavesdroppers from catching their words or barging in during their talk.

'Take a seat, please.' With a subtle smile, she invited him, even as her pulse thundered inside her.

Spotting the anxiety in her gaze, Yuan gave a soft nod and eased into the seat.

Taking the spot across from him, she met his eyes squarely. A soft red tint spread over her face as she fumbled for the proper phrases.

Bonding with a man had never crossed her mind. Love felt alien to her—an unknown territory she'd never trained to navigate.

Picking up on her reluctance, Yuan chose to lighten the mood.

'Lady Isolde, what weighs on your mind? Share it openly—I won't criticize,' Yuan offered with a kind smile, his voice steady and comforting.

'Just Isolde will do. Skip the titles,' she responded gently, her tone blending affection with doubt.

Letting out a hushed breath, she went on, 'Regarding bringing you here...I'm not sure how to start. All these feelings inside me are so new...bewildering.'

'What kind of bewilderment? Be straightforward, Isolde. I might assist in making sense of it,' Yuan urged, observing the shy flush on her features.

Mustering her resolve, Isolde drew in a deep breath and raised her eyes to lock with his.

'Initially, I thought power defined everything. My goal was escaping this land, shattering the sacred seat of those false deities myself.'

'Yet seeing you in the throne room changed that. Your aura disturbed me deeply. It awakened an emotion in my soul—something I'd dismissed as frailty throughout my existence.'

Yuan stayed quiet, absorbing her words closely, his gaze fixed on her expression.

'In you, I detected an immense power—beyond anything I could grasp. That's why I tested you. I needed confirmation that my senses weren't misleading me.'

After a brief halt, she added more tenderly, 'Losing to you showed me I might have chased the incorrect goal. Maybe raw power isn't the whole story.'

'It seems like you've developed feelings for me, Isolde,' Yuan remarked casually, a teasing grin playing on his mouth. 'Am I right? Have you?'

'I-I'm not sure...' she confessed, her blush intensifying. 'My pulse quickens whenever I see you. I'm pulled toward you inexplicably. Nothing like this has ever happened to me...'

'She's unexpectedly charming when bashful,' Yuan reflected with quiet humor as he stood slowly and approached her.

'Is this not affection?' he inquired softly, holding her stare with serene focus instead of playful daring.

'I-I really don't know...' she murmured, averting her eyes quickly as her complexion deepened to scarlet.

Employing Qi Manifestation, he turned her chair to face him directly, bringing their features mere inches away.

His warm exhale brushed her skin, and his subtle aroma overwhelmed her awareness. Her heartbeat raced furiously within her, more intense than before.

'H-He's even more striking this near...What's wrong with me? Why does my skin feel so hot?' she pondered, gazing into his eyes with a lost look.

A slight smile curved Yuan's lips as he tenderly held her face and murmured, 'Gaze into my eyes and say you feel nothing for me. If you do, I'll pull away at once.'

'I-I...I do like you...' she breathed back, her words shaky as her face flushed bright red.

'This is mortifying...I've never uttered words like these to anyone, and now to a near stranger...how bold of me...' she lamented silently, embarrassed by her audacity.

Yuan's features lit up with a broad smile upon her admission. For an instant, he yearned to kiss her right then.

Yet he held back. There was no rush. Certain instants deserved to be relished.

'So, you like me? Well, I feel the same about you,' he whispered, using Qi Manifestation to lift her delicately from the chair.

Isolde's eyes grew large as she hovered unexpectedly. Before she could react, Yuan drew her against him.

Surprise kept her eyes wide upon feeling herself in his hold. Without thinking, her slim arms encircled his neck.

'Isolde...would you stay with me?' Yuan queried, peering into her eyes. His words flowed softly, like a soothing tune that touched her core.

'I-I would...' she agreed bashfully, nodding as her face heated with her candid revelation.

'She's a far cry from the icy fighter in the arena...' Yuan grinned to himself.

'Remember, I have several women with me already. Does that truly not bother you? Could you embrace that side of my life?' he pressed sincerely, revealing all.

'It doesn't bother me,' she answered quietly. 'I'm aware of them. Hiding it from me, though, would have crushed me.'

'Really now?' Yuan leaned in nearer, their mouths nearly touching.

Isolde held his gaze steadily before giving a soft nod.

'Unsure if I'll endure the upcoming conflict...Maybe I should seize what my heart craves while I can,' she reflected inwardly.

Summoning shaky bravery, she bridged the gap and lightly touched her lips to his.

Yuan encircled her midsection and drew her near. Though her skin felt chilled, the encounter carried an odd warmth and solace.

'His heat...his hold...why is it so instinctive?' Isolde mused as everything else faded into slowness.

A primal urge rose inside her—a vampire's nature—but she pushed it down, unwilling to end the intimacy. She longed to stay connected.

'Why does this seem so perfect...like the clock has stopped solely for our moment?' she marveled, her pulse surging wildly.

Never had she been so intimate with a male, but Yuan's arms brought an uncanny comfort—secure, almost.

Their kiss grew a bit more profound, and Yuan sensed the light graze of her pointed fangs. It was odd, yet milder than Emma's toxic nip.