But her hand on his… he let himself hold onto that.
Just for the night.
Chapter 61
Poppy woke slowly, warmth and pine-scented air pulling her back from the edges of sleep. Mingxi’s cloak was still wrapped around her—soft, heavy, smelling faintly of cedar and foxfire. She blinked up at the morning light filtering through the pines, letting herself breathe. No nightmares. No revenants. Only the quiet pulse of a forest waking.
She stretched—and froze.
Mingxi stood at the stream’s edge, shirtless, rinsing his blade. Sunlight slid over the lean lines of his shoulders and back. But when he lifted the blade to dry it, his muscles tensed just enough for her to see it—the wince.
Poppy’s stomach dropped. His left shoulder and upper back were torn with four deep claw marks—angry, red, and clearly painful. He hadn’t said a word.
She rose without thinking. “Mingxi,” she called.
He stilled, though he didn’t appear startled or alarmed, and then turned, eyes steady. “You’re awake.”
“You’re hurt,” she breathed.
He glanced over his shoulder, almost dismissive. “It looks worse than it is.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“It will heal quickly.”
“That’s also not an answer.”
He gave a small, rueful exhale. When she stepped closer, the tension in his shoulders eased.
“Let me see,” she murmured.
He shifted so sunlight fell on the wounds. They were deep, fresh, and still inflamed. Poppy drew in a shaky breath.
“You should have told me.”
“It would only have worried you.”
“I am worried.”
His gaze lifted, something unguarded flickering through the gold.
He hesitated, but then spoke softly, “I didn’t want you to worry about me. You needed to rest more.”
The words hit her harder than she expected—gentle, sincere, almost tender in their simplicity. Poppy touched the uninjured skin beside the wound, fingertips grazing lightly, and Mingxi inhaled sharply.
“Does it hurt?” she whispered.
“Yes,” he said honestly. “But not dangerously.”
“It still matters.”
For a moment they stood together in the hush of morning, her hand felt warm from his skin, something very old and very new stretching between them. Finally, Poppy drew a steadying breath.
“What… do we do next?”
Mingxi stepped back. “We need to get you control over your magic,” he said quietly. He took a small pause but then seemed to reach a decision. “I… have an idea, if you want to try.”
She nodded. “Show me.”
