Chapter Text
“I really wish you would just confess and leave me alone,” Jiang Cheng snapped, his voice raw.
Every inch of his body ached viciously—his muscles sore, his skin mottled with bruises and bite marks, some still sluggishly bleeding. He forced himself to sit up, wincing as he tried to stretch the stiffness from his limbs.
Lan Wangji said nothing, already seated by the window, his long fingers plucking a soft, healing melody on his guqin.
“No answer?” Jiang Cheng scoffed. “You know this is getting old, right? Look, I like getting fucked as much as the next guy, but whatever this is between you two is irritating. I don’t like being treated like an object.”
Lan Wangji’s fingers stilled. “You are not.”
“Not what?”
“An object.”
Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes. “Yeah, well, you both clearly have something going on. Just get together and leave me out of it!”
Lan Wangji sighed, as if Jiang Cheng were the one being unreasonable.
“Rest. You are tired,” he said simply.
Jiang Cheng glared, but exhaustion won out, and he slumped back onto the bed.
This was the last time.
He refused to be caught in their twisted game any longer.
Once Lan Wangji finally left, Jiang Cheng made his decision.
The Yiling Patriarch and Hanguang-Jun were hereby banned from Lotus Pier.
No more unwanted visits. No more midnight intrusions. No more being claimed and reclaimed like territory.
He ignored their letters. Refused their requests for an audience.
For the first time in years, Jiang Cheng had peace—and he would fight like hell to keep it.
—-
Jiang Cheng’s breath hitched as the heat surged through him, his body betraying him with every passing second. He clenched his fists, nails digging into his palms as he tried to steady himself. This can’t be happening, he thought, his mind racing. He’d cleaned the yao’s venom off, hadn’t he? But the fever was undeniable, spreading through him like wildfire, making his skin flush and his head spin.
He finally noticed a presence in the room.
Lan Wangji was there, standing in the corner of the room like a statue carved from ice. His golden eyes were unreadable, but Jiang Cheng could feel the weight of his gaze. It made his stomach twist in anger.
“Get out,” Jiang Cheng snarled, his voice trembling despite his best efforts. He hated how weak he sounded, how vulnerable.
Lan Wangji didn’t move. “You are in no state to be alone,” he said calmly, as if stating a simple fact.
“I don’t need your help,” Jiang Cheng shot back, his frustration boiling over. He swiped a hand through the air, as if he could physically shove Lan Wangji away. “I don’t need either of you!”
Lan Wangji’s expression didn’t change, but his scent—clean and sharp, like snow and sandalwood—intensified, filling the room. It made Jiang Cheng’s head spin even more, his body reacting against his will. He hated it. He hated them. But most of all, he hated how his body craved what they offered, even as his mind screamed in protest.
“You’re stubborn,” Lan Wangji said, stepping closer. His voice was low, almost a rumble. “But you cannot fight this.”
Jiang Cheng glared at him, his chest heaving. “Watch me.”
Lan Wangji was in front of him in an instant, his hand catching Jiang Cheng’s wrist before he could pull away. His grip was firm but not painful, his touch sending a jolt of electricity through Jiang Cheng’s body. “Do not be foolish,” Lan Wangji said, his voice soft but commanding. “Let me help you.”
Jiang Cheng’s breath caught as Lan Wangji leaned in, their faces impossibly close. He could feel the alpha’s warmth, the subtle tremor in his fingers that betrayed how much he was holding back. It made Jiang Cheng’s heart race, his resolve wavering.
“I don’t want—” Jiang Cheng started, but the words died in his throat as Lan Wangji’s lips brushed against his neck, sending a shiver down his spine. His body betrayed him again, a soft whine escaping before he could stop it.
“You do,” Lan Wangji murmured, his breath hot against Jiang Cheng’s skin. “You want this. You want me.”
“Oh, fuck you.”
But Jiang Cheng’s knees buckled, and Lan Wangji’s arm was around his waist in an instant, holding him up. He wanted to protest, to push him away, but his body was on fire, his instincts screaming for relief. Damnit, he thought, his resolve crumbling.
Lan Wangji’s lips found his, the kiss hard and demanding, leaving no room for argument. Jiang Cheng’s hands fisted in the alpha’s robes, pulling him closer even as his mind rebelled. He hated how easily Lan Wangji could reduce him to this, how quickly he could make him forget everything but the heat between them.
Lan Wangji’s hands were everywhere, stripping away layers of clothing with practiced ease. Jiang Cheng’s skin burned where he touched, his body arching into every caress.
He couldn’t stop himself from moaning when Lan Wangji’s mouth found his collar, teeth grazing the sensitive skin there.
“Lan Wangji—” Jiang Cheng gasped, his voice breaking.
“Let go,” Lan Wangji ordered, his voice deep and commanding. “Let me take care of you.”
“But I haven’t— Wei Wuxian hasn’t—”
“Doesn’t matter, not now.”
Jiang Cheng’s head fell back, his body trembling as Lan Wangji’s hands and mouth worked him into a frenzy. He wanted to fight it, to cling to his anger, but it was impossible. The heat was too much, the alpha’s control too absolute.
And then, just as Lan Wangji pinned him to the bed, the door flew open with a crash. Wei Wuxian stood there, his usual mischievous grin replaced by something darker, more possessive. His eyes flashed as he took in the scene, his scent—wild and untamed, like a storm—filling the room.
“Well, isn’t this cozy,” Wei Wuxian drawled, his voice edged with something dangerous. He stepped inside, his gaze locked on Jiang Cheng. “You didn’t think I’d miss this, did you?”
Jiang Cheng’s heart pounded, his body torn between the two alphas. “What the hell are you doing here?” he demanded, though his voice lacked its usual bite.
Wei Wuxian smirked, stepping closer. “Saving you from him,” he said, gesturing to Lan Wangji with a flick of his chin. “You don’t need his careful little hands. You need me.”
Lan Wangji’s gaze sharpened, his grip on Jiang Cheng tightening. He said nothing, his pulse quickening at seeing his love.
Jiang Cheng’s breath caught as Wei Wuxian joined them on the bed, his hands roaming freely. He tried to push him away, but his body betrayed him again, leaning into the touch. He was caught between them, their scents and their hands and their mouths overwhelming him.
“Please.” Jiang Cheng gasped
“Be a good boy,” Wei Wuxian said, his voice low and husky. He leaned in, his lips brushing against Jiang Cheng’s ear. “How can I resist you when you’re like this?”
Lan Wangji’s hands tightened on Jiang Cheng’s hips, digging his fingers into the soft flesh.
Wei Wuxian laughed again, the sound dark and teasing. “Don’t like that, Lan Zhan?” He asked
Jiang Cheng’s head spun as they battled over him, their hands and mouths claiming him in turns. He wanted to protest, to fight, but his body was on fire, his instincts screaming for release. He was caught between them, their dominance and their passion overwhelming him.
And then, as Wei Wuxian’s mouth found his, Lan Wangji’s teeth sank into the juncture of his neck, marking him. Jiang Cheng cried out, his body arching as the bond snapped into place.
Wei Wuxian wasn’t far behind, his teeth sinking into the other side of Jiang Cheng’s neck, completing the bond. The pain was sharp, but it was quickly drowned out by the overwhelming pleasure of the bond settling into place. Jiang Cheng’s body went limp, his mind surrendering to the two alphas who had claimed him.
“Mine,” Wei Wuxian growled, his voice a low rumble.
“Ours,” Lan Wanji corrected, his voice just as possessive.
Jiang Cheng’s breath hitched, his body trembling as the reality of what had just happened sank in. He was theirs. He’d always been theirs. And there was no going back now.