And then there was Fang Yan.
He was her shadow. He was the sword to her shield. He was tall, silent, and fiercely protective. Sometimes, when the campfire burned low and the silhouettes of the ruins looked like the wings of a griffin, Ruoxi would find herself staring at Fang Yan's profile.
He is so steady, she would think, her mind drifting back to Xing Li Wei. He stands just like him.
But the memories of her husband were starting to feel like a dream. Had there really been a shy griffin boy who followed her? Had she really felt the warmth of his golden feathers? Or was that just a story she told herself to survive the cold?
One night, as they looked out over a newly purified valley, Fang Yan stepped closer. He did not touch her, but his presence was a heavy, warm weight.
"The people are talking, My Lady," he said quietly. "They say the Queen has finally found her King."
Ruoxi did not turn. Her rabbit ears twitched with a bittersweet sorrow. "And what do you say, Fang Yan?"
