Unrestrained Heart

Chapter 2

When Lan Wangji trusts himself enough to leave his house and not to hunt down Wei Wuxian, he goes to find his brother. Lan Xichen is the only one who can help him now.

"Enter," his brother says when Lan Wangji knocks gently on his door. His brother is in the middle of his nighttime meditation which is part of his bedtime routine. Normally Lan Wangji would never interrupt him, but this is an emergency. He doesn't even trust himself to wait until morning.

Lan Xichen must read something on his face because he says, "Lan Zhan, what's wrong?"

Lan Wangji repeats the same words to his brother as he had himself, "I lost control." Lan Xichen will understand what it means.

"Who?" Then he answers his own question, "It's young lord Wei isn't it?"

Lan Wangji isn't surprised that his brother knows, he's always been one of the few people who can read him.

Lan Wangji keeps what composure he still has and resists the urge to bury his head in his hands. "All I can think about right now is going to the dormitories and dragging him out, even if I have to," he pauses, picking his words carefully, "hurt anyone that tries to stop me."

Lan Xichen nods in sympathy, "Sit, I will play the Tranquility melody for you." It's a melody they are both familiar with. They have often had to play it for their father. A feral alpha who has found their mate has some semblance of control, even if it's easily snapped. A feral alpha whose mate has died or been taken from them in some other permanent way loses all reason. The official story is that their father is in seclusion, but they both know the truth.

Lan Wangji feels the calm wash over him as his brother plays the tune and backs it with his spiritual energy.

"You'll need to come at least once a day for me to play for you." Lan Xichen says. "What are you planning to do?"

Lan Wangji looks at his brother helplessly, "Court him?" It comes out as a question.

To his credit, Lan Xichen almost manages to hide his amusement at this.

"I will try to distract uncle as much as possible, he won't be happy with your choice of mates." Lan Xichen says.

Lan Wangji considers this, his brother is right. His uncle won't be happy at all.

Wei Wuxian's heart is still pounding when he reaches the dormitories. The other students are just beginning to get ready for bed and they look at him in surprise when he bursts in.

"What's happened?" Nie Huaisang asks.

'What have you done now?" Jiang Cheng says at almost the same time.

Wei Wuxian doesn't know how to answer their questions. What is he supposed to say that he was scared for a minute that Lan Wangji was going to make a meal out of him? That part of him wanted him to very much?

Instead he gives them both a brilliant smile and says, "I just decided to check out Lan Wangji's rooms out of curiosity. See what sort of erotica he hides on his bookshelf that sort of thing. Only he came back early and caught me."

"What happened when he caught you?" One of the other students asks.

"He told me to get out, so I got out." Wei Wuxian says. That part was true enough.

"You are so shameless," Nie Huaisang says with admiration.

"Don't expect me to carry you around if they call you to the discipline yard and whip you." Jiang Cheng says. "You are on your own."

Wei Wuxian puts an arm around his shoulder and says, "You know you would." Jiang Cheng shakes him off looking irritated. This doesn't bother Wei Wuxian, it's Jiang Cheng's natural look.