My arm still wrapped around her neck as I squeezed tightly. My body released my seed deep inside her.
Softening up my grip I heard Katara's panting body as mine did the same.
"Just admit you stole it... and I could stop tomorrow," I whispered in he...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
...oh wow...
Panting, I steadied myself, tugging at the folds of my long clothing. Slowly, the pounding in my chest softened, and a smile — small, unbidden, almost childish — tugged at my lips as I stepped deeper inside.
"This place is so beautiful... so peaceful," I murmured under my breath.
Before me stretched a hidden garden, secluded within the stone heart of the Fire Nation palace. Emerald grass rolled out like a secret carpet, soft and untamed compared to the polished marble outside. A gentle pond shimmered at its center, its surface rippling as ducks glided into the water. Bonsai trees framed the edges, their gnarled roots curling gracefully against the banks.
It was unlike anything I'd seen here. Not Fire Nation banners or scarlet walls, but living, breathing serenity — a sanctuary hidden within the fortress. For a heartbeat, I thought I'd stumbled into the Spirit World itself.
I walked closer, my steps light, almost reverent. I felt like a child about to bite into a mooncake, delight rising in me the nearer I drew to the water. Kneeling at the pond's edge, I dipped my fingers into the cool surface. Light blue ripples danced outward, catching the sun.
A quiet laugh slipped from me — so natural, so unguarded. How long had it been since I touched grass? Since I allowed myself to simply... be?
Eyes fluttering shut, I tilted my face toward the sky, savoring the warmth of sunlight against my skin. The sweetheart neckline of my top left my chest bare to the golden rays, and for the first time in weeks, I breathed deeply without fear.
This must be what peace feels like in the Spirit World.
"What are you doing?"
The words sliced through the stillness. My eyes flew open, heart leaping as I twisted toward the voice.
A figure stood at the edge of the garden, half-shadowed by the stone archway. I didn't recognize the voice — not Mai, not Sui Seikuh, not a guard. It was someone else entirely.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
