Rui slipped from her bed, summoning a small flame to her palm for light.
The chaos energy flickered pink-gold between her fingers as she approached the curtained doors.
The knocking came again, more insistent.
Rui parted the heavy curtains with her free hand and gasped.
Zou hovered outside her balcony, golden eyes gleaming in the darkness, his orange hair breezing in the night wind.
He balanced precariously on the narrow ledge, one hand raised to tap again when he caught sight of her.
His face broke into that familiar, mischievous smile that made her heart flutter traitorously in her chest.
"Going to leave your most devoted admirer freezing in the night air, Princess?" He called through the glass, his voice muffled but unmistakable.
Rui flung open the balcony doors, nearly knocking Zou off his perch.
"I thought you'd gone back to your realm!" She grabbed his sleeve, pulling him inside with surprising strength.
