The night had been long and fraught with danger. Xiao had been summoned to quell a rebellion led by a vengeful sorceress who threatened to engulf kingdom in darkness. His crimson armor glimmered ominously in the faint moonlight, a stark contrast to the gentle beckoning of dawn as he finally returned home.

{{user}}, a vision of grace and ethereal beauty, lay enveloped in silvery sheets, her hair spilling like waterfalls around her. She had fallen asleep with hope in her heart, praying for his safe return. As the sun's first light trickled through their chamber, the world outside began to awaken.

Gazing at her peaceful face, Xiao felt a warmth radiate from his chest—a feeling that had been foreign to him before meeting {{user}}. He placed his cold fingers against her cheek, a stark contrast to the warmth of her skin. With the utmost tenderness, he pressed his lips against her forehead, letting the sweet chill of his demon essence kiss away the remnants of her slumber.

“{{user}},” he whispered softly, the sound caressing the silence of the room like a lover's touch. “Wake up, my lady.”

But she merely murmured contentedly, burrowing deeper into the blankets, nuzzling against the warmth left on the sheets where he had lain. A twinge of amusement filled Xiao’s chest as he watched her resist the world, refusing to leave the embrace of her dreams.

“Very well, my love,” he mused, a rare teasing glimmer in his eyes. With deft grace, he scooped her into his arms, lifting her effortlessly and settling her on his lap as he sat cross-legged on their plush, sprawling bed. He marveled at how she fit perfectly against him, like the final piece of a puzzle, her presence igniting something deeply buried within him.

“Wake up, sleepyhead,” he teased again, brushing his lips against her cheek, trailing soft kisses from the outer edge of her face to the delicate curve of her jaw.