"But I’ve practically seen you grow up. It would be... strange for us to be together," Riley said, his voice deliberately calm, though the faint hesitation in his words betrayed the weakness of the excuse.
Anastasia tilted her head slightly, her deep, sapphire eyes never leaving his.
"I know," she said, her tone low and steady, yet carrying a teasing edge.
"But that was at least countless trillions years ago, Riley. That girl you knew is long gone. I’m a woman now—a big woman." Her lips curved into the faintest smile, and a playful light flickered in her gaze.
"Or..." she leaned forward ever so slightly, "...would you like proof of just how grown I am, master?"
She rose from her seat in a slow, deliberate movent, her white dress flowing around her like a tide of snow and silk.
The fabric hugged her figure just enough to hint at the dangerous beauty beneath, every fold and ripple of the cloth whispering secrets of the body it concealed.
She moved with the grace of soone who had lived countless lifetis yet still retained the allure of youth.
Her fingers brushed the straps of her dress, ready to bare herself—not with desperation, but with the confidence of a queen offering a gift no man had ever been worthy to receive.
Riley’s hand rose swiftly yet gently, halting her before the fabric could fall.
"Not now," he said, his tone firm but not cold, as though restraining a fire within himself. "First, we eat."
The air between them felt charged, as though the mont had been stretched thin like glass on the verge of shattering.
Then, as if summoned by fate to break the tension, a gentle, rhythmic knock ca from the door.
Riley exhaled, a faint, knowing smile touching his lips. He stood and offered his hand to her.
Anastasia, still holding his gaze, placed her slender, warm fingers into his palm.
There was a certain quiet intimacy in that gesture—more binding than any kiss.
Together, they walked toward the door, the sound of their steps echoing softly in the quiet chamber.
"Riley," he said suddenly as they approached the threshold, glancing at her sidelong.
"Call Riley. It would be strange for my wife to call ’master.’"
The word "wife" lingered in the air, heavier than either of them expected. It was not an idle term—Anastasia’s lips trembled ever so slightly at the sound of it.
It would have been the height of foolishness to reject her.
Anastasia was not just a beauty—she was a legend.
Across countless realms, her na was spoken with a mixture of admiration and desire.
n of unimaginable power, n who could command armies with a word or crush stars in their grasp, had sought her hand.
And yet, for all the trillions of years she had walked the worlds, she had remained untouched—untaken—waiting, perhaps without even realizing it, for this mont.
Riley knew he would be the first man to claim her, to truly make her his.
The thought stirred sothing deep within him, sothing primal and possessive, but he kept it in check... for now.
As his fingers curled around the door handle, he felt a quiet certainty.
This was the beginning—not of a fling, nor of a re romance, but of sothing that would ripple through ages and across worlds.
His smile deepened. The first step had been taken.
They ate together, and one by one, Riley introduced his wives and won to Anastasia, taking his ti to speak each na with a certain reverence.
He didn’t simply list them—he gave small details, a complint here, a light joke there, ensuring that everyone felt seen.
Anastasia, as composed and poised as the moon on a clear night, acknowledged each with a courteous nod and a faint smile that seed both warm and distant at once.
Her voice was soft yet carried a quiet authority, the kind that made people instinctively straighten their backs when she spoke.
Among the won, Ruby found herself particularly affected.
The mont her gaze fell upon Anastasia up close, her breath caught in her throat.
She had heard the na "Anastasia Sage" whispered in awe by all cultivators and spoken with reverence by the elders of great clans.
In this immortal realm, Anastasia was more than a beauty—she was a legend.
The strongest true immortal alive, a figure so untouchable that all ancient sovereigns weighed their words in her presence.
Yet here she was, seated at Riley’s table, speaking to him not with the distant dignity of a ruler, but with the familiarity of soone who had shared more than just passing encounters.
Ruby’s mind whirled.
This is the kind of woman Riley has history with?
She thought she had already grasped Riley’s worth, but now she realized she had only been staring at the surface of an ocean too deep to asure.
The spark of admiration she already felt for him turned into sothing far more intense.
Her lips pressed into a thin line as she stole another glance at Anastasia, then back at Riley.
She wanted him—no, she needed him—more than ever.
A silent vow ford in her heart: she would not remain just one among many.
Anastasia, of course, noticed everything.
She was a woman who could read hearts as easily as books, and Ruby’s shifting expression was as clear as moonlight on still water.
Her gaze lingered on Ruby for a heartbeat longer than necessary, her lips curling in the faintest, knowing smile.
"A woman from the Immortal Raven Clan," Anastasia finally said, her tone carrying a hint of playful provocation. "You surely work fast, Riley."
"Of course," Riley replied without hesitation, his smile brimming with confidence. "I’m the fastest man in this realm, after all."
His words were bold enough to draw soft chuckles from a few of the won, though Ruby and Anastasia both remained silent—one suppressing a blush, the other amused by his shalessness.
Before the tension could deepen, a blur of soft fur and light footsteps bounded onto Riley’s shoulder.
Fluffy, the small yet mysterious magical beast, perched there like a king on his throne, curling its tail around his neck.
Its bright eyes seed to size up Anastasia, almost as if it knew her.
"This magical beast..." Anastasia’s voice softened, her brows lifting slightly.
There was recognition there, but also sothing else—curiosity mingled with caution.
"I suppose it’s my turn to hear about your adventures, Riley."
"In due ti," he said with a mysterious smile, his tone promising that the stories would be worth the wait.
"All in due ti. For now, we eat."
With that, Riley took the first bite, and the rest followed.
The earlier wariness gave way to livelier chatter as the table filled with laughter and the clinking of cups.
Stories were exchanged, jokes tossed across the table, and for a ti the great dining hall seed to glow under the warm light of lanterns.
The aromas of rare spirit dishes and immortal wines mingled with the sound of flowing conversation.
Yet beneath the pleasant atmosphere, sothing deeper was brewing.
Ruby stole glances at Anastasia, asuring herself against the woman who seed flawless in every way.
Anastasia, in turn, took quiet note of every reaction, every lingering gaze Riley gave his won.
It wasn’t hostility—not yet—but the air between them carried the weight of future competition.
Riley, for his part, seed entirely unbothered. His relaxed confidence filled the room, and his presence had a way of pulling all eyes toward him without effort.
He was the calm center around which everything revolved—lovers, friends, rivals, and even legends.
By the ti the al drew on, the bonds between everyone at the table had shifted subtly.
Unspoken promises had been made, silent rivalries quietly born, and though the evening was filled with joy on the surface, the undercurrent was charged—like the mont before a storm.
"Now that we’re full, it’s ti to go buy so good stuff. Let’s tour this city to our heart’s content," Riley announced, wiping his hands with a satisfied smile. His words instantly lit up the eyes of all his wives and won.
"I’ll be your tour guide then," Anastasia volunteered without hesitation, her lips curving into a playful smile.
"Perfect. Who better to show us around than the strongest true immortal of this realm?" Riley teased, earning a soft laugh from her.
With that, the group rose from the table, each woman adjusting her robes or accessories in her own graceful manner.
The air was lively, filled with anticipation for what lay ahead.
Outside, the golden lanterns bathed the streets of Heaven’s Gate City, the grandest city in the immortal realm, its marble avenues stretching endlessly and lined with magnificent buildings that shimred like crystal under the daylight.
The group moved together, their presence drawing countless stares.
Passersby whispered in awe, for it was not every day one saw a gathering of such beauty, elegance, and power walking side by side—led by a man whose reputation was already a story in itself.
Anastasia walked at Riley’s side, pointing out famous landmarks, rare shops, and bustling market squares where treasures from all corners of the realms were displayed.
Exotic fragrances drifted from the stalls, the clinking of spiritual coins and the hum of enchantnts mixing with the distant sound of a zither being played.
Heaven’s Gate City, with its towering spires and endless wonders, awaited them in full—one step at a ti.
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