Lan Fan knew she should be directing him back inside, off of the roof and and into his robes to play the little facade again. She knew that, and yet she found herself moving slowly toward the concealed corner on the roof. When had she fallen so far? Lost her unfailing iron grip on duty? Started to allow herself to bend...

When she had lost Ling. And now it was herself and Greed, painstakingly trying to live through this sham in order to unify Xing. The very nature of the charade turned everything she had been taught on its head--so really, what did this matter...?

And even if they were caught? The argument could be made that he was the emperor. And the emperor wasn't to be denied. She would be the one facing the repercussions. Her status and position called into question--Emperor 'Ling's' militaristic put under additional scrutiny--because clearly his captain of the guard and primary retainer had been chosen not for her skills in battle but for what she would offer in bed.

They both knew that was utter horse shit--but she knew how she would be viewed. How she had often been viewed in the past...

And despite it all, she still backed toward that corner, taking that chance again.