Right. No expectations. Just a desire on a whim and nothing more. He sucked at this and he knew it. He never devoted any time to such things, believing that they were never for the likes of him. He never had the chance, out there in the world.

"That's all it is? You simply take what you want?" He glanced up as Huaisang came forward. Had he been home, he would have been stronger, more cutting. He would have thrown the mantle of his mother in place and worn it into battle. But here, everything was out to tease and torment him. The dead returned to life but none of his blood were here. How fair was that? The pain of not having a chance to see and speak to his sister again kept him raw and unbalanced. None of this was fair. Not at all. Even Jiang Cheng could hear the pain in his own voice.

"I don't know what came over me," he muttered pathetically, looking away. He couldn't look at him, couldn't bear it. Cheng strengthened his resolve. "It won't happen again." At least he hoped it wouldn't. What would he do if it did and...someone else was there?