“You nearly died, do you know that? Winter couldn’t sense your life force anymore. If that Ximing traitor hadn’t stolen your jade back, you wouldn’t be here.”
“I-I know.”
“Winter wants you to be examined by a lixia specialist—”
“No,” I said, my stomach tightening at the thought. “Absolutely not.”
“Meilin, you need—”
“I will not beexaminedlike a pig for slaughter,” I said harshly, the quaver in my voice betraying my fear. Sky must have heard it too, for he dropped the subject.
“You know, I’ve been researching the effects of lixia and how to counteract the withdrawal symptoms,” he said. “With time, I think you can heal…”
“What if it’s too late for me already?” I whispered, voicing aloud my worst fears. “During the war, I…” I ignored Xiuying’s cautions. I ignored Sky’s. I even ignored Qinglong’s.
I fidgeted with my sleeve, which hid the dark veins along my forearms. They had never returned to their usual color. Now the faint traces of black were permanent.
I had done this to myself.
“Let me show you something,” he said suddenly. “I was going to wait until it’s complete, but…” He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I wish I didn’t have to go so soon.”
“You’re leaving again?”
He nodded. “After the parade tomorrow.”
“What parade?”
Sky shooed me away to get dressed, clearly in a hurry. Leading me out of my rooms at a brisk pace, he brought us to a small reading library overlooking the nine-turn bridge.
“Have you been here before?” he asked.
“Yes, of course,” I said. “You know how close my rooms are—”
“I placed you there intentionally,” he said. “Watch closely. I don’t have much time.”
How many demands must weigh on him as a prince. The thought unsettled me, knowing his schedule was packed while I hadnothing to do but wander the gardens. In war, I had been of use to him. But now I was nothing more than a burden to be coddled.
Sky checked to make sure no one was coming before running his fingers along the oak paneling, tapping until he came upon a hollow spot. A secret passageway.
With a soft click, the wood paneling came away, revealing a narrow corridor. “Follow me,” he ordered. My heart racing, I followed him down a cramped flight of stairs, into a cave-like space hardly the size of my dressing room. I expected hidden weapons, potions, even a dangerous beast. But not…books.
The room was lined with scrolls upon scrolls, some fallen to decay, others newly copied and unmarked by age.
“What is this place?” I asked. “Why all the secrecy?”
“I told you I’ve been gathering intelligence,” he explained. “For the past few months, I’ve been bidding on the black market for any texts on lixia.” His lips curled into an arrogant smile. “Word has spread of a wealthy bidder who will outbid anyone for a worthy text. I have quite a monopoly now.”
I gaped at him, at a complete loss for words. He had done this for me. To help me overcome my weakness, to help me regain my health. He could have kept the knowledge from me, choosing to leave me in the dark like so many others. Instead, he had given me access to every book he could buy.
“Sky…” I tried to swallow away the choky feeling in my throat. “I…you didn’t have to do this.”
“I wanted to do this,” he said. “To help you heal, to grow, to master your power.”
“You make it sound like I have a future.”
“You do have a future, Meilin. A very long one. With me—if you’ll have me.”
And to my shock, he produced a string of twisted red and goldthread, one tied in a loose knot to form a bracelet. An engagement band, which was worn ahead of a marriage ceremony.
