“So she’s a pawn,” I said.
Qian’s eyes flashed briefly before settling on me. “She’s my blood. My kin. If that’s what you consider apawn.”
“Then what happens if Nix doesn’t go back to Jade Mountain?” I asked.
Qian tipped his hand, palm up, as if offering it on a platter. “War.”
Everyone in the room fell silent. The idea alone sent a shiver down my spine.
Elias broke the silence. “That is a bold statement from a person who, may I remind you, trespassed on palace grounds in the middle of the night.”
“Drastic measures were required. Phoenix Xing is under my protection. It took us months to figure out where she was. When she fled the mountain, many thought she was dead. But when we discovered her location, we had to act swiftly, fearing for her safety. We had no guarantee of what would be waiting for us when we came. We thought she was a prisoner.”
“This was all a misunderstanding,” I said. “She’s perfectly safe here.”
“I’m more of a captive in Jade Mountain,” Nix said, clenching her fists. “I refuse to go back. Even here you won’t listen to me, and it will be just the same there. I’m not one of your trophies to present to Father.”
Qian sighed loudly through his broken nose. I could tell there was more here than I was clued in on, but I knew this conversation was getting nowhere.
“Is this how you treat all your siblings?” I asked Qian.
He inspected me again, and my chest felt tight when he did. There was a fire in his eyes, but it wasn’t anger. “Forgive me, Your Highness, but I’m afraid we haven’t beenformallyintroduced.”
“Mahalina Jazreel, queen of the Court of Sirena, ruler of the throne of Biringan.”
“Ah, I see,” said Qian. “That’s why Nix calls you MJ.”
“Only my friends call me that.”
Qian nodded, like he’d gotten the message. He inspected me for a moment, his gaze softening. “Forgive me for asking, but…are you hapa?”
His question caught me off guard. I wasn’t ashamed of my hapa identity—being half encanto, half human. When I’d first arrived here, those who were prejudiced against humans, like Amador, saw my half-human parentage as weak, something lower, something to pity. My mother was my whole family, and she made me the person I was. How could I ever be ashamed of that?
“Yes,” I said, lifting my chin. “Is that a problem?”
“Absolutely not. In fact, I find it fascinating.” Qian leaned forward, his eyes bright. “Because I am, too.”
I didn’t have time to ask him more because the door burst open.
Lucas strode in, pink-cheeked and hair a mess, as if he’d run all the way here. No doubt Elias had left him in charge of dispatching the rest of the security detail. His hand rested on the dagger at his belt when he took in the room, eyes lingering on Qian before meeting mine. His very presence sent my heart into my throat.
Lucas gave a quick, apologetic nod to Elias. “Perimeter secured,” he said.
“Thank you, Sir Lucas,” Elias said. “No need for further alarm.”
Qian regarded Lucas with a casual grin and lifted his chin. “No need at all.”
Lucas narrowed his eyes, but he didn’t reply. He bowed and excused himself.
General Heng leaned in again and said something in Qian’s ear, but he didn’t give anything away on his face.
I cleared my throat. “Back to the matter at hand. There’s no need to talk of war,” I said. “But it’s late—er, early.” I had no idea what time it was, but if I had to guess, it was around three in the morning. Exhaustion was going to make me say something I knew I would regret. “I think that we should discuss this later. Get a few hours of sleep, have some breakfast. We can continue later. We’ll speak more with full stomachs and clear heads.”
Qian tipped his head, acquiescing. “As you wish.”
“Elias,” I said, “can you see to it that Qian and his companions have proper accommodations? Baths drawn, more food prepared, beds turned down—”
“Of course,” Elias said.
