“What are you doing here, by the way?” I asked Amador. “You have a habit of wandering my palace whenever you feel like it.”
Amador’s lips twisted into an amused, self-righteous smirk.“Seeing as my father is the ambassador for foreign relations, it’s my duty in his absence to fulfill his role to ensure that relations with our neighbors to the north are upheld to the highest standard. I, the grand duchess of the Sigbin Court, offer anything I can to assist with these negotiations.”
That word—negotiations—set me on edge. It felt like I was starting on my heels, taken off guard, and having to defend myself from something I hadn’t even done.
Nix rounded on her brother. “Qian, seriously. Do we really have to go through all this?”
“Of course, little sister,” Qian said. “Unless you’re married, you’re to be in Jade Mountain with your other siblings. No excuses. It’s against our ways to have you living outside of our protective walls.”
“What happened last night seems like it was a bit rash, don’t you think?” I asked him.
Qian’s eyes slid to me. “What if one of our enemies had found my sister first? Without the protection of Jade Mountain, she was vulnerable, alone, and no one would have known what had happened.” He turned back to Nix. “Do you really expect Biringan to protect you? I wouldn’t put it past them to protect themselves first.”
“Hold on,” I said, extending my hands. I remembered Elias’s words, that we had to meet them where they were at, and tempered my nerves. “Nix isn’t in danger right now, so we don’t have to go that far. Instead, let’s focus on what’s in front of us. She’s been living with us safely for the past year—without your knowledge, yes, but she is an independent person with her own desires. Youwant her to return to Jade Mountain, and I want her to do whatever she wishes.”
“Are you saying that the queen of Biringan has more authority than the Jade Emperor?” Qian didn’t say it with any accusation. Instead, he almost said it with mild amusement, as if he wanted to know what I truly thought.
I had to be careful about what I said. I could almost hear Elias reminding me to breathe. I took a moment to gather my thoughts and replied, “When anyone is within our borders, they are a guest of mine. It would be against every instinct to send a friend away. That same courtesy extends to you, Prince Qian.”
Qian’s eyebrows shot up, and he seemed somewhat appeased by that.
Amador, unprompted, added, “I am inclined to agree with the queen.” I stared at her, bewildered, but she didn’t look at me. “If the Jade Emperor himself walked through these doors, he would be welcomed like family.”
That took me by surprise. I hadn’t expected her to agree to anything I had to say. I’d always thought she wanted to contradict me for the fun of it, just to see it get under my skin, and my shock must have been all over my face, because when Qian looked back at me, he laughed.
“While it’s sweet that you are so accommodating, Jade Mountain’s enemies might feel welcome, too. What would prevent anyone from doing what we did last night and taking Nix?”
“Nothing,” I admitted.
I think my honesty caught Qian off guard, because he leaned back, gently curled his hand into a fist, and tapped it on the armof his chair. I wasn’t sure if he’d ever met a royal who told him the truth outright.
Nix broke the silence, which made all eyes turn to her. “Why are you so worried about our enemies anyway, Qian?” Nix asked.
Qian took a deep breath, and I saw a flash of pink behind his lips when he licked them thoughtfully. It was a surprisingly endearing tic. But his expression darkened ever so slightly. “It’s not just our enemies. Monsters have broken through our borders. Attacks committed by the offspring of the Four Perils have increased tenfold. You of all people, Nix, should know just how dangerous they can be.”
Nix went pale, and her breath came out shakily.
Qian’s voice was thick with emotion. “I thought you were…” He swallowed thickly. “I’d feared the worst, and then to find out you were here…” He gestured around the room. “Do you hate us that much to make us believe you were dead?”
Nix folded her lips between her teeth to stop herself from speaking. Turmoil, guilt, brewed in her eyes, but she clamped her hands into fists and looked at me as if asking for help.
When my father died, I wished I had been there for him. I’d never had the chance to get to know him because he’d sent me away to live with my mom in the human world for my own safety. But he was murdered. There was no goodbye, no last chance for either of us to say what we wanted. So not being there for him, especially in his last days, was a regret I carried with me. I never had my whole family together.
Nix tore her gaze away from me to look at her brother. “If I go, though, I’ll never get to come back.”
“Returning to Jade Mountain would mean returning to your family.” Qian sighed. “You need to be serious. You’re also coming to an age when it’s time you started considering proposals. As one of the emperor’s daughters, your role is vital to the kingdom, and it was bestowed upon you the moment you came into the world. You can’t run from destiny.”
Across the table, Amador shifted in her chair slightly, agitated, and her eyes darted up to Lucas, who remained stone-faced and at ease standing behind her. I wasn’t sure why she looked so surprised, but I chose to ignore it. They, maybe more than anyone, knew what it meant to be betrothed, but at least they would have each other. If I lost Nix, I would be all alone here in Biringan City. I felt incredibly selfish for thinking that and squeezed my hands together more tightly in an attempt to get a grip. I had to remember this wasn’t about me. Nix looked like Qian had said he would lock her in chains and banish her to a tower like a tragic princess from the stories.
“I don’t believe in destiny,” Nix said. “I don’t want that life.”
“Well…” Amador said, and clicked her tongue. She held out her hand toward Lucas, and he obediently accepted. It made my skin crawl. I had to dig my fingernails into the arms of my chair to stop myself from leaping to my feet in a rage.
“Forgive me, Prince—” Amador continued, but Qian interrupted.
“Please, call me Qian.”
Amador’s smile spread wide. “Of course. Qian. Forgive me for my ignorance, but I’m unaware of the customs in Jade Mountain. Must all of the emperor’s daughters be married?”
