“I’m okay.” I pressed my hand to my forehead and took a breath. Being out of the infirmary was helping, but so was Qian’s presence.
“You look like you’ve seen a ghost. Are you sure?”
“I appreciate the concern,” I said. “I think I just need some air.”
“Let’s walk together,” he said, gesturing with a dip of his head toward the outside.
Since I was still reeling, the best I could do was nod. Qian fell into step at my side, watching me. Maybe he was worried I was going to faint; I certainly felt like it.
“I hope you don’t have somewhere to be,” I said, trying to lighten the mood.
“I was going to practice, but I’ve actually been wanting to spend more time with you. I missed you at breakfast. It’ll be my pleasure.” His eyes shone, and he smiled.
My cheeks warmed, and I smiled back, for real this time. “Thank you. I’d like that.”
Side by side, we walked out of the great house and onto the grounds. The day was bright and promising, and I tipped my head back to soak up the sunlight, closing my eyes against the bright sky, and took a deep breath. Doing so made me feel like I was coming back to life. Qian must have sensed that I was feeling better, too, because he said, “There, that’s more like it. You’re looking more like yourself again.”
“A grisly sight before, I bet.”
“Not at all. While it makes for quite a romantic scene, I’d prefer it if maidens didn’t faint in my arms.”
“I’m a maiden?”
“When in the presence of monsters, we all have our roles to play.”
My heart lurched, and I was at a loss for words. Qian didn’t seem to notice, though. “I think the creature only comes out at night,” I said, “so you don’t have to worry about me. We still have a few hours until sunset.”
“Whatever is haunting these grounds, we need to be careful. I’ve sent my men all over, setting traps and the like to stop it before it hurts anything else.” He looked me over again, taking in my face. “I certainly hope word about the monster isn’t upsetting you.”
“No!” I said, a little too quickly.
“It’s okay to be afraid. I admit, though, the reason I’m escorting you now is to make sure that you’re looked after.”
“I’m not as helpless as you think,” I said.
“No, but if anything were to happen to you, I don’t think I could live with myself.”
I blushed at that. The only other person who cared about my well-being so vehemently was Lucas. “Where’s Nix? Are you giving her the same treatment?”
“I last saw her in the library, perfectly safe indoors.”
I thought about joining her there, telling her all about what had happened with Gani, but I found that I liked being with Qian, too. This was the perfect time to get him to come to an understandingabout all this. If I couldn’t save myself, there was still a chance to give Nix her freedom.
“It’s been nice, having all of us here. Seeing members of Jade Mountain and my court bonding is all I could have asked for. Have you considered more about letting Nix stay in Biringan City?” I asked as we followed a dirt path through the jungle.
“I’m hesitant to let her go. I heard rumors about a monster attacking a couple in your city before we left. I thought you said that Biringan had no monsters.”
“We don’t…”
“Then you may not know your kingdom as well as you think.”
I clamped my mouth shut. He was more right than I wanted to believe. “You take your duty very seriously, don’t you? Hunting monsters.”
Qian regarded me for a long moment; then he took a deep, measured breath. “My younger brother was killed by one—a jiangshi. The same one that gave me this scar.” He pointed to his shoulder, and my blood ran cold. “Of course I take it seriously.”
I remembered the day I came to his room and saw all the scars on his body. His pain ran deeper than that. I remembered he’d said the jiangshi was a reanimated corpse that sucked the qi—the life force—out of humans.
“How did it…” I began to say, but then I trailed off, wondering if I should ask. I realized we’d become closer, but could he trust me enough with the story? He looked at me as if he, too, was gauging how he wanted to respond. I swallowed thickly and tried not to look away, because Qian’s gaze on me was steady and, for what seemed like the first time, trusting. Finally, Qian gave in.
