His eyes went wide. “You actually found it?”
“You didn’t think we would?”
“We looked everywhere and didn’t find any.”
“Then I guess we’re better at hunting than you are,” I said.
Qian’s mouth lifted up into a smile, and he laughed. “I think so. Then I owe you this.”
He took my hand and kissed my knuckles. It shocked me how soft his lips were, and I almost flinched away, but I was hypnotized by his touch. I could smell him—bergamot, just like the flower.
“Your prize,” he said, looking up at me under his brows.
“Thank you,” I said, taking my hand back. My skin felt electric where his lips had touched it. I didn’t know he could rattle me like this.
“What happened here?” he asked, moving to Amador next.
“We got caught in some kind of net,” Amador said.
Qian’s eyes widened again. “A net? Ah!” He cursed. “We must have missed one. It was supposed to catch the monster. But it seems it caught the maidens instead.”
“Well, the flowers were right by the trap,” I said, lifting my chin. “Clearly you weren’t paying enough attention when you laid it.”
“Clearly not. I apologize, Grand Duchess Amador. Truly, if there’s anything I can do—”
“I just need to go to the infirmary. Nothing to worry about.” She looked down her nose at him. “Though I won’t be so forgiving next time.”
I took Amador by the elbow on her uninjured arm. “If you’ll excuse us,” I said to Qian, and left. I could still feel him watching me, even with my back turned, and I tried not to think about how I liked the way he had kissed my hand.
In the infirmary, we found Nix and Lucas. They were chatting, just like old times, and when we walked in, their smiles fell.
“Amador’s hurt,” I said.
Amador held out her wrist, and Nix looked flummoxed. Lucas went to her with concern all over his face.
“What happened?” he asked Amador, putting a calming hand on her elbow, guiding her to sit.
“We fell into one of the traps Qian set,” she said.
Nix made a disturbed noise, a kind of squawk that reminded me of a chicken’s. “What?! That’s so irresponsible of him! Why didn’t he warn you? You’re lucky you didn’t get more hurt!”
Amador said, “Yeah. Fortunately, I wasn’t alone.”
Lucas looked at me, and I felt the heat rising in my cheeks.
I wanted to tell him I knew what I knew, but I didn’t want to go back on my promise to Amador, especially so soon. I would pretend I didn’t know her secret for as long as she needed me to.
Even though I knew the truth about him, still he couldn’t be mine. It was no matter that I was a queen; I couldn’t interfere in the betrothal between members of the court. Amador’s family was determined to see her marry him, and all I could do was watch from afar and know that it was because he was a good person who would not turn his back on his friend.
“I should have been there to protect you,” he said to Amador.
“It’s nothing to worry about at all,” she said.
Nix gently took her wrist and turned it over, inspecting the injury. “Nothing to worry about? You broke bones,” she said, face pale.
I heard someone come into the infirmary, and I turned around to see General Heng. He had on his usual dark uniform, his knife ready at his side. “Sir Lucas,” he said.
“What?” Lucas asked. I knew he didn’t mean to sound so sharp, but he was frustrated. I didn’t blame him.
