“Councilor Shen. We found another body.”
Penelope spun toward the sound instantly, anger and terror colliding into something bright and dangerous. The silver around her surged, flaring like a defensive snarl.
Mingxi reacted at once. One tail snapped forward, intercepting the rising magic before it sharpened into a strike.
“Halt!” he barked.
The fox-spirit magic cracked through the room like a command. The silver motes froze midair. The Guardian stopped breathing.
Penelope blinked, pupils blown wide with instinctive fear and fury. The magic recoiled from Mingxi’s tone like a startled animal, curling back toward her skin but refusing to settle.
Mingxi turned his head slowly toward the Guardian, precision lethal in its restraint. “Unless the estate is currently exploding,” he said coolly, “you do not enter without permission.”
The Guardian swallowed hard. “My apologies, Councilor. But we found signs of movement on the second floor. We thought—”
“You thought?” Penelope snapped, her voice razor-sharp. “You barged into a room you were not invited into.”
That silenced the Guardian.
Mingxi rose from his crouch in one fluid motion, controlled and dangerous. He placed himself subtly between Penelope and the intruder without blocking her view of the door.
“Report,” he ordered.
The Guardian tore their gaze away from Penelope’s still-humming magic.
“There is a trail of blood leading to a storage room at the end of the west wing. Something was dragged. Possibly alive at the start.”
Penelope went still. Mingxi’s expression did not change, but he sharpened his posture.
“Very well,” he said. “Secure the area. Do not engage alone.”
“Yes, Councilor.” The Guardian bowed stiffly and backed out, closing the door behind them.
Silence pressed in.
Chapter 7
Penelope’s breath came unevenly. Whether from the interruption or the implication of the Guardian’s report, Mingxi could not tell.
He turned back to her. “We need to leave this room,” he said quietly.
Her eyes flicked toward the floor behind her, toward something he could not see.
“No,” she said, too fast.
Mingxi caught the tone. Raw. Protective. Balanced on the edge of flaring again.
He softened his voice, but not his authority. “Lady Penelope. Whatever remains in this manor may still be dangerous. I cannot protect you if you stay here.”
Her fingers twitched at her sides. She glanced back again, barely, at whatever she had been guarding. He could not see what it was, but he saw the fear. The hesitation. The grief she did not realize she was showing him.
Mingxi extended his hand. Not to touch her, but palm up, an offer.
“You can return,” he said. “Once the manor is secured. But for now, we leave.”
She stared at his hand. Then at his face. She straightened her spine, drew in a sharp breath, and stepped forward, moving herself away from her haven, out of the nursery, and into the hall.
Mingxi followed.
