“Why did we come here?” Yiran asked. His voice trembled, but it wasn’t because of the cold. A sudden understanding was descending on him. “Why did you bring mehere, Yuki?”
Yuki’s lips parted, but all Yiran could hear was the wind. He had to get out of this place. What was Yuki saying? The wind was too damned loud.
Yiran mouthed it to himself. Was Yuki sayingsorry?
The wind whistled sharply again—no, that creak had come from behind. It was the creaking ofa door.
Something slammed against his skull.
And everything went dark.
13
Zizi
“You cannot hold me here forever,” Four declares. Using their combined powers, the Kings have chained Four to his throne. Days have passed in the mortal realm since Lei Ying was summoned by theEmperor, and Four is desperate for news. “When I am free, you will know my wrath.”
“Your wrath? Do you not understand what is happening, Brother?” Onesays.
“All I know is that you have imprisoned me for no reason.”
Two snarls. “You fool! Your extended and repeated presence in the mortal world has caused a disruption in the balance between realms, a ripple effect that has reached the Blight.”
“What are you talking about?” Four says, still struggling against his restraints.
“Have you not noticed that the Blight has become more active? Have you not wondered why? Have your Reapers not provided you with reports?”
“He has not read the reports in months,” says a silky voice. Ten glides out from the shadows, approaching the throne. His scarlet robes look bloodier than usual. “He has been busy wasting his time with his little mortal.”
“You have been spying—”
Ten wags a finger. “Not spying. Observing. But that is beside the point.” He leans in, tipping Four’s chin up with a cold finger. “Open your eyes and face the truth. Do you even know how long your absences from the underworld have been? Or were you too wrapped up in your absurd charade, pretending to be human? Think, dear brother. How often have you used your power to prolong your time in a world you do not belong to? You have jeopardized the mortal realm. You are the one causing the Revenants to proliferate.Youare the reason why your little mortal’s life is in danger.Think of this as a favor, our way of saving the mortals from the threat you have brought to them.”
Furious words rise, then fall in Four’s throat. Shock pulses through his soul. He stops struggling, stays motionless, watching as the Kings leave one by one.
When his anger returns, it is directed at himself. Each moment with Lei Ying was so precious that he used his poweragain and again, just to be with her a little longer. He went against the ancient tenets. He broke the cardinal rule between the realms. Why hadn’t he realized what was happening?
The answer is simple: he did not want to. He wanted to be with her.
No matter the cost. No matter the consequences.
“Four!”
A boy’s face appears in one of the throne room’s mirrors. Nikai. He must’ve gotten hold of the mirror shard Four had gifted Lei Ying for communication.
“The upper ranks of the cultivators gave upShijieto save their own skins, and theEmperorhas ordered her to take her own life in the morning. A sacrifice, he says. Cowards.” Nikai spits. “Shijie’spower isn’t unstable, she isn’t a danger to anyone. They’re doing this to appease the mob—”
“She cannot take her own life!” Four roars. For the first time in his existence, he understands what true fear is.
There is no path to the underworld for the soul of any mortal who ends their own life. No atonement nor chance of reincarnation. The soul is banished to the Nothing, suffering for eternity. It does not matter if Lei Ying’s death is deemed a sacrifice. The laws and whims of mortals do not hold up against the Divine.
“Where is she?”
“The Imperial Palace. I’m headed there now with some cultivators I still trust. We’ll do what we can to stop the execution.” Nikai glares. “I don’t know where you are or how this mirror magic works, but you must save her, Four. You promised me—you said you would guard her with your life.”
“I will,” Four vows.
Nikai’s face vanishes and the mirror goes dark.
