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I thought of my mother, whom Prince Yanxi might still be ignorant of. “In truth, I am being selfish, too. If I give the pearls back to the dragons, I will have failed in my task. I do not want that. The emperor has promised me something which I want very much.”

He arched an eyebrow. “It must be something important, First Archer.”

“Nothing is more important than family,” I said in a low voice. “As you yourself know, Your Highness.”

Prince Yanxi’s expression softened as he leaned back against his chair. Was he thinking of his brother? His parents? “This enchantment you speak of is a powerful one.” He rubbed his chin pensively, “The seal was formed through blood and magic, and through those it can be broken. But only with that of the rightful owner of the pearls.”

It was possible. There was still a chance. Every enchantment required magic, though I could not help quailing at the mention of blood.

He hesitated, glancing at Liwei.

“Speak freely, Your Highness. You’re among friends, none who will take offense,” said Liwei.

Prince Yanxi laced his fingers together, his elbows resting on the table. “First Archer Xingyin, was it to you alone that the dragons offered their pearls?”

When I nodded, his frown deepened. “Not much is known of their ruler, the warrior who saved them. Some believe he was a relation of the Celestial Emperor. If so, why would the dragons not offer their allegiance to you or your father?” he asked Liwei.

The gold sculptures on the rooftop of the Jade Palace, the embroidery on the imperial robes . . . was the rumor true or were these merely symbols to perpetuate a powerful myth? Had the emperor coveted the might of the dragons, all this time? Had their punishment been rooted in their refusal to bow to him?

“In the Celestial Kingdom, we don’t have much information on the dragons. All I know is they have no wish to serve my father. They made that clear when they were freed.” Liwei paused. “Why do you ask?”

Prince Yanxi sighed. “Releasing the dragons’ essence is no simple matter. It requires a great sacrifice, one which the warrior paid to bind their essence to the pearls. Half of one’s lifeforce to complete the enchantment.” He leaned across the table toward me, “The dragons yielded their pearls to you, which means they acknowledge you as their true owner. Therefore, it is you, alone, who must pay this price.”

His words pounded into my mind. Half my lifeforce? Unlike my energy, which could be recovered through recuperation, it might take decades to regain my lifeforce. Centuries, perhaps. I would be weakened, immensely so. Drawing the Jade Dragon Bow would be a challenge. How could I protect those I loved? How could I defend myself?

Liwei seized my hand, holding it tight. “Xingyin, don’t do this. There must be another way.”

I pulled free from his grasp, conscious of Prince Yanxi’s penetrating stare. It would be so easy to walk away, to let fate take its course. To have the decision made for me instead of grappling with it. But I had come so close to losing the pearls before, I dared not risk it again. I did not know how much longer I had. Even now, Wenzhi’s troops might be closing in on us. And the emperor must be growing impatient at my absence.

I bit the inside of my lip, biting down harder until the soft flesh gave way, stinging, as the warm tang of blood filled my mouth. If Prince Yanxi was wrong, or if the enchantment failed—I would have weakened myself for nothing. And if I did not surrender the pearls to the Celestial Emperor then, I would earn his eternal enmity. Would he honor the promise not to harm my mother? As for myself . . .

A shiver coursed through my flesh.

But magic was not the only strength I possessed; I had lived without it before. I had tricked Wenzhi with my words and a fistful of petals, defeated a Demon prince with my powers bound. If this worked, in one stroke I could free the dragons and return with the pearls, fulfilling—in name—the bargain I had struck with the emperor. I would still have a chance of freeing my mother.

“I will do it.” My hands shook as I dropped the pearls into my pouch, knotting the cord tight. “Your Highness, I’m grateful for your assistance.” Now that the decision had been made, I was eager to proceed.

“You’ll need a weapon. A powerful one,” he said. “Blood will lift the seal and your lifeforce will open the path, but the dragons’ essence needs to be expelled from the pearls. If your weapon is too weak, you’ll drain yourself further. There’s no turning back once the enchantment is underway.” Left unspoken was his warning: you might die.

The Jade Dragon Bow was a comforting weight across my back. “Will this do?” I unslung it from my shoulder, laying it on the table before him.

Prince Yanxi traced its intricate carvings reverently. When the bow rattled at his touch, he drew away at once. “You wield the Jade Dragon Bow? How is that possible?”

“I’m not sure,” I replied honestly. “It is the bow which allows me to wield it.”

“This is why the dragons gave their pearls to you,” he said.

“They did not want to,” I confessed, the heat of my shame rising in me. “But I was tempted by their power, and arrogant in believing that I could keep them safe. I was wrong.”

I lifted the bow from the table. “Your Highness, I apologize for our haste, but we must go. Is there someplace secluded nearby, where we might summon the dragons?”

He rose to his feet. “The southern tip has a quiet stretch of land. If you have no objections, I will bring you there myself.” A wistful smile played on his lips. “I confess, I’ve long desired to see the Venerable Dragons. We might be legends to the mortals, but the dragons are legends to us all.”

Prince Yanxi’s cloud carried us to the beach, a short distance away. Hemmed in by towering cliffs and jagged rocks, it was no wonder that it was deserted despite its pristine waters. As we stood upon the white sand, I stared at the pearls in my hand. Would this work? Soon, I would find out. Drawing a deep breath, I whispered the dragons’ names to the pearls, fire flaring in their lustrous depths.

For a single heartbeat, all was still; sea and sky melding as one. With a whispering rush the waters morphed from azure to green, the waves surging higher, cresting with white foam as they raced to the shore. On the horizon, a whirlpool yawned, circling wider and wider until it threatened to swallow the ocean whole. From its depths, the four dragons shot forth, soaring into the sky. Cold water splashed over us, the drops gleaming in the sunlight. The air thrummed with their might as they landed on the beach before us, gold claws buried in the sand.

Prince Yanxi staggered back, his jaw falling open. His robes were damp, his hair sticking to his brow. As I mopped the water from my own face, I tried not to smile at the sight of the immaculate prince so disheveled and drenched.