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I hesitated, wanting her by my side yet dreaded exposing her to danger. “Thank you,” I managed through the tightness in my chest. I would have done no less for her.

“General Jianyun,” Shuxiao addressed him. “Could you send word to my family? Tell them to go into hiding until they hear from me again.”

Bitterness seared me that she had to do this, that we were forced to flee. But there was no shame in flight; I had done it before. I would not sacrifice us to a cause we cared little for. What mattered most was our freedom and our lives—upon which hope was borne, along with the promise of new beginnings.

I RAPPED UPON MY mother’s door—short, hard knocks. She emerged from her room, clad in her white robe. I was glad to find Ping’er with her, sitting by the table, pouring tea into two cups.

I wasted no time, speaking urgently, “Celestial soldiers are on their way here. We must flee.”

“Flee? Why?” Her eyes were wide with shock.

“The emperor has sentenced us to imprisonment in the tower. We have been accused of insulting His Celestial Majesty, of treacherous intent for the lapse in lighting the moon.”

A shudder ran through her body. “They are mistaken. Can we explain?”

“It would not matter. You cannot change the minds of those who do not want to be proven wrong.” I took her hands in mine, inwardly flinching from their chill. She was afraid … as was I. “They want to believe this of us. Forgetting to light the lanterns was a harmless thing, just as taking Father’s elixir, or the dragons bringing water to the suffering mortals. The Celestial Emperor will tolerate no threat to his pride or standing. To him, appearances matter more than intent.” It struck me then how much he must despise me—the girl his soldiers had bowed to, whom he would have killed that day.

“Must we flee?” My mother’s voice broke. This place was all she had known of the Immortal Realm—once, her prison, and now her home.

“Yes. His Celestial Majesty will not rescind his sentence, nor will anyone plead on our behalf—at least, none he will listen to. We are a thorn in his side that he is eager to pluck. Moreover, he wants our home, and this is the perfect excuse to seize it.”

Ping’er frowned. “Won’t disobeying his edict anger him further?”

“Undoubtedly.” Reckless satisfaction flooded me at those words. “Though we have little to lose at this stage.”

Beyond our lives. Was I being a fool to risk us all? Was imprisonment not preferable to death? Yet that was not the choice; we were fighting for our freedom, for the chance to live as we chose. And I did not trust our safety in the emperor’s hands.

My mother lifted her head, her expression calmer. “We will be ready.”

“You must go first, with Ping’er. I will follow shortly, with Shuxiao. We will distract those standing guard here so you can escape safely.”

My mother’s gaze bored into mine. “I won’t go without you.”

“Mother, if the Celestials capture you, you will be their hostage. I can’t do what I must if you’re in danger. And if we flee all at once, they will sense our absence and give chase. Shuxiao and I can evade the soldiers, but as for you and Ping’er—”

“I am weak, I know.” My mother looked away. “I wish I could help. If only I had magic like yours.”

Perhaps my mother’s power was a quieter magic, like Tao’s, or one she was unaware of. Regardless, there was a core of strength in her that I had not understood as a child; I had thought her frail and delicate then. However, when I had left my home the first time, I had been a muddle of terror, while her mind remained clear, her resolve unclouded. It was as Ping’er had said: She is stronger than you think.

“No, Mother,” I told her gently. “Magic is not the only power; we are strong in different ways. You have kept me safe all these years, it is my turn to protect you now. Both of you,” I said, reaching out to take Ping’er’s hand.

My mother drew a deep breath. “Don’t do anything rash. You must be careful and don’t get caught. Promise me this.”

“I promise,” I agreed at once, ignoring the guilt that pierced me.

There was another part to my plan that I had not revealed, one still forming as we spoke. Shuxiao and I planned a diversion, but what if we were to set a trap for Wugang instead? Not from spite but the instinctive desire to end this ominous threat—for who but Wugang could harvest the laurel seeds?

My mother and Ping’er moved around the room, gathering a few possessions. At the doorway, my mother embraced me tightly. I closed my eyes, inhaling her fragrance threaded with the sweetness of osmanthus.

“Be careful, Little Star.” Ping’er’s hand touched my cheek gently. “The darkest of nights is when the stars shine brightest.”

A lump rose in my throat to hear my childhood name. I breathed deeply, holding my emotions in. Only after they had left, did I crumple to the floor, brushing my fingertips along the stone tiles. A final farewell.

That was all I allowed myself. Rising to my feet, I stalked to my room. The Jade Dragon Bow was the first thing I reached for. My sword was strapped to my side, a dagger tucked in my sash.

How arrogant I had been, thinking I would never run again. But this time, I would be ready … and I would take my loved ones with me.

The moon shimmered like a sea of silver, my mother having completed her task. Leaving the lanterns dark would have been a beacon for trouble, arousing the soldiers’ suspicions. As she emerged from the forest, walking toward Shuxiao and me, thin trails of smoke drifted from the splint of wood in her grasp.