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“Father,” he spat, each syllable throttled with rage—all semblance of indifference gone. “If I should even call you that after you shamed me before all. Stripping me of my position, replacing me with my half-brother. He is of common stock, while my mother is the Virtuous Consort of the first rank!”

A high-pitched wail raked the silence. The Virtuous Consort did not seem to approve of her son’s actions.

“This is contemptible, even for you. How dare you do such a thing?” Wenzhi’s knuckles were white around his sword.

Prince Wenshuang threw his head back and laughed. “Oh, I would dare much more, Brother. Across the generations, many a long-lived king has been hastened to his death by an impatient heir. The one who sits on the throne dictates the past and shapes the future, and I will no longer stand on the sidelines.”

“You forget one thing. You are no longer the heir.” Wenzhi’s tone was calmer, though his eyes were shards of ice.

Prince Wenshuang flicked his hand in a dismissive gesture. “A small matter, which will be swiftly remedied.”

“Challenge me if you dare, fight me without hiding behind your soldiers. Show them who is fit to rule. Otherwise, who will support you? Who will respect you? A son without honor, who murdered his father. Who cannot even wield his own blade.”

Wenzhi’s words were carefully chosen to stir his brother to rashness. For the days were long past that Prince Wenshuang could have bested him, and outnumbered as we were, single combat was our best chance of remaining alive.

The guests murmured, the braver ones nodding in agreement. Still, Prince Wenshuang displayed not a glimmer of concern. “Don’t play your tricks on me; I’ve seen them all before. I don’t need to prove myself to you or anyone. Those who do not obey do so at their own peril. Since Father rejected the Celestial Emperor’s offer, he was pleased to accept mine.” His mouth curled into a smirk. “My throne for the Moon Goddess. More than a fair exchange. The emperor even gave me this.” He kicked the bloodied spear shaft to the side.

“You have grossly miscalculated,” I told him with a smile. “My mother is not here.”

“You are here, her beloved daughter. She will come. I just have to wait.”

Guards encircled us, my spirits sinking to find their weapons pointed our way. Grasping my power, I held it at the ready, magic flickering at my fingertips.

“My parents have returned to the Mortal Realm. They will not come here again. What do you think Wugang will do to you for failing to honor your promise?” Never had a lie brought me more satisfaction as rage mottled Prince Wenshuang’s face.

“If that is true,” he ground out, “there is no reason to keep you alive after all.”

Prince Wenshuang lunged at me, his sword thrust forward, scarlet flames rippling across its surface. Cursing my heavy garments, I darted aside, casting a shield over myself. He was indeed a coward, attacking one who was weaponless. Wenzhi called to me as he grabbed a sword from a nearby soldier, tossing it to me from across the pavilion. Catching it deftly, I tore its scabbard away, swinging around to catch Prince Wenshuang’s blow.

His strikes rained down with brute force, though he lacked the innate grace of the finest swordsmen. I caught each hit, flinging it back—his attacks growing more vicious. A struggle to match him on physical strength alone as I was driven back, out of the pavilion, upon the bed of violet clouds. As his next blow crashed down, I swerved out of reach, summoning a burst of wind that slammed him back into a pillar.

He sprang up, his expression murderous as he flung his hand out, a fistful of fiery daggers hurtling toward me. I dropped low just as a furious shout rang out from the pavilion. Wenzhi, fighting his way to me through Prince Wenshuang’s guards. With a kick he sent one sprawling, thrusting his sword through another. Yet more soldiers swarmed around him until I could no longer see him in their midst. My heart plummeted. As I started forward, a searing heat lashed my back. I swallowed a cry as I spun to face Prince Wenshuang, my magic rippling forth to quench his flames. As his energy sparked again from his fingers, coils of air sprang from my palm, flinging him onto his back. A moment’s reprieve before he rolled to his feet, stalking toward me once more. His sword swung down, narrowly missing my face as I dipped back. As he stumbled, I leapt forward, my foot connecting with his gut. A furious gasp choked from his throat as my glittering energy wound around his sword, yanking it from his grip.

Six of his soldiers rushed toward me, bolts of ice and flame plunging my way. As I grasped my powers, a translucent arrow hurtled past me, sinking into one of my pursuers with a squelch. I glanced at the soldier rolling on the ground, clutching at the icy shaft speckled with blood. My father’s arrow.

More shouts rang out as Liwei and my father descended from the skies, their cloud soaring toward me. My father’s arm moved so swiftly it was a blur, each arrow striking its mark with unerring accuracy, while bolts of fire streaked from Liwei’s palms, scorching the soldiers. Several scrambled to flee, the braver ones erecting shields and holding their ground.

As their cloud swooped down before me, my father stretched out his hand. “Come, Xingyin! We must go!”

I hesitated. One step, and we would be free of this wretched place—my father, mother, Liwei, and me. Yet I could not move; I did not want to. If we left … Wenzhi would die. “I can’t leave him here surrounded by enemies.”

Liwei’s face was expressionless as he sprang from the cloud, coming to stand beside me. “Then I will fight with you.”

“Father, you must stay on the cloud, out of reach,” I urged him. “It’s too dangerous without your magic; we might not be able to protect you.” I added the last to force his hand. My father was not one to remain on the sidelines of a battle.

He nodded grimly. “I will cover you from here.” Raising his silver bow, another arrow gleamed between his fingers.

Guests had fled the pavilion, running across the clouds. Shouts rang out, confused and afraid. My father’s arrows plunged forth in swift succession, our bolts of magic streaking through the air, crashing against the soldier’s shields as Liwei and I fought our way back into the pavilion. At last I saw him, the tall figure clad in crimson, his robes a match to mine.

Wenzhi and his brother circled each other. Sweat glistened on their faces, light streaming from their palms into their swords. Prince Wenshuang swung his weapon in a wide arc, slashing at his brother’s head—Wenzhi driving his blade up to catch the blow. They struggled, metal scraping, faces taut with strain. Wenzhi’s hands whitened around the hilt, ice crystals rippling along the blade as he pressed forward, breaking his brother’s hold—Prince Wenshuang staggering back. Catching his balance, Prince Wenshuang hurled streaks of crimson flame toward Wenzhi, who summoned waves of water to engulf it. Their magic arced through the air, dazzling and dangerous, their blades crashing in a frenzied rhythm until my insides recoiled at the sight. While Wenzhi fought with his usual grace and skill, he held back each blow, tempering his strikes … unwilling to kill.

As more of Prince Wenshuang’s soldiers advanced toward Wenzhi, I channeled my magic to summon a gale, hurling them back. Beside me, Liwei unleashed waves of flame, keeping the rest at bay. This fight would be a fair one, the victory clean.

Fire and ice scattered in a hellish storm. The combatants were tiring, their skin glistening with sweat and blood. Wenzhi raised his sword high, only to drop it low at the last moment, spinning around to drive it through Prince Wenshuang’s gut. Blood spurted out in a crimson stream. Prince Wenshuang cried out, his sword falling from his hand—as Wenzhi’s arm swung down again, pressing the edge of his blade against his brother’s neck.

Triumph soared through my veins, tempered by a churning unease. Victories tainted by blood were not easy ones to relish.

“Finish it,” Prince Wenshuang snarled, his eyes squeezed with loathing.