Page 27

Her gaze fell onto my fingers, dusted with the gleaming powder from the lotus. “You plucked the flowers,” she accused venomously. “You dared to steal one.”

Her tone was laced with triumph; she was looking for a reason to punish me whether I deserved it or not. “I only touched it,” I protested. “They were so beautiful. I didn’t know they belonged to you.”

“Guards—seize the mortal.” Her face was a stony mask. “Bring her back to the palace for her punishment.”

Two soldiers moved toward me, grabbing my arms. Ice formed in my stomach, hardening along my veins. “Wait!” I cried out, my voice breaking. “Lord Zhangwei said I was under his protection.”

She stilled at once, an odd light flaring in her eyes. “If that is true, then let Lord Zhangwei come and collect you himself.”

Would there be anything left of me? I struggled violently against her guards. I wouldn’t go willingly, not this way—a victim of her wrath. The God of War was ruthless and cold, but compared to his queen, he was the incarnation of kindness.

One of the soldiers shoved my back and I fell onto my palms, scraping them against the stones. Another started toward me—but then light struck the ground, waves of fire arcing wide to form a ring around me.

“Step away from her.”

Lord Zhangwei stood a short distance behind me, his command uttered with such authority, the soldiers froze. At once, they wrapped their fists in their palms to bow to him, their reverence clear to all.

I exhaled with relief; I could have wept with it. The God of War wore no armor, clad in the same gray robe as earlier. His jade-and-gold sword was clasped in his hand, his hair pulled back into a silver ring. All the while, his flames circled me like a shield, one I welcomed now.

“Lord Zhangwei, you’ve been careless,” Queen Caihong admonished him bitterly. “This place is forbidden to all.”

Her hostile manner was surprising. After her rage at my presence, I’d imagined them more intimate. Was I mistaken? Were these not her quarters?

Lord Zhangwei bowed to her. “The Lady of Tianxia is my guest, under my protection. If she has displeased Your Majesty, I will bear the consequences.”

“You are protective of the mortal.” Her mouth curled into a mirthless smile as she raised her hand, white light streaking forth to engulf the flames around me. They shuddered, dying abruptly. “Given your negligence, she will return with me now.”

Mutely, I shook my head. If she took me, I was as good as dead. The way she looked at me . . . I was a splinter in her finger, a thorn pricking her heel. And she wanted me gone.

As the soldiers moved toward me again, the god drew his great blade and hurled it toward us—its tip plunging into the stone path, fracturing it into a web of cracks. The soldiers stepped back, exchanging uneasy glances.

It was not an attack but a warning.

“She is under my protection,” the god repeated calmly as he strode forward to stand beside me. “No one will take her from me.”

“Are you defying me, Lord Zhangwei?” Queen Caihong’s voice dropped dangerously low.

“I am obeying your previous command, Your Majesty—to bring the Lady of Tianxia safely to court, to pledge her loyalty to you,” he replied without flinching. “Nor am I asking you to rescind her punishment, but to allow me to bear it, since she is my responsibility.”

“No.” The protest fell from me, stupid though it was. I should let him do this, let him suffer—he’d caused enough strife in the world. But deep down, I didn’t want this. Was it the obligation? How it muddied my feelings when I so desperately needed the clarity? I should hate him, I needed to. But this was my fault. I’d defied his order, stolen the key to enter. I should accept the punishment myself . . . except I didn’t want to die. And it dawned on me, too—this wedge between the queen and her God of War could be beneficial. Let the immortals play their own games; it was better for Tianxia if they turned on each other.

The queen drew herself up, her amber headdress catching the light. “Think carefully, Lord Zhangwei. Do you truly wish to bear the mortal’s punishment? Her offense is grave, as you know.”

“It was a single flower,” I protested. “It withered when I touched it.”

“You entered where you shouldn’t have, you touched what you had no right to,” she said harshly. “You have disrespected our rules and violated the hospitality of your host.”

I bit my tongue, suppressing a flash of shame. She was right, and yet her anger and threats seemed disproportionate. “I apologize for offending you, Your Majesty. I meant no disrespect.” These conciliatory words choked me, but I didn’t want anyone to be punished on my behalf—not even him.

As Queen Caihong stared at me, unspeaking, the God of War stepped forward. “I will bear her punishment,” he said, more forcefully than before.

I tried to read his expression, to understand why he was doing this. But whether his protection of me was bound to duty or honor . . . I wasn’t indifferent to it, an unwanted warmth kindling within.

A brittle smile stretched over Queen Caihong’s face. How did she feel, her general protecting a mortal? “Lord Zhangwei. I summon you to the Palace of Radiant Light to receive your punishment tomorrow.”

“What is the punishment?” I asked, half-expecting her to ignore me.

“Four strikes on the Dragon Platform.”