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“They shall remain our guests on the shore,” she replies firmly.
As Lady Shufang departs the hall, General Suilan and most of the courtiers follow her. Two attendants approach Prince Zixin. “Allow me to show you to your quarters, Your Highness,” one says. “Your companions will be brought to the guard’s wing.”
Prince Zixin crooks his finger at me. “Follow me, I must discuss something with you.”
Jin steps forward. “We will follow, Your Highness,” he says, deliberately misinterpreting the prince’s wishes.
The prince’s eyebrows snap together. “Only Yining will accompany me. Head to your own room to await further command.”
Anger kindles in Jin’s gaze. But the attendants are watching, as are the remaining soldiers.
“Very well, Your Highness,” I reply quickly. “I will accompany you.”
“How obedient you are.” The prince leans to whisper into my ear as I fall into step beside him. “I almost forgot how it feels to have you obey me.”
“For the last time,” I hiss, out of the attendant’s hearing.
“Then I will savor this.” Prince Zixin’s eyes are opaque and unreadable. “Who knows what tomorrow brings?”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
PRINCE ZIXIN AND I FOLLOW THE ATTENDANT DOWN A long passage that cuts through several courtyards. “Lady Shufang resides in the most beautiful wing, Your Highness,” he says with pride. “Your chamber has been prepared close to hers.”
“How considerate of Her Ladyship,” the prince replies, yet his tone is distracted.
As we enter a garden of frangipani, my eyes widen. The trees are as graceful as dancers, holding up clusters of flowers nestled amid broad leaves. Fallen petals carpet the earth, the air heavy like a perfumed mist. As the attendant walks onward, leaving the garden, I hurry after him—but the prince catches my arm, his grip tightening as I try to pull free.
“What will Lady Shufang think if she sees us?” I demand, suppressing the urge to raise my voice. A twist of fate, that once I feared his wrath should Jin and I be discovered alone in his palace.
“Lady Shufang’s eye is on the larger prize, the crown of the Iron Mountains. She won’t trouble herself over us. After all, one look at you and it’s apparent you are neither my attendant nor guard.”
“There is no ‘us.’” I must keep the doors closed between us, those that should never have been opened.
“Then why fear being alone with me?”
“I’m not afraid, though you should be more cautious. Lady Shufang isn’t marrying the King of the Iron Mountains but weighing whether to risk throwing her full support behind you.”
His mouth curves in an infuriating way. “Are you concerned about me?”
“Our interests are aligned—for now.”
“I want to be aligned with you.” The word takes on a new meaning when he says it.
“You want your throne and crown; it’s why you’re courting the Lady of the Pearl Ocean.” My smile is mocking as I wrench free of his hold, the force startling him. “It’s going well, Your Highness. You should be the new lord within the month.”
Something flickers in his gaze as though he’s struggling with himself. “I want you. But what I need is her. I won’t leave my kingdom in my sister’s grasp; I will pay any price to retrieve it.”
“Then why seek me out?” Anger settles, the cold hard type. “Your ambition is insatiable; you want everything. You will ruin yourself with greed—I won’t let you ruin me.”
Prince Zixin moves so quickly to clasp my shoulders, I’m caught off guard. The familiar press of him sweeps over me, the headiness of the flowers rushing to my head.
“Let me go.”
When he doesn’t, fury flares, magic thrumming in my blood. My hand curls, my ring searing as the tips of my fingers glow. My pulse races as I imagine the flames surging forth, chasing the prince as he flees—
His hands fall away abruptly, his gaze clouded. Did he sense the ripple of my power? Is he afraid?
“Don’t touch me again.” My voice is low with threat. “You have no right, no hold over me.”
