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“Ask yourself why you are angry,” he says. “Ask yourself why you still care. Most of all, ask yourself why you are afraid, if I truly have no hold over you?”

“I am not afraid of you,” I scoff.

“I know,” he replies intently. “You fear yourself.”

Someone enters the garden behind us—Jin. His gaze locks on me as he frowns, sensing the trace of magic, attuned to it. At once, I shackle it, casting it aside. Reckless, to attack the prince with Lady Shufang’s guards nearby.

Jin comes toward me. “Are you all right?”

“Yes,” I reply, though my voice catches.

His expression is menacing as he swings to the prince. “You’re a fool to provoke her,” Jin warns him. “Though I’d relish cleaning up the ashes of your remains.”

“Your Highness,” the attendant calls out, rushing back to the garden. He halts at the sight of us, seemingly confused.

At once, I clasp my hands and bow to the prince—hating the farce of deference, yet seizing the chance to get away. “We will head to our quarters now, Your Highness.”

A tense silence before the prince dismisses us with a curt nod. “Return when I summon you.”

“We will be certain to,” Jin replies.

He brings me to the guards’ quarters, in a vast courtyard shaded by trees. Tables and stools are scattered across the grounds, most occupied by soldiers on their break. Rows of two-tiered buildings lie to the side, their thatched roofs and wooden doors stark in simplicity, yet sturdy and well-built. Each appears divided into several small rooms with narrow windows.

My room is on the ground floor, tucked in a corner. It is dim inside, an unlit lamp on a round table, but is clean with a bed. Light filters in from the solitary window that looks out at a tree—a good view, compared to most of the others.

Jin closes the door. “What happened? I sensed your magic.”

“I wanted to unleash it. To hurt him,” I admit. “The urge is growing to use it. While I can stop—the danger is when I use too much. I crave more… I care less about hurting others.” I swallow through the sudden tightness. “I don’t want to be a monster.”

“He’s the monster, used to getting his own way, provoking you to elicit the reaction he desires. He’s forgotten that now you can push back harder.” Jin folds my hands in his. “Much as I’d enjoy watching you burn the prince, it’s too dangerous here. They are suspicious of magic. Stay close to me, I won’t let you lose control.”

As the door opens, I pull away from Jin. Shenming enters, sitting at the table. “This is the largest room we were assigned, with the best view. Lord Jin-Yong insisted that you take it.”

“As her ‘intended,’ you should allow her first pick,” Jin says, his tone one of challenge.

Shenming’s fingers drum the table. “Lord Jin-Yong, you must know how things stand between us. This is a temporary arrangement that we will end upon returning home. Yining and I are like siblings—”

“Those that fight and don’t like each other,” I add with a smile.

Jin slants his head back. “Why are you admitting this to me?”

“You won’t report us to the Elders,” Shenming says. “But mostly, this is self-preservation—in case you’ve been plotting my imminent demise. I’ve heard of your reputation, I don’t wish to test it.”

Jin laughs. “I almost believe we can be friends.”

“As do I,” Shenming says after a moment.

“If you’re one of Yining’s ‘siblings,’ I will endeavor to remain on good terms with you.”

“Have you received news of the others on shore? Of Dian?” I ask Shenming hastily.

“They are taken care of, given comfortable quarters. Lady Shufang is a generous host.”

“It fits her purpose to gain favor with Prince Zixin. We must not anger her,” I caution. “We cannot risk the Sun Dragon’s safety.”

“We need to find the waterfall soon,” Shenming says urgently. “Have you sensed anything else?”

I shake my head. “I need to explore the grounds. It feels like the place we’re looking for isn’t here—but farther out at sea.”