“Your Highness.” The soldiers greeted him with a bow.
Another prince? I thought to myself. Hardly surprising as the Demon King was unwed, rumored to have dozens of concubines, many of whom would be vying for children to secure their influence and position.
He ignored the others; his attention fixed on me. “And who might you be?” His tone was pleasant, but his yellowish eyes reminded me of a serpent hunting for its prey.
I did not reply, unsure of what to say—certain that I would find no allies here. Fortunately, Captain Mengqi appeared, striding toward us. She frowned at the sight of the stranger, although she bowed to him respectfully.
“Captain Mengqi. How rare to see you from my younger brother’s side. Can you tell me who she is?” He gestured toward me.
Younger brother? I started, peering closer at him. Was this Prince Wenshuang? Wenzhi’s hated sibling?
“She is Crown Prince Wenzhi’s guest,” Captain Mengqi replied in a level tone.
A sudden menace swept over the man’s face. Had the mention of Wenzhi’s title infuriated him so? And had Captain Mengqi done it to antagonize him, to avoid our detainment, or both?
Prince Wenshuang cast a dazzling smile at me now, all trace of his ire gone. “I heard news of this. Are you really from the Celestial Kingdom?”
Unsettled by his stare, I nodded tersely.
“Your Highness, forgive us, but we must be on our way.” Captain Mengqi bowed again, her body tensing as she rose.
Prince Wenshuang’s lip curled as he flicked his hand in a dismissive gesture. As we left, I could sense his gaze boring into my back.
We walked through a circular stone gateway into a courtyard, toward a large building surrounded by pine trees—tall and evergreen. The air was fresh and sweet, the scent of pine needles mingling with the night breeze . . . reminiscent of Wenzhi’s own scent, though I quelled the unwanted thought. Black marble pillars flanked the entrance, carved with a swirling pattern inlaid in gold. The closed doors were solid panels of ebony, giving no hint as to what lay behind them.
Captain Mengqi rapped her knuckles against the wood.
A brief silence, then footsteps tread across the floor. “I gave clear instructions that I was not to be disturbed,” Wenzhi said coldly from within.
The captain glared at me. “I apologize for the intrusion, Your Highness. We will leave at once.”
I would not. “I insisted Captain Mengqi bring me here,” I called out.
He did not reply. I held my breath as Captain Mengqi sighed, the soldiers exchanging anxious glances.
The doors slid open then. Wenzhi stood in the entrance, his dark green robe almost sweeping the floor. His hair fell over his shoulders, loose and unbound. At the sight of me, his eyes widened, before tightening—with suspicion, I thought. Yet, he moved aside, allowing me to enter.
I stepped into his room, hearing the doors shut behind me with an ominous thud. My back pulled straight, I glanced around the spacious quarters, taking in the stone walls, high ceilings, and tall windows. Gold incense burners flanked the entrance, thankfully unlit, as I was glad for the unscented air. A mahogany bed lay on a raised platform in the middle of the room, draped with white curtains from its wooden frame. Books and scrolls were piled onto a large desk by the window, which would offer a pleasing view of the courtyard if it were not shuttered. Several swords were hung on the far side of the room, in scabbards of gold and silver, precious woods and jade. At the sight of them, I stilled, trying to suppress a burst of excitement.
He walked toward me, his gaze pinning me where I stood. My fingers curled, yet I forced them to hang limp against my skirt. If I could keep my composure, if he believed me ignorant of his plots—I had a chance. But if I revealed my true intentions, I would be locked up once more with no hope of escape. And that would be the least of my troubles.
His eyes slid from my brocade slippers, along the length of my robe, to the jade comb in my hair. “Why . . . this? Though the color suits you.”
I shrugged. “I was bored.”
A smile played on his lips. “Did you miss me, today?”
I stifled the urge to snarl at him. Harsh words would gain me nothing but a moment’s childish satisfaction, undoing all my efforts to get here. Instead, I lifted my chin, fixing him with a challenging stare. “Even if I did, I would not admit it.”
“Why are you here, Xingyin?” he asked bluntly.
“I want answers,” I returned in kind. “You have the pearls. The Jade Dragon Bow. I am no longer of use to you. Why keep me here?”