Liwei’s power merged with mine, channeling a gale that sped us onward. As we neared the eastern gate, I braced for battle, for the guards there to try to stop us—yet it was strangely abandoned, no one rushing forth in pursuit as we shot into the skies. If this was the empress’s doing, I was glad for her foresight.

Only after the Celestial Kingdom’s borders were far behind us did I allow myself to relax. My heart was beating much too quickly as my gaze met Liwei’s. Without speaking, he closed the distance between us and pulled me into his arms. I softened against him, inhaling his scent. A lightness spilled through me, the relief of being with him again, though it was speared by dread of what would come.

I pushed away from him, ignoring the sharp pang in my chest—my vow to the empress ringing through my mind. I dared not allow myself even this indulgence. Liwei dropped his arms and stepped away, his eyes shadowed with hurt. Reluctant to answer his unspoken question—to lie—I turned to Tao, only to find a cloud sweeping beside ours as the woman leapt upon it, Tao’s hand clasped in hers.

I lunged forth, seizing Tao’s other wrist. “Who are you? What do you want?” I demanded of her.

“It’s none of your concern.”

“It is, when he stole from me,” I shot back.

“You must be angry at me,” Tao began.

“Angry does not capture it when I have been lied to, cheated, and left with the blame.” I rounded upon him. “Why did you do it?”

“I didn’t intend to! I believed there were two elixirs, not one,” he stammered.

As I recalled his strange reaction when he opened the box, a little of my anger dissipated. “Where is the elixir?”

“I … I no longer have it.”

I breathed deeply, fighting for calm. I had earned the elixir, bled for it as he had. Perhaps, if he had not tried to cheat me … it was no use thinking of that; the only thing that mattered was retrieving the elixir, if it was not too late. “Tell me where it is.”

Tao’s tongue flicked over his lips as his eyes darted toward the woman. I swung to her. “He gave it to you. Is that why you’re helping him?”

“Release him, before I make you regret it.” Menace coiled in her voice as she raised her hand, a wave of glittering magic rushing through the air.

I sprang back to evade it, letting go of Tao. At once the woman pulled him over to her cloud. As they soared away, I whipped the Jade Dragon Bow free, training it upon the fleeing pair, a beam of light pulsing between my fingers—

“No.” Liwei moved in front of me.

“What are you doing? They’re getting away!” I cried out in frustration.