Wenzhi and Liwei were encircled by Southern Sea soldiers, their swords flashing in a blur of silver and gold as they made swift work of their opponents. Shuxiao was locked in a ferocious tussle with another guard, his spear clanging against her sword.

Queen Suihe pointed a trembling hand at Liwei. “The Celestial Crown Prince! The emperor will reward us well for this. Call for reinforcements!”

Three guards detached themselves, running toward the entrance. I did not let myself think, an arrow springing from my fingers to strike one, then the next. As I drew another arrow, the last soldier dashed through the doors, shouting for aid.

I cursed myself. In a moment, more guards would swarm the room, barring the only entrance. Already, they might be barreling through the corridors. I frantically searched for an escape route—not the walls, for the throne room was deeply ensconced within and we would have to fight our way through the sole pathway. An impossible feat when we were vastly outnumbered. My eyes flew to the domed ceiling, recalling its decorative spires and low structure from the outside—just a single layer of stone separating us from freedom.

I signaled to the others to raise their shields, even as I strengthened the ones around my parents. Only then did I draw my bow, raising it high, releasing a bolt of Sky-fire at the arched ceiling. It struck in a blinding flash, a web of fissures tearing across the stone with ominous grinding sounds. Another arrow of ice—my father’s—plunged after mine. The ceiling shuddered, the cracks splitting wider as clouds of dust showered down. I choked, coughing to clear my lungs as stone fragments fell away, cascading like hail—one crashing through my shield, knocking a gasp from me as it struck my shoulder. More shields arced around me, pulsing with Liwei’s warmth, gleaming with Wenzhi’s cool energy—just as a spire crashed by my feet, disintegrating into shards. Above us, through the jagged hole torn in the roof, midnight waters embraced the barriers arcing over the city. They had never seemed so inviting before, nor had the air in this place ever pressed on me more.

Shouts rang through the chamber, the remaining courtiers scrambling for shelter. The guards no longer attacked us, channeling their energy to form protective shields around the vulnerable. I spun to the dais to find Queen Suihe’s gaze locked on mine, burning with loathing. She would neither forget nor forgive this destruction, a shiver running through me at the thought.

I turned from her, rushing toward my parents. Wind spun from my fingers, weaving coils of air which swept us high—Shuxiao, Liwei, and Wenzhi doing the same. Together, we soared through the tear in the roof, landing upon the outskirts of the palace. My breathing came labored, for it was a great strain to fly without a cloud.