I hardened myself against the anguish in his words. “What of those who’ve suffered at your hands? Ping’er never harmed you, and still you killed her. You are no better than those you condemn.”

Almost trembling, I whipped my bow free, drawing its string, an arrow blazing in my grasp. Soldiers surged forth to encircle Wugang—dozens of them, over a hundred or more. Despite their pallor, their steady bearing betrayed neither fear nor doubt. I squinted to get a clearer look at them, trying to make out their faces beneath their helmets—yet the light glittered too bright against their armor, it seemed to dance upon their very skin. If I released my arrow, if they attacked us, could we flee?

“I would not.” Wugang spoke in the knowing tone of a teacher instructing a pupil, a powerful shield gleaming across his body.

Two soldiers dragged an immortal forward. Her headdress sat crooked on her head, her robe ripped on one side and streaked with dark stains. The Celestial Empress. Shock jolted me, as Liwei drew a ragged breath. As she struggled, her gold nail sheaths raked her captors—but they neither flinched nor cried out, despite the poison in those talons.

“Mother!” Liwei bolted forward, but I moved in front of him, my arrow still drawn.

“No,” I cautioned. “It’s a trap.”

“If it’s a hostage you want, I will take her place,” Liwei called out.

I swallowed my protest, keeping my arrow trained upon the soldiers. Their eyes did not follow it; not a flicker of apprehension did they show.

“A noble son.” Wugang laughed. “I am tempted by your offer. It would ensure that she behaves herself too.” The look he shot at me was steeped in malevolence.

“Liwei, stay where you are,” the empress commanded sharply. “I am unhurt.”

“Why is my mother here?” Liwei demanded.

“She was caught trying to flee to the Phoenix Kingdom. We couldn’t have her whispering into Queen Fengjin’s ear, mustering their army in her support.” Wugang’s eyes shone like cold bronze. “It was a great favor you did me, when you refused the suit of their princess. It opened a rift I was able to exploit—between the kingdoms, within your family itself.”

I fought back a flash of guilt. Liwei did not love Princess Fengmei, and nothing I did would change that. Wugang wanted to divide us further, to sow discord, to make us vulnerable to his manipulation. It was his greatest skill. I stared at the Celestial Empress, trapped among the soldiers. While I had little desire to rescue her, Liwei would not leave her and I would not leave him.

“My messenger informed me that you were Queen Suihe’s guests. She will learn to choose her company with greater care.” Menace crawled in Wugang’s tone, his shift in mood sudden and unsettling. “The queen is fortunate if we do not punish her for harboring you.”