“It is true, Xingyin.” Liwei added acidly, “His skills are uniquely suited to deception.”

Wenzhi’s eyes narrowed. “At least they are of some use.”

His offer tempted me. More than the sense behind his suggestion—I did not want to see the goddess and her sole child, to witness the misery my father’s deeds had wrought. But I could not be a coward now.

As I stepped forward, Wenzhi moved swiftly in front of me, extending his hand to the empress. She seized Wenzhi’s wrist, pressing their palms together. As a flash of scarlet light sparked between them, he recoiled.

“What was that?” His voice thickened with suspicion.

“The key is in my hands. It was why Xihe could not retrieve it.” A trace of sadness clung to the empress’s tone, her shoulders drooping before she straightened. “I cannot give it to you. The key cannot be yielded to any who intend to harm the goddess.”

“I don’t want to harm Lady Xihe. All I want is the feather,” Wenzhi said tersely.

The empress laughed as she threw a sly look my way. “You were ever single-minded and ruthless in your purpose, Captain. Regardless, you cannot enter the grove.” As she swung to me, the empress’s smile widened. “Daughter of the Sun Slayer. Will you enter the home of your greatest enemy?”

In response, I raised my hand. Swiftly, the empress pressed our palms together, heat rushing from her skin into mine, a soft white glow suffusing us unlike the harsh light that had jolted Wenzhi before. When she dropped her hand, I examined mine, discerning no visible difference.

“It is done,” she said flatly.

Striding to the entrance doors, I pressed my palms against the carved feathers to push them apart. They tingled, flushed with sudden warmth, amber light rippling across the golden wings of the phoenixes. Slowly, as though awakening from a dream, the phoenix heads twitched, twin beaks parting as their eyelids snapped open. Rubies glittered from their pupils, tiny flames dancing in their depths as their wings lifted away, leaving the path clear to the domain of the Goddess of the Sun.

Liwei caught my sleeve. “Don’t tell Lady Xihe who you are. If there is even a hint of danger, leave at once. We will find another way.” He added quietly, “I cannot lose you.”

“You must be careful too.” I wished that I could say more, that I could promise him what he wanted to hear.

“Come, Liwei,” the empress urged. “We must go.”

He strode stiffly toward the empress’s cloud, stepping upon it. As it soared into the night, he turned around once to look at me.

“He is right,” Wenzhi said, after they had vanished from sight. “Under no circumstances must you reveal your identity to Lady Xihe. Wait till she is asleep, then take the feather and flee.”