“Decided, what?” Wenzhi demanded. I had not told him how I ended things with Liwei, the false things I had said of us.

“He is unworthy of you,” Liwei said forcefully.

“I could say the same of you.” Wenzhi uncoiled his legs and rose to his feet. “You, who gave her up to wed another. A fool’s choice, something I will never do.”

“You just wanted her on your own terms.” Liwei stalked closer, his movements stiff with anger. “Are you even capable of love, or is it just possession you are after?”

“What exists between Xingyin and me is none of your concern. Look to your own faults before you imagine mine.” Wenzhi’s face hardened. “What kind of life did you intend to offer her? Did you think she would be happy in the Jade Palace with the Celestial Court? Would you have fastened a leash on her, turning her into an ornament for your life when you would never have deigned to become part of hers? You are not strong enough to do—to surrender—what it will take for her happiness.”

I laughed in disbelief as I rounded on Wenzhi. “You locked me up. You took away my power. You tried to impose your will upon me, and you dare speak of my happiness?”

“Yes, I did all that, and I was wrong,” Wenzhi answered fiercely. “A part of me knew it then, but I was selfish and afraid. I did not want to lose you. I wanted us to have a chance together, away from all else. From him.” He turned his back to Liwei, closing the distance between us, speaking to me alone. “But I have looked into the mirror since, and not liked what I saw. I have changed, if you would only see that. If you can believe he will not hurt you again—why not me?”

“Because what you did was unforgivable,” I said bitterly. “It does not matter whether you’ve changed or not, nothing can change what you were, what you did, and what you destroyed.”

He flinched like I had struck him, but his gaze remained steel bright. “Then let’s build something new together.”

“Enough with these lies.” Liwei’s tone was harsh with scorn.

As his long fingers clamped over Wenzhi’s shoulder, Wenzhi seized his wrist and flung it off, swinging around to face Liwei. “Try it again if you dare, Your Highness. I fought my first battle while you were studying calligraphy and painting.”

“Your lessons were sorely lacking in many regards,” Liwei flung back as his hand went around the hilt of his sword.

I moved swiftly between them. “Enough. We are not the enemy.”