“Trust is something which goes both ways. I had always plotted for and taken what I wanted before. It was the only way to survive here—to thrive.” He held my gaze. “I learned too late there was another way, that trust need not be a weakness. If only I had been honest with you from the start.”

“It would not have mattered; I would never have agreed to what you did.” Such righteous words I spoke, though the anger that should have accompanied them had faded.

“Perhaps,” Wenzhi said slowly. “But I would like to think we might have found our way together. That you might have understood, and that we could have helped one another without hurting each other.”

I hardened myself. “A fairy tale.”

“My mother always said that I never believed in fairy tales. It was because I had known monsters since the day I knew my name.” His lips curved into a small smile. “Indulge me. Let me tell you how it played out in my mind on the days I allowed myself to dream.”

My emotions warred within; one part of me curious, the wiser part afraid.

“You have no love for the Celestial Kingdom,” he began. “Perhaps I could have offered my father something else in place of the pearls. Perhaps I could have renounced my claim to the throne once I secured my mother’s position. We could have left this world behind us and made our own way, whether in the realm above or below.”

“You would have given up your crown? After all you did to secure it?” My voice lifted in disbelief.

The light in his eyes rivaled that of the moon. “I would give it all up for you, if you would only ask.”

My mind went blank, an ache writhing in my chest. Yet he was cunning enough to say what he thought I wanted to hear. “I will not ask.” Somehow, I managed to speak steadily. “For it would change nothing between us.”

A shadow fell over his face. “What you told my father just now … are you really promised to the Celestial prince?”

“No.” I could not lie.

He pushed away from the door, coming to sit beside me. “I must ask, would you give this a chance? We could wed to please my father, to obtain the scroll. Once we defeat Wugang, we would have eternity before us. I would release you from your vows anytime you wished—whether a month, a year, or a decade after. We could live as you choose, doing nothing you did not want to. I will do everything in my power to make you happy, even letting you go whenever you wish because … I love you.”