He spoke so rarely of his past—once before, when I had first learned of his treachery. I had not wanted to hear him then; nothing could have excused his actions. This time, I listened without acrimony or anger—for the first time in a long while, without seeking lies in each word.

“My father was neither doting nor kind, but he was more ambitious than cruel—always pushing us to better ourselves. Partly because he remembered what it was like when we were weak and downtrodden, the outcasts of the Immortal Realm.” Shadows darkened his eyes. “And now, he is dead and I wear the crown. There is no triumph in this. Even though it might have been inevitable, I never wanted to wade through my family’s blood for the throne.”

“Nothing can change that,” I said quietly. “You will be a good king.” These were no empty words of solace. The Celestial soldiers had revered, respected, and loved him. A rare combination that few rulers could attain.

He paused. “There is another reason I came. Somehow, news got out about my brother’s and father’s deaths. Wugang has demanded that we surrender your mother. If we comply, he will leave us in peace. If not—he has threatened swift retaliation.”

“What will you do?” What could he do? A monarch’s responsibility was to their kingdom. Wenzhi had always made clear where his priorities lay, and what was I to him? Not even a false bride anymore.

“My advisors want to concede. Before, Wugang’s eyes were turned elsewhere. He would not have attacked us while more attractive prospects lay before him for the taking, while he believed we might ally with him. But that has changed.”

“Will you surrender us?” I did not think he meant to betray us—but that he could not harbor us, that we could no longer count on his aid.

“It is what my father would have done. We are unprepared. An attack now would be catastrophic. We should buy time so we can stand against him another day.”

A hollow gaped in my chest, though I should not have expected more. But I would try to reason with him as I would have done with another. “You were never one for a quick victory at the expense of the greater scheme. Yielding to Wugang is not the answer.”