Shrill cries rang out, accompanied by the swish of air. Soldiers in bronze armor flew across the skies, mounted upon magnificent phoenixes. Crimson sparks trailed in their wake, their plumage so bright as though coated in flame, with rainbows fluttering from their tails. In their midst soared the Celestial Empress—she would always be that to me, whether she had a throne or not. I almost did not recognize her, the purpose shining upon her face, devoid of her habitual malice or tension. Was this a glimpse of who she was before? Had her bitterness been born from the disillusionment of her marriage, of having her wings clipped by life in the Celestial Kingdom? I did not like her any better, but perhaps I understood her a little more.

The empress halted by our cloud, sliding off her mount with ease. “Queen Fengjin will join our fight against the villain Wugang,” she announced with pride.

“We are grateful for her aid,” Liwei said, adding, “as we are for yours, Mother. You must have changed her mind, for the queen did not seem inclined to support us before.”

“Wugang must be stopped.” She cast a scathing look at Wenzhi. “I did not do this for you; they do not fight for the Demons. I could not care less what happens to your wretched kingdom.”

Wenzhi’s eyes flashed. “Neither do I care what happens to the Celestial Kingdom, for it has already fallen.”

As the empress’s red lips twisted into a snarl, Liwei cleared his throat. “There is nothing to be gained by insulting each other. We are glad for reinforcements.”

“Indeed.” A mocking smile tugged at Wenzhi’s lips. “How fortunate that while we are loathed by most of the Immortal Realm—they hate Wugang more.”

“As they should, for Wugang is the greatest threat we have ever faced,” my father said, alighting from Shuxiao’s cloud to ours. His bow lay across his back like a crescent of silver. My mother followed him, her face pale and drawn.

“Are you well enough to be here?” I asked Shuxiao anxiously.

“Well enough and bored enough. Anything would be better than another week of lying down and being fed vile herbal concoctions.” She shuddered, crossing her arms. “The dragons are wise and powerful, yet their medicines are foul.”

“Bitter medicines are preferable to fatal wounds.” I examined the armies, relieved at the sight—and yet my spirits had never been lower. How many would still stand after a battle? How many would return to their families? There would be no mercy from Wugang or his soldiers; I did not think they were capable of it.