I drew my sword instead, just as the dragonflies shot forth with an ominous whir, the edges of their wings glinting like sharpened knives, a pale liquid glistening from their stingers. They hovered before us, those blood-red eyes fixed on Tao and me. My skin crawled as I forced my arm up, slashing at them—yet they darted aside with startling speed, hurtling toward me once more. I twisted aside to evade them, stabbing frantically at the one nearest to me, its wings breaking off with the clink of sawn glass. My blade flashed in a silvery blur as I hacked at the rest until all that remained were broken shards, strewn across the floor.

I breathed easier—too soon—as the lumps quivered. Bodies lengthened, wings and heads and limbs sprouting forth until every disjointed fragment had formed a new creature, springing into the air and humming like a plague of locusts.

Tao’s eyes went wide. “I had no idea they could do that.”

“You should have told me about them in the first place,” I bit out.

He flushed. “I told you I needed your skills. I … I was afraid you wouldn’t come. You had enough reservations.”

“Tao, we’re going to have a long talk after this.” I did not look away from the grotesque vision of gleaming stingers and fiery pupils, my ears ringing with that damned whirring and clicking like the gnashing of pincers.

The swarm plunged toward us. I grabbed Tao’s arm, racing away, knocking the mahogany table onto its side as we crouched behind it, rolling it to a corner of the room. The dragonflies slammed into the other side, some of their wings wedged into the table—the pointed tip of one already splintering the wood. My throat constricted, my stomach churning violently.

I grabbed a brass urn enameled with yellow chrysanthemums from a shelf, shoving it at Tao. “We must catch them.”

His hands shook as he took it. “What? Why?” he asked in an anguished tone.

“We can’t use magic. They can’t be killed. If you have another idea, I would welcome it,” I said fervently. “I’ll catch, you trap them. Keep the lid shut at all times.”

I shook free the binds around my wrists, grateful for Liwei’s transformation of them—those creatures would slice through silk in a blink. The cords sprang into the air, weaving into a small net upon my command. Without a pause, I grabbed the net and swung it at the dragonflies. Three caught in the weave, struggling wildly, the rest swerving aside before hurtling toward me once more. I dipped back low, yet their wings scraped my neck and cheeks. My wounds seared like fire, my heart thudding as I emptied the net into the urn, shaking it roughly to dislodge the creatures. As the last one fell in, Tao slammed the lid over the opening, his hold steady though his face was gray.