“No, Mother,” I told her gently. “Magic is not the only power; we are strong in different ways. You have kept me safe all these years, it is my turn to protect you now. Both of you,” I said, reaching out to take Ping’er’s hand.

My mother drew a deep breath. “Don’t do anything rash. You must be careful and don’t get caught. Promise me this.”

“I promise,” I agreed at once, ignoring the guilt that pierced me.

There was another part to my plan that I had not revealed, one still forming as we spoke. Shuxiao and I planned a diversion, but what if we were to set a trap for Wugang instead? Not from spite but the instinctive desire to end this ominous threat—for who but Wugang could harvest the laurel seeds?

My mother and Ping’er moved around the room, gathering a few possessions. At the doorway, my mother embraced me tightly. I closed my eyes, inhaling her fragrance threaded with the sweetness of osmanthus.

“Be careful, Little Star.” Ping’er’s hand touched my cheek gently. “The darkest of nights is when the stars shine brightest.”

A lump rose in my throat to hear my childhood name. I breathed deeply, holding my emotions in. Only after they had left, did I crumple to the floor, brushing my fingertips along the stone tiles. A final farewell.

That was all I allowed myself. Rising to my feet, I stalked to my room. The Jade Dragon Bow was the first thing I reached for. My sword was strapped to my side, a dagger tucked in my sash.

How arrogant I had been, thinking I would never run again. But this time, I would be ready … and I would take my loved ones with me.

Chapter 11

The moon shimmered like a sea of silver, my mother having completed her task. Leaving the lanterns dark would have been a beacon for trouble, arousing the soldiers’ suspicions. As she emerged from the forest, walking toward Shuxiao and me, thin trails of smoke drifted from the splint of wood in her grasp.

“Mother, are you ready?” I asked quietly.