I lunged at him, my weapon thrust out as he swung his axe high. Our blades collided in a shrill scrape, my wrist throbbing from the force. Shuxiao leapt up, slashing at Wugang from the side, his body curving inward to evade the blow. Shoving his full weight against his axe, he flung me off, a bright flare of his magic streaking toward us. At once I pushed Shuxiao to safety, spinning aside to avoid his attack.

Wugang raised his palms, alight with power, a shield gliding over him. “I was right to doubt your loyalties, Lieutenant.”

“You did nothing to earn them,” Shuxiao retorted.

“Disloyal. Disobedient. Untalented. It’s time to purge the Celestial Army of such worthless recruits.”

Anger throbbed as I swung at him again. Shuxiao’s sword flew beside mine, swift and ruthless—yet Wugang moved with startling deftness. He dodged Shuxiao’s next blow, spinning around to slam his foot into her gut. She went sprawling but scrambled up at once, flinging a bolt of ice into his shoulder. As Wugang staggered back with a gasp, I dove forward, driving my sword into his chest. The metal tip ground against the scales of his armor, yet his shield held fast. Grasping the hilt of my sword with both hands, I threw all my force against it, magic sliding from my palms to sheathe the blade. Wugang’s shield fractured, my sword sinking deeper to penetrate his flesh—

A cry jolted me, ringing between my ears. My mother’s voice. Why was she still here? As I froze, Wugang shoved my sword aside, springing out of reach. I started after him at once, but Celestial soldiers spilled from the trees like rivers of gold. My heart sank as Feimao dragged my mother forward, while another soldier built like an ox held Ping’er fast.

“They found us,” my mother whispered. “I’m sorry.”

“Drop your weapons,” Wugang commanded, a slick smile upon his face—when barely a moment earlier, my sword had been pressed to his chest. “Any foolishness on your part, and your mother will pay the price.”

Feimao shoved the edge of his blade to the back of my mother’s neck. One upward thrust, and it would sever the core of her lifeforce. I searched his face, hoping for a flash of doubt, a sign of assurance—yet his expression remained blank.

Fury burned within me, enmeshed with the ice of fear. The temptation surged to unleash a gale upon them, sweeping Wugang to the ground … yet I forced myself to release my power, letting my sword fall from my grasp. How I hated this feeling of helplessness; these binds of futility.

Wugang inclined his head to my mother with unexpected courtesy, as though he were the genial Master Gang once more. “Chang’e. It saddens me to repay your hospitality in this manner.”

“You could release us and spare yourself the grief,” I bit out.