Page 119 of Immortal

I rushed toward him, my pulse racing. A soldier leapt into my path but I didn’t halt, swinging my sword wide as light crackled along the blade. It slammed into the soldier who fell to the ground. This weapon had always felt like it fit my hand, and now it was almost a part of me, seamlessly melding with my power. It seemed like a lifetime ago when I’d fled from the Winged Devils, their helpless prey—and in way, it had been. At last I reached Zhangwei, Lin and Mei close by his side as they fought Wuxin soldiers together. The distant shore beyond the inlet was crowded with boats, most having landed. Soon, Dalian’s reinforcements would arrive through the mountains. We were running out of time.

Zhangwei flung aside the soldier battling him, to come to my side. His eyes raked me, as though searching for injuries—then flicked toward Dalian in the distance. “You know what has to be done.”

I nodded even as my insides recoiled. “Be careful with him.”

“As I would with myself,” he promised.

The remaining Wuxin soldiers surrounded Dalian and Aunt Shou protectively, their swords pointed our way. Lin and Mei advanced to attack them, with Zhangwei joining the fray. He edged closer to Dalian with deadly purpose, forging a path with his merciless blows. As Dalian turned toward the barge, fear struck me. If he left, Chengyin would remain trapped—Dalian would kill him after what I’d done. I couldn’t let him escape, not while he had Chengyin’s body.

“Lord Dalian, I was surprised you were so easily tricked by a simple disguise,” I called out mockingly as I discarded the illusion over my eyes, letting the copper fade

His face was white with fury. “What are you?” he taunted me. “Not one of us; not one of them. You’re nothing.”

“Fortunately, I don’t care what you think.” I unclasped the bell at my waist and tossed it toward him, the gold glinting as it landed by his feet. How liberating to no longer hold my tongue.

“What did you do? How did you halt the transformation?” he demanded.

“Try asking nicely.” I repeated what he’d said to me in the cell. He’d hate that. I made myself look at him, not at the others—especially not Zhangwei who was drawing closer to Dalian.

“Don’t you dare condescend to me,” he seethed.

“Enough, Dalian.” Aunt Shou tried to pull him away. “We must go. It’s too dangerous here with the God of War.”

He swung to face her. “Did you know about her, Mother? That she was lying?”

A denial sprang to my lips, the instinctive urge to defend her—but I smothered it. If Dalian thought he’d been betrayed, he might be incited to rashness. Aunt Shou had shown Grandfather no mercy either, sending him to the immortals to confess. Shame flooded me; this was ruthless—cruel, even. And for the first time, I thought Mother and I might not be so different after all.

As Aunt Shou nodded jerkily, Dalian went pale. “You betrayed me.”

“I was trying to convince her—”

As she reached for him, he shoved her back. “You lied. You told me her transformation was complete.” A sharp laugh. “Why did you protect her? Did you care for her more than me, your own flesh and blood?”

“No.” Her voice broke, her expression haunted. “Let them go, my son. Enough suffering has been caused.” She gestured at the river behind us. “We don’t need the realms beyond; we can build a great kingdom here. I can’t lose you as I lost Damei—”

Dalian’s eyes slitted with rage as he drew back and struck her across her face. Aunt Shou pressed a hand to her reddened cheek, the hurt in her gaze piercing my heart.

“Never compare me to my sister. Never question my decisions. Nothing is over until I command it,” he snarled.

He stiffened abruptly, his hands clenched. The mask of Chengyin’s face quivered, his body shuddering as though he was struggling with himself.

I stared at him, holding my breath, willing my friend to appear. “Fight him, Chengyin!” I called out, on the fragile hope he could hear me. “You are stronger than him.”

Dalian laughed, a breathless rasping sound. “This weakling will never escape. Once I’m done with him, I’ll flay the skin from hi—”

His words died. His teeth bared, the veins pulsing along his neck and arms. His body jerked wildly—as he pulled a dagger from his waist and thrust it into his own gut.

Aunt Shou’s scream rent the silence, my own ringing in my mind. Chengyin . . . it was Chengyin. It was his eyes that flicked to mine, warm and bright, devoid of the malevolence that had stamped Dalian’s domination over him. Somehow Chengyin had wrested back control over his body, though the price had been too high. How had he done it? In a flash I understood: It was Dalian’s cruelty to his mother that broke the hold. His mother—theirs.

The Wuxin stilled, staring at their leader—but all I saw was my friend, fear gripping me as blood spilled from the gaping wound in Chengyin’s abdomen. A peaceful smile stole across his face; he looked like himself again. I pushed my way through the others, to drop down beside him.

Chengyin’s hand grasped mine, his skin icy. “I don’t want to die.” How frail his voice was.

“You won’t. Not until you’re old and gray and can barely walk—”

His laugh cut off as he gasped for breath. I clasped his hand, trying not to look at the deep gash in his body. The eyes he turned to me were gentle and knowing. “You were always a terrible liar.”

I bent my head, fighting back tears. “Only because you knew me so well.”