Page 48 of Immortal

The god’s sword hidden in my study was a secret I was reluctant to share. This would attract more thieves than the lotus, both mortal and immortal, and I didn’t want to endanger anyone else.

“What will you do?” Chengyin asked me.

“I won’t serve Queen Caihong like Grandfather did—devotion and obedience has gained us nothing so far. After what they tried to do to me, it shows they’ll never treat us as we deserve.”

Aunt Shou nodded. “I didn’t expect the immortals to be so cunning and underhanded. They spout virtues like honor and valor, yet are quick to turn their back on them to get their own way. If I’d known, I would never have let you follow him to the skies—God of War or not.”

Her protectiveness moved me. “There was no choice; I had to go. But now, they are forced to negotiate. I have an opportunity that no ruler of Tianxia has had before—a chance to reopen negotiations, to forge a new treaty . . . one without walls.”

“A new future.” Chengyin’s eyes were bright. “No matter how large a place, to be fenced in makes one feel small.” He frowned then. “These negotiations only work if both sides are willing and able to trade. Will giving up the lotus hurt you?”

The thought troubled me more than I cared to admit; I was no sacrificing heroine. “The God of War said I wouldn’t die if I relinquished it. Though we can’t wholly trust him, I don’t think he’d lie about this.” I fell silent, unwilling to explain. Because deep down, I sensed the immortal cared for me too—just a little, but enough that it had enabled me to break free.

“What will you ask from them?” Aunt Shou wanted to know. “We must keep the terms precise and clear.”

“To end our obligation to the Queen of the Golden Desert, for the return of our shield. To rejoin the world beyond—it’s ours too,” I said fiercely. “We would still guard Kunlun; it keeps us safe.”

“Queen Caihong will not want to relinquish Tianxia,” Aunt Shou mused. “Having the worship of the mortals also elevates her status, bringing her closer in prestige to that of the Celestial Emperor.”

My hands curled on the table. “We aren’t a prize to be traded or won. We deserve more than to be a jewel in the queen’s crown.”

“And we will be.” Aunt Shou’s eyes were as bright as the silver in her hair. “But this negotiation will be delicate; agree to nothing without consulting me. We must ensure your safety alongside Tianxia’s future.”

Chengyin was studying me, rubbing his chin. “If the Divine Pearl Lotus is a part of you now, do you have magic?”

I recalled the tingling as I gripped the god’s sword, the fear in the soldiers’ faces. That was what power felt like, though I didn’t know how to grasp it. “If I did, Minster Guo and Minister Dao would have found themselves transformed into crickets,” I replied evasively.

“This is a serious matter,” Aunt Shou reminded me. “The immortals will try to retrieve the lotus at any cost. If you have magic, you can stop them.”

“I don’t,” I said heavily. “At least, nothing I can use. Why don’t we have magic, Aunt Shou?”

“It’s the way of life,” she said, her gaze distant and almost sad. “Mortals can’t channel magic, just as rabbits cannot fly. I’ve read that we lack the lifeforce that enables the immortals to channel their power. It’s a vital part of them—if their lifeforce is extinguished, they die just as we do.”

The thought didn’t bring me the satisfaction it should have. I straightened, clasping my hands. “We must prepare for the God of War’s arrival.”

“You seem certain he will come,” Chengyin said. “Why not Queen Caihong? After all, it was she who wanted the lotus.”

“It’s the God of War who needs it.”

They stared at me. “Why?” Aunt Shou asked.

“He was injured in the war with the Wuxin but is still powerful.”

“An injured God of War,” Chengyin remarked. “They must be guarding this secret from their enemies.”

“From us, too.” They didn’t trust us, or maybe they didn’t think we were worthy of the knowledge. I added wrathfully, “I hope his wounds hurt.”

“You are vicious today, Liyen,” Chengyin said. “Did the great God of War offend you during your visit, beyond his attempted theft? Did his handsome form fail to win your good opinion?”

I scowled, resenting how close he cut to the truth. “Self-preservation. If he’s more focused on his wounds, he won’t inflict more on me.”

At once, his face clouded. “We won’t let him hurt you. Guards will accompany you at all times, armed with any of their weapons we can gather.”

I did not like being shadowed, and having seen the God of War fight, this seemed futile. Yet any blade was better than none.

Aunt Shou pressed her lips together. “We must keep this from the court. We must maintain the pretense that all is well and that you have the queen’s mandate,” she advised. “Too many are still eyeing your throne. They would leap at any chance to displace you.”

I nodded as Aunt Shou and Chengyin rose. It was well past midnight, too close to dawn.