Page 106 of Never Ever After
More of the rogue soldiers force a path to the dais, allowing General Xilu to approach, a gilded hawk embedded in his breastplate—the same as those carved on the disks in the soldiers’ armor.
“General Xilu, what is the meaning of this?” Prince Zixin demands. “Why have your soldiers attacked mine?”
The general strides to the princess, inclining his head to her before answering. “Your Highness, you are not the future of the Iron Mountains. That honor lies with your sister.”
Her smile is warm and expectant as she looks up at General Xilu. She wanted him to lose the tournament not because she loathed him, but to avoid being offered like a trophy—to push him to defy the prince he was sworn to serve.
“The palace is secured,” the general tells her. “All who resisted have been arrested, the rest surrendered. The throne is yours.”
“Traitors,” Prince Zixin snarls, even while his gaze darts between the soldiers and ministers as though seeking aid. None come forward, none speak for him.
“Once I am crowned, who will be the traitor?” Princess Chunlei glances at me, without a trace of the warmth she feigned. “How did you find out?”
“The pins in your hair—the birds are the same as General Xilu’s insignia. Your lack of fear when I held my knife to your brother’s throat. The things you said… you were guiding me toward this. Also, Mina would never have let you wear a dagger that didn’t match your outfit, which meant you chose it yourself—you wanted me to have it.”
My hand is almost numb from pressing the blade to the starfire, the only thing keeping the soldiers from cutting me apart. Prince Zixin clutches his chest, his fingers stained with blood.
I stare at the chief attendant, who moves to stand beside the princess, his allegiance clear. “The health tonic you serve His Highness—it’s made with the same berries as those in the dragon’s cage,” I say slowly. “Are they poison? Is that why His Highness falls ill, why he’s hurt now?” When he doesn’t reply, I know I’m right.
Prince Zixin staggers back, then slumps on the ground, a grayish tinge to his pallor. “Why?”
The chief attendant’s mouth curls. “My son was one of your most loyal guards. Your father executed him for your mistake, for helping one of our enemies.”
For helping me.
The princess sighs. “Father took your starfire to imprison the dragon in the seal, but only I knew how to seize its power, from my studies. Winterfire berries forged a bond between you and the dragon, allowing you to use its magic to strengthen our iron, to even draw its blood—necessary to merge the starfire. But too potent a dose of the berries also weakens you. By hurting the dragon, you’ve only hurt yourself.”
“Why, Chunlei?” Prince Zixin rasps. “We have always been close.”
“Father never gave me my due. I had to move in the shadows while you basked in the light. It was my idea to strike at Mist Island first, to steal the magic they wouldn’t share. He never cared about being a good leader but an unrivaled one.”
Rage and loathing collide in me, that she was behind it all. If I had my magic, a vine would be throttling Princess Chunlei’s neck until it snapped.
“Arrest her!” Prince Zixin commands, but no one moves, even Minister Luk keeping his face lowered.
“Brother, the court is mine.” Princess Chunlei smiles, smoothing down her skirt. “I have the support of the key ministers. After your volatile behavior and vicious tendencies, they believe I’m more suited to rule. The army will obey me, and you’ve already surrendered your starfire to the crown.”
“You said you had no interest in power, Sister,” the prince says in a strained voice. “You said you would help my reign… that you would yield me your starfire when I asked it of you.”
Her eyes crinkle. “Only a fool would surrender such power. Imagine what the pieces joined can do—the magic to be claimed. Father would have pried the starfire from our hands if he’d known how to unite them; he would have slit our throats for it. It’s why I never told him what I learned.” She shakes her head. “A grave defect in a king is to be less learned than those you rule. I worked and fought for this, sacrificed more than you can imagine. And that is why I will ascend the throne.”
Prince Zixin struggles to push himself up but falls back down, his expression grim. I never thought I’d pity the Prince of the Iron Mountains… but this hollow in my chest comes close.
“You told me about the dragon’s blood, Sister—what it could do. You trusted me.”
“Only because I needed to. The stupid creature wouldn’t come near me, only responding to you.”
Because the dragon knew Prince Zixin had helped me? Of his kindness to my mother?
Prince Zixin’s breathing grows labored. “Did you ever see me as your brother, or did you always intend for me to die?”
“What about you, Zixin? I was just someone you could use to strengthen your reign. You would have married me off to Thorn Valley. To that drunk buffoon.”
“It was diplomacy. We need someone to infiltrate their court. It’s what Father wanted.”
“I won’t be your pawn; I won’t leave my future in your hands. I now have three pieces of starfire, and a fourth once Duke Yuan answers my command. I’ll make my own destiny.” Her voice rings with resolve. “I did love you, Brother—but you became my enemy the day you wielded power over me. No one ever will again.”
Princess Chunlei is staring at the crown in my arm. If only I could destroy it. I grind my dagger harder against the starfire, but it’s immutable now—unlike when I pierced it before, reddened with the dragon’s blood. Does the blood make the starfire vulnerable, allowing it to merge with another?
