Page 33 of For Ever More

Silence stretches. “Do you think Yining would toss away her newfound family and home if I smiled at her? Spend more time with women instead of the wine jug, Uncle.”

“Then keep her here, as you do that wretched Prince of the Iron Mountains—through any means necessary,” Lord Chao snaps.

“No, Uncle.” The anger in Jin’s tone eases the tightness in my chest. “Never suggest that again. Do not move against me either.”

“Today we lost a handful of soldiers. How many will die next time, succumbed to this decay? Are you willing to sacrifice their lives?” Lord Chao sighs. “Your scruples about the girl do not extend to spying, though? What has the firefly learned while with her? Nothing—because you are too cautious, unwilling to take the risks you should.”

The firefly is a spy? Anger chokes me as my nails dig into the wall. This is what I feared, what I was warned about. That while Jin might be reluctant to betray me—he will. I won’t let him hurt my people or my family.

“Stop interfering in my affairs, Uncle,” Jin says darkly. “Yining’s family was cast under suspicion before, when an Elder sighted the firefly I sent to her. I won’t endanger her again.”

“The firefly is useless,” his uncle declares dismissively. “Take this instead. Give it to the girl to bring back home.”

“A flower?” A pause, like Jin is inspecting something. His voice hardens. “What are these creatures within?”

“They have been trained to infiltrate Mist Island, seeking the information we need, searching for a cure to the decay. We’ve looked everywhere else; it must be there as we suspect.” Lord Chao’s tone sharpens, no sign of the gluttonous drunkard he played in the Iron Mountains. “The days when Mist Island was an ally are long past. We cannot afford to wait.”

“And what if the Elders discover your spies? What if they trace them back to Yining?” When his uncle doesn’t reply, Jin continues, “If she is confined by the Elders, it will not help us either.”

“By then, we’d hopefully have learned what we need. You could always help the girl escape, offer her and her family sanctuary here. Isn’t it better she remains with us?” His uncle speaks brusquely now, filling the silence. “You vowed on my brother’s grave—your father’s—to protect our people. Do not let him down. Take the flower, Jin. This is our best chance. If she’s found out, it will also gain you what you desire; the girl will be bound to you—with no one else to turn to, nowhere to go.”

Rage wraps around my chest, tightening until I fight to breathe. Lifting myself on my toes, I peer through the window, dangerous though it is. Jin’s back is to me, his head bowed, the wretched flower in his grasp.

“If I give this to Yining, do you swear not to interfere anymore between us, Uncle? No more schemes or plot. No more hidden spies.” Jin’s tone is somber as I suppress the urge to hurl something at him.

“I give you my word, Nephew. I was concerned you might have lost your head over the girl, but you have proven yourself a worthy ruler. One ready to rule alone.” His uncle clasps a hand on his shoulder. “Your father would be proud of you.”

“Thorn Valley will always come before us, Uncle.” I can’t see Jin’s face, angled away as he tucks the flower into the folds of his robe. “If there is nothing more, I will take my leave.”

I hurry away as quietly as I can. My heart pounds, fury seething at Jin’s planned betrayal. Yet I can’t reveal myself here, surrounded by his soldiers, wary of springing a trap I cannot escape from. Later, once we’re on the boat. Alone. Then I’ll drown his wretched flower—and maybe him too.

I am not the Prince of the Iron Mountains, Jin once said, claiming he would never bind me through such despicable means.

But if he does this—he is worse.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

STARS STUD THE NIGHT SKY, TRACES OF SALT IN THE WIND. I watch Jin row in silence, guiding the boat effortlessly through the water. Far in the distance, the seagrass glows, though here all is dark.

Jin’s expression is grave—does treachery weigh heavy on him? I hope it burns. I stare at the lines of his handsome face, my hands clasped to hide my rage. The Lord of Thorn Valley will pay for his intended betrayal. Slowly, I adjust the dagger in my waistband, ensuring it’s within easy reach. There are also a dozen poisons in my pouch to make him suffer—

“What is the matter, Yining?” he asks with accursed perception. “You look upset.”

My smile is as false as his intentions. “Why should I be?”

He sets the oars down, studying me. “You don’t seem yourself.”

When I don’t reply, Jin reaches into his robe, pulling out a flower, the layered petals the hues of a sunset. Not a sign of deception does he reveal, his hand steady as he offers it to me. A better liar than I imagined. If I hadn’t heard the conversation with his uncle, I would have thanked him for this wretched gift.

“It’s beautiful.”

I take the flower, bringing it to my face. It smells sweetly of deceit and broken promises. Then I hurl the flower down, drawing my dagger to cut it—but he seizes my wrist. As I strike at him with my free hand, he captures it with his other, folding it behind my back as he closes the distance between us. I writhe to get free, but his grip is like stone.

“Let me go before I make you.” Unbidden, my power surges into my grasp—how easy it would be to hurl him away—light sparking from my fingers. Yet something within recoils, smothering the urge as I kick at him instead. He winces but tightens his grasp, not caring the tip of the dagger is dangerously close to his neck.

Jin’s narrowed eyes bore into mine. “Why did you attack? Do you really want to stab me? To strike me with your magic?”

I lift my chin, defiant when unsure, glaring at him as the wind tangles our clothes and hair. We’re so close, the heat from his body grazes mine. “I heard you and your uncle. I know everything: about the firefly you sent with me before, the new spies in that flower intended to infiltrate my home.”