Page 75 of For Ever More

“Do not presume to know what is best for our kingdom.” Lady Shufang’s voice rings out. “Your presence here, your actions, are forcing us to take a side in this conflict—drawing unwelcome attention.”

“Didn’t you want to keep the Pearl Ocean free of the Iron Mountains?” I ask. “We can be allies—”

“No,” she says harshly. “While I do not want to serve the Iron Mountains, we cannot afford to have them as our enemy. Queen Chunlei is too powerful—especially now the dragon is dead.”

Prince Zixin frowns at Lady Shufang. “How did you know the dragon was here?”

“Didn’t you tell her?” I demand. “Wasn’t it you who betrayed us?”

“No.” The prince’s voice is laden with grief. “I would not hurt the dragon.”

“Liar. You almost killed him before,” Dian snarls. “Now you’ve destroyed the Waterfall of Eternal Night—death is too good for you.”

Leaves rustle ominously, my sister’s ring glowing as her magic surges. Thick vines whip through the air toward the prince—but General Suilan shouts a warning, the archers releasing their arrows at my sister, too many to strike down.

Terror spikes. I struggle to grasp my magic, but it still eludes me after the dragon’s death. Jin’s shield shimmers around Dian, around us too, just as the arrows slam against his barrier.

“Try that again, and you and your companions will die,” Lady Shufang threatens my sister. “You are outnumbered. Trapped.”

General Suilan is staring at Dian, her mouth parted in shock. “It’s you—the magic-wielder from the Amber Forest, the one who kidnapped Lady Ruilin,” she declares wrathfully. “Your face was obscured, but I recognize your voice, your form. Was it a ruse to cheat the Amber Forest of their starfire, then? Did you harm Lady Ruilin?”

My heart plunges, Dian ashen at the revolting suggestion. To them, we appear the villains. “It wasn’t a trick,” I try to explain. “Lady Ruilin was never kidnapped. She ran away willingly. We could not let the starfire fall into the Iron Mountains’ grasp.”

“Enough,” Lady Shufang says stonily. “I was right not to trust you. I won’t ally with those who deceived us from the start.”

“Is the Sun Dragon really dead?” Prince Zixin rasps.

“He would have lived if you hadn’t destroyed the waterfall,” I reply accusingly.

“It wasn’t him.” Jin holds out something in his palm, a luminous fragment of an Ice Pearl. “Lady Shufang, isn’t this a shard of your gift to Queen Chunlei? What did she offer you as a reward for the dragon’s life?”

Silence falls. “You did this, Shufang?” Prince Zixin asks brusquely. “I thought you were just removing the barrier around the waterfall, that all you wanted was to apprehend them. Did you plot with my sister to kill the dragon?”

“I had little choice. At the dinner I hosted for the chief advisor, he revealed that Queen Chunlei was close—having traveled in secret, her army mere days behind.” Lady Shufang’s jaw tenses. “Her terms were clear: If I did not aid the Iron Mountains, she would attack the Pearl Ocean, killing my people and unleashing widespread devastation. I had to act quickly to secure our safety. Her Majesty is on her way here now—my guards accompanying her, once we were certain of your destination.”

“You are her spies; you informed her of our plans.” My suspicion hardens at her expression. I exchange a warning look with Jin; we must escape before the queen arrives.

“How did you accomplish this contemptible task?” Dian’s voice fills with loathing. “The waterfall is a place of great magic. Impossible that you possess the means to destroy it.”

When Lady Shufang doesn’t reply, Prince Zixin’s eyes narrow. “Why don’t you answer, Shufang? What scheme did you devise with my sister?”

“The chief advisor gave me an enchantment crafted by the queen,” she says slowly, though she might have ignored this question from another. “He was pleased to learn it could be bound in the Ice Pearl gifted to them, allowing the spell to retain its full potency. As instructed, I buried it by the barrier of smoke—and when the spell broke through the pearl, it spread through the earth to taint the waters.” Lady Shufang’s expression is grim. “My kingdom comes first.”

“You killed the dragon. He would be alive if not for you,” I rage. “What did you gain? Surrendering your people to be bound in servitude to the Iron Mountains.”

“How long until she crushes your people beneath her feet, as she did to the Amber Forest?” Jin adds, pushing the sting deeper.

Prince Zixin grabs Lady Shufang’s arm, her soldiers’ attention shifting from us to them. “I thought we would stand against my sister’s ambitions together, to forge a new order—not capitulate to her bidding. Why didn’t you share your plans with me?”

“You would have objected.” She looks at him unwaveringly. “These people here helped you escape, but they aren’t your friends. I am the only one you can trust, who cares for you.”

“Is that why you plotted with my sister behind my back?”

She touches his face, but he recoils. “Your sister doesn’t trust you, Zixin. She wanted to kill you. I secured your safety. I will protect you, whether you ask it or not.”

“Whether I wish it or not?” he sneers, shaking her arm. “I know my sister. Power that doesn’t yield will always be a threat.”

Lady Shufang flushes as she pulls free of his grasp. General Suilan moves closer in an unspoken warning to the prince. “This was the only way to keep my kingdom safe from attack. I did this for you too, Zixin. Your sister promised to restore your position, to allow you to rejoin her court after you swear an oath of fealty.”