The back of her eyes burned. She’d needed to hear those words. She’d needed to hear that he loved her.
“Thank you,” she said, throat tightening.
“I will always love you,” he said, quieter now.
“And I will always love you. Which is why I’m going to do this.”
She snatched his hand tightly. His brows furrowed, but then his eyes widened when a flash of her magic exploded in the scroll.
“Biyu, no?—”
The world shifted. The buzzing and chirps of insects, the hum of the night, the rustle of leaves—all of it vanished. Light blindedher and sparks shot through her body. It was so bright, so jarring. Both of their bodies crashed to the hard wooden floors and a gasp wrenched from her body.
Nikator pushed himself into a sitting position, wide eyes flying to her. “What have you done?”
She blinked up at the caisson ceiling with a snarling dragon carved into it.
They were back at the palace.
40
“Really,Nikator? You couldn’t have chosen a better time or location for the warping spell?” an exasperated voice called from the end of the room.
Biyu scrambled up to her feet to find Commander Yao Bohai sitting behind a desk with his brush hovering over a scrap of parchment. His light brown hair was tousled, likely from raking his hand through it—something he was currently doing with his free hand. He set down the brush with a sigh, barely even giving her another chance.
“Myofficeof all places?” A scoff. “Who made that spell? Was it Muyang?”
Nikator turned to her with wide eyes. A shadow passed over his features, but he couldn’t hide the panic on his face, nor the rapid thoughts practically flitting through his mind. He was probably thinking of how to escape. What to do. Who to tell.
“Bohai, I need a favor—” he began.
Bohai clucked his tongue and waggled his ink-stained finger. “No favors. I’ve done enough for you.”
“Please—”
“Who made the spell?” Bohai ignored him and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. His entire demeanor was so nonchalant thatBiyu had a hard time understanding their situation. Did he not realize that Biyu was wanted by the emperor? A criminal? “It must have been Muyang. But you know, I wouldn’t put it past Li-ling to change it at the last second to annoy me. She has a way of whispering into Muyang’s ear.”
“Will you listen to me?” Nikator gritted out, the veins on his neck bulging. He glanced at Biyu sharply and then back at Bohai. “We don’t have time?—”
“I see you were successful in capturing the princess.” He nodded to Biyu. “Welcome back, Your Highness. I hope your little jaunt was enjoyable?”
Sarcasm dripped from his tone as he tapped the armrest of his seat.
“Commander Yao Bohai, I’d like an audience with His Majesty,” Biyu began, head held high. She was more than ready to face Muyang. He was, after all, Feiyu. Muyang didn’t listen to anyone, but Feiyu? He was a great listener. Now that she realized they were one and the same, it was easier to imagine talking to him.
“Absolutely not.” Bohai waved a hand to the open window, where the cool night air chilled the room. “He’s retired for the night and will see you in the morning. Or whenever he so pleases.”
Her heart sank and she turned to Nikator, who was clenching his fists. “But, Commander, I need to talk to him?—”
“You and your brother caused quite the uproar,” Bohai said with another sigh. He leaned back against his cushioned seat, his gaze raking over the both of them. He took in their appearance, their clothes, the way neither of them seemed repelled by the other. She probably didn’t look the part of a prisoner or a princess. “You know, Minos told Muyang and myself everything after the attack, so there’s no need for you to fear death, Nik.Muyang knows of a way to break the curse you’re under with her. When she dies, you will not.”
Nikator flexed his hands. “It’s not a curse to be with her, Bohai.”
“It’s a curse to be stuck with her, is it not?”
“No,” he said stiffly.
Bohai studied him carefully. Something seemed to dawn on him in that moment, and he examined them both of them in a new light. “Were you planning on coming back here or not?”
