“I used to be friends with him—with Feiyu. I’m sure he cares about me in his own way. I’m … I’m his niece.”
“He abhorred your father; why would he care about you?” If Bohai was surprised she knew that Feiyu and Muyang were one and the same, he didn’t show it. His mouth pursed into a firm line and he looked between the two of them with pity clear on his face. “I can grant you a short audience with him in the morning. Only because of you, Nikator. I can’t do any more than that. Also, princess, you’ll be sleeping in the dungeons tonight.”
Relief and horror made her insides tighten. “Thank you.”
“No, we need to leave—” Nikator started.
“No, I’m afraid I can’t help you there.” Bohai’s gaze sharpened. “I’m loyal to Muyang, just as you are, Nik. Now that she’s in the palace, I won’t let you take her away. You will both be trapped in the dungeons.Together. I’ll not have you conspiring with your siblings to pull strings to get you both out of here.”
“Bohai—”
“No.” He glanced at them with a frown. “That’s the best you’re getting. I advise you both come up with a good enough story to convince Muyang not to give her a horrific end. Though,the way it is now, I doubt you’ll be able to get her out of an execution.”
Biyu swallowed down the fear clawing up her throat.
“Tomorrow,” he continued, pointing at her. “Your fate will be sealed.”
The dungeons were much worsethan she could have ever imagined; she had never actually gone to them, despite having lived in the palace her whole life. There had never been a need for her venture to the underbelly of the palace. Upstairs, everything was gilded, perfumed, covered in silk. Here, it was the complete opposite. Prisoners moaned and screamed in pain and terror. Puddles of piss, vomit, and other substances stained the floors and walls. The smell made her nose crinkle and her stomach churn.
It was like stepping into a new world altogether. Bohai had stuck her and Nikator in two cells beside one another; he said it was for the best to keep their hands off one another, but it only made her hate the man for separating them like this. The least he could have done was coupled them together, since this was, in his opinion, their last night together.
She didn’t plan on it being her last, but the sentiment remained.
Nikator sat on his bed—really, it was just a stone bench—and stared at his hands in defeat. His shoulders slumped forward, his face unmasked of all indifference. She could feel the pain, grief, and rage shuddering through their bond.
He truly thought she was going to die.
“Nikator.” She wrapped her hands around the bars separating their cells. She wanted to reach forward and touch him, but he was too far away. He wouldn’t even look at her.
“I had everything planned,” he said softly. When he turned to her, his face was drained of all color and life, his sharp eyes brimming with sadness. And something darker—something akin to vengeance and hatred. “You were supposed to go to Sanguis, build a new life, start over, Biyu. You were supposed to be happy!”
“Do you hate me now?” She tilted her head to watch him. The cells were damp and dark, and someone screamed in the distance. All the shadows seemed to pull from the corners and envelop his tall frame.
“I hate myself for what I made you do,” he whispered, his voice barely a rasp. “You came here with the idea that you could sway Muyang’s opinion. I shouldn’t have given you the impression that he’s a benevolent man. He is kind, forgiving, and bountiful to those in his circle, Biyu, but you arenota part of his circle. He is cruel, merciless, and loathsome to his enemies—and you are an enemy to him.”
Her lips trembled as she tried to come up with something to say, but he was already speaking again, his tone coming out harsher with each syllable.
“I must have given you the impression that he would change things for you. That he would listen to your pleas and grant you mercy. I lacked foresight. I didn’t think—” He squeezed his eyes shut and growled. “Fuck. I didn’t think you would do something like this! Why would you come here and try to appeal to him? He has no choice but to kill you now!”
“I did this for you.” It came out so soft that she almost didn’t believe she had said it.
He whipped his head in her direction, wide eyes growing wild. “For me? You came here to be killed formysake?”
“I wanted to prove to you that I love you.” She tightened her hold on the bars. “You didn’t believe me when I said that I want to be with you. You thought that I was only doing it because I’ve always been a prisoner and I can’t think outside the lens of one. But now I’ve come here so?—”
“So you can forever haunt me?” He lurched to his feet and shortened the distance between them. His hand wound around the bars, just below her own. “Are you fucking kidding me? If you loved me, you would have listened to me!”
“I could say the same to you,” she said. “If you loved me, you should have trusted me. You should have come with me.”
“It’s not that simple, Biyu.” His hands turned white with pressure. “You’re not supposed to die here. You’re supposed to live a long and plentiful life. You’re supposed to forget about a monster like me. You’re supposed to be happy! I wanted you to be happy. I need you … I need you to be happy, because otherwise what’s the point of letting you go?”
“It’s insane of you to think—to think that I’d be happy without you!” Her throat closed up and it was hard to speak for a moment. She blinked through the prickling tears. “Why is it so hard for you to imagine that my happiness lies with you? I can’t live a happy life if it doesn’t involve you. And … and this is the only way to prove to you—to Muyang—that we belong together, Nik.”
Another shout sounded down the hall, echoing ominously.
“No, Biyu.” His voice cracked and he crouched until his face was inches away from hers. He looked so defeated in that moment, so heartbroken, that she wanted to embrace him. “You won’t convince him.”
“I know Feiyu.” She raised her chin. “He’ll hear what I have to say.”
