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The soldier raises his hand triumphantly, her ring in his palm. Blood leaks from Dian’s finger, a thick strip of raw flesh where the ring was, like the gaping soil after a plant is torn out. Dark veins streak from it, spreading across her palm like a spiderweb—far worse than the mark on mine, that my fingers close around now. Unlike me, Dian is wholly bonded to her ring. Which means… she has even less than my few days left.

“Release her,” Prince Zixin commands the soldiers restraining me.

As their hands fall away, I weave to catch my balance—the prince coming to stand before me. I’m not thinking as I draw my arm back and punch his face, his head snapping to the side. He touches his cheek, reddening as he blinks like he’s stunned. A furious muttering rises from the soldiers as I raise my fist to him again—beyond caring—but Prince Zixin grabs my wrist, his fingers biting into my flesh. I brace for retaliation, for his blow to fall, but the prince yanks me to him, his face a breath from mine.

“Never strike me again,” he warns in a wrathful tone.

“You’re a monster.” My eyes burn with unshed tears—of fury, not of grief. If only I had power to hurt him, to stop him from harming those I care for.

Prince Zixin’s smile is devoid of emotion. “I’ll allow these childish insults today; you’re angry, frightened, overwhelmed. But you’re also clever enough to know when the fight is lost—to secure your own place and the safety of others who depend on you.”

I stare at him in disbelief. Does he think this can be swept aside, that I’ll crawl back to him now? Fear clasps me, that I might have no choice.

“Who is she?” Prince Zixin asks again as he cocks his head at Dian. “If she’s no one to you, her interrogation will be harsher; we won’t care whether she lives or dies. But if she’s important… well, that is a reason to let her live.”

The question winds like a noose around my neck. Lies won’t help us now—they might get Dian killed. But if I tell him she’s my sister, that I’m one of them… I shudder at the thought, smothering the impulse to strike him again. I’m cornered, despair swelling, along with the despicable urge to make ill-advised bargains.

Shouts ring out in the distance, the clash of metal. Could they be Jin’s reinforcements attacking those of the Iron Mountains? My heart leaps as a guard rushes forward, speaking to the prince in a low voice.

At once, Prince Zixin straightens. “We must return to the palace.”

“Why?” I’m trying to delay him as I nod at Dian. “She is hurt; she can’t walk.”

“Prepare a carriage,” he commands his soldiers. “We leave at once.”

As he stalks away, the other guards close around us. Ruilin and I have no choice but to follow them, shoved into the carriage that bears Dian. I reach for her hand, recoiling at how limp and cold it feels, at how still she is. She’s alive… yet the distinction feels precariously slender right now.

I pull out the bottle she gave me for my symptoms, emptying half of what remains into her mouth, praying it’s enough. Then I tuck the bottle into her sash, hoping she’ll find it once she regains consciousness. I won’t think what this means for myself, that I don’t have the medicine anymore. Dian coughs, spitting a little out. The bleeding on her finger seems to slow, though it doesn’t stop. But as her breathing eases, so does mine.

Soldiers surround our carriage. They move swiftly, the driver lashing the horses. I curse their haste; each moment taking us farther from safety—back through these hated walls.

“Why were you late?” Ruilin whispers. “When you didn’t come, we split up to search for you. Jin was waiting on the other side, closer to my courtyard where we thought you’d be. We didn’t expect you through the West Gate.”

“Prince Zixin visited me, he stayed for a long time. I couldn’t go till he left. There were too many soldiers patrolling the grounds, and I had to take another way.” My hands curl. “Is it Jin attacking the soldiers? Won’t they recognize him?”

“They will have covered their faces,” she assures me. “They will be safe… unless they are caught.”

My insides clench as the carriage rolls through the palace entrance, the thick doors closing with a heavy thud. I look out through the small gap in the curtains, watching as iron bars are slung across the doors, then chained fast. There are far more soldiers on duty now—more than I can count.

My fear builds steadily. Swiftly, I look for Dian’s pouch, the one with the starfire that she’s guarding, thrusting it into Ruilin’s hands.

“Keep this safe. They know Dian has magic and will search through all her possessions. They won’t dare treat you the same as us, you have your father’s name to protect you.”

The carriage jerks to a halt, the door thrown open. Soldiers carry Dian out, not roughly—but not gently either. I leap out after her, but Prince Zixin seizes my arm. I try to pull free, but his grip tightens, showing none of the tenderness from when he thought I was ill.

His eyes glint dangerously. “What are you planning next? Will you pretend to be sick again? You’re very good at it.”

It wasn’t a pretense. “Did you know I was trying to escape? Did you plan the ambush?” I fling back.

“I’ve learned to take nothing for granted. I needed to know if you deserved the trust you’d asked of me.”

I feel no remorse; he doesn’t deserve it. “She is hurt. Who will look after her?” I demand, looking at Dian.

“That depends entirely on you.” Prince Zixin gestures to his guards. “Take them to the Shadow Wing.”

My body stiffens, dread flooding me. As the soldiers grasp Ruilin and me, I struggle harder. “Not there,” I rasp, hating the way my voice catches.

Prince Zixin bends to whisper into my ear. “I will visit you soon. Think carefully on your behavior, on what answers you will give me.”