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The guests break into applause, some crying openly. Father gestures to me. “Come, Yining, tonight is for you.”

Moving forward, I blink away the brightness in my eyes. After living with Mistress Henglan and in the Palace of Nine Hills, I’d forgotten what a true celebration felt like. Dian approaches with a somber expression, holding up an exquisite hairpin with both hands. Crafted from prized zitan wood, a magnolia blossom is fixed to the end, pink tourmalines gleaming from the center, nestled in a delicate arch of leaves. Set in resin, the flower shimmers like starlight. As I turn the pin over, my name is carved into the wood.

My heart clenches with emotion. “Thank you, Sister. It’s beautiful.”

As my father smiles proudly at us, Dian slides the pin carefully into the coils of my hair. “Mother should be doing this.”

I look into her face, touching the petals. “Since she can’t, I’m glad it’s you.”

The crowd cheers. Warmth fills my chest to be here, among family and friends. This ceremony feels at once intimate yet solemn, and infinitely precious.

I’m home. Where I belong.

A smile stretches across my face, my sister and father smiling too. Something sparks in the corner of my eye—darting so swiftly, I think it a trick of the light. But the glowing speck soars in through an open window. A firefly, far more radiant than any found here.

Lord Hairong rises slowly, his gaze riveted. “Shut the windows and doors,” he commands, the guests rushing to obey. Trapped, the firefly circles the ceiling almost frantically.

Shenming is already drawing his sword. I’m holding my breath, my heart sinking. Fortunately, the firefly doesn’t come toward me, as though sensing danger. Our guests are whispering, their eyes pinched.

“Isn’t it just a firefly? A harmless insect?” I ask in feigned surprise, trying to distract Shenming and allow it to escape.

He doesn’t look away from it. “A creature from Thorn Valley. They are spies, sent to gather information.”

I’ll send the firefly to you when I need you to come. Anger at Jin simmers, but I suppress it. For now, I need to avoid suspicion.

“Be careful,” Lord Hairong orders. “Capture it alive so we can learn who sent it.”

Light gleams in the Elder’s hand, the air taut with magic. Without warning, a vine lashes beneath the doorway toward the firefly—but it soars out of reach. My gut tightens. If Lord Hairong captures the firefly, he will learn it’s here for me.

“How did this creature get here?” one of my father’s friends calls out.

“Do you know anything of it, Sikyong?” another asks. “Why did it enter your home?”

“It appears to be looking for something,” a young man adds, before his mother hushes him.

Dian’s face darkens ominously. Before I can speak, Ruilin lays a hand on my sister’s arm. “The firefly is mine.” Her wide eyes lend her a guileless air. “It followed me when we traveled through Thorn Valley to get here. I thought it was friendly.”

“Why would it follow you?” At Shenming’s hard tone, Dian scowls at him.

Ruilin shrugs. “Animals like me. I took pity on the firefly as it seemed unwell. Its light was dimmer before and it flew slower too.”

“Extinguish the candles and the lanterns,” Lord Hairong commands. “We can see the creature better in the dark. Once we capture it, we will learn its intentions.”

The guests scramble to obey. In the sudden dark, I edge toward a remaining candle, knocking it over, fire catching on the tablecloth. I mutter a silent apology to my father as one of my cousins shouts in fear—the flames flaring higher. As a few guests throw open the door and run out, Dian grabs a pitcher of water and pours it over the fire, channeling a mound of earth to smother the embers. Lord Hairong calls for order, Shenming trying to calm the guests—

The firefly is gone.

CHAPTER TEN

THE MOON IS HIGH WHEN THE GUESTS FINALLY DEPART, after searching in vain for the firefly. Father doesn’t speak, yet his concern is evident. Hours ago, he was smiling among his friends and family… now new worries are etched on his face, our home cast under a shadow. Ruilin’s quick thinking helped divert suspicion, yet the Elder’s silence as he left showed all is not forgotten.

My gifts lie unopened on the table, the remnants of food scattered around. Fortunately, Father hired help to clean up tomorrow. As we head to our rooms, Father taps my shoulder awkwardly.

“I’m sorry about what happened, Yining,” he says. “I wanted tonight to go well, to give you a proper welcome home.”

My hand squeezes his in remorse; I brought this upon us. “It did go well, Father. I was happy… I am happy.”

The lines of his face soften. “Rest, tonight. We can all sleep in late tomorrow.”