The hours that followed were a blur of panic. Confined to her room, the sound of his choked gasp echoed in her ears, a torment worse than any blade. And with it came the chilling certainty that her parents had seen her weakness, and they would not let such a dangerous thing go unchecked.
The silence in Yueshuang's room was heavier than any noise. The scent of blood and shattered incense still hung in the air, a ghost of the violence that had passed.
She sat perfectly still on the edge of her bed, hands folded in her lap, but inside, a storm raged. The image of Lian falling, the feel of her own power breaking, played behind her eyes on repeat.
The silence was suddenly shattered with heavy footsteps. Yueshuang startled, her head snapping up as Lady Yuwen swept into the room, her face riddled with concern.
Behind her came Yuwen Jian and Yuwen Lin, their broad shoulders filling the doorway.
The scent of sandalwood and cold night air clung to them.
