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As I struggled to my feet, he grasped my arm, pulling me up with ease—then propped me against a flowering tree. Petals drifted down, one gliding across my face. Unlike those in my world, these were not edged with brown but veined with gold. There were no reminders of death here, and I didn’t know if that enhanced or diminished its beauty.
I held out my bound hands. “Release me. Now.”
“The Lady of Tianxia is meant to be gracious.” There was a lilt in his tone, akin to a laugh.
“Oh, I am, to those who deserve it.”
The god scowled as he reached for the cords around my wrists, unwinding them until they slithered to the ground. I rubbed the grooves embedded in my flesh, trying not to wince.
He made an impatient sound at the back of his throat. “Give me your hands.”
“I would rather—”
He did not wait for me to finish. With a deep sigh, he caught my wrists. A current pulsed from his touch, light streaking across the marks, which subsided along with the discomfort. “I’m not your enemy,” he said as he let me go.
“Of course not,” I replied cautiously. “It’s an honor for Tianxia to serve the Golden Desert.”
His eyes flicked toward me. “Save the flattery for Her Majesty. You don’t need to say such things to me; I’d rather you say what you mean.”
A terrifying thought. Thankfully, his attention slid to the welts that ringed my ankles. His eyebrows drew together as his fingers grazed my leg, his touch like a breath of winter. The pain vanished, along with the swelling.
“Your skin is cold,” I blurted without thinking. “Are you ill?”
How foolish I sounded. Immortals were untouched by such suffering and vulnerabilities—those that plagued us. Maybe their ignorance made them seem cruel, though it was no excuse.
“No,” he said. “But there are times when I’m tired and just want to rest like today, without anyone knowing I’m here.”
“I understand.” I wanted him to continue, to pry apart this rare window into his heart. “Everyone needs time to themselves. Even the strong are weak sometimes, even the powerful need someone to care for them.”
Silence fell over us, his gaze deepening. “There aren’t many who would say this to me. Most expect me to protect them.”
I didn’t draw away, making myself shift closer. “You must look after yourself, too. It must be hard to bear the responsibility for so many.”
“As do you, Lady of Tianxia.” The gravity of his tone mirrored mine. “Especially when there is no one to share it with.”
And though I’d hoped to snare him with my words, his drew a string around my heart. I tried to cast it away, to snap it—reminding myself why I was here. These dreams could not be allowed to form; they had no right to exist. I couldn’t get caught up in this farce, pretending he was someone other than what he was: The God of War. Immortal. Cruel.
“I hope you find that person.” My words rang hollow, the intimate spell broken.
He sensed it, as he folded his arms across his chest. “Why did you come to my courtyard?”
“Can’t a guest seek out her host?” I asked evasively. “I was curious about you.” It was wiser to follow the train of his suspicion rather than attempt a clumsy deflection.
As he straightened, the red jade ornament by his waist caught the light—the key to the South Courtyard. How could I steal it? I was a terrible thief; unable to even slip into his garden without being discovered. If the god caught me groping at his waist, what would he think? What might he do?
But I couldn’t afford to be cautious. The South Courtyard held something precious, the only reason it was protected so well. Taking a step toward him, I feigned a stumble—falling against him with my full weight. A low breath rushed from his throat as we went sprawling to the ground, his arms encircling me as a shield. His embrace seared, my mind clouded by his touch. As I lay on him, my eyes flew to his—as wide as mine. I struggled in his arms to distract him, my fingers closing around the tablet, unfastening it swiftly and tossing it into the grass. I dared not take it yet, trembling all over—was it from what I’d done, or the intimacy of our bodies pressed together? Was this fear, revulsion, or something else entirely?
He was breathing as heavily as me, his hands clasped around my waist. “First you force your way into my quarters. And now, this?”
My mind went blank, my guard springing up. I pushed myself upright, anger crowding out the rest of these unsettling emotions. “You’re an arrogant beast to imagine I’d ever want this.”
He sat up, resting an elbow on his knee, his jaw clenched. “I’ve been called many things before, but never a beast.”
“How surprising.” I would have gladly called him more names, many of which I was certain he’d never heard, those that would make a bandit blush. “Maybe most are afraid to tell you what they think to your face.”
Something flickered in his gaze. “Yet you aren’t afraid of me.”
“Should I be?” I didn’t think he’d hurt me, but I was afraid of what he might do to my people if angered. I didn’t know him yet or understand his mercurial moods. He wore a mask that I was curious to look beneath, yet equally afraid of what I’d find.
