Page 37 of Immortal

His head dipped toward mine until I could see myself in his eyes, his hair brushing my shoulder. “I think you know. Isn’t that why you’re asking?”

We were both hovering on the brink, neither willing to fall first . . . or were we just waiting for a reason to?

I lifted my wrist with the red thread—the constant reminder that I did not belong here, and only death awaited me should I stay. “I will be leaving your world soon. Will I see you again?”

“If you want to see me, nothing will keep me away.”

How bright his gaze was. Until now, I’d never known the shades of black that existed in his eyes: the sharp glitter of onyx, the tender brush of ink, the unfathomable depths of midnight. Each one drawing me closer, fraying my restraint.

I leashed such thoughts. It was not about what I wanted but what I needed from him. This was the moment to be bold, to claim what I sought.

“I would welcome you to Tianxia,” I told him. “For myself, not from duty. Not because we are bound in service.” I let my face fall, my voice trailing away. How I hated this pretense, such low trickery.

“What is troubling you?” he asked, as I knew he would.

I waited a moment like I was afraid to share my mind. “While it’s our honor to serve the Queen of the Golden Desert, it was my grandfather’s wish—and mine—that Her Majesty will free Tianxia of the obligation we’ve borne since the war, to bring down the wall so we can rejoin the world we belong to.”

He didn’t pull away, nor did he appear shocked. “If you serve Her Majesty well, she might be persuaded to consider it.”

I shook my head. “Every ruler before me has tried. Nothing ever sufficed.”

“Why not broach a smaller request first, a loosening of the binds?”

His advice was sound—but I didn’t want the binds loosened, I wanted them gone. The path ahead would be difficult, not the life of ease I might have chosen—but I knew deep down that this was right.

“Instead of the pledge, I want to ask Her Majesty to release my kingdom, to return the Shield of Rivers and Mountains to us.” I watched him carefully. If he recoiled, if he refused to help, it would be far harder to convince Queen Caihong.

“These are difficult things you ask for,” he warned. “What do you offer in return?”

Of course the immortals would demand payment; they do nothing without gain.

The only thing I possessed that they desired was the Divine Pearl Lotus. Yet if Queen Caihong knew I’d had it all this while, that Grandfather had lied to her—she would be enraged, she might take my life. It comforted me that the lotus could not be seized, that it was mine until I surrendered it.

I hid these perilous thoughts. “The Golden Desert is strong and powerful. What more do you need from us?”

“It is not that simple.”

“Maybe it should be.” The fact he’d not refused outright gave me the courage to plunge onward. “Would you speak for us? Her Majesty values your opinion; you are much respected at court.”

“You don’t need to flatter me,” he said. “I’ve been thinking on the matter. After all, the Wuxin are sealed away, and it would ease tensions with the Celestial Emperor, who prefers the Mortal Realm to be united. We have also formed strong alliances with the other kingdoms that will help keep us safe.” He added firmly, “But Kunlun must still be protected; this duty cannot be shirked.”

“We will; we want to keep our realm safe too,” I assured him. “Though our people should be armed to face any danger that might emerge from Kunlun.”

In the silence, I clasped my hands—afraid to hope, yet unable to repress it. “I will speak for Tianxia,” he said at last.

Excitement surged, entwined with relief. “Thank you,” I said fervently, meaning it more than anything I’d said to him before. “I will never forget your kindness and generosity.”

“I have something else for you, a gift to remember me by.” His expression was grave as he reached into his sleeve and drew out a comb of lacquered sandalwood. Gold filigree adorned the frame, studded with small red stones.

“It’s beautiful, but you don’t need to give me anything. You’ve already given me so much.” I felt like a thief, having already won what I most wished from him.

Zhangwei’s gaze darkened. “I want to. Will you wear it?”

As I nodded, he slid the comb into the side of my hair. My skin burned, bright with the awareness of his touch—so assured yet gentle, his hand sliding down to graze my neck, to smooth my hair away. A fire kindled that I fought to tether. The God of War awoke a dark craving within me of desire edged with fear—one that threatened to set everything ablaze.

He tilted his head back, his tone lightening. “It is customary among my people to exchange tokens to mark a promise.”

My mind went blank as I glanced down at my dress, the bracelets around my wrists. “I have nothing here that is mine.”