Page 132 of Empire's Curse

Among the crowds, she knew her family was there, waiting with bated breath. ThePeccata, the soldiers, all of Muyang’s men—they would all be present. All she had to do was go through the doors, but something held her back. Her nerves, most likely. But something else—something that told her maybe this wasn’t a good idea. That maybe it was better, easier, to go back to her room and forget about the whole ordeal.

But she didn’t want to run. Not anymore. Never again.

Daiyu breathed out deeply, squeezing Muyang’s hands again. “Tell me this gets easier with time,” she whispered, gaze darting from the door and then back at him.

“I have no advice for you. I quite enjoy the sight of people bowing down to me,” he said with a hint of playfulness. “It’s an exhilarating, powerful feeling to know that you are … in charge.” He lifted his shoulders and flashed a wicked grin at her. “You will grow accustomed to it. Trust me.”

She nodded.

“Whenever you’re ready.”

She breathed in and out again. Tremors ran down her body and even though she wanted to turn around and flee, she gave him a small nod toward the door. She was ready.

Muyang wasted no time blasting the heavy doors open with a wave of his shadows. The cheers and chatter were deafening as they stepped through the threshold. Light nearly blinded her before her vision righted itself to the seas of faces—thousands of them—all staring at the two of them. Daiyu tightened her hold on the crook of Muyang’s arm. They swept toward the railing of thebalcony, the noise so loud she could feel it vibrating through her chest.

She had never seen so many people gathered in one place. The air felt heavy, the shouts and hurrahs growing louder. Daiyu could only watch, stunned, as the people waved to her, pushing one another to get a better look. Old faces, young faces, scarred faces, tanned faces—people from all walks of the empire were there.

Daiyu swallowed down the nervousness clawing up her throat.

Muyang looked down at her, his dark eyes capturing hers. “Don’t be nervous. I’m here.”

“I know.”

“Are you ready?”

“I am.”

He raised his hand and a hush fell over the throngs of people. “My people, I present to you my lovely wife and empress, Yin Daiyu.” Magic swirled at his fingertips and in seconds, a gold, dragon-shaped hairpin materialized in his hand. He slipped it into Daiyu’s hair and the people began to cheer once more.

A rush of excitement coursed through her veins as she stood tall, staring at the faces of the people. She spotted her family in the front row; Mother and Father were crying, her brothers were pushing each other to see her better, and Lanfen and Grandmother watched on with wide grins on their faces. Her heart swelled with warmth. At the pride gleaming on her family’s faces. At the sudden thrill she felt as everyone applauded her.

She wanted to laugh, she wanted to cry, she wanted to beam at the world.

She turned to Muyang, her mouth curled into a wide smile. She was with the man she loved more than anything, and that counted for more than this new position as the empress. She knew that as a fact.

“Muyang—” she began, but something shoved into her just as the words escaped her mouth. She fell forward, her hips smackinginto the railing, and her body tipping over. She barely could hold back her scream.

The last thing she saw before she fell was Muyang’s shocked expression?—

And then she was falling. Spiraling and flailing, her arms waving from side to side, the scenery blurring all around her. People screamed, gasped, and shouted—but she couldn’t decipher it all. It happened so fast, like a flash. One second, she was next to Muyang, and the next, she was plummeting.

Right when she was about to crash to the ground, shadows warped around her body. They engulfed her tightly, the magic wintry to the touch, and when she blinked, she was back on the balcony. She gasped, sitting upright and looking around herself.

Muyang dropped down to his knees in front of her, eyes glossing over her body quickly. “Are you hurt?”

“I—no. No, I’m … not.” Her words came out breathlessly and she looked to her right and then her left. She had fallen, but Muyang seemed to have caught her just in time and whisked her back here. Her stomach twisted, her body trembling with the sudden change.

After scanning her over once more, Muyang rose to his feet and stared into the crowd. He raised his hand and shadows erupted from his fingertips. He flicked his wrist and a man flew up in the air, his body coiled tightly with Muyang’s magicked black whips. The man struggled, the hood of his emerald robes falling to reveal an unfamiliar face.

“You.” Muyang snarled the words like he was still in his dragon form. The shadowy ropes around the man tightened, squeezing him until he grew redder and redder. “You dared try to assassinate my wife? Infrontof me?”

Daiyu pushed herself to her feet, her hands and feet shaking.

“Who do you work for?”

The mage gritted his teeth together but said nothing.

“Who?”

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