Page 6 of Empire's Curse

“Miss.” He leaned closer until she was staring into the black depths of his eyes. “You?—”

He was too close.

Daiyu pushed his chest, and it was like pushing against a solid wall of steel and muscle. “Get away from me,” she started, trying again. This time, he let her, and he stepped away. The warmth of his body left immediately, and she could feel her face flushing with warmth. “Sir, please keep your distance. I’m an unmarried woman and I donotappreciate being pushed against a wall like this. It’s improper and domineering. I’d appreciate if you’d take another step back and give me some space.”

He blinked, and she blinked, and they both seemed to realize she was speaking to a royalmage. But instead of incinerating her on the spot, or calling the palace guards, he only lowered his head slightly. A show of respect.

“I apologize, miss. I didn’t mean to disrespect you, nor push you out of your comfort zone.”

She huffed, her heart hammering in her chest. “Thank you.”

“But that doesn’t change that you’re acting suspicious and if I wanted to …” He held his hand out and sparks of white lightning buzzed at his fingertips, the snapping and crackle making her gasp sharply.

She stared, transfixed, at the flickering light as ittransformed into an emerald shade, and then violet, before disappearing altogether. Burning smoke made her nose crinkle, but that wasn’t enough to stop her amazement.

Magic.

She had never seen it before and certainly not so close and personal. And definitely not laced with a threat.

“I told you—” Daiyu began weakly, her gaze darting to the passing people in the distance, away from the palace walls. She wanted to disappear into the throngs of people, away from his knowing eyes.

“Miss, please don’t insult my intelligence any further. What exactly are you doing here? You’re trying to enter the palace, but I can’t seem to understandwhy.” He rubbed the curling, sharp tooth of the dragon mask. “I don’t sense any hostility from you and you don’t have any weapons on you either. So it’s strange.”

She swallowed. He could read her? Was this another magic spell? Or perhaps he could tell by looking at her?

“I would never dream of hurting anyone inside the palace,” she whispered. “Trust me when I say that.”

“Then what are you doing here?” He raised his hand before she could answer, and she noticed the calluses and scars crisscrossing over his pale skin. “And don’t say any nonsense about how I’m mistaken. If it was anyone else in my position, you would already be in the palace dungeons for suspicious behavior. So speak cautiously and don’t test my patience any further.”

Daiyu clamped her mouth shut. She couldn’t very well tell this man—one of the emperor’s palace mages—that she wanted to steal one of the emperor’s concubine candidates. But … But if she didn’t speak now, or come up with something believable, she would likely die.

The man waved his hand for her to speak when she continued stewing in her thoughts. “Well?”

“I …” The lies she meant to speak died on her tongue and her eyes stung with tears. “I’m here to rescue my sister,” she blurted out.

The man stilled. “Your sister? Did she commit a crime?”

“No, no.” Daiyu shook her head and breathed out shakily, trying to keep the tears at bay, even though they threatened to fall. “My sister was chosen as one of the emperor’s potential candidates for a concubine. You know, the royal selection. And … And I told the guard that I would take her place, but they said I’m too old—” She sniffed, hating that she sounded so weak. She didn’t want to cry in front of this stranger.

“Too old?” The man scoffed. “You don’t look a day over thirty!”

She gasped. “Excuse me? I’m twenty-four!”

“Ah.” He cleared his throat. “Continue.”

“Well … My sister—” She wiped her eyes furiously and cast him a sharp glare. “Do I really look that old?”

“No, no,of coursenot.” His tone was light and she wasn’t sure if he was joking or not. “So what happened to your sister then?”

“The guards took her for the selection,” Daiyu breathed out. “I’m here to save her.”

“How are you saving her? Becoming a concubine for the emperor is one of the greatest opportunities a woman can get. Imagine if she’s chosen? She’ll have unimaginable wealth. Your family would never need to worry about finances. And what if she gives birth to an heir? Her status will rise, as will your family’s! I just don’t see why you’re treating it like a death sentence?”

Daiyu side-eyed the man, her attention lingering on the dragon insignia.Of coursehe would think that, being the emperor’s mage and all. But for normal people, Drakkon Muyang was a terrifying ruler. He could kill Lanfen if he wanted to. Not to mention his court was cutthroat; if not him, someone else could kill her, and no one would care for a royal concubine. Especially not one who came from such humble roots.

Women were just pretty things to be used and tossed aside in court, especially for a concubine with no noble family.

“You wouldn’t understand,” Daiyu finally settled with. “Lanfen isn’t meantfor court life.”

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