Page 66 of Empire's Curse

“But you’rethinkingit.”

“No—”

Muyang scoffed. “Daiyu, you have no reason to lie to me.”

She had all the reason to lie to him,repeatedly. Because he was a terrifying emperor, because he was all too powerful, because anything she said could be used against her, because her life wasn’t her own when she was around him. But she bit her tongue and didn’t divulge that.

Another strong gale blew against them, and Daiyu couldn’t help but shiver as the cold seeped into her bones. Muyang shuddered beside her, and she somehow felt better that she wasn’t the only one suffering. That he too was human enough to feel the discomfort of the frigid temperature.

Fifteen minutes must have passed before Muyang spoke again. And when he did, he didn’t look at her, instead keeping his steely gaze forward. “I can’t use much magic anymore and when I do, it takes a huge toll on me.”

She blinked over at him. Had she heard right? Had he … told her a secret? That sounded like private information that could have herkilled. In fact, that sounded like something he would never,everdisclose toanyone.

“You said ‘anymore.’ Did something … did something happen?” she asked quietly, her voice almost drowning away with the currents of wind.

“Everything changed when I took the throne.”

She waited for him to elaborate, but he didn’t. She had heard wild stories of his conquests on the battlefields during the rebellion where he took power. She had heard of him leaving behind scorched, unrecognizable corpses. Of his soldiers having to wade through the blood of his enemies after every victory. Of the dense air stinging with magic after he was done blighting his foes.

She had thought they were partial truths, but now she wasn’tso sure. Were they all lies? Or did something happen during his usurpation of the throne that weakened him? She had too many questions, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to bear the weight of the answers.

“Is it smart of you to tell me this?” Daiyu asked slowly. “I’m not going to be killed for knowing this, will I?”

He chuckled, low and soft, and the corners of his eyes crinkled with amusement. For a split second, she marveled at how beautiful he looked when he laughed. “After all the trouble I went through to save you, I don’t think I’d want to waste it by murdering you here.” There was a joking quality in his tone, but she jolted at how easily he spoke of her death. “I doubt you’d tell a soul. It wouldn’t be wise for you, especially since you’re to be my wife. It would do you better to want the best for me because if someonediddepose me, then you know for a fact that your fate is to join me, do you not?”

Daiyu shivered but not from the cold and didn’t meet his gaze after that. Truthfully, after an emperor was killed or overruled, it was common for all of his women to die with him. She doubted the rebels would want to keep her alive—other than for touting her around like a war trophy—if Muyang was killed by them. It wouldn’t have been outlandish for his own trusted men to kill her if anything were to happen to him, as to save Muyang from the disrespect of having his woman ravished by another.

A sour and bitter taste coated her mouth. “I don’t particularly like the idea of dying terribly, so I’ll keep your secret safe with me.”

“I expected as much.”

“But we’re not married,yet.”

“True, but you’re already mine.” He said it with so much certainty that she could only stare at him. Did it come easily to him to take whatever he wanted? She shook her head. She would have to chalk it up to him being an emperor.

“You never did explain to me what you’re doing out here,”Muyang said, glancing down at her with cold, inky eyes that told her he wouldn’t accept any excuses.

She almost tripped over a random tree root buried in the snow and had to right herself against a partially frozen tree. Thankfully, Muyang kept himself upright. She cleared her throat and tightened her hold on his waist. “Well … I’m sure you noticed my absence.”

“Not at all.”

“Really?” She turned to him with wide eyes, and the corner of his mouth rose into a half-smirk. It took her a second to realize he wasjoking. She coughed, trying to hide her surprise and embarrassment. “W-well, I … I decided to leave the fortress last night. And, well, things happened and I somehow ended up being chased by those ruffians. I believe they thought I was a part of your forces.” She patted the dragon clasp of her cloak. “Anyhow, you really should deal with those rebels. There’s a small army of them in the nearby village. Maybe thirty or forty men.”

“I’ll deal with them when the time comes, but I’m more interested in knowing why you left the safety of the fortress. Surely, it’s not because you’re a spy.” His voice hardened at the last part, and there was an edge in his steely voice that made her blood run cold.

“I’mnota spy,” Daiyu said. “I thought we already established that?”

“You’re very suspicious. In many ways. Contrary to what you said, I don’t think you’re aweak little thing.” Muyang’s black eyes bored into hers and something fluttered in her chest, warming the pits of her stomach and turning her legs gel-like. “You’re fierce and gentle, in such a way that I don’t know how to handle you.”

“You don’t have tohandleme in any way.”

His lips twisted into a smile. “There it is, that little spark you keep trying to hide from me. I see it from time to time.”

Daiyu’s cheeks warmed and she didn’t meet his gaze again.

His voice softened. “Did you leave because you no longer wished to be in my presence?”

She couldn’t answer him and stared up with wide eyes. Hehad hit the nail on the head, and she wasn’t sure she was bold enough to admit it. But she didn’t have to. He could probably read it all over her face. Instead of lashing out at her, he remained neutral, almosttoocalm.

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