Page 78 of Dynasty of the Wicked

She gritted her teeth together. “He was torturing achild.”

“Adragon.”

She opened her mouth to argue, but Chanming’s annoyed voice rang from inside the tent. “Are you two coming inside or will you continue to argue out there?”

Feng Mian wavered a moment longer, before parting the flap with the back of his hand and holding it above his head for her to enter. She ducked beneath his arm, reassured by his warm presence as he shadowed her in, a gentle hand pressing on the small of her back.

Chanming paced the room with angry strides; his mask of civility fell away inside, and a look of pure rage and revulsion purpled his handsome face. Now that his soldiers weren’t watching, she could see his true colors. He pointed a trembling finger in her direction.

“What the fuck were you thinking?” he snarled, hands curling and uncurling like he wanted to punch something. Like he wanted to punchher. “Do you have any idea how humiliating it is to have my authority questioned? By you, of all people? If you weren’t Feng Mian’s wife, I would have taught you a lesson in front ofeveryone.” The veins on his neck protruded and he stepped closer, breathing heavy. “Which family are you from? Only a noble would have the audacity to speak up to me like that. Who the fuck are you?”

Zhi Ruo flinched, inadvertently shrinking away from him and inching closer to Feng Mian. She couldn’t stare at him, not when he looked so much like Father. Bile rose up her throat and she swallowed down the bitter taste coating her mouth. Did he realize who she was?

Feng Mian placed his hand on her shoulder and pulled her closer. “She didn’t mean to question your authority.” His wordscame out smoothly, almost unaffected by Chanming’s fury, but she could feel the small tremble in his fingers. “I apologize on her behalf, Chanming. She truly did not mean it.”

She noticed the way Chanming stared at Feng Mian’s hand on her. Something twisted on his face. Repulsion, she realized a second later.

“You didn’t tell me she had magic,” he spat at Feng Mian, eyes narrowing suspiciously. He glared at the both of them. “Well?Speak.”

“She—” Feng Mian started.

“Not you.” Chanming had his sharpened gaze pinned on her. Shadows collected in his eyes. Mistrust and anger danced over his familiar features. “I want to hear it from her.”

She stared down at her leather boots; Lanying had given them to her, and a pang of guilt shot through her chest at the thought of the woman. She had been covered in slick blood, and Zhi Ruo hadn’t even given her a second thought as she flung herself in front of the dragon. A part of her wondered if he was upset because he cared for Lanying.

Chanming tapped his foot on the ground. It sounded loud in the quiet. “Well?” he demanded when she didn’t speak.

“I … I’m sorry,” she croaked. Her palms dampened and she wiped them on her thighs. She couldn’t meet Chanming’s black eyes. The scars on her back began to tingle and she blinked back her stinging tears. “Please forgive me, F—”Father. Her tongue froze. “For my mistake,” she rushed, hoping he didn’t catch on to her slip-up.

Feng Mian stiffened beside her.

“Who are you?” he asked.

“Zhi. Just … Zhi.”

“Who are you?” he repeated, harsher this time.

“A nobody.” Her shoulder trembled at the weight of his scrutiny.

“Look at me.”

Her lower lip trembled and she raised her gaze to meet his. She could tell right away that he didn’t believe her. There was a cruelty on his face that reminded her too much of her time in Father’s vicious court.

“Anobodywouldn’t be able to counter my magic like that,” he said slowly, letting his words sink in. He crossed his arms, fingers digging into his forearm. “Anobodywouldn’t have survived a Kadian war camp unscathed as you are. Anobodywouldn’t even be a prisoner in the first place. So let me ask you this again.Who. The. Hell. Are. You?”

She tried to think of the lie she had given Lanying about why the Kadians had taken her, but she couldn’t remember the details; they were foggy. Panic blurred her thoughts.

“I’m nobody important,” Zhi Ruo breathed, praying that he would listen. “I don’t know why they took me.”

“She’s my wife.” Feng Mian slipped his hand into hers, weaving his fingers between hers. He squeezed, and she didn’t miss the way Chanming stared at their joined hands. “The Kadians realized I cared for her and used her for that. That’s it, Chanming.” There was a steely edge to his voice.

He didn’t look convinced, but he seemed to mull it over, watching them both with loathing she didn’t understand. Finally, he nodded his chin at their hands. “You’re really married to her?”

“I am.”

“Why?”

Feng Mian blinked at the question. “We … we forged a magicked bond to escape.”

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