Page 91 of Dynasty of the Wicked

She had never felt so utterly useless until that moment. She wished she had preserved her energy instead of spending it all against Wyer. She wished she could protect Feng Mian. She wished his curse didn’t spread as much as it did. And she wished she could do something.Anythingto save him.

“Mama.”

Zhi Ruo blinked through her confusion, momentarily distracted as the dragon peered down at her. His lower lip stuck out, like he wanted to cry, or maybe he was saddened to see her distressed. She didn’t know what to think.

“Mama,” he repeated.

“I … I …” Words failed her. This wasn’t the time, or place, to think about what his words meant, or why he thought of her as a motherly figure. It didn’t make sense, and she couldn’t parse her own feelings, or his.

The dragon touched her forehead with a single claw. All at once, a tiny rush of energy pulsed through her body. The pain searing through her body dulled enough that she could move her limbs, if just barely. The small boost of energy was all she needed to push herself onto her knees. Her thighs, arms, and core trembled violently. But it was enough for her.

“You—You helped me?” She turned to him.

He flashed her a toothy, sharp grin. Even with the blood of their enemies staining his clothes, speckling his arms and face, he was adorable. And she would have embraced him fiercely if she had time, but instead she pushed herself onto wobbly legs and patted his horned head.

“Thank you. I’ll … be right back,” she whispered.

Zhi Ruo staggered toward Feng Mian and Chanming. Their fight was growing more intense, with beams of light and shadows soaring into the sky and blasting nearby tents andtrees. But of the two, Feng Mian was becoming wearier, his movements slowing and his magic weakening. He seemed to be using non-cursed attacks, but it was weaker than his usual magic, and it was telling.

They both leaped away from one another, circling each other with their magic ready to attack.

Zhi Ruo took that moment to lurch into the space between them. Her own magic surged as she raised her hands at Chanming.

“Stop!” she shouted.

Chanming, who was about to deliver a blast of sapphire flames at Feng Mian, hesitated, his narrowed eyes zeroing in on her shadowy magic.

“You want me, so fightme—not him!”

His lip curled back and a hatred she had never seen before burned in his black eyes. “I have no mercy for those who betray me.”

“Spare him and fight me instead,” she repeated.

“Zhi Ruo, stay back!” Feng Mian tightened his hold on his shadowed sword. “Run as far away as you can!”

“No, I refuse?—”

Chanming flicked his wrist and a wave of flames shot in their direction. In seconds, she raised up her own magic, but for whatever reason, her shadows dispersed the second the blue flames touched them. Time slowed. Her eyes widened in shock. Her magic was usually strong enough to deflect attacks, but she was too fatigued. Her small spurt of energy wasn’t enough to fight him.

“Zhi Ruo!” Feng Mian’s body slammed into hers as he twirled her around until his back was against the blow. It happened so fast she couldn’t react. One second, she was staring at Chanming, and the next, Feng Mian’s arms were around her. The blast rocked them onto the ground. They both collapsedonto the snow. Black shadows burst from Feng Mian, cocooning them against Chanming.

The shadows blocked most of the light, but she could make out his face. She blinked up at him. He was on top of her, protecting her, and his magic wrapped around them both, hiding them from the real world. But it wouldn’t last, she knew that.

He grimaced in pain, his handsome features distorting. She could feel the heat from his back, the armor bloodied and hot. She tentatively wrapped shaking arms around his body.

They would both die like this, she realized with tears stinging her eyes.

“I’m so sorry,” she said. “I’m so?—”

“Shh.” He pushed himself onto his elbows, hissing in pain. He tried smiling, but it came out strained. The black lines on his face appeared more severe up close. “It’s all right. I’ll protect you.”

“Feng Mian …” She cried. “I love you.”

“And I love you,Princess.” His lips wavered. “I have never loved anyone like I love you. You are the light of my dark, dark world, Princess, and I will do everything in my power to protect that light of yours. Even becoming darkness.” He gently stroked her face, his silver eyes glistening for a second until he blinked.

“Feng Mian.” Her voice thickened with emotion.

“Reinforcements have come,” he whispered.

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