Dragon Rebellion

by M. Lynn

  Don’t let the pull of sleep overwhelm you.

  Hua repeated those words in her mind over and over. She’d managed to keep her eyes open for two days now, but it wouldn’t be long before she couldn’t handle it anymore.

  “Just give in.” The Nagi had been her constant companion in the prison cell.

  Hua sat on the small bed inside the dark cell and pulled her knees in to her chest. The iron bars taunted her, and she wondered if the Nagi would be able to rip through them. She’d managed to keep the Nagi from shifting since they arrived in Dasha, but it was only a matter of time.

  And then nothing could hold her back.

  Hua unfolded herself and stood, crossing to the bars. She wrapped her fingers around the cool metal and called out to the guards. Luca made sure there were four of them watching her at all times. “Has the emperor determined my fate?” She lifted her voice. “Please. Just tell me what’s happening.” Her knees shook beneath her, and when she received no response, she stumbled back to the bed.

  How long did it take to set up an execution? Surely by now Luca had told the emperor how quickly it needed to happen. Tears built in Hua’s eyes at the thought, and flashes of her family ran through her mind. She’d never again sit under the stars with Nainai or spar with Baba. Mama wouldn’t ever chastise her for the dirt underneath her nails, and Ru… A sob shook her.

  At least she might see Luna in the next life. She sucked in a breath, willing her tears to stop. Death was not the end. She must face it bravely and with honor. It was the only way to rid this world of the terror she’d become.

  She searched inward, speaking only for the Nagi. “You’ve taken everything from me.”

  “I am sorry for that, Hua.”

  Sadness wound through her, intertwining with her own. The Nagi’s sadness. Piao killed the descendants of her kind. She couldn’t imagine the pain. For most of Hua’s life, being dragon blooded didn’t define her. Sure, she’d had to hide it, but her grandfather was killed for his heritage long before she was even born. The dragons and their blood had only been stories to Hua and Luna, a strange obsession they saw in Nainai.

  But for the Nagi, there was no escaping what had been done to their people. On some level, Hua understood her actions.

  “He’s different, you know.” Hua rubbed her eyes. “Piao is different than it used to be. Bo Xu Wei does not hunt us. He has brought a new understanding to the empire.”

  The Nagi was quiet for a long moment. “And yet, here you sit in the emperor’s prison.”

  “Maybe that’s because you tried to kill him.” She didn’t believe the emperor would have imprisoned her for any other reason. He’d looked at her like she was the reincarnation of Luna, his consort brought back to life. There was love in his gaze, sadness as well.

  “Do not fool yourself into thinking we mean anything to them. They will end us.”

  “I hope so.” Hua leaned her head back against the wall as she yawned. Her eyelids drooped, but she jerked up when footsteps echoed off the stone. Was this it? Had they come for her?

  Jian stepped into the dim light outside her cell, and the breath clogged in her throat. She had known he’d come, but part of her hoped it would have been too late when he did.

  “Hua.” He gripped the bars of her cell and leaned against them.

  She scrambled from the bed. “Jian, you are injured. You shouldn’t be down here.” How long ago had she left him? Three days? Four?

  His eyes didn’t leave her face. “What did you do, Hua?” His voice cracked on her name.

  Tears clogged in her throat as she met his broken look. “This has to end.”

  “Not like this.”

  She approached the bars. “I almost killed the emperor, Jian. What if I succeed next time? You know as well as I this cell can’t hold the Nagi forever.”

  He rested his forehead against the bars. “There has to be a way.”

  Reaching through the bars, she let her fingertips skim over his hand, wanting, needing more. She pulled back. More wasn’t possible for her. This wasn’t an epic adventure with a happy ending. “How is your injury?”

  He grunted. “A healer sewed it. I’ll live. Don’t change the subject.”

  “What subject? Seems to me you only wish to speak of things that have already been decided.”

  He closed his eyes for a brief moment. “Hua. Please.”

  At the brokenness in his voice, her defiance faded away, leaving only weariness behind. “I’m so tired, Jian, and not because I haven’t slept in days. For months, I have been a prisoner in my own mind. I have done things I can never take back. An untold number of people are dead because of me.”

  “It’s not you.”

  “Isn’t it? No matter who controls them, these hands are still mine.” She lifted her palms. “The blood will never wash away. I can’t keep causing so much pain.”

  He shook his head. “There has to be another way.”

  “It’s okay.” She reached for him again, this time taking his hand in hers. She’d told him she could keep herself from loving him, but that had been a lie. Hua fell in love with her commander before he even knew her true name. “Look at me, Jian.” Her smile concealed the sadness behind it. “Please.”

  He met her eyes, denial flashing in the depths of his dark gaze. “I can’t—”

  “I was wrong before.”

  He swallowed. “When?”

  “I thought I could control my feelings, that this would be easier if you never knew how I felt.” She squeezed his hand. “I love you, Jian Li. And I get to love you until my last day.” She reached up to touch his cheek. “And that is a gift, the kind I never saw written in the stars.”

  He held her hand against his cheek. “I’m not going to let this happen.”

  Her hand drifted down to his waist. “I know.” She yanked his dagger out of his scabbard, and as a cry left his lips, she plunged it into her stomach.

  Pain sliced through her until all she felt was numb as she pulled the dagger free and let it drop to the ground.

  “Guards,” Jian screamed. “Open this cell.”

  Hua’s knees hit the stone, and she pressed a hand to the wound, feeling the blood seep out through her fingers.

  The door to the cell rattled as two guards yanked it open. Their hands clamped down around her arms, but she barely noticed them as her mind folded in on itself, focusing on the Nagi inside.

  “I’ve won.” A smile curved her lips as blood trickled from her mouth.

  The Nagi sighed. “That was a stupid thing to do.”

  Heat seared through Hua, burning up her arms and down into her torso, an inferno pulling her into the flames.

  A scream echoed in her mind. Maybe Hua’s. Maybe the Nagi’s. The sound ripped through the cell, bouncing off the walls as the fire within Hua blazed hotter, radiating out from the stab wound.

  Jian pulled her onto his lap, but his words were nothing but white noise in her ears.

  As Hua sank into the depths of her mind, she gave up the remaining pieces of herself.

  It seemed not even death could defeat the Nagi.

  27

  The Nagi

  Humans thought they were intelligent, that they could trick a Nagi into death.

  Their bodies were fragile, yes, but the Nagi gathered her strength, spreading it through the girl’s limbs like wildfire, burning away the weakness.

  The Nagi focused her energy on the life seeping from the hole in Hua’s stomach. The girl’s consciousness wavered before she sank back into her mind, letting the Nagi take control. The heat seared along her skin, burning flesh together to stop the damage.

  Strength radiated out from the Nagi as she enveloped Hua and forced her eyes open. Jian clutched her body as his desperate pleas grew quieter and quieter. The guards watched in panic, uncertain of what to do.

  The Nagi groaned. “Release me.”

  Jian’s head jerked up, and his eyes locked on Hua’s. “You’re…”

  “The g
irl is alive.” The Nagi shoved away from Jian and rolled to her feet. Hua’s consciousness pulsed in the back of her mind, weak but present.

  “You healed her?” Jian wiped his eyes and sent a panicked look to the guards.

  “I healed myself.” She stepped back, shaking her head to bring forth clear thoughts. Hua had come to the palace hoping for her own execution, and it wasn’t the first time she’d threatened to kill herself. But… the Nagi sank down onto the bed, her hands shaking. She never expected Hua to actually cause harm. And for what? To protect an emperor who hailed from a long line of those who persecuted the blooded?

  Jian looked to the guards. “Retrieve supplies to clean this cell and then return to your posts. Lock this door behind you.”

  The Nagi lifted her head. “You’re… staying?” She could hurt him, of that there was no doubt. Yet, as the lock turned, Jian remained.

  His expression tightened. “I’m not leaving her.”

  The Nagi didn’t move to hurt Jian. Despite the battle a few days before, the Nagi realized Jian was not her true enemy. He didn’t have dragon blood, but he loved Hua, a girl who did. If there was any doubt of that before, seeing the commander staring in hatred rather than fear was proof enough.

  They sat in silence until a guard opened the door again, passing a wooden bucket of water and rags to Jian. Jian dropped to his knees and held one of the rags in the water before pulling it free, letting it drop over the blood-stained stone. Without a word, he bent forward, scrubbing vigorously.

  The Nagi waited for him to stop, to tire. A man such as him would not be used to cleaning and shouldn’t have the patience for it.

  But he kept going, never slowing, never looking up.

  The water tinted red with Hua’s blood, and still Jian scrubbed.

  The Nagi sat on the tiny bed watching the great commander she had trained under as Hua. The man she pulled from the battlefield because she couldn’t separate Hua’s feelings from her own. He should have died that day. If he had, would Hua still be holding on so tightly? Would it have broken her?

  “I shouldn’t have saved you.”

  Jian stilled. His eyes stared down at the stone that had been covered in Hua’s blood but now showed no proof of what happened there. “Why did you?” He sat back on his heels and threw the rag in the bucket. Red water splashed over the sides, dampening Jian’s robe. He didn’t seem to notice.

  The Nagi released a sigh. His question was one she’d asked herself before. What did Hua’s feelings matter to her?

  For the first time since the Nagi wrested back control, a spark of life came from Hua.

  “Because you care for me.”

  The Nagi released a breath. Hua was still there. Only days ago, the Nagi tried to erase her, and now the thought of losing the girl in her mind struck an unfamiliar fear through her heart.

  Jian’s brow creased as if something in the Nagi’s face confused him.

  So, the Nagi spoke the most honest words she knew. “Because Hua asked me to.”

  Jian shifted onto his butt and leaned back against the bars of the cell, his gaze on the scrubbed stone. “She tried to leave me.” He closed his eyes and breathed deeply.

  The Nagi pulled her legs up under herself. “She tried to leave us both.”

  Jian’s eyes snapped open at the admission. “She’s still in there. Please, tell me she’s still in there.”

  “I’m here, Jian.” Hua’s voice was no more than a weak crooning in the recesses of the Nagi’s mind.

  The Nagi nodded. “She hasn’t left us yet.”

  “You saved her.”

  “I saved myself.” She’d said it before, but it was only partially true.

  Jian met her gaze. “You have come to Dasha to kill my brother. You’d like to bring about the destruction of my empire. Many are dead because of you. And now, you will take the woman I love. Bo will have no choice but to execute you. For the safety of his people.” His voice hitched. “And I will have to let him. It’s what Hua wanted, why she came here. For her own death.” He sucked in a breath and held a hand to his side as his face twisted in agony.

  The Nagi’s lip curled. “I do not have to answer to you, Commander. You say I have done evil, but your people hunted mine. I hold the memories of the blooded, of all the Nagi. Your stories say we have disappeared, but we have been here as the emperors of Piao slaughtered our descendants at their dragon festivals. Men. Women. Children. They all died for their heritage, a heritage that was once considered regal, royal, until human men decided their blood was a threat to the destiny of the empire.” She crossed her arms. “You will get your revenge on me. I cannot escape this place. I know this. But what about my vengeance? Who will avenge the lost dragon blooded? Who will protect the ones still living?”

  “The danger is gone.” Jian’s voice sounded tired. “Bo Xu Wei is not his predecessors. He will protect all those of his empire.”

  A harsh laugh broke free of the Nagi. “We believed we were protected many centuries ago. We will not be so naïve again.”

  “Sir.” A guard stopped outside the cell, ignoring the Nagi and focusing on Jian.

  Jian rose to his feet. “Yes, soldier?”

  “You have guests come to see you.”

  Jian flicked his eyes toward the Nagi. “I cannot see anyone just now.”

  “Sir, one of them said to tell you Nainai Minglan is here and will not leave until she sees her granddaughter.”

  Warmth spread through the Nagi at the thought of Nainai. No, the family belonged to Hua. Yet, she couldn’t stop the smile from spreading slowly across her face.

  “You should go to them.” The Nagi nodded toward Jian. “Hua is in no danger now. I am with her.”

  Jian’s eyes darkened. “That has always been our greatest fear.”

  28

  Jian

  Leaving Hua felt wrong, like he was letting her down.

  But he wasn’t the only person scared for her. His footsteps echoed off the low stone ceiling as he thundered up the stairs.

  The guard led him to the palace grand entry where a number of people hovered near the ornate gold-framed doors. Empress Yanyu was the first to see him. Just what Jian needed. He’d avoided being in her scathing presence since coming to the palace in search of Hua, but she had to know he was there.

  A flash of distaste crossed the old empress’ face as she rushed toward him. “Jian Li,” she barked. “This palace is sacred ground in Piao. We cannot allow just any farmer to walk through the doors searching for a consort’s bastard.”

  Ah, yes. Their time apart hadn’t improved their relationship. But Jian had no time or energy for her vitriol.

  “This palace belongs to the people.” He walked past her without a glance. “It’s time we acted like it.”

  She tried to follow him, but Prince Duyi ran toward them and stepped into his mother’s path, blocking her next attack. “Mama, stop.”

  One corner of Jian’s mouth curved up, but he didn’t hear the rest of what was said between them. The prince had grown up since Jian saw him last.

  A dog’s bark snapped his attention to the Minglans as Chichi barreled toward him at full speed, launching himself through the air to slam into Jian. Jian stumbled back, a surprised laugh escaping him. Guilt came next. There should be no laughter at a time like this.

  Ru followed in Chichi’s wake, wrapping thin arms around Jian’s legs. “Jian. I missed you.” Jian bent to look in the kid’s eyes. It couldn’t have been more than a week since he saw him last in the Kai’s barn, but it felt like a lifetime. He lifted Ru into his arms as he approached Nainai Minglan. The old woman looked out of place among the marble and gold of the palace, but she held her chin high like she belonged.

  “Jian.” Her weathered face held immense sadness. “Where is my granddaughter?”

  Ru clung to him tighter. “Hua. Where is Hua?”

  Jian searched behind them, expecting Fa and Gen to appear.

  “They decided not to come, not
to face their daughter in this state.” She spoke as if reading his mind and clutched her hands together. “Ru told me Hua was in Dasha, that you and Luca left to search for her. There was news in the city of Luca bringing a prisoner to the palace.”

  Jian’s shoulders dropped as two worlds crashed together. In one, he was the bastard son of a long-ago consort, the brother to the emperor. And in the other, he was just Jian, the man who’d joined the Minglan family and promised to bring Hua back to them.

  In both worlds, he’d failed.

  Duyi appeared at his side, his eyes widening when he saw the dog. “No wonder Mama is angry.” He bent down, calling Chichi to him and scratched his nose.

  “Duyi, I must speak with this woman.” Jian looked to Ru. “Do you think you can watch the boy and his dog? Make sure they don’t cross the empress or any of the consorts.”

  Duyi nodded. “We’ll go find Bo. He’ll love seeing a dog messing up the too-clean palace.” An impish smirk appeared on his face as he took Ru’s hand and pulled him away. Chichi barked as he followed them.

  Jian and Nainai stared at each other for a long moment before she stepped forward and enveloped him in a hug. “You found her, Jian. Now, take me to my granddaughter.”

  He couldn’t let her see Hua like that, not with the Nagi controlling her. It wasn’t something anyone could forget. “We need to talk.” He turned and led her through the grand entrance hall to a room at the back that overlooked the courtyard and entrance to the temple. Once he closed the heavy wooden door behind him, he released a breath and lifted his eyes to the sitting room. Bookshelves lined the back wall, their expensive leather-bound tomes for appearance and not practicality. That was what Bo’s father taught them when they were boys playing in this room. It had been their sanctuary away from the empress and her children.

  Two settees faced each other over a handwoven rug with an intricate design made to look like stained glass. A large window spanned the back wall, where they could view the dormant fountain in the center of the courtyard. In the summer months, water poured from the center statue of a young boy.