LITMIR.BIZ

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a long way.’

      In Changan, she’d have to justify her disobedience to her family. They believed she was now wedded to Li Tao, gaining them a strong military ally against their enemies. What her father didn’t realise was that Li Tao was the enemy.

      Everything had changed since they’d left their home in the mountains to install themselves in the imperial palace. Father and Mother had become so suspicious. Their discussions now centred on politics and hidden motives. She wanted to forget the turbulence of the imperial court and the constant power struggle, but she couldn’t.

      The warmth of Ryam’s concern stayed with her as she fell into step beside him. It didn’t make sense, this giddiness that spun her around whenever he was near. When they reached Changan he would go his own way. He would be nothing but a memory and she would never be able to explain this time with him, this feeling blooming inside her, to anyone. Not when she couldn’t understand it herself.

      Ryam guided them northwards, in the general direction of the imperial city. Ailey asked him only once whether he knew where he was going as they climbed over twisted roots, turning and winding through the green.

      The forest spread in tangled vines around them and folded them into shaded darkness. Clear line of sight extended only for several feet in any direction. Any search party would need to spend a considerable amount of energy to track them. Ryam exhaled, letting the tension drain from him momentarily in the shelter of the woods.

      ‘We should have some cover in here,’ he said.

      Some of the trees grew so thick that ten men could encircle the trunks. It was another sign of the empire’s wealth, the lush woodlands at their disposal, fed by several great rivers. Enough wood to build the most magnificent of cities and palaces.

      They reached a stream and followed it. A canopy of cypress and ginkgo grew along the bank. The roots crawled like snakes along the earth, dipping tapered fingers into the water.

      ‘These trees are sacred.’ Ailey ran her fingers along the trunk of one as she walked by. The fan-shaped leaves flickered yellow-green with the breeze. ‘They live for thousands of years. Longer than the empire. We see them in temples all the time.’

      Changan wouldn’t be hard to find. They only had to head north in search of the grand canal that flowed into the capital. All the major roads would lead them there as well, but they needed to stay hidden.

      Ailey walked along the reeds that lined the water, arms held out for balance. God’s feet, she moved with such graceful confidence. ‘Grandmother always spoke of the forests of the south. She learned her technique from a southern master.’

      Her hips swayed their seductive rhythm before him. He nodded absently and considered dunking his head into the cold water. All he needed to do was get her home and get out of there.

      ‘Is there anyone in your family who doesn’t wield sharp weapons?’ he asked.

      ‘Mother disapproves of my swords. She says no man would want a woman with such rough hands.’

      She hopped over a tangle of roots, light-footed and sure over the uneven ground. He saw absolutely no problem with her hands or any other part of her.

      ‘Mother was so happy when Father arranged this marriage,’ she continued sombrely.

      ‘So why did you run away?’

      ‘Li Tao is—ruthless.’ She seemed unwilling to say more.

      ‘He’s also rich and powerful,’ he pressed her. ‘And in command of an army of thousands. Not the sort of man who takes refusal lightly.’

      The tail of her braid whipped over her shoulder as she faced him. ‘It is not as if I’m refusing Li Tao because he is old or ugly or fat.’

      ‘Well, is he?’

      She stopped, caught off guard. ‘I—I don’t know. I mean, it doesn’t matter.’

      ‘You don’t know if he’s ugly?’

      ‘I’ve never seen him. When he came to fetch me for the wedding procession I was wearing a red scarf over my face.’

      ‘So he hasn’t seen you either?’

      ‘Of course not.’

      ‘Now I understand.’

      She cast him a wary glance. ‘Understand what?’

      ‘You were marrying a man you’d never met. Of course you had doubts.’

      ‘You don’t understand at all.’ She turned on her heel and continued down the bank. Her stride had lost its carefree gait. ‘In our custom, it would be the greatest insult for a bride to refuse a match simply because she did not like the look of her husband. It would be disrespectful to his family and a great dishonour to mine.’

      ‘It’s not important that you at least see each other before being wed?’

      ‘Not at all. I would trust my parents would make me a good match.’

      It was hard to believe someone with such unquestioning faith would run away from an arranged marriage. Even if she had been wilful or stubborn, it was unlikely a woman of her standing would risk so much to defy convention. Perhaps there was a lover. The thought alone sent a hot streak of possessiveness through him, unwarranted as it was. But why would she want to return to her family when they would certainly denounce her? Besides, her every touch spoke of innocence. He knew the signs well enough to steer clear under most circumstances.

      ‘You wouldn’t prefer someone that was strong and handsome?’ he goaded.

      ‘That doesn’t matter to me.’

      ‘What if this Li Tao is ancient? Wrinkled, toothless …’

      ‘He is not!’ Her eyes grew wide despite her denial. She lowered her voice as if in confidence. ‘Mother told me he was twice my age.’

      ‘And what is that?’

      ‘I was born the year of the dragon.’

      ‘Dragons, rabbits, tigers,’ he said with a laugh. ‘I could never figure out your calendar.’

      She regarded him through her lashes, blushing. ‘I have nineteen years. I know that is very old for marriage, but the last years have been … very unusual.’

      Ailey was beyond adorable when flustered. He leapt across the stream ahead of her and stretched out his hand. She landed before him in the moss, bracing against his arms to steady herself. This time he held on. Her pulse fluttered beneath his fingers.

      ‘You don’t want someone who makes your heart beat faster?’ he challenged.

      She ran the tip of her tongue over her lips, too pretty and too curious for her own good. It took all of his will to hold himself back.

      ‘I … I don’t.’

      Little liar. He could pull her into his arms right then and she would melt against him. Her mouth would taste just as sweet as he remembered.

      He let go of her. He had to.

      He swallowed forcibly, words failing him. ‘So you were ready to marry him no matter how old and ugly he was. What made you change your mind?’

      He held himself apart from her, unmoving while his heart threatened to punch a hole through his ribcage. The force of his reaction stunned him and for some reason, he needed to know exactly what her ties were to the man she had been promised to.

      Ailey swayed in the damp earth of the riverbank, caught off balance at his abrupt departure. ‘The wedding ceremony was to be completed before his family altar. On the journey, I was carried inside a palanquin, while he rode with the escort.’

      ‘A man would be mad with lust being forced to wait so long to see his bride.’

      She frowned at him. ‘This is not something I do lightly. My family could disown

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