The gifts kept coming. Francesca still wasn’t sure what to do with them all. It had been less than a week since she’d pulled her ‘crying fit’ over Jin’s coldness and she was already tired of getting presents. In fact, it was just making her uncomfortable. What was she supposed to do with baskets of vegetables and fruit from the local farmers? The gesture was nice, she supposed, but she’d rather they just kept the presents. Each time she received them, she felt bad. Taking from the rich nobles was one thing, taking from the working class farmers was another altogether. The rich could well afford a few trinkets, poorer farmers could not.
Slowly lowering her body, she extended her arms out to the side. Francesca kept her movements deliberate, each one fluidly moving into the next in practiced order. She breathed in and out, trying to stay relaxed as she focused her mind. Simple breathing was one of the first things she’d learned when she started her training. Sun had insisted she learn that much without the aid of uploads before she crammed years of knowledge into her head. The uploads only took her so far and then the rest had been up to her. They’d spent hours training together, always with him riding her to do better, to be more.
Francesca shoved her palm out as she struck a pose and paused before moving to the next fluid motion. She’d done this very same exercise with Sun, every night before bed. Never once did he let her slack.
I didn’t save you to let you fail yourself, my sweet.
Jin had insisted on sharing her bed the night before. Francesca couldn’t resist him when he looked at her with his half closed eyes. She was like a baboian fly drawn to the icy crags of Sintaz—mesmerized by him to the point she couldn’t see anything else until it was too late. Sex was fine, but he had slept next to her trying to hold her afterward. Cuddling was too intimate and made her uncomfortable. She wanted to keep their affair on a strictly professional basis. But who was she fooling? It was getting personal. Very personal.
About an hour before dawn, she’d slipped from his embrace, still awake from the night before and had gone for a run around Honorable City. She must have traveled over every single pathway before stopping, including the waterway paths and bridges that went over the Enchanted River, a small stream inside the palace walls. By her estimation, since the city was about a half of a mile long by three quarters of a mile wide from the longest points, it made for about three miles worth of useable running paths. By the time she had gotten back to Jin’s chambers to cool down and clean up, he was gone.
Her arms swooped around to the side as she lifted her leg. Balance was the second thing she had learned to master under Sun’s strict guidance.
“Francesca! He’s done it! My brother has done it!”
Francesca frowned, wavering slightly at Fen’s happy tone. There was something in it that caught her off guard, a true happiness and excitement. The woman’s unassuming friendship always took her by surprise and she kept expecting it to fade away as common sense returned to Fen.
Apparently, she has no common sense, Francesca mused. But even as she thought it, she knew she didn’t mean it. She truly liked the woman. This job is just getting more complicated every second.
“Francesca!” The door slid open and the excited princess came in. “Jin loves you.”
Francesca stumbled over her own feet, tripping herself. She fell forward, catching her weight with her hands in a lopsided pushup only to thrust her weight off the floor and quickly stand upright.
Huh? She was too stunned to speak, so she merely stared, wide-eyed with her mouth hanging open.
“Didn’t you hear me, Fran?”
“Francesca,” she corrected absently. Huh?
“Sorry, I forgot. Fran-cesca, didn’t you hear what I said?”
Huh? Jin loves who?
“Jin has done it. He’s offered his apology to you.” Fen looked her over and clicked her tongue in disapproval. “Tianna! You’re all sweaty. We have to get you changed. Those clothes will never do! Oh, please hurry. Tìan xiâo de! The crowd is starting to gather and…”
Francesca didn’t move as Fen became a whirlwind of activity around her. She blinked, feeling as if she moved in slow motion.
“…get dressed after you bathe,” Fen continued. The princess grabbed Francesca’s hand and pulled her toward the decontaminator only to let go as she saw a gown amongst the presents. “Oh, here, you’ll wear the gown from Lady Hsin. Ni hao ma? Hâo? Yes, it will be perfect and I’ll do your hair and paint your face…”
Francesca heard a buzzing in her head, making it impossible for her to translate the princess each time she slipped into Lintianese, which became more frequent as she tried to rush Francesca across the chamber.
“Tìan xiâo de! Zhè bìng bù huài…”
Francesca’s clothing was tugged back and she blinked in surprise, coming to her senses, as Fen tried to help her undress. She’d never had another woman try to get her into a bath before, though she knew many women used servants. Fen’s features were so preoccupied, she didn’t notice as Francesca artfully escaped her helping grasp.
“Wode tìan! Ti—”
Francesca quickly disrobed and stepped into the decontaminator. She closed the door to the unit.
“Fen,” Francesca broke in carefully. When the woman didn’t stop, she said more firmly, “Fen!”
The woman stopped talking. “Shénme? Yes?”
“What did you mean when you said that Jin…” Pausing before she said, ‘when you said that Jin said he loved me?’ she changed her mind and finished, “had done it? What did he do?”
“What?!” Fen called. She sounded far away. “I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you.”
“What did Jin do?” Francesca yelled louder. The green lasers washed over her and she lifted her arms so that they could clean over her entire length.
“Oh,” Fen said, her voice muffled, “he is publicly apologizing to you for his actions when the astrologers were here doing your reading.”
I know that! Francesca rolled her eyes. “How?”
“Duìbùqî?!”
“How?” Francesca asked louder.
“What?!”
“How is he apologizing?” Francesca didn’t move, listening carefully.
“Oh… it… he… lìngrén jingyì… and…” The words were choppy, as if the princess was digging around Jin’s chambers. “Wode tìan! Never mind, I got it!”
Okay, was Fen being evasive on purpose?
Francesca quickly ran her fingers through her hair, lifting the heavy locks so that the lasers hit them. When she finished, she peeked out of the decontaminator. Fen was there, smiling brightly as she held up the red gown with the flowers and snakelike dragons Lady Hsin had given to her.
Wiggling the beautiful dress back and forth, Fen said, “I think this will look perfect on you!”
* * * *
For someone who had insisted they hurry, Fen took her time in getting Francesca ready. She didn’t know why she submitted to the princess’ administering hands, but she did. By the time Fen led her out of Jin’s private chambers, Francesca was all done up in Lintianese finery. The red silk gown fell to mid-calf like a tunic shirt. It split up the middle with the Mandarin collar and frog buttons like the outfit she had worn when the astrologers predicted Jin’s and her future together.
Little they know. Francesca let loose a derisive laugh. They predicted our future together to be a good one.
“Francesca?” Fen asked, pausing on her way out of the royal chambers.
“I didn’t speak,” she answered.
Fen made a soft noise of wonder, but continued walking.
Curiosity boiled inside of Francesca. What was Jin up to? What was this public apology going to consist of? Surely it was just an overly traditional ceremony like everything else on this planet. She was certainly dressed for another ceremony.
Her long hair was elaborately coiled on top of her head, held in place by long straight hairpins. The dark color of the pins blended with her locks so they remained unseen. The coiffure was finished off with an artfully arranged mass of curls decorated with a long, hollow piece of purple jade from the Lin Yao Mines across the Satlyun River in Singhai. The jade hairpiece was held into place by an elaborate gold pin with colorful glass inlay.
It was odd to have live hands do her hair for her. Normally, she twisted it back or hid it under a mask. Whenever a job called for dressing up, she had used a beauty droid. The machines were programmed to do about any style within mere minutes.
Fen had also produced jewelry to go with the hair decorations. A gold necklet wrapped stiffly around her neck, ornamented with symbols of good luck to ward off evil influences. Francesca had to laugh at that. Evil influences? Like the compulsion to try and steal the Jade Phoenix?
A matching gold armlet coiled in a spiral around her wrist, up her forearm to her elbow. Cosmetics were also applied to her complexion, powdering her face, darkening her eyes, adding fake color to her cheeks. Francesca found that odd, since the Lintianese women she’d seen didn’t really wear makeup, except maybe a subtle enhancement here and there.
Suddenly, an idea struck her and she felt nauseous. She reached for Fen, stopping the princess from pushing open the door leading out of the royal chambers. “This isn’t a marriage ceremony, is it?”
Fen laughed. “No, no. First he has to apologize and then the wedding can take place. All you really have to do is forgive him.”
Francesca relaxed. It was a real possibility that she’d be marrying Jin, but she wasn’t ready for that possibility yet. She’d always told herself that she would do whatever it took to get this job done. If she had to get married, then she would. It’s not like she’d honor her vows and stay married.
“Sounds easy enough,” Francesca answered Fen’s expectant look.
“Excellent!” Fen beamed with excitement. “Now come. Jin is waiting.”
* * * *
Jin waited nervously in the Hall of Infinite Wisdom. Glancing at his brothers who stood on either side of him, he took a deep breath, trying not to make it obvious that he was apprehensive. His brothers were all dressed in black with thick red sashes around their waists. The long floor-length tunics were the exact opposite of Jin’s, which was dark red with a black sash that tied on the side and hung down from the waist. Beneath the waistbands, the male gowns flowed freely, allowing movement of the legs. Buttons were fastened all the way down the front of the outfit. At the collars and the end of the long sleeves, bits of white could be seen. The white was the underlining of the male gowns and very soft to the touch.
The brothers stood before their parents who sat regally on their thrones. The emperor and empress also wore red, only their silk brocade was embroidered with the black dragons outlined in gold. The empress wore an elaborate hairdo, complete with fringe that hung before her face in long golden chains. They all waited for Francesca to arrive.
Jin knew his sister had orders to keep Francesca busy until all the noble families arrived to bear witness, but the wait was slowly killing him. The night before it had been hard not to tell her what was going to happen the next day. And that morning, he’d panicked upon finding her gone. The nobles had already been invited to the palace to bear witness. Luckily his brothers had stayed outside the royal bedchamber for the night, watching for a possible escape attempt. When she left for her morning exercise, ancestors were watching her every move.
Fen had been a great help to the family, more so than Francesca could ever realize. His sister had a truly good heart, one that shone in her every word, but she also loved her family and her people above all else. When she talked to Jin’s bride, Fen’s goodness would shine through. And when she deceived her, it would be believable. People like Francesca made their minds up quickly about people. From what Fen said, she treated the princess just as she intended to be treated.
“This is the only way, Jin.”
Jin glanced at his younger brother. Shen was blessed with the ability of foresight. It was this gift, one of the many bestowed upon the royal family with the aid of the Jade Phoenix, that the younger prince saw with now. A deep thinker, Shen well understood the paths people walked. He might not know why, but he could see where they would end up due to their actions. The problem was, as people’s action changed, so did their course and nothing was ever certain. The further ahead Shen looked, the more unclear his foresight became. And he couldn’t always control what he saw. He claimed most of his knowledge was based on instinct and feelings.
All of the Zhang children were blessed by the Jade Phoenix the day they were born. It was a private ceremony, one the Lintianese people didn’t know about. It was feared that if they did know, others would try and take the Jade Phoenix for themselves. What only those blessed with the Phoenix’s power understood was that only the royal family could use its gifts. If everyone used it, the power of the Phoenix would be spread out too thin and no one would profit. It was this power that kept their world safe from outsiders. Without it, Lintian would become a common space port.
The Jade Phoenix caused a strange balance on Lintian between the two dynasties. The Songs controlled the jade mines, the main source of intergalactic trade on the planet which helped the entire race to thrive and the Zhang controlled elements that blessed the planet with protection from the outside world. The Zhang also had the most fertile soil, which made for agricultural goods to trade for purple jade. Nevertheless, if one side was to have power over both the purple jade and the Phoenix, they would be the controlling empire and eventually would have all the power on Lintian.
For the Zhangs to conquer the Songs, they’d have to invade Singhai and seize the mines—a very substantial campaign. But, for the Songs to conquer Jin’s family, they only needed to obtain the power of the Jade Phoenix. After that, the Songs would simply bide their time and a generation later, the lands would fall under Song rule for they’d have all the money and power.
So long as the balance of power was equal, both empires were safe. It was a delicate stability, one that they’d kept for centuries. The Zhangs did not wish for ultimate power, but did the Songs? The two royal households did not mingle more than was necessary. There was always a tension between them, as if neither side knew how to bow to the other. Of course, there was respect, but when two authoritative powers of equal standing entered the same room, who became the ultimate authority? The less they saw each other, the less chance there was to fight over petty things. Business stayed business between the two empires and trade went on as usual.
Until now.
After Haun discovered the jade mines were being used to manufacture chandoo, he’d been honor bound to report it to the Songs. The Songs were upset to have their honor questioned, or at least that was Emperor Song’s position on the matter. Since then, relations had been strained and fights were breaking out on the trading docks between the two peoples.
That is why protecting the Jade Phoenix was so important. It’s why he needed to marry Francesca to keep the curse from coming true—though he wasn’t sure he believed in a wedding breaking the curse. The ancestors seemed positive this course of action would reveal Francesca’s secrets to him. And, since he didn’t have a clue what he was doing, he found himself here, in the Hall of Infinite Wisdom, not feeling very wise as he waited for his unsuspecting future wife to join him for their wedding.
Jin’s stomach tightened. Francesca was being tricked into this because she wanted to steal from him. His family believed that she would try to stay engaged long enough to achieve her goal, but if they were married perhaps she would change her mind, or in the very least Jin would be able to ‘keep the enemy close’ so to speak.
I am tired of deceit.
When Francesca said the words that would bind them for all eternity, would they be real? When she joined her soul to his, would she mean it? The answer came over him like a shout from his soul. No. No. No. Only love could make her mean the words and Francesca did not love him. And how could she mean what she didn’t know she was saying, or more importantly doing. There weren’t many words in the marriage ceremony, just actions.
Was Francesca sent by the Songs to destroy them? Fen thought not and she was blessed with charm. It was more impressive than it sounded, because with her charm she could control minds to an extent. It was the smooth, sweet quality to her voice and in her captivating expressions that made people want to tell her the truth.
The Phoenix blessed Haun with strength and a warrior’s heart. He was brave, sturdy and did what had to be done no matter what. When the time came, he would make a great emperor.
Their baby sister, Mei, was influenced by the elements, mostly the wind. It would whisper in her ear, making her act on instinct. If little Mei felt something should be a certain way, it usually should be. She knew when to strike and when to be the meek, pretty flower. Mastering the art of both was what made her a good negotiator.
Lian was blessed with grace, both in movement and temperament, and with knowledge of the present. He could defuse any situation with logic, to the point that it was irritating. The prince also made one fine dancer.
Jin’s gift had always been the past. All his life he’d wondered why his siblings would receive such amazing gifts when all he could do is see and understand his people’s history—and not even all of it. It’s why he was looked at for keeping traditions. Anyone who wanted to read the scrolls could learn of the past. However, since discovering that the scrolls had been altered, he realized now that he was the only link to the truth of what once was. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a clear vision like watching a communicator image or seeing smuggled ancient Earth transmissions, but more like feelings about how things had really been.
The clear visions would have been a lot easier to understand.
Now with tension over the Wushu Uprising surfacing once more and the so-called ‘curse’ he was meant to save his people from, he needed his gift more than ever. Only problem was that all he knew was a maze of lies that needed to be staggered through. And not everything was exactly a lie, but the memory of someone else—an ancestor or spirit who only saw past events from their point of view. One viewpoint was a narrow vision indeed and memory was often fueled by the person’s emotional scars.
“Jin,” Shen repeated. Jin glanced at his brother as the man said again, “This is the only way.”
Jin nodded once. What else could he do? The family had decided that it was time for him to marry and that is what he would do. Grandfather Manchu believed that marriage would save the family. Jin didn’t have the same opinion, but it was too great a thing to risk just for the sake of his own pride. So what if he did not wish to marry Francesca? Or, so what if he did but for a different reason?
Blessed ancestors, help me. Stop this. Find another way.
Jin looked around the crowded hall. He saw glimpses of spirits mingling with the live crowd, but it appeared that no one else saw the dead. Were they showing themselves to him as an act of intimidation, to remind him of his duty and to keep him steady? It really wasn’t needed. Nothing could make him forget it. Or was it simply they could not longer hide themselves from him anymore?
Ever since the spirits came to him when he was drunk, they hadn’t stopped coming. He saw them everywhere, doing practically everything a live person would do. They walked over the paths, exercised in the halls, floated invisible boats on the Enchanted River and danced when there was no music. He’d even walked in on a couple having sex in the Imperial Gardens. Empress Zhang theorized that he could see so many spirits because they were of the past and that was his gift. It made sense, but the sight of them only made the weight on his heart all the heavier. Not only were the living dependent on him, so were the dead. It was a profound burden.
Why are they just now appearing to me? Why can’t they leave me be?
“This is a happy day, gē ge,” Lian said. “You shouldn’t look so fierce.”
“Try to smile,” Shen instructed quietly.
“But not too wide,” Lian added. “For it is a serious occasion.”
“You know, I never got that.” Shen leaned forward, looking past Jin to Lian. “It’s a wedding. Shouldn’t the joining of two lives be a time of complete celebration? Why do we all have to act serious?”
“Huh, I never thought about it,” Lian mused, contemplating the question. Jin hid his chuckle. Shen just asked the question to mess with their brother. Lian would be thinking about the logic of being serious at weddings for weeks.
Shen winked at Jin, smirking as Lian’s expression clouded in deep thought.
“You are doing what you must, xiâo dì dì.” Haun nodded in approval. “You honor us greatly today.”
“Happiness for honor,” Jin said softly. “I only hope none of you have to make such a trade.”
Haun’s lips tightened, but he didn’t speak. There was nothing he could say.
A murmur rose over the hall. Jin turned to the entranceway in time to see his sister stepping aside for his bride. His breath caught. Fen had done an amazing job. Francesca actually looked like true Lintianese woman. A square lace veil covered her head and face, hiding her foreign features from the crowd. It wasn’t done on purpose, as the veil was traditional wedding attire. The dark red matched her clothing. When she walked, platform shoes caused her body to sway and her feet to shuffle in small steps.
Beautiful.
Jin couldn’t breathe. She was beautiful. His heart beat faster, pounding so hard he was sure his brothers could hear the sound. He knew that her presence, that this ceremony was a lie. The knowledge caused an ache to wash over him, so intense he wanted to fall to the ground screaming. Instead he held perfectly still, watching his little thief come closer. He wished that this moment wasn’t a lie, that part of her could actually love him.
Love?
He bit back a self-depreciating laugh. Love had nothing to do with this, and yet he yearned for it more than anything. He loved her. Part of him had from that first moment he saw her cussing out the guards, so defiant and strong. She was so outspoken compared to the noblewomen he knew. When they came together completely, and he’d released his seed inside of her, he knew for sure. He loved her and that would be his downfall.
You will destroy me, won’t you, bâobèi?
Thoughts ran rampant in his head. Now that he admitted his feelings to himself, he couldn’t stop them. Francesca stepped closer, the embodiment of everything he held dear. Her clothing represented his people, his past and future. He wished for her to share all of it with him. Part of him wanted to cry out, another part wanted to run and another still wanted to bow at her feet and beg for mercy.
Mercy? She would sooner crush me with my own heart than show me mercy.
“Time,” Lian whispered, as if reading his thoughts. Jin couldn’t take his eyes from Francesca. “Time will reveal all. You have little to do but wait for it.”
“That is easier said than done,” Shen mumbled. “I am truly sorry, Jin.”
Francesca stepped up the stairs. Arranged marriages were supposed to be a thing of the past, but here he was facing a marriage arranged by his ancestors to protect the family. With each passing second, his body tightened with nerves. Maybe he was overly emotional because of what today was. He hadn’t been given too much time to prepare for it. In fact, he hadn’t known Francesca all that long. Perhaps it would have been different had he known all his life that this decision wouldn’t be his. Instead, he’d been led to believe that his bride would be of his choosing.
But who else could I choose?
I am a fool.
I can’t do this. Jin took a deep breath, shaking his head slightly. I can’t do this.
“I can’t do this.” The words came softly out of him. He tried to step back from the line formed by his brothers, but Haun was suddenly at his side, gripping his arm tight from behind.
“Then you kill us all,” Haun hissed into his ear.
“You say that because this isn’t your future,” Jin whispered.
“If it were me, there would be no debate. The wedding would be done. I know my place, Jin.” Haun’s grip tightened. “Look around, little brother. If you don’t do this, we’re all dead. That is my future as well as yours.”
Jin did look. He looked at the people of Muntong staring at his bride. He looked at the dead, staring back at him. Then he looked at his parents, watching the whole proceeding expectantly. Finally, his eyes found Francesca. She studied him from beneath the veil. Haun squeezed tight in warning before letting go.
Francesca’s round dark gaze drew him to her from beneath the lace veil. She held power over him, even if she didn’t know it. Jin stepped forward, passing his brothers. Taking a step down the platform to meet her, he said, “I apologize.”
It wasn’t the eloquent speech he’d prepared and it wasn’t even close to what he wanted to tell her, but it was all he could manage.
“I apologize,” he repeated, louder.
Francesca slowly nodded. Her tone questioning, she answered, “I accept?”
Jin studied her. She really had no clue what was going on. He saw movement behind her as servants hurried out the door toward the front of the building.
Fen cleared her throat, the sound oddly loud in the quiet hall. “Ah, Jin?”
Jin bowed to Francesca. The sound of onlookers came over them, as the crowd voiced their approval. It wasn’t a wild, happy cheering, but a proper amount of respectful appreciation of his match.
Francesca’s brow furrowed as she glanced around without moving her head. She appeared annoyed by the whole ordeal more than anything.
If she’s annoyed now, he mused wryly, then she’s going to hate what happens next.
“Come.” He offered his arm and she took it without thought. Jin led her through the hall to the door. As they reached outside, she asked, “Where are we going? Is that it? I’m forced to get dressed up, you say you’re sorry and we leave?”
“No, there is one more thing we must do today,” he answered.
“Ugh, I should’ve known.” Francesca shook her head. Then, with a sound of irritation, she swatted at her face. “What is with this veil anyway? Can I take it off?”
Jin was glad to have something to talk about. “Soon you can take it off. It’s an old custom, when men believed a woman’s face to be the downfall of self-control. A man wouldn’t want his wife to attract others with their beauty. So she, in an effort to please, would wear the veil to show her loyalty to her man.”
“You mean ‘her husband,’ don’t you?”
Jin laughed lightly and nodded. “Yes.”
Francesca pulled the veil from her head. She shook her hair.
“France—”
“You are not my husband.” She handed him the veil. “And I am hardly some meek woman wishing to hide my face for the sake of your self-control.” She winked audaciously at him. “In fact, I like when you don’t show control. It leads to great things.”
“It is also for unmarried women.” He tried to give the veil back but Francesca took a step and wobbled. “It’s a sign of your virtue.”
Francesca laughed, grabbing his arm as she pulled the platforms from her feet. “My virtue? Need I remind you about how virtuous I am? When I said ‘great things’ I didn’t mean the fighting. Though that is fun, too.”
She glanced down his body in meaning and Jin felt a stirring between his legs. Francesca slapped a platform into his outstretched hand as he tried to give her back the veil. She leaned over and took off the other shoe, sighing as she set her bare foot back on the ground.
Jin didn’t know what to say. His bride was undressing before the wedding in public view. Servants came around the corner, carrying a sedan chair for her. Maybe not telling her what was going on was a mistake.
The sedan was red with enough room inside for one person—the bride. The gold roof was styled like the palace buildings. Red silk covered the walls and hung over the front section to hide the bride from view and there was a window on each side of the sedan so she could peek out.
“Huh, would you look at that.” She nodded at the sedan. “What’s it for?”
Jin watched the servants lead the sedan to the end of the Hall of Infinite Wisdom’s steps. It hovered over the ground, not like the old days when people actually carried the vehicles on their shoulders. Even though the servants didn’t do that anymore, there were still four bars sticking out at each corner like the old days. Instead of carrying, the servants led the chair with them.
“It is a sedan. Get in,” Jin said.
“What? Inside that? Why?”
“It—it’s your ride. Just get in. It’s tradition that you don’t walk.”
“Great,” she laughed. Then, taking a finger, she touched his sleeve. “You want to go in with me? I promise it would be more fun than this whole apology business. You said sorry, I accepted. Sounds like it’s all taken care of.”
Jin read the meaning in her beautiful jade eyes and his body desperately wanted to say yes. “I can’t. We won’t both fit and the others will be coming out soon. They expect to see me walking.”
“Fine, but you better not try to sacrifice me in some weird ceremony and this better be over soon.” Francesca ignored the servant who offered their hand as she pulled herself up into the sedan.
Jin started to turn to go get the crowd, but stopped and crossed over to her. He pulled the front cover aside and set the shoes and veil on her lap.
She groaned, picking them up. Before he could speak, she mumbled, “I know, I know. It’s tradition. Save the lecture, I’ll put them back on. Promise.”
* * * *
A feeling that something wasn’t right nagged at Francesca as she was led away from the Hall of Infinite Wisdom in the sedan chair. But, since everything the Lintianese people did took a long time and was surrounded by endless tradition and ceremony, she decided she was just on edge. Lying in Jin’s bed all night, surrounded by his smell as she fought the longing in her body, had left her tired. Not to mention the morning run and Fen’s insistent pampering.
In the hall, he’d looked like his brothers, only he stood out because of the dark red of his gown compared to their black. No, it was more than his clothing. He stood out because he made her heart beat faster when she looked at him. The clothing was like a tease, a seduction of her senses as she imagined slowly undressing him for her pleasure. The fact that everything was soft and silky to the touch only made the sensations all the more erotic. His hard-muscled skin would be so firm against the material of their clothing. When they had sex partially dressed, the combination of hard and soft had been extremely fascinating and arousing.
Francesca closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the sedan, doing her best to ignore the fact that she was aroused to such a fiery extent from thoughts of Jin. The ride was smooth, like she rode on a cloud. Hearing a cough outside, she pulled back the silk and peeked out the window. A procession of all the noble witnesses from the Hall of Infinite Wisdom followed her.
Great, it’s a parade. The voice in her head was heavy with sarcasm. She sat back down and sighed heavily. Just put up with it. Soon this will be over. I’ll be ‘officially’ engaged to Jin. Their guard will drop and I will get what I came for. This will all be over soon.
Francesca hummed an absentminded tune. She looked at the shoes on her lap, already regretting that she’d promised to put the torture devices back on. The platforms rested on the red lace veil. Not knowing why she bothered to keep her promise, she slipped the platforms back onto her feet. They were uncomfortable, making her taller, even as they caused her to teeter back and forth since the platform was centered under the middle of the foot and not under the toe and heel.
Jin owes me for this one, she thought, eyeing the shoes.
The sedan stopped and she again looked out the window. She was in front of the Exalted Hall. The two doors with the protective gods were opened, held so by a serving man on each side. Francesca didn’t move. What were they doing before the Exalted Hall? Could it be? A wedding? No, Fen had said it was just an apology. The woman wouldn’t have been able to deceive her.
“Francesca?”
Francesca yelped at the sound of Jin’s soft voice and jerked back in her seat. Her heart beat hard in her chest and she couldn’t speak.
“What’s wrong? You’re pale.” Jin reached for her.
Francesca looked at the opened doors. “What are we doing here?”
“Apology,” he said.
There, see, just an apology. Not a wedding. Stop overreacting.
Still, she hesitated before taking his hand. “What do I have to do?”
“Just follow my lead. We’ll go in, pay homage to the sky and earth, give offerings to the ancestors so they know the seriousness of our claim, drink some shui guo chá and we’re done.”
“And that’s all?”
His eyes dropped and he nodded, not looking at her directly as he looked back at the crowd. “That’s all. Then it will all be done.”
Francesca nodded, letting him help her down from the sedan as she tugged the lace veil over her head. “All right, then. Let’s get this over with.”