Chen’s arms were folded across his chest. “If I’d told you where she was, you would have tried to take her.”
Jolin stood before the heir, fists on hips. “All witches must come to Haven for learning. It’s the law.”
Chen glared at her, his thumb tapping the hilt of his sword. “Not Harshen law.”
“I know what you’re trying to do,” Jolin growled. “I promise you, it will not end well.”
“You know nothing.”
Lilette didn’t miss the bitterness in his tone. She worked her some moisture into her mouth and whispered, “Take me with you.”
Jolin glanced at her, triumph flaring in her eyes. “I knew it! I knew she couldn’t want to stay here.”
Lilette allowed herself a moment of satisfaction, but it quickly ended when Chen motioned to two eunuchs behind him. “Bring me her seed belt.”
“What? What are you doing?” Jolin backed up, kicking at one of the eunuchs as he lunged for her. The eunuchs stripped the belt from her and backed away.
Lilette started to sit up, determined to help Jolin, but Ko held her down. “Stay still,” the older woman whispered. “Anything you say or do will only make it worse.”
Chen took the belt, running his fingers over some of the compartments. “Make sure neither of them leaves the house.”
Jolin’s chest rose and fell as she breathed hard. “You can’t keep me here!”
Chen shot her a withering look. “I’m afraid I no longer have a choice. If the witches know Lilette is here they will retaliate, and my entire empire will be in danger. I cannot allow that.”
Lilette wanted to strangle him.
Jolin tried to march after him, but the eunuchs blocked her way. “Then why bring me here in the first place?”
Chen turned back, considering her. “She was too weak to speak. It never occurred to me that you could tell what she was merely by looking at her. And she was dying.” His voice caught on the last, as if he really cared.
“She’s white! You had to know I’d figure it out.”
Chen chuckled. “It’s not like she’s the only white concubine in the harem. My father has diverse taste in women.”
“Without knowledge,” Jolin ground out, “she’s as useless to you as a falcon with clipped wings.”
After a moment, Chen said, “I see the truth in this. That is why you will teach her.”
“I will do no such thing!” Jolin barked. “I’ll not teach your concubine how to fight us.”
He took a step toward her. “You will teach her. I’ll make sure of that.”
“You’re afraid—that’s where all this anger is coming from. Is it because I’m a keeper? Or are you just afraid of anything more powerful than you?”
Chen clenched his fist. “If you had seen the things I have seen, knew the things I know, you would be afraid too.”
Jolin glanced at his fist. “Touch me and you’ll regret it.”
“Your song isn’t strong enough to do any real damage.”
Her hand flashed out as she slapped him. “It’s not just my song that can hurt you!” The eunuchs lunged forward and restrained her.
Chen pressed his fingertips against his reddened cheek. “The law for striking the heir is death. As reward for saving Lilette, I’ll spare your life. But you will have a lashing to teach you better manners. After all, I can’t have another concubine with so little respect for her heir.”
Jolin gaped at him. “You wouldn’t dare.” He tipped his head to the side and gave her a crooked smile before she said, “My keepers would never allow it!”
He shrugged. “You caught whatever plague my concubine had. It causes boils all over the face. Very disfiguring to the body.”
Jolin struggled against the eunuchs holding her. “You have no idea the viper’s nest you’re poking.”
“Don’t I?” Chen laughed, but there was no humor in it. “Five lashes,” he said to the eunuchs, and then he turned and left without a backward glance.
The eunuchs began dragging Jolin away. “Please—” Lilette said as she reached toward them.
Ko rested a hand on her shoulder. “They don’t have a choice.”
Jolin kicked and squirmed. “You will pay for this. I swear it! The witches will bring down a curse on your heads.”
“Don’t fight them,” Lilette said weakly. “Save it for when it will do some good.” But Jolin was screaming and fighting so hard, Lilette doubted she heard.
When they were out of earshot, Ko whispered, “Jolin should be grateful it’s only a lashing.”