Witch Fall(3)

Lilette narrowed her gaze. “I don’t believe you.”

Pan puffed out her chest in a show of bravado. “You can’t have her. She’s already taken.”

Lilette rested her hand on Pan’s shoulder in warning.

“Yes,” Chen agreed. “Long ago.” He motioned with one hand. Dozens of men eased from the shadows of the jungle, the sharp sunlight of midday revealing their leather armor reinforced with bronze studs. Each man carried two long swords at his waist or across his back. Some also carried halberds, the wicked blades resembling half moons. The heavily armed men blocked the way back to the village.

Lilette and the others made to dive into the pool, but soldiers appeared at the base of the cliff. They were surrounded.

“Quo! Ji! Zu!” Pan cried for her brothers, this time her voice full of fear instead of supplication.

“Are you looking for them?” At a gesture from Chen, the soldiers brought forth three boys who were almost men. Each was bound and gagged, eyes wide with fright. Quo’s cheek was swollen and his face bloodied.

Chen eyed Lilette up and down. “This isn’t going to be nearly as arduous as I thought.”

She knew firsthand this man’s ruthlessness. If she didn’t do something soon, everyone would die. “Let them go.”

He cocked an eyebrow. “Are you giving me an order?”

She swallowed. “If what you say is true—if you really mean to make me your concubine—I’ll come quietly.”

Chen looked pointedly at the men surrounding the females. “You’ll come either way.”

Lilette’s hand snaked out and grabbed Pan’s knife from its sheath. She held the blade to her throat, hoping against hope he’d spoken the truth before and didn’t mean to kill her.

Some of the cockiness fled Chen’s face. “You won’t use that.”

Lilette pressed down and the tip bit into her skin. Her flesh parted, the metal sliding inside her. Blood dripped down her neck, soaking her beautiful robes.

“Chen!” said one of his soldiers, a man with a scar that stretched from one mangled ear all the way across his cheek before biting into his nose.

Chen stretched his hand toward Lilette, palm forward, and spoke to his men. “Let them go. I have no need for them.”

Pan’s eyes seemed enormous in her pale face. “Li—”

“They’re going to take me anyway,” Lilette whispered. “Just go! Don’t look back.”

Pan took in the soldiers with their swords and spears. In her fist, she still gripped Lilette’s decorative jade comb. Hands shaking, Pan stepped forward and gently slid the comb into place. Her lips beside Lilette’s ear, she whispered, “I’ll send my father and the other men after you.”

“No!” Lilette hissed. But Pan was already herding her sisters toward a gap the soldiers had created, their dispassionate gazes watching the girls pass.

“The boys too.” Lilette’s voice cracked.

Chen’s gaze darkened, and Lilette knew she would pay dearly for their freedom. After a moment he nodded. Bian’s sons stumbled after their sisters.

Only when they were all on the other side of the soldiers did Pan look back.

“Don’t,” Lilette mouthed.

Pan pushed her sisters forward. “Run!”

A sick horror rose in Lilette’s middle as she realized she would probably never see Pan again. She considered using the blade. It might be a kinder fate than what awaited her. But soldiers were already swarming her, and the knife was ripped from her grip by the scarred soldier.

Chen came to stand before her. When he made no move to kill her, she went weak with relief. “Why?” she choked out.

His dark eyes bored into hers. “Because our daughters will have your power.”

Metallic taste of fear filled Lilette’s mouth. When she’d prayed to the Sun Dragon to free her from marrying Bian, she should have been more specific.

“Why not sing?” Chen asked. “You were rumored to have been strong enough.”

She realized he’d been expecting it—testing her, even. She refused to meet his gaze. But the thought hadn’t even occurred to her. She scoured her mind for the words of the Creators’ language—the language of power. But she only remembered one song, and it was worthless against these men.

His brows rose. “You’ve forgotten, haven’t you?”

She glared at him, hating the tears of frustration in her eyes.

Chen turned and began marching away. “Form up.”

The soldiers tightened into formation around her, but none moved to touch her. They started marching, forcing Lilette to move with them. She continued to wrack her brain for one more song, any song, but she’d shoved her memories down too deep for too long.