Emberlynn brushed the large garnet that hung around her neck as she gazed out upon Zhuli from her balcony. The town was bustling with the news that she would soon meet San Island’s man, so a parade had been organized to celebrate the occasion. She gripped the garnet in her hand and fought to keep her breathing steady. This was the evening her mother had spent a lifetime preparing her for. She could not let it go to waste.

  The parade was composed of several rows of dancers, singers, and musicians. The outer rim carried long poles adorned with paper lanterns, and the center row banged on their drums. The dancers were dressed in traditional San Island garbs that cut high on one leg, and at the back of the parade…marched the man.

  Emberlynn spun around and tapped her hand to her chest, her head bowed. Her heart had never hammered against her chest like this before. This would be the first time she’d ever spoken with a man, and she feared that somehow she would be unworthy of receiving a child of her own.

  “Mistress Emberlynn?” Emberlynn’s attention snapped to the source of the sound—one of her handmaidens. “Are you feeling unwell?”

  Emberlynn shook her head. “No, Aerie. I’m fine.” She drew a deep breath through her nose, then exhaled through the small ‘o’ she formed with her mouth. “Are the preparations complete?”

  Aerie smiled and clasped one hand over the other in her lap. “Exactly as you requested, Mistress Emberlynn.”

  “Good. We can ill afford any missteps.”

  “Of course. Is there anything else that you would like me to check in on?”

  She steepled her hands, then tapped the tips of her fingers together. “No,” she said, shaking her head. “That will be all. Please remain at the door with Yuuko. I would like our guest to be greeted by our finest.”

  Aerie’s smile widened. “You are too kind, Mistress Emberlynn. I will see that it is done.” She bowed at the waist, then gracefully exited the bedroom.

  Now that she was alone again, the pounding in her ears returned to remind her just how nervous she was. She touched the golden ornaments that held her long red hair to the nape of her neck for the third time; not a single one had shifted out of place. Despite the air being perfectly cool and crisp, her breathing came out in rasps, and she tapped her chest once more.

  Goodness, you are a full-grown woman! Now act like it! Her late mother would be most displeased if she saw her like this, and she wouldn’t dare tarnish such a powerful legacy with such middling traits. This is a shameful display. Unbecoming of a woman of your stature. Zhuli—no, all of San Island would one day revere Emberlynn’s name with the respect and dignity it deserved. She would topple any mountain, part any sea, plow any land it took to see her legacy spread far and wide. She would be her mother’s daughter.

  The sooner this event could transpire, the better. The topic of an heir had come up more times than she cared to recount. There wasn’t a bone in her body that didn’t want one of her own, but she refused to be the kind of woman who never saw her child, to be the sort of mother who was entirely unprepared for the needs of a baby. No, her daughter would go to the finest school Bells could afford, would eat only the finest foods, and would be trained from birth to be a woman worthy of her name.

  She would accept nothing less.

  The music grew louder, which meant the parade was closing in. Emberlynn exited her bedroom and quietly closed the door behind her. The plush red carpet cushioned her steps as she rounded the banister, where a large chandelier bathed the room in red and gold, guiding her along the path to the stairs.

  She stopped at the top of the stairs, her hand gripping the post. Dozens of possibilities played out in her head as she observed the steps that led to the main hall. The dining room loomed behind her like a hungry Encroacher, with promises of what could be. She glanced over her shoulder, meeting the eyes of the two handmaidens. They offered curt nods.

  The time was at hand.

  She began her descent. Her long red dress dragged along the steps, the gold trimming seizing the chandelier’s luminescence. The click from her heels was pronounced so that anyone could hear her coming, but muffled enough that it did not echo needlessly. As she descended from the last step, a knock came at the door.

  Perfect timing.

  She waited at the center of the hall, hands clasped before her, back straight and eyes forward. A knock followed moments later, and Aerie and Yuuko were ready. Emberlynn nodded her consent as her tail swayed slowly behind her, and the two women opened the doors.

  Emberlynn smiled, pleased that the parade’s participants had demonstrated Zhuli mannerisms. The music ceased, the dancers no longer jingled, and the polemasters kept their poles planted on the ground. Not a single catgirl stepped forward or dared tread the threshold that separated the Emberlynn estate from Zhuli. That was, save for one.

  The parade parted, and the sound of clogs followed. A man wearing a Shulan-crafted blue-and-pink kimono stepped forward. He bowed at the waist, then asked Aerie and Yuuko if he could enter. The women offered curt bows and waved him inside. He took off his clogs at the door and set them next to the wall. The parade started its retreat as Aerie and Yuuko shut the doors behind him.

  The man crossed the hall in long strides, bowing at the neck as he passed each of the handmaidens. Emberlynn fought down the urge to pick at her nails and bite her lips—a nervous habit she’d developed as a kitten—and continued to observe.

  When the man stopped a few feet away from her, he bowed deeply. “Good evening, Mistress Emberlynn. My name is Jasper Asquith. It is a pleasure to finally meet you.”

  Emberlynn swallowed some of her saliva to ensure that her first words didn’t come out in a squeak. “The pleasure is all mine, I assure you.”

  Jasper aligned his posture and pressed his arms to his sides. “Thank you for hosting this evening’s dinner.”

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  “You are most welcome. From my understanding, you have been taking steps to improve San Island’s economic structure. For that, I must applaud your efforts.” She smiled and raised her hands so that they rested beneath her chest. The man’s hazel eyes wandered from her chest to her hips.

  “Please, all I did was stand upon the shoulders of your ancestors. Much of the work was already complete; I simply saw a few opportunities for improvements in trade.” He smiled. “I am merely doing my part as a man.”

  Polite and humble. What amicable traits. “You do it well. But I digress, you must be famished after marching through Zhuli.”

  Jasper nodded. “Indeed, I am.”

  “Please,” Emberlynn said, stepping to the side and gesturing with her arm, “join me for dinner. We have much to discuss.”

  Jasper started up the stairs. Emberlynn remained three steps behind him at all times, as was appropriate when following your guest. She looked at his feet, surprised to see how clean and soft they were. He had a fragrant scent like earthy cinnamon, and for the first time in her life, her mind wandered to deviant thoughts. A brief heat rose to her cheeks, and she shook her head to cool her face.

  When they reached the top, her handmaidens opened one door each, beckoning Emberlynn and Jasper inside. Jasper nodded his appreciation and entered, with Emberlynn close behind. The handmaidens followed last and shut the doors. One of the handmaidens strode past Emberlynn and pulled out a chair for Jasper. He took the seat, and the handmaiden moved further back to pull out the high-backed chair at the very end of the table.

  “Thank you, Aiko,” Emberlynn said as she seated herself.

  Aiko nodded curtly and resumed her spot at the door with the other handmaiden.

  “Words do not do your estate justice,” Jasper marveled.

  “You are simply saying what I would like to hear,” Emberlynn said, retrieving the cloth napkin and draping it across her legs. “Not that I mind.”

  “I dare not lie.” Jasper intertwined his fingers on top of the table. “A powerful woman like yourself surely knows the difference.”

  Emberlynn dug deep into his eyes. His expression was carefully composed, every movement calculated. A mask. This was a man very familiar with the inner workings of a business. “As surely as the difference between legitimate compliments and obsequious flattery.”

  Jasper hummed, and a knowing smile tugged at one corner of his mouth. “Do you always dance with your guests?”

  Emberlynn fanned out her fingers and observed her nails. “There are few ways to learn more about a person than through dance.” She curled her fingers and turned her hand around, brushing her forefinger and thumb together. “I consider it the most intimate of activities. The wrestle for control, the temptation of an offer, the uncertainty of it all…” She allowed herself to smile. “It is intoxicating.”

  A knock came at the door, and Emberlynn’s eyes snapped to the sound. The handmaidens opened the doors, and one of the estate’s cooks, Debra, walked in, pushing a large cart. Atop the cart was a tray with a bulb-shaped lid over it. Debra retrieved two small plates with fresh-cut greens from the cart, then placed them on top of the larger plates in front of Jasper and Emberlynn.

  “Exquisite,” Jasper said. He procured the fork beside the plate and skewered one of the tiny tomatoes. He held it high, observing it the same way one might an uncut jewel. “Truly.”

  “I spare no expense for my guests,” Emberlynn said.

  Debra placed a second, larger plate of food beside the smaller plates, nodded, then promptly exited the room with her cart. The handmaidens closed the doors behind her, and Emberlynn retrieved her fork.

  “Emberlynn, while the pomp and circumstance are certainly noticed, would it not save both of us time to skip to what you want?” Jasper said.

  Emberlynn nearly flinched. She hesitated for a fraction of a second, praying to Saoirse that he hadn’t noticed. “‘Want’ and ‘need’ are two completely different things.”

  “Come now. Enough with the dance.” Jasper leaned forward and put the tiny tomato in his mouth. He chewed for a few seconds, then swallowed. “In my travels, I’ve heard how they talk about you, as well as your late mother.”

  Emberlynn’s fork screeched against her plate. “My mother’s part in this is nonexistent.” She looked up from her meal, brow knit and lips pursed. “If you are half the man San Island has mistakenly claimed you to be, then you will know well enough to leave her out of our discussion.”

  “There you are. The real you.” Jasper chuckled. “I have to consider the benefits your offspring would bring me. In learning more about you, your mother, and your estate, I would argue that your heir is a ‘want’ more than a ‘need.’ The final decision is mine.”

  Loath as she was to admit it, the man had strong features and a sharp mind. Their daughter would be a woman unlike any other. But the tone in his voice unnerved her.

  “It is your duty,” Emberlynn reminded him, hoping that he wouldn’t leverage his influence. She was powerful for a woman of twenty-two years, but any man would still hold greater authority. A shred of her hoped he wasn’t aware of that. “Do you intend to take advantage of my hospitality and leave San Island’s most powerful woman without a daughter of her own? I should hate to inform the queen of such exploitation.”

  The smile vanished from Jasper’s lips. “Yes. Such a letter would be painful to write. I do wonder though”—he cupped his chin between his forefinger and thumb—“whose word would the queen favor?”

  Damn you. “Aiko, Tsubaki. A bottle of our finest wine, if you would.”

  “Y-yes, Mistress Emberlynn,” Aiko stammered. She opened the door and ushered the other servant out.

  As soon as the door shut, Emberlynn asked, “What do you want?”

  “Finally. Now we can talk. As much as—”

  “Enough. You tarnish my home with your presence. Name your terms so I can be rid of you.”

  Jasper’s devilish smile returned. “I am in need of new Party members.” He put his fork down and rubbed his hands together in a way that sent chills down Emberlynn’s spine. “I would like to leave here with three of your youngest handmaidens. Preferably, those who have just recently awakened to their First Class.”

  Emberlynn clenched her teeth and composed herself. “What do you intend to do with them?”

  “That part is personal and bears no relevance to our conversation.” He looked down at his food. “I might consider leaving with only two of your handmaidens if you can find me a pair of blondes.”

  Emberlynn’s stomach ached. The women she employed were under her protection. She’d promised them she would never let anyone hurt them or take them away. But if Jasper was as wily and intelligent as he appeared, it could be years before another man approached, and there was no promise that he wouldn’t be like the detestable man who sat before her.

  “Let me speak with my handmaidens, and I will see what I can do.”

  “I knew you would.”

  Emberlynn picked at her food, but her appetite was gone. The thought of her dear handmaidens traveling alongside this insect ate at her in a way that left her feeling empty. She feared she was signing them away to a fate worse than death. Sparks crackled at her fingertips, and her blood boiled with fury.

  “If I provide what you desire, I expect you to leave and never return. If you dare show your face in Zhuli again, your arrival may be met with a welcome warmer than you can handle. Is that understood?”

  Jasper chuckled. “Is that a threat?”

  “No.” Emberlynn stabbed a tomato and watched it bleed. “It’s just business.”

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