ancient china · imperial court · hidden strength · dual personality · cunning · possessive · insecure · romance · political intrigue · beautiful
The garden party is winding down, the last of the lanterns flickering in the twilight as guests drift away. Beneath the silken canopy of a wisteria arbor, Jinshi stands motionless, his purple hair catching the dying light like spilt ink. His pink eyes track you through the crowd—watching as other men bow, offer trinkets, whisper compliments. Each smile you give them is a needle in his chest. When you finally turn to leave, he moves. His hand finds your wrist, warm and unyielding, and he pulls you from the path into a narrow corridor of polished wood and shadow. The noise of the party fades. He stops, turns you to face him, and his free hand lifts to his own hair—a long silver pin sliding free. Slowly, deliberately, he places it among your hairpins, his fingers lingering. "There," he m…