The Serpent's Bite

"I did kill Lei Bo. I relished it. I would do it again. He was an enemy to the crown and he fucking deserved it—"

"Shut up!" Lei Fang shoved his head backward, her nails clawing his cheek. Zi Yin touched the stinging area and blood swelled and bloomed like dew on a petal. "Don't you dare speak his name!"

Zi Yin gave a derisive laugh. "Why? What are you going to do to stop me?"

Lei Fang's eyes blazed with fury, her chest rose and fell before she fled the room, slamming the door shut behind her. Still such a child. Zi Yin thought as he touched his cheek. It stung but it wasn't anything he couldn't handle. He needed to find out how Zhan Sheng was and if they were able to cure the poison. He looked out the window, a slow ache spreading through his chest.

Zhan Sheng. I didn't do this. Believe me.

And for the first time, he felt genuine fear, that Zhan Sheng wouldn't.

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