Page 194 of Cruel Devotion

Frowning, Fengge stood straight. “But one can dream.”

“And one can wake up.” Lei turned to Bolin as he got to my side. “What took you two so long?”

“Uncle Leo has been sneaking spies in here all day.” Bolin stole a glance at me and then put his view on Lei. “We suspect he is trying to see what you two are doing.”

I gazed at Bolin. A dragon tattoo snaked up his neck.

As if feeling my stare, he looked at me. “Welcome to the palace, Ms. Jones.”

“Thank you.”

Fengge never acknowledged me or glanced my way, but then he also quickly jumped in front of us and yelled, “Everyone, separate! The Mountain Master must get through!”

“But who is she?”

“We have a right to know!”

“What is her name?!”

Some of the palace guards began shoving reporters to the side that wouldn't back up.

“Come on!” Fengge pointed to other guards. “Let's go! We don't have all day!”

As the crowd parted, we began to move forward.

Shivering, I remembered Lei's advice and focused on one point off in the distance.

“How will you address the rising tensions in the South? Will war come?”

Lei let go of my hand and brought his arm to my waist, keeping me as close as possible to him. “I've got you.”

I put my arm around him too. There was no way I would get lost in this craziness without him.

“How will you ensure peace and stability in the East?”

We continued.

The sensation was akin to walking through a storm, the noise of voices like thunder, questions and camera clicks melding into a merciless torrent.

“What message do you have for the East's youth?”

The flash of cameras was blinding, transforming the corridor into a strobe-lit gauntlet filled with lightning. My eyes struggled to adjust, darting from face to face, each one a mask of fervent curiosity, each expression etched with an unspoken demand for answers.

“Are you consulting with your father on current economic issues?”

Lei and I were the eye of the storm, moving steadily through the swirling vortex of curiosity and speculation surrounding us.

And then things began to get tighter as more reporters refused to move without Lei answering.

The guards pushed and the reporters shoved.

I thought several fights were about to break out.

“Get out of here!” Fengge elbowed several away. “Come on! That’s enough! Back it up!”

As we moved forward, the crowd seemed to breathe with us, expanding and contracting like a living entity.

The poor palace guards' efforts to maintain order were met with resistance.

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