Page 99 of The Dragon's Promise

Seryu had warned me once that my emotions affected my abilities, but never had it been so apparent as now. Magic sparked wildly under my hands and feet, causing leaves and blades of grass to sprout from nothing, then shrivel the next moment, as if they couldn’t make up their minds whether to live or die.

Calm yourself, Kiki rebuked. You’re going to give us away to the demons.

Chastened, I clasped my hands in my lap. Everything I held dear was at stake tonight.

“We must be alert,” Benkai was saying. “We’ve made an enemy of the chief minister, and I suspect he doesn’t believe Shiori left for Iro this afternoon. He’ll make a nuisance of himself if he finds us here.”

“We’ll be on our guard, commander,” said Wandei. “Shiori won’t step foot anywhere near the breach, will you, sister?”

I gave a numb shake of my head.

“Good,” said Benkai. “Then we begin?”

One by one, my brothers clasped their hands and dipped their heads to show their assent. But when it came Takkan’s turn, he set down his lantern.

“Takkan!” I whispered, grabbing his sleeve as he rose. “What are you—”

“Let me go in your stead,” Takkan said to Benkai. “You’re needed to fly as a crane. If something happens to you, Shiori will never make it to Lapzur.”

Benkai eyed my hand on Takkan’s jacket. “You speak as though you are expendable,” he replied. “You aren’t. Especially not to my sister.”

Takkan wouldn’t give up. “Bandur will attack you the second he senses you’re after the amulet.”

“Then I’ll be quick,” said Benkai. “Don’t look so fraught, Lord Takkan. My brothers and I are no strangers to dark magic. All we ask is that you protect our sister.”

With that, Benkai mounted his horse and rode off to the breach. Kiki, too, had gone to gather feathered reinforcements for the journey ahead.

I went to Takkan’s side. His jaw was tense, and I could practically feel the frustration rolling off his shoulders. But he didn’t complain.

While he and my brothers made last-minute adjustments to the basket, I leaned against the tree and pulled out the mirror shard from my satchel. “Show me Benkai.”

True to his word, Benkai had been swift. He was already scaling the mountain, keeping to the shadows and moving so quietly that not even his soldiers below noticed his presence. I prayed the Demon King didn’t, either.

“Hurry,” I whispered as he climbed, using his dagger as a pick when he couldn’t find a crevice or foothold. He kept about an arm’s length from the breach; its enchantment cast a scarlet glow over him.

With a grunt, Benkai settled himself on a ledge about halfway up the mountain, and he began to search for the amulet. I held my breath until he found the tiny patch of dark crimson rock—the pupil, as Gen had said. There, with all his strength, he stabbed his dagger into a fissure, and the earth released a groan.

Benkai worked quickly, carving around and into the eye, searching. I gripped the mirror, my shoulders tensing—until finally, his blade clinked against the metal.

My brother withdrew his dagger and stuck his entire arm inside. He tugged. A chain jangled, and a sliver of black pierced through the crimson rock.

I gasped. That was it! The amulet.

He chipped away at the breach and pulled harder, but the amulet was caught on something. As he cut deeper, black smoke hissed out of the breach.

With a growl, the smoke shifted into the shape of a wolf. Just what do you think you are doing, mortal?

To his credit, my brother kept his composure. He pulled again and again, but the amulet would not give. Bandur snickered. Stuck, are we? Perhaps you need to cut deeper.

Before Benkai had the chance, the demon seized the rusted chain of his amulet. The moment he touched it, his body solidified into flesh and bone—and he grabbed my brother by the neck.

Now, where is your sister? he rasped.

I stiffened. A chill prickled the back of my neck, and I didn’t dare reply.

Shiori, I know you’re listening, Bandur taunted as Benkai struggled to fight him. Every time my brother struck his dagger into the demon’s flesh, mist and shadow patched the wound within seconds.

Come find me, Princess. Before you have only five brothers left. The demon pressed a sharp nail against my brother’s chest. Let’s see if you remember how to fly.

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