The camp was silent under the silver wash of moonlight.
Faint snores rose from the tents, mingling with the soft hiss of wind through the trees.
Li Wei sat alone by the dying fire, one hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
Sleep wouldn't come.
Not with danger lurking in the shadows—and not with her sleeping only a few steps away.
A faint rustle caught his attention.
Leena's silhouette slipped from her tent, a wisp of midnight and silk.
Without thinking, he rose and followed, his footsteps silent on the damp grass.
She walked until the trees parted, revealing a narrow river.
Moonlight danced on its surface, turning the water into liquid silver.
Leena knelt at the edge, hugging her knees, her reflection rippling in the dark current.
"I knew you would follow me." she said suddenly, her voice calm but sharp as the night air.
Li Wei froze, caught.
"I… I only wanted to make sure you weren't in danger," he said, clearing his throat.
She didn't look at him. "What if I just wanted to pee?"
The Seventh Prince blinked, heat rushing to his face.
"I—I… You're right. I shouldn't have, I just…"
"You're scared of losing your trophy?" Her words cut clean through the night.
His chest tightened. "A… trophy?"
Leena finally turned to him, eyes reflecting the moonlight and all the anger she'd buried.
"That's what I am to you, isn't it? A fragile, exotic thing to parade around when you feel like it—
and throw away the moment it's no longer fun for you."
Li Wei's heart dropped. He took a step toward her.
"Leena, I— That's not—"
A faint crunch of leaves.
Before he could react, a cloth slammed over his mouth and nose.
A sickly-sweet scent filled his lungs. His vision blurred.
Leena spun in shock. "Li Wei!"
She barely had time to scream before a second shadow leapt from the trees, pressing a cloth to her face.
She thrashed, clawing at the stranger's arm, desperate to reach the prince.
"Let… me… go—!"
Her world spun.
The last thing she saw before darkness claimed her was the prince collapsing to the ground, his outstretched hand just out of reach...