When they reached the library, Long He took Yuelan to a door she had never seen before that led to a set of stone stairs heading down. The dragon glared at Willow to keep the servant girl back as he closed the door and started down the stairs with Yuelan.

Looking a bit more closely, the stairs seemed to have been carved from the bedrock underneath the library and glowing stones lit the way just as they lit the library. Yuelan continued down the spiraling staircase for a while and was feeling dizzy by the time she reached the bottom. She put her hand on the rough, damp wall to steady herself and shuddered a bit at the unfamiliar feeling.

Once the world was no longer spinning around her, Yuelan turned her curious eyes to look around. She was in a cave. It couldn’t really be described as a room because the walls looked like they were naturally formed instead of cut by human hands. There was a tunnel a few feet from where Yuelan stood at the bottom of the stairs. On the floor of the cave was a pool of water. From where she stood, Yuelan couldn’t tell how deep the pool was, but in the center was a low, stone pillar with a stone placed on top of it. Nine more pillars at the edge of the pool also had stones placed on them. The light was too dim for Yuelan to be able to tell what color the stones were, let alone what kind of stone they were.

“Stand in front of the purple jade in the center of the pool. I will be on the other side in my natural form,” Long He instructed Yuelan. The dragon walked over to the pool and stepped into the water before diving underneath. A rumble started and some loose rocks at the edge of the pool rattled on the ground before the head, shoulders, and forelegs of an immense, silver dragon rose above the water. One of the dragon’s fingers was the same length as Yuelan’s entire body.

Yuelan stared at Long He with her green eyes wide and her mouth slightly open. She had seen Long He’s dragon form before, but he hadn’t been much bigger than a human at the time. Apparently he’d been serious about destroying the library if he’d taken to his full size when he first revealed his secret.

The silver dragon said nothing and waited, his large eyes on Yuelan, for her to step onto the water, which was obviously quite deep just based on the amount of dragon above the water.

It took a few minutes for Yuelan to regain her composure and step toward the pool. When she looked down she saw that part of Long He’s serpentine body was just under the surface of the water, making a path for her to stand on so she wouldn’t have to swim or risk drowning.

Licking her lips, the girl stepped onto the dragon and carefully made her way toward the pillar in the center. The top of the pillar only reached Yuelan’s waist and the stone placed on top of it was a vibrant, purple jade, just as Long He had said.

“Relax and concentrate on the crystal.” Long He’s voice was deeper and rumbled in the cave as he spoke, guiding Yuelan in what to do to begin the bonding ritual. His voice continued to instruct her until her mind was in the state it needed to be in.

Yuelan felt relaxed with her mind open and even a little vulnerable, which made her a bit nervous, though she kept Long He’s instructions in mind and her eyes closed to concentrate better. After a while she could feel another, familiar presence merging with hers and she deeply inhaled, slowly letting the breath out. The presence wrapped itself around her, then slowly withdrew until only a glowing spark remained in a corner of her heart.

“It’s finished,” Long He said softly as Yuelan slowly opened her eyes. She felt strange, weaker but somehow stronger at the same time. Her legs shook as she started to walk along Long He’s body toward the edge of the pool and stepped onto solid ground again.

“I will take you up to your room to rest,” Long He told Yuelan. “You will have recovered your strength by tomorrow morning. While you’re resting I will collect the books you’ll need to begin your training.” He pointed with one claw at the tunnel Yuelan had noticed in the beginning. “The library storage is through there. All books in there are intended only for you to see as the priestess. Follow your instincts when perusing them and you will find what you need.”

Yuelan didn’t feel up to speaking, so she only nodded and started toward the stairs, though she wasn’t really looking forward to climbing them. Just as she set her foot on the bottom step she felt a gust of wind and found herself being carried in the dragon’s foreclaws, which were now smaller, the entire hand from palm to tip of claw the length of Yuelan’s body instead of only one claw. When he set her down seconds later she was already at the top of the stairs. Her hair was in disarray from the wind, her cheeks a bit flushed, and the startled look in her eyes made her look a bit wild.

Willow had obviously been waiting and worrying, as once Yuelan appeared at the top of the stairs she ran over. “Miss! Are you alright?”

Yuelan nodded and tried to swallow, but her throat was too dry.

“She needs rest is all,” Long He informed the maid. The dragon had resumed his human form before Willow could notice him. “Take her to her room and get her some tea.”

Willow looked at Yuelan’s disheveled state. Her hair was a mess, the hem of her gown and her shoes were wet, and one sleeve was sliding off her shoulder, revealing fair, white skin.

“Lord Long, what did you do to my miss?!” Willow exclaimed. The maid clearly had gotten the wrong impression. She wrapped her arms around Yuelan and pulled her over, taking a protective stance.

Long He looked confused. “I formed a bond with her,” he explained.

Willow’s cheeks turned red. “Lord Long!” The maid stamped her foot and glared at him. “You can’t treat Miss this way! How could you take her purity?!”

The dragon blinked, then frowned. “I did no such thing. We formed a contract as mistress and spirit beast, that is all. I’ve no interest in...those sorts of things. Take your misunderstanding elsewhere.”

“Then why is Miss in this state?!” Willow demanded.

Yuelan lifted a shaky hand and put it on Willow’s shoulder. “The wind. Long He flew me up the stairs. I’m tired and could use a cup of tea…” Her dry throat made her voice a bit scratchy and the sound drew Willow’s attention back to her.

“Of course, Miss. I’ll get you some tea once you’re back in your room. Is there anything else?”

Yuelan shook her head and started walking to her room in the library’s living quarters as Long He turned and went back down the stairs.

***

Yuelan stayed in the library for a couple of days before packing up the books Long He gave her and going back to the capital. As soon as they were back she headed for the shops to find a gift made of black tourmaline that she could give to Guangfeng to take with him. She searched nearly every shop before she finally found a waist pendant made of black tourmaline and carved into the image of a tiger. Smiling, she purchased the pendant and headed back to her residence, then instructed Chung Soo to send an invitation to Guangfeng’s palace to invite him to tea the next day at Red Orchid Teahouse.

Yuelan made sure to arrive at the teahouse early and was taken to a private room. Willow, Camphor, and Laurel were all present and had opted for seats that were inconspicuous and still allowed them a view of their miss just in case. When Guangfeng arrived he brought only one male servant with him, who joined the three maids as Guangfeng sat across the table from Yuelan.

“This is the first time you’ve sent an invitation to any of us,” Guangfeng observed, smiling a little. “Not worried it might cause you some trouble?”

“I’m not,” Yuelan answered, smiling a little. The teahouse employee set snacks on the table, poured them each tea, and then disappeared. Yuelan lifted her teacup and took a sip. “I’ve dropped enough hints lately that I don’t really like the first prince, but he hasn’t seemed to notice. A more obvious hint seemed appropriate, especially with you leaving soon.”

Guangfeng nodded and took a sip of his own tea. “So the beautiful Miss Long Yuelan only wanted to see her potential lover before he left, is that it?” he asked. His eyes were serious, but there was a sparkle to them and a smile on his face.

Yuelan rolled her eyes at him. “Don’t flatter yourself. I just wanted to give you something.” She snorted and looked down as she reached into her sleeve and pulled the small box with the black tourmaline pendant out of it. She set it on the table and pushed it toward the third prince with two fingers.

Curious, Guangfeng took the box and opened it. He blinked and lifted the black pendant from the box. “A black tiger? Seems an interesting choice…”

“It’s black tourmaline,” Yuelan explained, her voice an embarrassed mumble. “Long He said it could help you while you’re taking care of the coming war. It has protective properties and something about it helping you have a clear mind to make sound judgements…”

Guangfeng’s expression turned soft and he studied the girl in front of him. He smiled and removed the pendant at his waist made from green jade, setting it on the table in front of her before tying the new pendant to his belt. “Thank you. This pendant was given to me by my mother when I was a child. I’d like you to hold onto it until I return.”

Yuelan frowned at him. “Why should I? There’s nothing actually between us.” Her cheeks puffed out a little and she frowned at him.

The third prince chuckled. “You don’t have to wear it. I just want you to keep it safe for me, that’s all.” His hand stretched out and he touched her chin to look carefully into her green eyes with his hazel ones. “Please?”

Yuelan stared blankly for a moment, then jerked her head away as a blush stained her cheeks. “Fine, but if you take too long to come back I might sell it.”

Guangfeng smiled and picked up his teacup to give his hands something to do other than try to touch her soft, white skin again. “It’s adorable when you act like this,” he said softly.

Yuelan stood up, teacup in hand, and poured the tea onto his head before she turned and walked out of the private room to go back to her residence.