Yuelan tried to move away from the man’s hand, pushing with her heels to slide across the ground, but she ended up pressing herself against a wall as the man’s finger slid down to touch her collarbone. She took a deep breath, then lifted her feet, leaned against the wall, and kicked. The man probably wasn’t expecting it. Her aim was perfect and she got him right between his legs.

“You bitch!” the man squealed as he instinctively curled up and withdrew his hand from her to cover himself. He forced himself to his feet and kicked Yuelan in the stomach, knocking the wind out of her.

As Yuelan bent over and tried to breathe again the man sneered and went over to a ladder Yuelan could just barely see. Just before he went up he blew out all the lights, leaving her in darkness as the trap door above slammed down.

It took time, but eventually, Yuelan managed to start breathing properly again. She coughed a few times and then started to try and work her wrists and hands out of bondage. Her teeth bit her bottom lip hard enough to draw blood as she struggled against frightened tears. 

Crying wouldn’t do any good. She needed to try and remember what had happened and how she’d ended up in her present situation while she figured out a way to get out. Ignoring the pain of the ropes burning her wrists as she struggled, Yuelan closed her eyes and forced herself to think through the fog in her mind and remember what had happened after she drank the tea from Laurel.

After the tea, Yuelan had been tired and gone into her room to sleep. That’s when things started to get more difficult to remember. Only bits and pieces came to mind: Laurel’s tear-streaked face as she pleaded for Yuelan to forgive her and understand that she was just trying to keep her brother safe. Her maid had also put a necklace around Yuelan’s neck. White quartz with red and brown cinnabar veins and...a purple stone. She hadn’t had time to identify it. After that, a tall, thin man with a raven on his shoulder had shown up. There was something odd about that raven. It felt like it had called to her somehow. The man had carried her out of Crystal Moon Residence, but none of the hidden guards had reacted. Once he’d carried her for a bit, he had said something to the raven. Yuelan remembered being surprised when the raven spoke back then looked at Yuelan and touched her forehead with a wing. After that, Yuelan couldn’t remember anything until she woke up bound and being carried by the man who had put her down here.

***

Guangfeng was in his study pouring over the information on aqueducts that Yuelan had given to him and doing his best to understand it without an architect. He frowned and tapped a finger on the desk covered in books and sketches as he struggled to make sense of the information. Just as his hand reached for a nearby teacup the door to his study burst open and a panicked Long He appeared in front of him.

“Do you know where she is?” the dragon demanded, rushing into the room. “Where is Yuelan?”

The teacup in Guangfeng’s hand fell, smashing to pieces on the embroidered silk rug covering the floor below. “Yuelan is missing? I thought you would be able to sense her once you formed that bond!”

“Something’s interfering. Two of her maids said she went to bed early. One of them went in to check on her a few minutes ago and found her gone. The third maid is gone too,” Long He explained.

“What do you mean something is interfering?!” Guangfeng shouted. “What could possibly interfere with a dragon’s ability to sense their master?!”

Long He’s expression darkened. “A human experienced in concealing magic,” he answered in a flat voice. “There aren’t many humans left who can use magic, but there are still some.”

The third prince slammed his fist on his desk and started pacing. After a moment he stopped and looked over at Long He again. “You said the third maid is gone? Is it Laurel?”

The dragon thought for a moment. “I think that’s what they called her. I haven’t paid that much attention to the maid’s names.”

Guangfeng nodded and called, “Shade.”

A young man dressed all in dark clothing dropped down from a concealed location. “Master?”

“Go investigate Laurel. And Shadow.”

Shade blinked, then nodded and went out of the study, disappearing into the dark, moonless night.

“So you don’t know where Yuelan is either,” Long He clarified, his eyes narrowing.

“No. But Yuelan did mention Laurel was acting suspiciously a couple of weeks ago. Shadow was supposed to look into it. She told me he didn’t find anything strange,” Guangfeng answered.

Before Long He could ask anything else, Shadow appeared in the doorway of the study, lowered himself to his knees, and put his forehead on the ground. “Your Highness, I failed. When I originally investigated Laurel I didn’t find anything strange. After Laurel and Mistress disappeared I went to investigate again. Her youngest brother was taken away yesterday morning by a group of men who left a note behind for Laurel. Her father came to the residence and begged for her to return home. Laurel pleaded with Mistress, who allowed her to go home today. She left the note behind when she left her family home.” The guard pulled a folded piece of paper out of his pocket and offered it up to the third prince, who took it and started to read.

After Guangfeng read the note he frowned. “Were there any other messages that had been left for Laurel or her family?” he demanded.

“No, but they mentioned they had seen Laurel speaking with someone on the streets a few times on the days she returned to visit them with Mistress’ permission,” Shadow explained. “They described him as having medium brown hair and lightly tanned skin wearing dark clothing and often having a raven on his shoulder.”

Guangfeng’s eyes narrowed and he rubbed his chin. “That sounds like Yun Cai…”

“Who is Yun Cai?” Long He interrupted.

“An information broker who works for the highest bidder,” Guangfeng answered. “I’ve hired him a time or two myself, but usually he works for the empress.”

“Yun Cai is skilled in stealth,” Shadow added. “He can evade even the hidden guards surrounding the emperor. It’s said he talks to his raven and the bird sometimes talks back, though none of us have confirmed that.”

Long He’s eyes narrowed. “Does he wear or carry any particular gems?” he asked.

Shadow nodded. “He always wears the same earring in his left ear and a ring on his right pinky finger.”

The dragon nodded, mulling over the information.

“Do you know who has employed him at the moment, Shadow?” Guangfeng asked, leaving the dragon to his thoughts for the time being.

Shadow shook his head. “No. And the hidden guards at Crystal Moon Residence say they did not see anything. None of them know how Mistress disappeared.”

“It was most likely this Yun Cai who took her,” Long He sighed. “And who is concealing her presence from me so I can’t find her. I suspect the raven is a spirit beast rather than an ordinary bird and that Yun Cai is capable of using magic. He likely already knew what I am or was warned beforehand by someone who knew that it would be necessary.”

Guangfeng nodded. “I agree. I will do what I can to find her, Lord Long.”

“I will contact the spirit beasts here in the capital. Perhaps one of them will be able to find her even if I cannot,” Long He agreed.

“If we work together I’m sure we can find her quickly.” The third prince sounded like he was trying to reassure himself as much as the dragon.