Read Online Luxury of Vengeance by Isabella Carter - Free Book Online
Authors: Isabella Carter
Tags: Romance MM, erotic MM
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with."
A short snort of derisive laughter escaped Bao, "It is a pity that you have allowed the Empress to
corrupt your beliefs until you are blind to the fact that love is never a weakness. It can only be the
greatest of strengths." He stepped close then and kissed Chien. Unlike his kisses before, this one was soft and sweet. This was not goodbye. This was hope.
Bao pulled away, "I cannot follow you along this path, but I will pray to the Dragon that you
survive." He lingered for a moment, his hand on Chien's shoulder, and Chien had the half mad hope that Bao would kiss him once more. But he pulled away instead. "Take care to prepare for your fight. The
Empress will not fight fair."
Chien watched as he left, the guards outside of his room bowed to show their respect. Bao did
not look back, his stride confident. He watched until Bao left his sight.
He had more reason than ever to succeed tonight. This was beyond destiny. With a sigh, he
turned back and knelt beside his bed, pulling up the loosened board of wood. Bao had not said whether
he returned Chien's feelings, but that was simply something further to look forward to. Once the throne
had been set to rights and Mai punished, then he could ask.
The truth was, he didn't need to. Chien had never truly believed that Bao had betrayed him, but
it was hard to forget that his mother had been betrayed by the sister-in-law she had trusted with her
life. But Bao had broken his oath for him.
Chien lifted the box Bao had brought him as a gift, a small smile on his face. There was no way
he could look at this gift and not understand Bao's feelings toward him. Not unless he was blind. He set
25 | Luxury of Vengeance
the box to the side and reached for another box within the hiding space. This one was a beautiful box in
dark wood, decorated along the edge with the faded writing of a protection charm.
His mother had given him this box before ordering him to hide. It was important that he keep
this safe, never open this box. It had been years before he had understood why his mother had ordered
such a thing. Then had come the question of when it would be the right time. When would he know?
When would he be ready?
Because there was one other thing he feared even more than the thought that he might forgive
his aunt's betrayal. The sword of his ancestors, the sword of the Dragon. He knew the power contained
within this box. The protection charm was not to keep the sword safe, but rather to keep them safe
from the sword itself. It had been a long time since an emperor had been forced to draw the Sword of
Heaven. Chien lifted the box into his lap, fingers dancing along the edge where the box would open.
Was he worthy of this sword? What if he tried to grasp it and found that he was as bad as his
aunt? For a moment he faltered. Then he tightened his fists, remembering his resolve. Mai would pay.
Not only for what she had done to his mother. Not only for what she had done to his sister, but for the
suffering she had inflicted day after day over the past thirteen years.
Opening the box felt a bit anticlimactic. There were no explosions or bright flashes of light. The
Dao that lay against the lining was perfectly serviceable if a little ornate. The hilt was golden, but when Chien grasped it, it didn't have the soft give of gold. Instead, it was warm in his hand. Not burning, but in a pleasant way. He'd felt this presence before, in the grove.
And just that easily, it settled around him, accepting him, welcoming him. The sword was his.
The throne was as well if he could claim it.
No, there would be no 'if's. Standing, he turned back to see Bao's gift sitting behind him. It was
highly inappropriate. His aunt would hate the color, hate the insult it would represent to wear the style of Xing in her court. But now was hardly the time to begin caring what she would think.
And perhaps, for the first time, love did not feel so much a weakness.
The guards who escorted
A short snort of derisive laughter escaped Bao, "It is a pity that you have allowed the Empress to
corrupt your beliefs until you are blind to the fact that love is never a weakness. It can only be the
greatest of strengths." He stepped close then and kissed Chien. Unlike his kisses before, this one was soft and sweet. This was not goodbye. This was hope.
Bao pulled away, "I cannot follow you along this path, but I will pray to the Dragon that you
survive." He lingered for a moment, his hand on Chien's shoulder, and Chien had the half mad hope that Bao would kiss him once more. But he pulled away instead. "Take care to prepare for your fight. The
Empress will not fight fair."
Chien watched as he left, the guards outside of his room bowed to show their respect. Bao did
not look back, his stride confident. He watched until Bao left his sight.
He had more reason than ever to succeed tonight. This was beyond destiny. With a sigh, he
turned back and knelt beside his bed, pulling up the loosened board of wood. Bao had not said whether
he returned Chien's feelings, but that was simply something further to look forward to. Once the throne
had been set to rights and Mai punished, then he could ask.
The truth was, he didn't need to. Chien had never truly believed that Bao had betrayed him, but
it was hard to forget that his mother had been betrayed by the sister-in-law she had trusted with her
life. But Bao had broken his oath for him.
Chien lifted the box Bao had brought him as a gift, a small smile on his face. There was no way
he could look at this gift and not understand Bao's feelings toward him. Not unless he was blind. He set
25 | Luxury of Vengeance
the box to the side and reached for another box within the hiding space. This one was a beautiful box in
dark wood, decorated along the edge with the faded writing of a protection charm.
His mother had given him this box before ordering him to hide. It was important that he keep
this safe, never open this box. It had been years before he had understood why his mother had ordered
such a thing. Then had come the question of when it would be the right time. When would he know?
When would he be ready?
Because there was one other thing he feared even more than the thought that he might forgive
his aunt's betrayal. The sword of his ancestors, the sword of the Dragon. He knew the power contained
within this box. The protection charm was not to keep the sword safe, but rather to keep them safe
from the sword itself. It had been a long time since an emperor had been forced to draw the Sword of
Heaven. Chien lifted the box into his lap, fingers dancing along the edge where the box would open.
Was he worthy of this sword? What if he tried to grasp it and found that he was as bad as his
aunt? For a moment he faltered. Then he tightened his fists, remembering his resolve. Mai would pay.
Not only for what she had done to his mother. Not only for what she had done to his sister, but for the
suffering she had inflicted day after day over the past thirteen years.
Opening the box felt a bit anticlimactic. There were no explosions or bright flashes of light. The
Dao that lay against the lining was perfectly serviceable if a little ornate. The hilt was golden, but when Chien grasped it, it didn't have the soft give of gold. Instead, it was warm in his hand. Not burning, but in a pleasant way. He'd felt this presence before, in the grove.
And just that easily, it settled around him, accepting him, welcoming him. The sword was his.
The throne was as well if he could claim it.
No, there would be no 'if's. Standing, he turned back to see Bao's gift sitting behind him. It was
highly inappropriate. His aunt would hate the color, hate the insult it would represent to wear the style of Xing in her court. But now was hardly the time to begin caring what she would think.
And perhaps, for the first time, love did not feel so much a weakness.
The guards who escorted
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