Inaflash,Xianniang’stalonswereoutandwrappedaroundhisneck.“Icouldtearyoutopiecesbeforeyoublink,”shehissed.
B??riKhanfethetalonsathisthroatandsawtheangerinthewitch’seyes.Butheremainedcalm.Whenhespoke,hisvoicewaseven—andicecold.“Rememberwhatyouwant.Aplacewhereyourpowerswillnotbevilified.Aplacewhereyouareeptedforwhoyouare.”Hewatchedthewitch’sexpressiongrowangrierasthewordsshehadsaidtohiminconfidenceechoedbackather.“Youwon’tgetwhatyouwantwithoutme.Anddoyouwanttoknowwhy?”Hepaused,thoughheknewshewouldn’tanswer.“Noarmywillfollowawoman.”Helethiswordshangintheair.“Trustmeornot,I’myouronlyoption.”
B??riKhanwatchedastheangerdimmedinhereyes.Xianniangknewhewasright.
“Rememberyoualsoneedme,B??riKhan,”sherepliedafterashortpause,hergripstilightonhisneck.
“Idon’tdenyit,”B??riKhansaid.
Theyheldeachother’sgazeforamomentlonger.XianniangwithdrewhertalonsfromB??riKhan’sthroat.
“Wewillfinishwhatwestarted,”shesaid.
Thistime,B??riKhangaveanod.“Yes,”heagreed.“Andyouwillseetoitthatnothing—andnoone—standsinourway.”