Chapter Eight
Ping spent the rest of the morning pacing in her chambers. She expected anger. She expected guards to storm in and drag her to the dining hall. But nothing happened.
The silence unsettled her.
Did he really just… let it go?
Her stepmother would have never tolerated such defiance. Yet, the Shadow King, the man everyone feared, had done nothing.
A soft knock at the door made her flinch.
"My Lady," Mei's voice came from the other side. "His Majesty requests your presence in the gardens."
Ping's heart skipped. This was it. He had let her rebellion slide once—but now he was calling for her.
She hesitated before answering. "Tell him I—"
Mei's voice cut in quickly. "I advise you to go."
There was something in her tone. Something that told Ping she was already pushing her luck.
After a long pause, Ping exhaled. "Fine."
She followed Mei through the grand halls of the palace, her steps slow, hesitant. The deeper they walked, the more she realized just how massive the Shadow King's home was. The walls were high, the corridors endless, the doors carved with strange markings.
Soon, they stepped outside into the gardens.
It wasn't what she expected.
Unlike the dark and cold castle, the gardens were filled with life—cherry blossoms, soft lanterns swaying in the breeze, a small koi pond reflecting the golden afternoon light.
And in the center of it all stood him.
Ling, still dressed in black, his long white hair flowing in the wind. He had removed his mask.
His golden eyes found her immediately.
Ping froze. She had only caught a glimpse of his face before losing consciousness that night, but now, seeing him fully, she realized something unsettling.
He wasn't just handsome. He was breathtaking.
And yet, there was something else.
A dangerous stillness in his gaze.
"You refused my invitation this morning," Ling said, his voice calm, but there was an edge to it.
Ping straightened, gathering her courage. "I did."
Ling studied her for a moment. Then, he took a slow step forward.
"I will allow your defiance once," he said softly. "But do not mistake my patience for weakness."
His golden eyes darkened slightly. "I am not the man you think I am, Ping. But if you test me… you might not like what you find."
A shiver ran down her spine.
For the first time, she realized something.
The Shadow King was not angry.
He was warning her.