Free Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 6 by Various Page A

luck tomorrow."
    "Do you think he would accept such a thing from me?" Of course he would. Everyone believed Chien was dangerous only to himself.
    "You will have to convince him, cousin. I believe in you." Smug pig. Chien turned his attention back to the mass of tables a few steps below them. The Empress had invited the highest ranking of her council and the ministries to celebrate this night.
    As his eyes wandered the crowd, he caught sight of a shadow in the corner to the left of the Empress. No matter how much he tried to sink into the shadow, Bao would never be the type to face away. There was something about his manner that refused to be ignored or passed over.
    The moment their eyes met, Bao's mouth quirked in a knowing grin. Irritated, Chien glared at him before turning his eyes purposefully forward. Yet another area where he feared he was losing control. He was thankfully distracted by the loud whispers of two women sitting at the table closest to him.
    "If the two princes are fighting for the right to inherit, shouldn't Prince Chien take part as well?"
    "Could you imagine him ruling the empire?" The second woman laughed, "The Throne of Swords recognizes strength, not stupidity. The best Prince Chien could ever hope to do is marry advantageously. If he gets a pretty enough wife, everyone will forget how empty his head is." She laughed at her own joke.
    "But he should be fighting," the first woman continued to insist, "If it's to be fair and all. He is of the blood."
    "I hear tale that he is not even his father's son. That his aunt did his mother a favor by taking him in."
    "You think she had an affair?"
    "She's from the eastern province, after all."
    Chien turned then and the women seemed to realize that they had been overheard. The one on the left with her painted face and brightly colored robes was not the one who had spoken poorly of his mother. That belonged to the older one. She had not bothered with makeup which meant she was likely married to one of his aunt's court. He thought he recognized her. She was dressed fully in black, a widow then. In fact, looking at her, Chien was almost sure that her husband had been number eleven on his list.
    She stared at him dismissively before registering that there was something different about him this time. Something not at all like the dunce prince she was accustomed to. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment and she inclined her head toward him. "The next time you speak ill of my mother will be the last you speak at all." His voice was low enough that his threat didn't carry much further than her and her friend and she gasped.
    Fear lit in her eyes and she squirmed on her seating pillow, clearly wishing she could be as far from him as possible, but held by social dictates.
    The room fell silent as the Empress began her welcome speech. Chien did not need to focus on her words.
    It did not matter what she said now. By this time tomorrow, she would be dead. He would not hide in the night like she had but face her head on. Everything she had, everything she valued, would be destroyed. In that moment before her death she would understand what it felt like to be completely alone. And in that moment, he would know true success.
    He played with the silk of his sleeve as he thought, running his fingers along it. With the Empress dead he would have success at last, but then would come the hardest part. Then he would have to see if the empire would follow his lead. His aunt had taken control of an army; Chien had but his sword and the right of his blood behind him.
    "Cousin!" Minh once again pulled him from his thoughts, and Chien turned to him, his confusion working in his favor. Minh looked around before pointing to his cup.
    Chien had barely turned forward before one of the servants delivered a full glass of wine with a sweet smile. Once she had turned to deliver elsewhere, Chien lifted his hand and uncorked the vial. The shaman had said that a few drops would do, but nearly half of