Page 99 of The Cinders
He snatched at Xian’s hand, murmuring lewd suggestions of what he would do once they were alone together.
Xian delivered a sharp slap to the Englishman’s cheek.‘Don’t touch me.’
The jerk of the man’s head was near comical, his perfect curls bobbing.The Englishman squeezed his eyes shut, then reopened them.Flames, actual flames, flickered in the man’s eyes, rising from the blackness of his pupils.
Despite the intimidating glare, Xian held his tongue.The thought of apologising made his skin itch.
Sir William’s full pink lips parted, and Xian braced for the shout that was sure to come; the call for the mandarin to deal with his reckless performer.
‘What a naughty boy you are, Prince Xian.’He rubbed at his cheek.‘Perhaps you shall let me whip you soundly for it?In the nicest way, of course.’
Xian glared at him.‘You will not whip me, Sir William, but I must—’
‘Don’t you dare.’The Englishman threw up his arms, the yellow embroidery on his chaofu glinting in the dull light.‘If you apologise I will throw up on those wonderful shoes of yours.’His frown was deep.‘Weren’t you fawning over their maker?’He pointed one finger into the air.‘Aha!That is why my charms are falling flat with you.I met the man, took his silly bucket of lotus pods.Delicious, might I add.Best I’ve had.But back to important things.You found each other, did you not?He has beat me to it, leaving you wet between the cheeks and so lost to love that you still turn down an evening of pleasure with me… me!’
‘Sir William,’ Xian bristled, struggling to keep his voice down.‘Don’t be ridiculous.You are not undeniable.’
‘Normally I bloody well am…mostly.I cannot stir a desire that does not exist to begin with.Perhaps it’s because you are huli jing.I’ve not bedded a fox…I don’t think.Maybe you’re immune to perfection?’He sniffed, and his eyes widened.‘Oh, have you tried madak yet?Tobacco and opium, mostly out of fashion here now, but by the gods, I shall give it a resurgence.’He rubbed his nose, smearing it with the remains of the powder before touching his finger to his tongue.‘My snuff bottle is quite empty.I think I shall find some more.’
He swivelled around to face the door and almost collided with a musician carrying a set of bianzhong.The brass bells rang out against one another as the flustered man apologised, bowing and shuffling backwards towards where others were finding their places with their instruments on the opposite side of the stage.
‘Sir William, there is less than an hour until midnight.’
‘Clever boy, you can tell the time.Good for you.’
If the King of Hell existed, then he must be as disappointed in his offspring as the emperor was with Xian.
He grabbed at the Englishman’s jacket, throwing caution aside.‘Will you give me any hint of what shall happen?How shall my chance come?’
Sir William leaned towards him, bringing them almost cheek to cheek.‘You’d like me to make you come?At last.How wonderful.’
‘No, no,’ Xian said, exasperated.‘A wish…you said you’d grant me a wish.’
Sir William blinked.‘That doesn’t sound like me at all.Why did I do that?’
‘You don’t recall saying you would help me escape?’
William’s laughter left damp flecks on Xian’s forehead.‘No.’
Xian pushed him away, stunned, and appalled that he’d actually believed in the promises of this inhuman man.Laughter, strained and devoid of humour, found its way out of him.‘Youarea devil, aren’t you?’
‘How vulgar of you.’Sir William swayed on his feet.‘Devils are the drivel of humanity and exist only in those boring books of faith the humans start wars over.Devils are not real.Daemons, though, we are firm and very solid.’Another ridiculous wink.
‘But terrible fairy godmothers,’ Xian fumed.
The Englishman threw back his head and laughed, exposing a slender neck that Xian considered throttling.‘Fairy godmothers?Have you been to France recently?I made an amusing friend there who wrote about such things.’
‘So you’ve said.How sad you are not still there with him.’Xian grit his teeth.
Sir William’s laughter tore Xian’s hopes to shreds.‘I tell you, though, even that imaginative fellow could not have thought up a gown so beautiful as the one you wear.’
‘I did not wish for a gown.’He glanced down to where his legs were hinted at through the fabric, despite the dullness of the light.On the stage with those lanterns, it would be far worse.‘Certainly not this one.’
‘Then what?What does a fox prince want most of all?’
Xian did not have to consider.‘Freedom.’
‘Ha!’Sir William snorted.‘Well, there you go, no wonder I have forgotten all about this wish you say I granted.Why should you have something that I do not?We princes aren’t born for freedom.We are created with our paths plotted for us, and that does not involve lives lived happily ever after with handsome shoemakers.Sorry to disappoint, dear boy.If I’m to be chained by my station, and lonely as a fucking hermit in his cave, then so shall you be.’