Chapter 6

The night air was choked with smoke.

Down in the village, the locals were burning joss paper and incense for the Ghost Festival, feeding the spirits of the dead. Ash floated on the wind like gray snow.

I climbed the steps to the Ancestral Shrine. My white robes billowed in the hot wind. I felt like a ghost myself.

Lang was waiting for me in the courtyard.

He was in his human form, sitting on the steps of the dilapidated temple. He looked at peace. He held a peach in his hand, tossing it up and catching it.

"You put the uniform back on," he noted.

"I am an Executor," I said, my voice trembling.

"You are a coward," Lang said gently.

"They are ten minutes away," I said. I could hear the sirens in the valley. I could feel the pressure of the Elder's magic approaching like a storm front. "If they take you, Lang... do you know what they do? The Iron Maiden of salt and nails? The Flaying?"

"I know," Lang said. "So you came to save me from them?"

"I came to set you free."

Lang stood up. He didn't shift into the wolf. He spread his arms.

"Then do it, Righteous One. Show me your order."

I charged.

It wasn't a fight. It was a dance. I thrust the spear; he dodged. I swept his legs; he leaped.

He could have killed me. He was faster, stronger. But he didn't strike back. He just moved, fluid as water, forcing me to chase him.

"Is this all you have?" he laughed, backing toward the altar. "Is this your discipline?"

"Fight me!" I screamed, tears blinding me. "Damn it, Lang, fight me!"

"I don't fight the ones I love," he whispered.

He stopped. He stood directly in front of the altar, framed by the smoke of the incense. He stopped moving. He looked at me, his amber eyes soft, forgiving.

He dropped his guard.

"Do it, Wei. Before they get here."

The sirens were loud now. I heard the chanting of the Enforcers at the foot of the stairs.

I couldn't let them have him. I couldn't let them break him.

I lunged.

The silver-tipped spear caught the light of the moon. I put all my weight, all my grief, all my twisted love into the thrust.

The blade pierced his chest.

Lang gasped. He didn't scream. He looked down at the spear protruding from his heart, then up at me.

He smiled.

I let go of the spear and caught him as he fell.

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