Chapter 110
The portal flared open in a column of foxfire, and the entire ritual team stepped back into Huǒyáo Jìng together—Poppy leaning into Mingxi, Yunlian steadying her elbow, and Caelan and Lirrane trailing behind and arguing about whose pulse was more blown out.
They barely made it three steps into the courtyard before the clan erupted with cheers and shouts. A wave of foxfire lanterns rose in spirals. Cubs barreled straight for Poppy’s knees until Mingxi growled warningly and they skidded to dramatic, giggling halts.
Mingzhao and Minghua reached Poppy and Mingxi first, both speaking at once until Yunlian lifted a hand and silenced the courtyard without saying a word.
“The moonwell?” Mingzhao asked softly.
“Healing,” Poppy said, exhausted but glowing faintly. “It’ll take time, but it’s safe.”
Relief rolled across the crowd like warm wind.
Lysandra flung her arms around Poppy with a squeal of triumph, nearly knocking Mingxi over in the process.
“I told you I wasn’t losing you to a magical sinkhole! Caelan owes me five silver!” she said.
“I never agreed to that,” Caelan muttered.
“You didn’t have to,” she replied cheerfully.
Yunlian kissed Poppy’s forehead, shaking with quiet pride. “My brave girl.”
Poppy started to smile, but the air shimmered sharply, slicing through the warmth.
A gold-rimmed paper crane spiraled down from nowhere, its wings flickering with unfamiliar star-qi. It landed on Poppy’s shoulder, unfolded, and spoke in a clipped, cold voice:
“By order of the Ashen Court: Penelope Sinclair and Lysandra Sinclair are hereby commanded to appear before the High Council within three days.”
The courtyard froze.
Lysandra blinked once. Then twice. “Excuse me?”
Mingxi stepped forward immediately, tails flaring wide behind him. “Absolutely not.”
Yunlian’s expression went icy. “They dare send summons so soon?”
Poppy put a hand on her belly, instinctive, protective. Mingxi seemed to notice instantly and curled an arm around her like a shield of warm fire.
The crane continued, oblivious to the rising fury, “Failure to appear will be treated as an act of treason.”
“Treason?” Lysandra scoffed. “Tell them their attitude is treasonous.”
Mingzhao’s qi thundered through the courtyard like a distant storm. “The Shen Clan does not answer to threats.”
Poppy exhaled slowly, stepping in front of Mingxi before he lit the crane on fire.
She looked the crane dead in the eye. “I healed a moonwell,” she said, voice flat. “And the Ashen Court wants to drag me into politics? Fine. I’ll go.”
Mingxi jerked toward her. “Poppy—”
She put her hand on his chest. “They won’t touch her,” she said, nodding toward Lysandra. “Or me. Not with you there.”
His breath shuddered.
Lysandra preened. “Obviously I’m going, too. Someone has to make this interesting.”
Caelan groaned. “Do we really have to?”
“Yes,” Poppy said. “We end this properly. To their faces.”
The crane folded into itself, satisfied, and dissolved into a wisp of light.
Yunlian cupped Poppy’s cheek, thumb brushing gently. “We go with you.”
“Of course we do,” Mingzhao added. “They will not outnumber our family.”
Mingxi wrapped his arm around Poppy, lowering his forehead to hers. “If a single Councilor breathes wrong in your direction, I’ll torch the entire Ashen Court.”
Poppy smiled faintly. “Let me try diplomacy first.”
Lysandra snorted. “And I’ll try violence second.”
Lirrane cracked her knuckles. “Third.”
Caelan sighed. “I hate all of this.”
The courtyard stirred as warriors stepped forward, bowing in unison, silently pledging protection. The air warmed with foxfire.
Poppy lifted her chin. “Fetch the carriage,” she said. “We’re going to the Ashen Court.”
Huǒyáo Jìng answered with a roar of approval.