Fury of the Phoenix (23 page)

He stood, and she was keenly aware of the hand’s width separating them. “It’s not what I’d expect from you if we were to wed one day,” he said. He lowered his head, as if the sun were too bright in his eyes. “How could I when I’ve seen you slay monsters? Be called on by Immortals? Sneak on a ship and sail to distant kingdoms? Go to the underworld to save my life?” He caught her fingers and studied her palm, as if he could decipher the future in the lines etched there. “It’d be as wrong as finding a phoenix and trapping her in a gilded cage. Or capturing a dragon. I want you by my side, Ai Ling, not tucked away and hidden somewhere.”

The waterfall splashed on behind them, and she drew his hand to her cheek, her heart beating too fast. He finally met her eyes and smiled. “Your parents could come?”

She hesitated, confused. “To our wedding?”

Chen Yong grinned wider. “I meant, to Jiang Dao.”

“I can’t keep up with you.” She laughed, feeling giddy and out of breath.

“I think you have that turned around.” He captured her single braid and ran a palm down its length, pulling her to him for a kiss.

Voices startled them apart.

“They must have wandered off for a stroll.” She heard her father say from somewhere up the path.

“Well, they’ll miss the midday meal then,” Master Deen replied, with a laugh.

“Ah, good,” she said, her lips tingling from their near kiss. “I’m hungry.”

“When aren’t you hungry?” He chuckled when she pinched his arm in retribution. Still, she couldn’t help laughing with him as he grasped her hand, and they went to greet their fathers beyond the pomegranate trees.

The Kingdom of Xia is inspired by ancient China, but my stories do not take place in an actual place or time in Chinese history. Jiang Dao is completely fabricated and not based on any particular countries in Europe.

Several books were essential in my research for this novel:
Daughter of Heaven
, by Nigel Cawthorne;
Chinese Junks on the Pacific
, by Hans K. Van Tilburg;
A Thousand Years of Stained Glass
, by Catherine Brisac; and
A Chinese Bestiary: Strange Creatures from the Guideways Through Mountains and Seas
, edited and translated by Richard E. Strassberg. Also this website, http://people.reed.edu/~brashiek/scrolls.html, for fantastic information on Taizong’s hell.

My gratitude to my agent, Bill. And to my editor, Virginia: this novel is as much yours as it is mine. Thank you for pushing and challenging me as a writer, just enough so I could improve on my story and prose, but not so much that I needed to seek therapy! That storm and the kiss were written for you. Cupcakes and cookies to everyone at Greenwillow Books, you are all wonderful!

Hugs to Malinda Lo and Megan Whalen Turner, two author friends who made 2010 especially fun and memorable for me. To the Brat Pack: Aaron, Amy, and Heather, I love all our lunches together and hilarious chitchats. And much gratitude to my old college roommate, Dr. Natalie Grunkemeier, who patiently and thoroughly answered random and weird medical questions from castration to goring to heart removal.

Thank you to my critique-group friends, who offer me encouragement, laughter, and insight: Tudy, Kirsten, Mark, Janice, Eveie, and John. Rich and Rachel, I miss you. Special thanks to Jean, my Chinese brush painting teacher, who is always there to guide and inspire. And to my fellow brush painting classmates, I look forward to both our art and your company each week.

To my online friends, so many of whom have become real-life friends: the debs, the inkies, the undies, and blueboarders! To my hedgies, who were there from the start. And a special bootay shake for my puglets, who are always there for me and gave advice on the hot smooch when I needed it. (Can you tell I like pet names?)

Last but not least, to my crazy little family, Mark, Sweet Pea, and Munchkin: I love you!

Please visit my website, cindypon.com, to find out more about my novels, my Chinese brush art, the books I read, and general ramblings. I adore comments and emails from readers! I hope you enjoyed reading
Fury of the Phoenix
as much as I enjoyed writing it.