Golden by Joely Sue Burkhart

my gown and face, but I jerked the next knife out from inside my sleeve. The first throw had caught him in the neck, the second in the eye, but they were slender, short blades. Perhaps not enough for a killing blow.
    I heard voices and the rush of running feet, but no one called out to me. She must have paid off the servants left to see to anything I might need in the Emperor’s absence.
    The assassin didn’t make a sound, but he twitched uncontrollably. His right arm jerked out toward me and I stumbled back, knife cocked. He crawled after me, but blood bubbled from his mouth, so I didn’t wound him again. It was easy enough to keep out of his reach.
    The man was dead. He simply didn’t know it yet.
    At last, I heard the Emperor’s raised voice, the tone of which told me immediately that he was far from pleased. The grand door slammed open and guards poured into the room. He took one look at the black-clothed man on the floor and turned narrowed eyes on his captain. The man fell to his knees, while the attendants wrung their hands, crowded together like a flock of squawking chickens.
    “If one precious hair on her head is injured, you shall all die.”
    My skin felt damp and I shivered. My hands trembled so badly I almost nicked myself putting the blade away. I had never heard that low, fierce tone of his voice, even when he punished me.
    My voice did not quiver, as befitting an Empress. “I am unharmed, Your Majesty.”
    “Assassins came for you, Your Majesty!” One of the servants babbled. “Thank heavens you’re safe!”
    “How curious that an assassin would come to the imperial bedchambers shortly after we were called away on an urgent matter that could not wait until morning.” His lips curved in a smile that made my blood run cold. “Only to find that as soon as we arrived, the matter had miraculously resolved itself.”
    He came toward me and every muscle in my body screamed at me to flee or at least fall down upon my knees, too, but I held firm. Chin high, I would be his Empress in manner, if not in name. He cupped my chin in his hand, smoothed his palm down my throat. He paced about me, his hands gliding, checking for the slightest injury. Even when he cupped my breast and buttock, I didn’t react with shame or embarrassment, despite the countless observers.
    “We hereby order Empress Lei to present herself ready for our pleasure at once.”
    It took every stroke of discipline I had endured as preparation for the imperial court to keep my face smooth of shock. Her? Why did he want her to intrude on our private time together? He had to know she had sent the assassin, but she would simply deny any accusations. There was nothing he could do.
    His attendants scurried away, quietly pulling the door shut behind them.
    He swept his hand at my bloodstained silks. “You disappoint me, Jin. I gave you a distinct order.”
    I bowed my head. “Forgive me, Your Majesty. I was…interrupted.”
    “Disrobe. Immediately.”
    My hands trembled as badly as my knees, but I did as he ordered. I always would.

Chapter Six
    When the Empress was announced, I barely heard. I had too much fire blazing in my body to care that she would see exactly how I entertained the Emperor in his private chambers. My worst enemy, to see me so low—but I found that it didn’t matter in the slightest.
    Once I’d removed my clothing, he’d attached an odd necklace about my throat, from which a golden chain hung, long enough to be attached to a wall or post. As though I were a guard dog to be staked outside his tent.
    Stretched across his bed on my stomach with my hands bound tightly to the same post as my neck, I’m sure I made a horrific sight to Her Majesty. Especially the red, vicious stripes upon my buttocks.
    He’d spared no mercy, no kindness at my close call. In fact, he’d beaten me harder than ever, as though to punish me for frightening him so badly. For the first time, he had also gagged me, so I couldn’t do more than