The rubies and emeralds from her hairpin glinted at the base of his skull, winking at her. She swayed on her serpent coil. “Sky!” Zhen Ni shouted and ran to her, grasping Skybright by her uninjured arm. “You’re hurt! Blossom, please bring the sheet from your bed.” The little girl stooped down near Ye Guai’s corpse and touched the sharp horn protruding from his head. “Is Baba dead?” “Yes, petal,” Zhen Ni said. Her fingers tremored against Skybright’s skin. “Can I eat him?” Blossom asked as innocently as if she were asking for a sweet. “No,” Zhen Ni almost shouted. “No more corpses, remember? Now be good and help Mama because Auntie Skybright is hurt.” “Yes, Mama.” Blossom ran to her bed, her legs blurring with motion, and returned with an embroidered sheet within two breaths. “But I am hungry.” “We’ll eat when we’re safe, love.”
