"Yes, Father," Jian Rui said, voice clipped but respectful.
"That's all," the Imperial Lord replied, already turning away.
Jian Rui bowed low, then pivoted on his heel and strode from the ancestral hall, his boots echoing against the marble. Each step was a battle against the fury simmering beneath his skin. The words 'chosen partner' still rang in his ears. As if Jian Rui were a pawn to be placed, not a man with a will of his own.
He turned a corner, jaw clenched, when suddenly a hand shot out and yanked him into a side room.
Jian Rui's reflexes flared. He twisted, ready to strike, but stopped short when he saw the face before him.
"Get off me," he snapped, shoving the man back.
Stannis, Marshal of the Iron Howl Vanguard, barely budged. He was taller, broader, and infuriatingly calm. He pressed Jian Rui against the wall, palms braced on either side, caging him in.
"Rui," Stannis murmured, voice low and rough. "I missed you."
Jian Rui shoved again. "Get lost."
