White Tiger

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Monica looked after Simone before dinner while I had a session with Mr Chen. I stopped dead halfway through the set I was working on; I’d forgotten the next move. I frantically searched through my memory, but I couldn’t remember what came next.

Mr Chen waited quietly next to the mirrors. He would only help me if I asked.

I took myself two steps back through the set and performed the moves again. Again I stopped.

I dropped my arms and sagged. ‘I’m sorry, I don’t remember what comes next.’

‘Your performance of the set is very untidy, as well,’ Mr Chen said. ‘You should be practising more.’

‘I can only practise when Simone’s doing something else. It’s hard to find the time.’

‘What about the evenings?’

‘Hey, that’s my time,’ I snapped. ‘You have no right to ask me to work then.’

He wasn’t fazed by my outburst. ‘I’ve seen you come in here in the evening.’

‘Yeah, okay, I practise in the evenings sometimes,’ I said. ‘But most of the time Simone’s worn me out by the end of the day.’

Mr Chen watched me silently for a while, then Leo tapped on the door and entered. He saluted Mr Chen. ‘I can take Simone sometimes, not a problem.’

‘Emma, arrange a roster with Leo for him to care for Simone so that you can practise,’ Mr Chen said. ‘If you are to gain this useful skill, you will need to work with it. Practise at least an hour every day.’

‘You sure that’s all right, Leo?’ I said.

‘Not a problem. The more skilled people, the better.’

‘I’ve been called,’ Mr Chen said. ‘Emma, stay here and practise the set while Simone is with Monica. Leo, Emma was about halfway through a level six Southern Mantis set—remind her of the next part.’

‘My Lord,’ Leo said, and both he and I saluted Mr Chen. He nodded to us and went out.

‘You should have mentioned it if you didn’t have enough time to practise,’ Leo said. ‘Start from the beginning, see how far you go.’

I moved through the first part of the set. ‘I don’t like taking so much time off work to do this.’

Leo nodded as he watched me. ‘Very nice. It’s not time off work, it is work. If you are skilled enough then you can defend Simone as well as I can.’

‘Oh come on, Leo. I’m just a tiny woman. How could I possibly be as good as you?’

‘Wing chun was invented by a woman.’

‘That’s one of the most lethal styles of all,’ I said with wonder. ‘A woman? Really?’

‘That’s the story.’ Leo moved forward to correct my stance slightly. ‘Women are smaller and faster. In battle you have the advantage over someone bigger like me, because I have to come down to you.’

‘Do you think those guys this afternoon were demons?’

‘Hard to tell. But as long as they don’t know you’re learning the Arts, they won’t come after you.’

‘That’s reassuring,’ I said. ‘I’ll just have to make sure they never find out that I’m learning.’

‘It’ll be fine. Don’t worry.’

‘I’m not worried about them coming after me,’ I said. ‘I’m thinking of Simone’s safety. If they don’t know I’m trained, I’ll have the advantage of surprise. All the better for me to defend Simone.’

‘Excellent,’ Leo said.

I stopped. ‘This is as far as I can remember.’

Leo moved next to me, so I could see him in the mirrors, and took up the same position. ‘Okay, I’ll show you the next bit. Tell me when to stop.’

‘I really appreciate this, Leo,’ I said softly.

He smiled at me in the mirror. ‘You’re kidding, right? It’ll be great to have somebody else in the household to practise with, who won’t always be knocking me on my ass.’

‘Down, Emma,’ Mr Chen said, gently pushing my arm down. ‘Don’t imagine your opponent higher than you are. You are smaller than most demons, you have the advantage. Make them come down to you.’

I nodded and lowered my blocking arm, then spun and punched, punched with the other hand, and blocked again.

‘Good,’ he said. ‘Again.’

I went through the set again. Step, punch, block, punch, punch.

‘After this week we can’t train on Saturday or Wednesday mornings,’ Mr Chen said, watching me. ‘Now that the weather’s cooler, I’m having my horse moved back from China, from his summer turnout. I’ll be riding with Simone twice a week.’

‘I didn’t know you had a horse,’ I said, blocking too high and correcting myself before he could do it for me.

‘I bought him for my wife; she chose him and named him Dark Star. He raced for a few years and was quite successful, but he pulled a tendon. They wanted to put him down but I wouldn’t let them; he’s all right as a saddle horse. I feel I owe him a decent life, after all the happiness he gave us.’

I stopped with my hands still raised and grinned at him. ‘Your horse isn’t black too, is he?’

‘Of course he is.’ He moved beside me. ‘Add three palm strikes at the end of the last block.’ He demonstrated, moving with the fluid grace that always made me watch with awe. ‘Block. Punch, left, right, then three palm strikes.’ His hands were so fast they were a blur.

‘Again. I didn’t see your hands. Will you for God’s sake slow down for me, please? You’re just too damn fast.’

He took my chiding with his usual good humour. He slowed for me, moving carefully through the strikes, then turned and grinned. ‘How about that?’

‘That’s more like it,’ I said, and moved through the set, adding the palm strikes.

‘Down, Emma,’ he said, reminding me.

I performed the set again, adding the palm strikes lower, and he nodded with approval. ‘Well done.’

‘Can anyone ride there?’ I said.

‘No. Only club members are allowed.’

‘Damn,’ I said softly, performing the palm strikes and spinning to perform the set the other way. ‘All the places I’ve tried have waiting lists a mile long. The places that don’t have waiting lists are out in the New Territories, at least an hour and a half away.’

‘You ride?’

‘I had a pony I loved dearly back in Australia. I really miss him.’

‘Faster,’ he said. ‘Would you like to come along? I can arrange a school horse for you. That would be perfect—you can ride with Simone while I work Star.’

I tried to control my huge grin but failed.

‘Do you have suitable footwear? Leo can take you to the tack shop in Star House if you don’t. Simone would love for you to come.’

‘Sure.’ I moved through the set again. ‘You spend a lot of time with Simone.’

‘I spend as much of my time with her as I can. I want to make every second count.’

I deliberately did the block too high, and he put his hand on my arm, gently pushing it down.

‘You’re a wonderful father,’ I said without looking at him.

He froze completely, his hand on my arm. Then he wrapped his other arm around me and pulled me into him, his chest against my back. I closed my eyes as my body responded.

‘You’re a wonderful nanny.’ He released me, moved back and spoke more briskly. ‘And very talented. You learnt that set very quickly. How about some weapons?’

I turned and gazed at him. I knew what I wanted to do.

And he knew it as well. He gestured towards the weapons rack. ‘Weapons, Emma.’

I shrugged, went to the rack and pulled out my sword. If he didn’t stop giving me these damn mixed signals I was going to use my sword on him.

I pulled Simone’s little jodhpurs over her bottom. ‘You’re getting too big for these already.’

‘Leo says I’ll be taller than him when I grow up.’

‘I don’t think so.’

She threw her arms around my neck. ‘I’m glad you’re coming, Emma.’

I pulled her close and held her. ‘So am I.’

Mr Chen appeared in the doorway, wearing a black T-shirt and a pair of cream breeches. ‘Ready to go?’ I stared at him. ‘What?’

‘Couldn’t you find any black riding pants?’ He grinned. ‘No. I nearly had some made.’

‘You should,’ I said. ‘You look strange in any other colour.’

‘Everything Daddy wears is black. He’s boring,’ Simone said.

‘You think I’m boring?’ he said with delight.

She threw herself at him. He hoisted her to sit on his hip. She nodded, very serious. ‘Yes. Boring.’

He squeezed her. ‘What colour’s your favourite pony?’

‘Black.’

I went to them, put my arm around her, and pressed myself into both of them. ‘Then you’re just as boring as he is.’

‘You’re boring too,’ Simone said.

‘I don’t think you are, Emma,’ Mr Chen said. He put his free arm around my shoulders and guided me out. ‘Come on, ladies, our black ponies are waiting.’

He held me around the shoulders as we waited for the lift. Neither of us said a word.

It was delightful.

Mr Chen drove us to the country club. I hadn’t been there before—Jockey Club membership was incredibly hard to come by.

‘How long have you been a member?’

‘I was one of the first Chinese to be nominated,’ he said. ‘Something over a hundred years, I’m not sure.’

I choked back the laugh. ‘Sorry. How do you deal with the passage of time?’

‘I keep “inheriting” the membership—I have legal staff who handle that sort of thing for me.’

He led us down the drive to the stables. The sparkling white building had a red tiled roof and seemed to stretch forever.

A beautiful red-headed woman rode past on a spectacularly shining chestnut thoroughbred. She wore expensive breeches and a bright green cotton shirt. ‘Hello, John.’ She stopped her horse and bent to speak to us with a very cultured English accent. ‘Hi, Simone.’

‘Hello, Claudia. I’m going to ride.’

‘I’ll see you at the arena later then.’

‘Bye.’

Claudia shot a sharp glance at me, from my feet to my head, and rode away.

Mr Chen took Simone’s hand and we went into the complex, past a cleaner with a broom and dustpan who was carefully collecting every stray piece of hay or straw. We entered the stable building, with its large looseboxes on either side of the corridor. Fans on the ceiling kept the horses cool.

‘How many horses here?’ I asked.

‘About two hundred,’ Mr Chen said.

I whistled under my breath. ‘And they’re all retired racehorses?’

‘There are a few riding ponies as well, for the children.’ He nodded to a Chinese man leading a grey thoroughbred through the stables. ‘It’s a shame, not many of the racehorses make it this far. By the time they finish their racing career, most of them are either lame or too unruly to be decent saddle horses. These are the lucky ones. The Jockey Club does its best for them.’

‘You’re not joking,’ I said. We passed a groom leading a wet horse that had just been washed and Mr Chen pulled Simone out of the way. ‘This is like the horsy Hilton.’

‘No turnout for them though,’ Mr Chen said. ‘There isn’t enough space. They’re in the stables all the time, except when they’re ridden or on the exercise machine.’

‘So your horse needs to be ridden every day?’

‘I have somebody to do it for me when I can’t. The son of a friend.’

We reached Star’s stable. The horse must have been seventeen hands high; he was enormous. The groom had already saddled him for Mr Chen.

Mr Chen nodded to the groom and shared a few words with him in Cantonese. The groom led the horse out and we followed.

We returned to the forecourt of the stables. An Olympic-sized indoor arena with viewing stands and a dark earth floor stood in the centre of the complex.

‘This is like something out of a movie,’ I said.

A European man on a very solid grey thoroughbred rode past and casually greeted Mr Chen.

Mr Chen waved back. He looked around, then nodded to some grooms holding ponies. ‘These are for you.’

Simone ran to the groom holding a cute black pony. He helped her on and adjusted her girth and stirrups for her.

‘The white one for you, Emma,’ Mr Chen said. ‘Thanks.’

The groom led the horse to the mounting block for me. When I was on I tried to adjust the stirrups but he wouldn’t let me; he had to do it. I wasn’t allowed to fix the girth either. Eventually I just sat, feeling extremely spoilt, while the groom did everything for me.

Mr Chen swung onto a dancing Star as the groom held the horse for him. He buckled his helmet, then took up the reins and nodded to the groom. ‘Come with me,’ he said. ‘We’ll have a walk around the cross-country course and then a run in the outdoor arena.’

The cross-country course was about ten hectares of beautifully manicured lawns and hedges with flowers. A few gardeners worked on the hedges as we rode past.

Star fidgeted all the way, baulking at every sound and trying to trot away. Mr Chen held him effortlessly; he was a fine rider.

‘How long have you been riding?’ I said.

‘On and off,’ he said cheerfully, ‘about sixteen hundred years.’

‘I have to stop asking questions like that,’ I said under my breath.

The European woman we’d seen earlier, Claudia, rode towards us. She turned her horse to join us. ‘Hello, John. Where have you been all the summer? We missed you.’

‘Star has turnout in China during the summer,’ Mr Chen said. ‘I only ride him in the cooler months.’

‘Lucky you, I wish I could do that.’ She smiled at me, friendlier now. ‘Who’s this?’

‘This is Emma, she looks after me,’ Simone said.

‘Oh, does she?’ Claudia’s smile gained a very slight edge and she spoke with a hint of disdain. ‘Nanny, I suppose.’

Simone nodded, serious. ‘That’s right.’

‘You English, dear?’

‘No, I’m Australian.’

Her nose tilted up. ‘Oh. Australian.’ She put both reins in one hand and the other on Mr Chen’s arm. ‘Dear John, the club is having the first competition of the season next week, why aren’t you competing?’

‘You know I don’t compete,’ Mr Chen said.

‘But your horse is so good. And so are you. I’ve seen the Chinese boy ride Star, he can jump anything you put him at.’

‘I don’t jump.’

‘But why not? You’re such a fine rider.’

‘Because I don’t want to,’ Mr Chen said with exasperation. ‘Weren’t you heading back to the clubhouse?’

She looked at her watch. ‘Oh, goodness, yes.’ She patted him on the arm, then turned her horse. ‘Give me a call sometime. We’ll have lunch or something together.’ She pushed her horse to a canter and rode away.

Star spooked and rabbit-jumped sideways for a while, then settled back to a walk. Fortunately Simone’s pony and mine were placid and didn’t join in.

‘Are they all like that?’ I said.

‘Sometimes.’ Mr Chen sighed. ‘They’re moving in.’

‘Not much you can do about it, is there?’ He shook his head.

We approached the pond. Simone pushed her pony to a trot and rode him straight through the middle of it. The water only came up to her pony’s knees.

‘It’s worth putting up with that, to see this,’ he said as Simone raced back through the pond, laughing.

Simone and I were sitting in the living room reading a book together after dinner when the doorbell rang. I didn’t move from the couch; Simone was in my lap.

Monica didn’t come out of the kitchen to answer the door. Nobody appeared.

The doorbell rang again. I was about to shift Simone from my lap when Leo came charging down the hall, grumbling.

A chorus of thumps nearly knocked the door off its hinges just as Leo reached it and threw it open.

‘Let me the fuck in!’ a gruff male voice shouted from the other side of the metal gate. ‘Fucking new seals,’ the voice continued more softly.

Leo opened the gate to let the visitor in. ‘Simone’s right here and can hear you.’

‘Whoops.’ The man entered and grinned at us from the entry hall as he kicked off his shoes. He looked in his mid-thirties, but had a shock of snow-white hair with matching enormous sideburns framing his goldskinned face. He was Chinese, wearing old-fashioned pants and a white jacket trimmed with gold, but his eyes were unusual: tawny and glowing. He was tall, muscular and incredibly graceful, moving with controlled elegant power.

I knew exactly what to do if someone like this turned up. I just ignored them and did my job, and they ignored me. Sometimes I felt like an item of furniture, but it meant that I didn’t have to worry about complex Chinese social hierarchies.

Leo shook his head, closed the front door and went back down the hallway.

Simone threw herself out of my lap and ran to the visitor with her arms up. ‘Uncle Bai!’

He hoisted her up until she nearly touched the ceiling and she shrieked with delight. He held her in front of him and tickled her face with his sideburns.

‘Give me a ride!’

‘Not in front of everybody,’ he said meaningfully.

‘Give me a ride!’ Simone demanded. ‘Don’t worry about Emma, she won’t be scared.’

‘Emma, eh?’

‘Uncle Bai’ grinned evilly at me from the entry. ‘And what does Emma do?’

‘Emma looks after me,’ Simone said.

‘Oh, does she.’ His voice went softer and deeper as he looked me right in the eye. ‘And who looks after Emma? I wonder if she’s being looked after properly? I know I’d like to look after her.’ He was still gazing into my eyes and his voice became husky. ‘I could look after you very well.’

I could feel myself blushing.

Simone pulled at his sideburns. ‘Give me a ride!’

Mr Chen strode down the hallway and stopped in front of them. ‘Leave Uncle Bai alone, Simone.’

The visitor gently lowered Simone, then fell to one knee and saluted Mr Chen. ‘Xuan Tian Shang Di.’

Mr Chen nodded back. ‘Bai Hu.’

‘Tell Uncle Bai to give me a ride, Daddy!’ Simone demanded.

Mr Chen glared down at her. ‘Chen See Mun! Who do you order?’

Simone’s eyes went wide. She bowed to Bai Hu, then bowed to her father. ‘Please forgive this small person.’

‘You are forgiven. Go to Emma.’ Mr Chen gestured for Bai Hu to follow him.

‘I’ll give you a ride later. Promise.’ Bai Hu shot me a wicked grin and winked, then followed Mr Chen into the dining room.

Simone climbed back into my lap and we returned to the book.

The doorbell rang again.

‘Monica’s not here,’ Simone said.

Leo came back down the hall, grumbling loudly. He opened the door and the gate.

A striking Chinese woman with long scarlet hair came in. Her traditional flowing red robe was shot with brilliant colours that shimmered as she moved. She stopped and watched us from the entry hall.

Simone climbed out of my lap and bowed politely. ‘Madam Zhu Que.’

‘Hello, Simone,’ Zhu Que said.

Leo opened the dining room door and she went in. He closed the front door and went down the hall, still grumbling.

‘You have some unusual visitors today,’ I said to Simone.

‘Do I? Who?’

The doorbell rang again and Leo shouted something angrily unintelligible from the training room. He stormed down the hall and threw the front door open.

It was another man. He towered over Leo; he must have been seven feet tall, slim and elegant as a dancer. His silk robe was brilliant turquoise with a pattern of reptilian scales shot in silver. His long turquoise hair floated behind him. He came in and watched us from the doorway, his long serene face expressionless. He scared me to death; his turquoise eyes were ice-cold and merciless.

Simone clambered out of my lap and bowed politely. ‘Lord Qing Long.’

Qing Long went into the dining room without saying a word.

Leo closed the doors and stomped down the hallway towards the training room.

‘That’s all of them now,’ Simone said, and returned to my lap.

‘Won’t Leo be in trouble for being rude to them like that?’

Simone giggled. ‘They’re used to him.’

I laughed with her and we returned to the book.

About an hour later Mr Chen shouted for Monica from the dining room. Monica came into the living room carrying the folding mah jong table and proceeded to set it up near us.

‘Does he want us out, Monica?’ I said.

‘He didn’t say, Emma,’ Monica said.

‘It’s nearly your bedtime anyway, Simone,’ I said. ‘Let’s pack up.’

Mr Chen and his visitors came out of the dining room as we were putting the toys back into the box. Black, white, red and blue. Something clicked inside my head and I tried to remember what it was, but it escaped me.

Simone giggled. ‘They’re the same colour as my Lego,’ she whispered.

I laughed with her. ‘Only yellow’s missing.’ She nodded. ‘Yellow’s the Jade Emperor.’ I stopped and stared at her.

The four of them chatted amiably as they sat at the table.

‘So the Jade Emperor himself came down,’ the red lady, Zhu Que, said.

‘You are privileged in having a visit from the Celestial,’ turquoise Qing Long said. ‘He detests the Earthly.’

They pulled the tiles out and shuffled them on the table, rattling them loudly.

‘I was nearly late for my appointment,’ Mr Chen said, and they chuckled as they turned over the tiles.

‘The Elite Guard is a rare gift indeed,’ Zhu Que said.

‘It’s the least Ah Wu deserves. He provided most of those bastards with their basic training anyway,’ Bai Hu said.

‘Mind your mouth. My daughter is in the room,’ Mr Chen said.

‘My Lord,’ Bai Hu said, smiling slightly.

‘Throw for North,’ Qing Long said.

‘No need,’ Bai Hu said with a broad grin. ‘Ah Wu’s always North!’ He banged his hand on the table, threw his head back and roared with laughter at his own joke.

The other three glared at him, unamused.

‘That joke stopped being funny a long time ago,’ Zhu Que said.

‘Lighten up, Fong.’ Bai Hu grinned evilly. ‘Or it’s chicken for dinner.’

Zhu Que shot to her feet, trembling with rage. ‘I should expect as much from one who spends so much time with the Barbarians of the West,’ she hissed. ‘Perhaps you should spend time with Lord Xuan here in the South, where we are civilised.’

She saluted Mr Chen. ‘Xuan Tian. My Red Warriors are yours.’ Her robes spun and expanded. She disappeared.

Qing Long rose and saluted Mr Chen. ‘Xuan Tian. You have us if you need us.’ He faded, and was gone too.

Mr Chen glared at Bai Hu. ‘Thank you very much.’

‘Hey.’ Bai Hu spread his hands. ‘You got what you wanted. With my Horsemen, the Dragons, the Elite Guard and the Red Warriors on our side, your Dark Disciples won’t have a problem.’

‘You threatened to eat the Phoenix,’ Mr Chen said with feeling.

‘She needs to lighten up.’

Mr Chen glowered.

‘All right, all right, I apologise.’ Bai Hu saluted without rising, just shaking his hands in front of his face. ‘My Lord.’ He threw his arm over the back of his chair and glanced around. ‘Now, where will we find two more legs?’

‘We can’t have a game now,’ Mr Chen said.

‘How about we invite a couple of the Immortals?’

‘That lot?’ Mr Chen said with disdain. ‘Last time I had them here they nearly destroyed the apartment. Took my housekeeper a week to recover. She almost resigned.’

I choked back the giggle as I put the last of the toys in the box. Simone and I shared an amused look. The Eight Immortals were astonishing. The havoc they created was unparalleled. Monica had almost resigned.

‘Kwan Yin?’ Bai Hu said more softly.

‘She’s retreated from the world,’ Mr Chen said. ‘Leo? Leo can play.’

‘Your earthly Retainer? Really?’ Bai Hu grinned. ‘We still need a fourth.’

‘What about the white chick?’ Bai Hu gestured towards me. ‘My favourite colour. Maybe I will have chicken for dinner.’

I froze.

‘One more inappropriate comment like that and I will throw you out,’ Mr Chen said, a menacing rumble.

‘Try me.’ Bai Hu leaned across the table and glared at Mr Chen. ‘I can take you.’

They faced off for a while, then both smiled and leaned back.

‘You are absolutely incorrigible. The Red Lady was right.’ Mr Chen turned to me. ‘Can you play, Emma?’

‘Sure. But I’m not very good.’

Mr Chen and Bai Hu shared a look, then Mr Chen gestured towards the tiles. ‘Would you like to join us?’

I shrugged. ‘Okay. Just let me put Simone to bed and I’ll be right back.’

Bai Hu opened his mouth to say something but Mr Chen glared him down. ‘Fetch Leo while you’re at it,’ he said to me.

‘I’ll come too,’ Bai Hu said. ‘I promised Simone a ride.’ He came over and lifted the box of toys for me. ‘I’ll take this.’

‘Don’t let Monica see you, she would die of shock,’ Mr Chen said. ‘And Bai Hu,’ he added pointedly, ‘behave yourself.’

Bai Hu raised a hand and followed me down the hall to Simone’s room.

I pulled back the bedcovers, turned, and stepped back.

An enormous white tiger, easily half as big again as any natural animal, seemed to fill the room. He grinned up at me and winked. ‘Better give her a ride, eh?’

Simone climbed onto his back, holding onto his shaggy tiger mane. He gave her a couple of turns of the room while she crowed with delight.

They were extremely cute. I decided I liked him, despite his crass behaviour.

‘Finished now,’ he said kindly. ‘Go to bed, little Princess.’

She leaned to hug him around the neck from his back, then loudly kissed the top of his head. I felt his fur as I lifted her off; it was plush and thick and silky soft.

He changed back into a man, gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek, and went out. I popped her into bed. Her eyes were shining.

‘Bai Hu is great,’ she said contentedly. “Night, Emma.’ She turned over and closed her eyes with a sleepy smile.

I turned off the light, half-closed the door to her room, and nearly walked into Bai Hu where he was lounging against the wall of the hallway.

‘Did I freak you out?’ he said, grinning.

‘I think I’m getting used to it,’ I said.

He moved closer to me and I backed up until I hit the wall.

‘You know why they use tiger parts in medicine? Our stamina is famous. But you won’t get skills like mine from cutting up a tiger.’ He moved closer to me and pressed his body into mine, pinning me against the wall. ‘You like my fur?’ He rubbed his hands against my arms and I felt the silky fur. I shivered at the velvety sensation. ‘How’d you like to feel it rubbing you all over?’ He slipped one arm behind my neck and pressed his cheek into mine, the silken sideburns brushing my face. He turned his head to gaze into my eyes, very close. ‘I’d love to show you what I can do.’ He thrust himself gently against me, his voice a low husky rumble. ‘You wouldn’t believe some of the things I can do.’

‘Bai Hu!’ Mr Chen roared from the entrance to the living room, and both of us jumped.

Bai Hu pulled back, grinned, and winked at me. ‘Later.’ He strode up the hall towards the living room.

I turned and knocked on the training room door.

‘Come.’

I opened the door. Leo was working with double daggers. ‘Mr Chen and Bai Hu are going to play mah jong,’ I said. ‘I’m joining them, but we need a fourth. Up for it?’

Leo quickly put the daggers away, smiling grimly with satisfaction. ‘You bet. I finally get my chance to put that damn cat in his place.’

Leo and I returned to the living room and sat at the table. The tiles had already been built into the wall.

‘How many women in your Western Palace right now, Ah Bai?’ Mr Chen said.

‘More than a hundred,’ Bai Hu said with pride. ‘And that’s just the humans.’ He pointed at his nose. ‘I’m the best. None of my women ever wants to leave.’

‘Good. You have plenty. So leave my woman alone.’

I opened my mouth to say something loudly, but Leo put his hand on my knee under the table. Trust him, he mouthed silently.

I subsided and glared at Mr Chen, but he didn’t notice. He was too busy glowering at Bai Hu.

Bai Hu backed down and raised his hands. ‘Sorry, Boss, your household, your staff, your rules.’

Mr Chen nodded, his face expressionless. He stole a quick glance at me, but his face remained frozen. ‘Let’s play. Throw for North.’

I pulled out my drawer and sighed. ‘Cleaned out again.’

‘You can owe me,’ Leo said. He eyed Bai Hu. ‘But from you I want cash.’

‘Both of you are cleaning me out. Emma’s the only one who’s showing me any mercy.’ Bai Hu leaned sideways, pulled a white leather wallet from his hip pocket and opened it. ‘US or Hong Kong?’

‘Hong Kong,’ Leo said. ‘I’ll spend it tomorrow.’

The Tiger grunted, pulled out a thousand-dollar note and handed it to Leo, who took it with grim satisfaction.

Mr Chen checked the clock on the wall. ‘It’s nearly 3 a.m. and Leo and Emma are human, Bai Hu. We need to let them rest.’

‘Give me a chance to win my money back from this black bastard,’ the Tiger growled. ‘One more round.’

‘Which black bastard do you mean?’ I said. ‘They’re both black.’ I gasped as I heard what I’d said. I opened my mouth to apologise, but it was too late.

All three of them collapsed over the table laughing.

‘Definitely time to let Emma rest,’ Mr Chen said.

Leo wiped his eyes. ‘I cannot believe you said that.’

Bai Hu reached across the table and took my hand. He smiled into my eyes. ‘You have just completely made my night. My week. My decade. Ah Wu has my number, sweetheart. Give me a call, any time.’ He shook his head. ‘I think I’m in love.’ He disappeared.

After we’d packed up, Mr Chen followed me to my room. ‘Can we talk?’

I let him in and sat on the couch. He sat with me.

‘I am so sorry about that,’ I said. ‘It just came out…’

‘I haven’t laughed like that in a long time,’ he said. ‘And I wanted to apologise for calling you “my woman”. But I had to do something.’

‘Why? He was just being facetious.’

He tilted his head slightly. ‘No, he wasn’t. He usually has about a hundred women in the West. And that, as he said, is just the humans.’

‘A hundred?’

‘He is irresistible, that is his nature. Even Leo has been in trouble with him. But if you were to fall for him, he would take you to the Palace in the West. You would be content for the rest of your life, serving him. As one of a hundred. Would you want that?’

I opened my mouth and closed it again. I shook my head. Of course, he’d been protecting me. ‘Thanks for looking out for me.’

‘The Tiger found you particularly interesting because you didn’t throw yourself at him. The others always do. You are very remarkable sometimes.’

‘Thanks.’ I glanced up at him. ‘Why are they giving you their armies? Are you expecting a war?’

He hesitated, watching me. ‘You are very perceptive.’ He took a deep breath. ‘The answer is: yes.’

‘Even the Jade Emperor gave you his army.’

He smiled slightly. ‘I am profoundly honoured. The Elite Guard is a very great privilege.’

‘That’s why you met with the Jade Emperor. You’re all expecting something to happen.’

He just watched me and didn’t say anything.

‘How long do we have?’

He looked down. ‘I don’t know.’

‘Will they attack us here?’

He shrugged. ‘While I am with you, you are safe. But I have not been in the Northern Heavens or on my Mountain for more than two years. It has become obvious exactly how weak I am. They all know. It is only a matter of time before they try me.’

‘We need to defend Simone, Mr Chen. You need to stay close to her.’

‘I know.’ He gazed into my eyes, very serious. ‘Emma…’ His voice trailed off. ‘Yes, John?’

Something shifted in his eyes when I called him by his first name.

‘I don’t want you to stay if you’re worried,’ he said. ‘If you’re scared, then resign. Go. If you leave my service they won’t come after you.’ He looked down. ‘You should go.’

‘Are you firing me?’

He smiled gently, still looking down. ‘No.’

‘Do you want me to stay?’

He looked up and gazed intensely into my eyes. ‘Yes.’

‘You like having me around?’

He didn’t say anything, just looked into my eyes. Then, ‘I want you to be safe.’

I moved closer to him. ‘I’m safe with you.’ I took his hand and he didn’t pull away. ‘I feel very safe with you.’

I raised my other hand to his cheek. His skin was like silk. ‘We could have years, John. I don’t need more.’ I slid my hand behind his neck and pulled him closer.

He closed his eyes and lowered his face to mine.

Then he froze. He remained completely immobile, then gently removed my hand from his neck and held both of my hands in his. ‘It can’t happen, Emma, I’m sorry.’ He dropped my hands and rose. ‘Friends. Nothing more. I enjoy your company, and Simone loves you. Stay with us, you make us both happy.’

‘We could have years,’ I said again, without moving from the couch. ‘I don’t need more than that. Don’t throw something this good away just because it will have to end.’

‘I have no choice. Friends. That is all. Nothing more.’

He turned away, but I could see the pain in his face. He went to the door and opened it. ‘Goodnight, Miss Donahoe.’

I tried to hide my disappointment as I rose to see him out. ‘Are you sure?’

He nodded without looking at me, went out and closed the door behind him.

I flopped back onto the couch and put my head in my hands. Okay. Friends. I ran my hands through my hair. Nothing more. If that was what he wanted, then I had to respect his wishes.

That ache inside me wasn’t my heart breaking. I was glad to have what I did.