Page 205 of The Dawn of the Cursed Queen

“Correct,” I added. “I saw a smaller one toward the back. We can check there first.”

Veruka shook her head again and tapped her chin. “Too close to the forest’s edge. He will still be in the middle of the camp but hidden. Nismera is too on edge right now. She wouldn’t leave things lying around. We need to look for the one where soldiers are hanging around outside but trying not to act like they are guarding it.”

“All right,” I said, nodding.

I turned toward Dianna, who just watched us both.

“I’ll be back as soon as we collect it, and then we leave. Dianna, you wait here and stay hidden.”

“Quietly,” Veruka added.

Dianna’s lips thinned. “Well, it seems like you all have the perfect plan. I’ll just wait here.” She bared her teeth at Veruka. “Quietly.”

I reached for her but stopped short, my hand collapsing into itself. She said nothing. She just wiped her hands on her dark pants and stepped back. Dark mist boiled from her skin and expanded, coalescing into the large, formidable form of the ryphor again. Veruka nodded toward the tent exit, and I tossed a thin smile to Dianna from beneath my helmet before we left.

We strode side by side, blending in with the soldiers we passed. Veruka received a barely-there nod from those who passed, but I remained quiet until we passed another tent.

“Watch how you speak to her,” I said, keeping my voice low and my eyes forward.

I felt the tension leaking from Veruka as she cleared her throat. “I meant no disrespect, but she is not battle-trained.”

My hand went to her arm, and I pulled her to the side, turning her to face me. “She will be your queen.”

I could see the resignation in her eyes, and I let her go. “Does she know that?”

“What is that supposed to mean?” I asked in a hushed voice as a few soldiers passed.

“I barely know her, mostly only what Orym has said. Her will and alliance are to you and your family, but the realms? She does not act for them. He told me what she had done. What the others see as a rebellion seeking freedom from Nismera’s tyranny was merely to keep you safe.”

I said nothing.

“Are you sure she even wants to be queen, or does she merely wish to be with you? Did you ask her, or are both of you blinded by love and not focused on duty?”

A shriek filled the air, and we glanced up. A few ryphors flew past, turning toward the right and settling away from the stable tents in a plume of billowing dust. I recognized the commander riding atop the largest beast. Veruka and I shared a glance and nodded, refocusing on our mission.

“I suppose we don’t have to guess what tent,” she said as we walked toward the noise.

Soldiers passed us, headed the opposite way, returning to where they should have been. It seemed he had been gone long enough for them to decide to take a break. Now, break time was over. Veruka and I ducked around a neighboring tent near where he had landed. We pretended to be deep in conversation while we looked around. The ryphors were tethered to their posts, but Illian and his personal guards were nowhere in sight.

“I am going to do a quick perimeter sweep,” Veruka said, taking another glance. “Then we can move in. Stay here.”

I nodded, and she hurried past. I moved toward a few crates, doing my best to seem busy.

“Dianna.” My mind stretched eagerly toward her. I felt the tug of the connection, but there was no answer. “Dianna,” I said again, more firmly this time.

“What? Tired of your new girlfriend already?” Her frustration felt like a brush of ice across my mind.

“Funny.”

“Just saying I could have stayed at the top of the hill with Orym instead of in a sweaty tent that smells like worm shit.”

My hand clenched, tightening my grip on the ring that I wore beneath my gauntlet. “I wish it was you instead. I’ve only been around Orym’s twin for mere moments, and she’s already annoyed me.”

Her anger felt like needles prickling across my scalp. “What did she do?”

I focused, showing Dianna the actual conversation. She listened to what Veruka had said to me, and I felt the knot in my gut tighten. It was true that I had never asked Dianna if she even wanted to be queen. I had been far too excited to be with her, dragging her into my world and responsibilities without ever—

“Sami.” Her voice was a soothing balm that brought my thoughts to a screeching halt. “You dragged me into nothing I did not want. I chose you, Sami, and I will, over and over again. Plus, I knew you were king when I tried to kill you the first time.”

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