Page 101 of Clash of Kingdoms

“I feel like shit about that.”

“Do you?” my father asked incredulously. “We sailed all the way here to fight a battle that doesn’t belong to us…all for pussy.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “When there’s perfectly good pussy back at home?—”

“Do not refer to her like that again.” My insides tightened in discomfort because it made me sick. I loved to fuck her brains out and she was a hot piece of ass, but only I could think those things. No one else.

“Our people are dead, and you choose to defend her?” He cocked an eyebrow.

“I made the decision to fight, so insult me, not her.”

Father stared me down. The tension in the room rose like smoke to the ceiling. “Leave us.”

My brothers stood up from their chairs and walked out, leaving us alone.

When they were gone, my father continued his assault. “Will this woman be returning with us?”

I didn’t want to answer.

“Will she be your wife?”

“She would be my wife…if things were different.”

Anger seethed under his skin. “If what were different?”

“She’s human.” I wouldn’t go into the details that he already knew. “We know what happened last time I loved a human.”

“So you’re willing to risk all of us for a woman you won’t marry?”

“Not won’t. Can’t.”

“This is stupid?—”

“Then leave,” I snapped. “You’re under no obligation.”

“If I pull out the army, all of these people will die, including you.”

“Then so be it,” I said simply. “She dies, I die.”

He continued to stare at me with a note of bewilderment. “I won’t abandon you, Aurelias. Or my other sons. But I want something in return. I’ll be putting my life on the line to fight these demons. If this woman won’t be your wife, then I need to be compensated.”

“What do you want?”

My father stared for a long time.

“Name your price.”

“I’ll let you know when I have it.” That was all he said, staring me down like I was an enemy rather than his own flesh and blood. “Be ready.”

We prepared the field for battle, knowing the demons would arrive without warning. That meant soldiers would be on rotation as they stood on the line, torches lit up across the field so they could see even if it was dark. The dragons were ready with their boulders. And the vampires didn’t need time to prepare since they were physically superior to their human counterparts.

I walked up to Huntley, who stood on the line in his full armor, which had been replaced since his last set had been damaged by Vine’s golden sword. Instead of sitting in the warmth of his study or lounging in the great room, he was on the walls with his people, ready for the imminent war.

He turned to me, and there was an undertone of respect and affection to his gaze. It was the way he looked at Harlow and Atticus, a flood of warmth inside his chest. “I have something for you.” He turned away and called out to someone. “Elora!”

A woman came from around the corner of the gate. “What?”

“Bring the armor.”

She turned and walked off, and then returned a moment later with a brand-new set of armor, which was identical to what Huntley wore—except for the golden serpent on the front. “We’ve outfitted your brothers, too, since their armor was badly damaged in the east. We would be honored if you wore it.”

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