Page 28 of Bloodguard

He growls as I bring up the family he mentioned when I told him about my predicament. Then he swings his sword at me with considerable force. “Do not…”

I raise my sword and block, pain vibrating down my arm.

He swings again. “Ever…”

I block again.

He grabs the hilt of his sword with two hands now and swings. “Question me…”

I block again, my teeth rattling.

He whips around and swings his sword again. “When it comes…”

I stumble backward and pivot out of range.

“To my family.”

Each swing has gotten harder and harder to block, and only now that my arms are reduced to nothing more than quivering muscle do I realize how easy he was taking it on me earlier. And yet, as rage sparks in his eyes, I know he isstillholding back. He wants to make a point—whether to me or himself, I’m not sure—but he’s never fully lost control.

Which is why I’m not afraid. I’m horrified.

Guilt at what has been done to this man, by my own royal court, makes me want to scream, but I can’t focus on his past right now. What I need to do, what Iwilldo, is change his future.

I let my sword fall to the ground with a hollowclank. “Marry me,” I plead, my gaze on his.

We stand there, me breathing hard, hurting, aching. Him scowling.

The seconds tick by, and I think I should say or do something, but before I can, he straightens. “If you really intend to be queen, you need to fight harder. I won’t stick around to catch you when you fall.” He tosses his sword beside mine. “Even if it means your life.”

chapter 13

Maeve

I smooth my skirt and settle back against the cushioned seat of the carriage as it bumps along the rough cobblestones of the bridgeway to the castle.

Neela fussed over my gown for hours before finally deeming me ready. Its heavy layers of white lace are uncomfortable and ill-suited for warm weather. Neela, well, didn’t agree. She insisted the tight cut of the bodice and thick, flowing skirt are appropriate for the Lord Regent’s Summer Ball.

Lantern lights strung from the bridge to the gates hang along the walls in pretty loops of twinkling yellow and amber. When the sun sets, the glow will shine and dance along the stone. My grandmother always loved the way that looked. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen the castle decorated this way. I only wish she was here to share it with me.

Lord Caelen, our friend and distinguished colonel, is dressed in his finest military regalia, silver jewelry gleaming against the evergreen and dark blue of Arrow. He sits across the carriage in close conversation with Giselle, her voice light and animated compared to the harsh and steady beat of hooves and the turn of the carriage wheels.

Father sits beside me, the hem of his light-blue robes brushing my skirt.

“You look nervous,” he says, though his attention is outside the window, and I can tell something is weighing on his mind.

I stop fidgeting with my sleeves. “I haven’t made public appearances like this in a long time.”

He nods. “I’d thought giving you time to heal and focus on your grandmother was the right choice, but now I think I failed you.”

“What? Never.”

His light eyes are sad, and his mouth is turned down at the corners when he shifts his attention back to me.

“A ruler is visible.Present, Maeve.” He nods to the window and the view of rows of guards lined up along the gates. “You care for the people of Arrow. But most don’t know it. Not the ones with influence. Aisling and Soro are more familiar to the noble houses and militia.”

“That’s a scary thought.”

“Yes,” he agrees. “Itis.And that’s not counting their influence with the Middling and commonfolk. If you want to do this… If you want to reclaim your throne and become queen, you cannot do it by half measures. You must become the ruler our people need you to be. The ruler you were trained to be.”

---