Page 49 of Bound By Roses

By the time we’d made it back to camp, the sun was up and Jade was gone. Quinn told me about his sudden appearance and that he was the reason he’d known where to look for me. I’m not surprised Jade stuck around, even if he’d make it impossible to find him. He might have even followed us back to Marein, and we’d have no idea.

When the islands that have become our home for the time being fall into sight, I breathe a sigh of relief. I don’t feel safe here, but I feel a heck of a lot safer than I did in the forest. Even though I haven’t admitted it to Quinn, those roses still have me spooked. Their appearance here proves that they had nothing to do with Imelda’s curse, which means their presence in Rosewood could have everything to do with Terranous—and me.

Things would be so much easier if Terranous would just speak to me. If he has a purpose for me, I need to know what that is. Especially now that both Lunalissa and Inferna have a Chosen in play. Jade said his purpose is to kill Void and me, but I don’t feel any such compulsion to end his life. Void? Sure, but that’s personal.

“You’re back!” a familiar voice calls moments before I spot Fern running down the beach.

Quinn takes my hand in his and abruptly pulls us forward, quickening our pace to meet her. “What’s wrong?” he asks, kneeling down to her level. At first I’d thought she was just happy to see us, but now that we’ve reached her, I can see that he’s the one who read this correctly. She’s clearly upset, though physically she looks unharmed.

“The sirens know what Kaylee is.”

Quinn scoops the girl up in his arms, and then we’re running. I know he’s slowing his pace so I can keep up with him, but I wish he wouldn’t. If Kaylee is in trouble, he shouldn’t worry about me.

When we reach the whirlpool, he comes to a sudden stop and sets Fern down. She takes off down the stairs, but he turns to me and takes my hand in his. “I’m sorry. I know you don’t want to be down there, but—”

I press a finger against his lips. “Lead the way.” If Kaylee needs us, there’s no way I’m waiting on the surface. I may not be able to use any of my new powers, but I still have my daggers.

By the time we reach the bottom, Fern has disappeared, but Quinn seems to know exactly where he’s going. We pass sirens along the way and, although they eye us warily, not one of them dares speak out against our presence. If they know who Kaylee is to them, I doubt they’ll object to her brother and his mate wandering the halls of her kingdom.

Gods, I hope they’re not forcing her into this. This is exactly what Quinn wanted to avoid. She may be Marein’s rightful ruler, but she’s still a child of sixteen. She’s not ready for this. Even at twenty-four, Quinn doesn’t want to think of himself as any sort of king. How is Kaylee going to be expected to rule—especially without the visions that apparently give her the right to do so?

When we reach the door to what was once the throne room—and might very well be again—Quinn doesn’t bother to knock. The wheel handle screeches with disuse, but the door itself gives no trouble as it slides open to reveal exactly what I expected.

I spot Kaylee immediately, with both Rhett and Merrick at her side. The other dragons stand a short distance behind them, arms crossed and claws drawn. At least Merrick is keeping his word.

Standing opposite them, is Erwyn, Aurelia, and a handful of sirens I haven’t yet had the pleasure of formally meeting. Our entrance hasn’t gone unnoticed. Whatever argument they’re having drops into a sudden silence as all eyes turn to us.

“Look who finally decided to join us,” Erwyn says, hard eyes on Quinn. I wouldn’t have expected anything else from this man.

Quinn tenses in response, but I can tell by the hardness of his jaw that this is him trying to control his anger. In an effort to prevent this from turning into an even bigger argument, I take a step forward. “Is someone going to tell us what’s going on?”

Erwyn’s gaze shifts to me. “Our queen has returned, and you kept it from us. Such treachery is punishable by death.”

“I will not tell you again,” Aurelia snaps. “Shut it.” Good for her. She may not be their leader, but she’s the only one who seems able to put Erwyn in his place and keep him there.

Kaylee speaks before he can argue. There’s something different about the way she’s carrying herself. She’s no longer the fearful child we found hidden away in the tunnels of Lunae. She’s strong and confident and, with her new mate by her side, looks like she really could step into the role of ruler. “As I said, I cannot weave.”

Erwyn slams a fist down on the table. “Lies!”

Rhett looks as if he means to step between them, but Kaylee places a gentle hand against his chest to stop him. “You wish me to be your queen, yet you don’t allow me to speak.”

“I do not wish for it. Our laws—”

“Your laws say that you are to be led by a weaver. I cannot weave without my other half.”

Other half? What is she talking about? In Rosewood, she described it as there being no visions—no colours. But there were colours in Lunae.

A memory pierces through the fog of confusion, and I see it all too clearly. The tunnels beneath Lunae. Kaylee in that dank prison. And Arabella. When they touched, they spoke in unison. Shared the same vision of Jade and Quinn fighting. They saw Quinn lose…

But then Kaylee attacked me.

Jade and Quinn felt it through the shared bond and came to help me. Kaylee’s actions that day saved Quinn’s life, but she wouldn’t have known to do that if Arabella hadn’t taken her hand.

“Arabella?” I sputter, shocked that it’s taken me so long to make the connection. “You need Arabella.”

“Who is Arabella?” Aurelia asks. She sounds exasperated now, as if this fight had been going on for quite a while before we arrived.

“Your other niece,” Quinn says with a grumble. “I understand your need to keep secrets about Jade, but withholding valuable information about our enemy served no purpose.”

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