Page 51 of The Court of Truth

“Fine, but you better bring me a surprise back,” she insists, and I scoff.

“This isn’t a vacation, Nora,” I insist, and she shrugs.

“That sounds like a you problem to me,” she mutters before racing back up the stairs without a backward glance.

Drama queen.

“Be safe, Addi girl,” my father states, pulling me into his chest one last time, and I inhale his rich scent, committing it to memory before he ascends the stairs.

“Hey, we’re all set to go,” Flora says, appearing from the hallway behind me, and I nod in acknowledgment.

“Well, if I don’t get to share a carriage with you, Dagger, you better bring it in now,” Brody states, draping his arms around me from behind, but I swiftly turn to face him, hugging him just as tight as I did Nora.

“We won’t be apart too long,” I insist, hoping to calm the stress I can feel through the bond, and he leans back to give me a pointed look.

“It’s already been long enough with Cassian whisking you away. But it doesn’t matter as long as you’re safe,” he adds, stroking his thumb over my cheek before pressing a kiss to the corner of my mouth.

All too quickly, he’s gone, replaced by Kryll. I follow the ink trailing up his arms, slithering beneath his t-shirt before springing free once more at his neck. When my eyes lock on his, a jolt of strength clenches in my gut. He grips my chin with a firmness I wasn’t expecting as he looks deep into my soul.

“I’ll see you in Summer Oak, Princess. Be safe, be alert, and be careful. I like you in one piece,” he states with a wink, a stark difference to the hold he has on my chin, before he eliminates the distance between us and claims my lips with his.

It’s bruising, consuming, and delectable. It’s also over far too quickly, leaving me gasping for air as he releases his hold on me and storms toward the door.

Well, fuck.

“It’s okay, Troublemaker. We’re going to have all of the fun,” Raiden muses, pressing a kiss to my temple as he drapes his arm around my shoulders and tugs me along toward the waiting carriages. “Just you, me, and?—”

“Janie?” The woman in question spins from the open carriage to face me, a wide smile on her lips as I blink in surprise, making sure she’s actually here as I frown. “Why are you here?” I ask, and Raiden scoffs.

“To ruin my fucking day it seems,” he grumbles under his breath, but she still must hear it because she winks at him before turning to me.

“Cassian sent me. He said if he can’t be with you, I’m the next best thing. I call bullshit though. He’s always second to my awesomeness. But I’m here regardless.”

Her presence sends a warmth running through my chest, a sense of hope clinging to my bones as I take in every inch of the entourage traveling on the tour with me.

“Let’s get this show on the road.”

29

ADRIANNA

The carriage ride takes hours. Literal hours and hours. I ask a million times about why we can’t just use our speed to get us there faster, but apparently that’s not how you are supposed to travel as a monarch.

It’s ridiculous.

Raiden’s hand has been plastered to my thigh the entire journey while he glares at Janie. As much as Arlo wanted our late addition to travel in the remaining carriage, I refused to allow her to travel alone, so after a few minutes of Raiden and Arlo grumbling between themselves, I got my way.

She’s slept most of the way, splayed out on the cushion bench across from me.

My stomach grumbles, reminding me that I haven’t eaten because of the internal chaos I’m managing, but Raiden has promised we’re getting close. We better be, otherwise my ass is going to get hangry on top of everything else, and I really don’t think he wants that.

Reciting the expectations of me when we arrive, I let my eyelids fall closed. The rocking of the carriage is enough to tempt me with sleep, but I quickly startle awake when I hear Raiden grunt.

“Fuck.”

He’s staring out of the carriage door window, brows furrowed as he clutches the cover that doubles as a curtain. I place my hand on his, which still rests on my thigh, and his face whips to mine.

My gut twists, knowing what’s coming without him even speaking. “It’s bad, isn’t it.”

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