Page 62 of The Court of Truth

“You are everything she is not. It’s okay for the mages to not require your help. Your role as queen is strengthened by respecting their wishes. They can handle it themselves. It’s okay to come home, Addi. It’s okay to take a step back and reassess the situation, especially when she’s leading you on a wild goose chase around the kingdom. The tour can wait for a better time. You have to do what is right, not just for the kingdom or the people, but for you. What does that look like?”

Swinging my legs over the side of the hammock, I steel my core so I don’t lose my balance. I’m done lying around and moping. I’m done letting her weigh down my emotions and take my strength when I need it now more than ever.

My father is right.

If I want to be the best choice for this kingdom, I have to consider what looks right for me too. Accepting that the mages don’t need my help doesn’t mean I’m accepting defeat. Far from it.

“Thank you, Dad.” There’s strength in my tone that wasn’t there earlier, I can hear it myself, and the lilt in his hum through the line tells me he can too.

“Be safe, Addi girl, and I’ll see you when you get home,” he offers, and I mumble my thanks before the call ends.

The moment I drop my cell phone, the room is filled with three of my men. They’re my anchors, my pillars of strength, and that fact alone makes a smile spread across my face.

“You’re looking better,” Brody states, approaching me slowly, and I nod.

“I feel it too,” I admit, noting the calmness in my chest as the anxiety dwindles.

“What’s the plan?” Raiden asks, stroking a thumb down my cheek when he reaches me, and I shrug.

“I think the best plan is for us to rest tonight and travel home in the morning.”

He nods in agreement. “That’s what Arlo thought too but he wanted the decision to come from you.”

Of course he did. “Where is he?”

“He’s organizing food for us.” My stomach chooses that moment to grumble, irritating me, but I do need to eat.

“What’s the plan after that?” I ask, sensing a shift in the room as Kryll clears his throat.

“We thought it might be a good idea for you to relax with the girls tonight. Ease your stress.”

That sounds slightly tempting, but the idea of curling up in a ball and dealing with nothing seems even better. A thought comes to mind. “Why? What are you guys doing?”

They share a look before Raiden pauses the motion of his thumb, tilting my chin up to meet his eyes instead. “We’re going to help clean off the blood.” He says it so matter of factly that the initial pain his words cause quickly fizzles out.

“I’m guessing they would rather I didn’t help,” I state, earning a nod from my vampire. I hate it, but I understand it. “A night in the tent it is for me then,” I add as the material of the makeshift door slips open and two more heads appear.

“Excellent. It’s girl time,” Flora announces with a clap, while Janie starts trying to wave the guys out the door.

A smirk spreads across her face as she takes me in before she winks. “If you don’t have a pussy, get the fuck out!”

35

ADRIANNA

“Stop making me laugh,” I grumble, staring up at the canopy in a mixture of despair and delight. I shouldn’t be enjoying myself while it feels like the kingdom is falling apart, but here I am, giggling along with the pair of them like doom isn’t lurking around every corner.

“I can’t help it if I have an excellent sense of humor,” Janie states, giving me a pointed look, and I offer her a one finger salute, which sets the pair of them off laughing again. I can’t even remember what I first chuckled at, but I haven’t been able to stop. “Besides, you need to let off a little steam and we’re here to be of service,” she adds, bowing like a fool, and I throw my pillow at her, completely missing as she jumps out of the way at the last second.

“I shouldn’t be laughing when there’s so much pain in the kingdom,” I reply, sadness seeping its way back in, and Flora claps her hands, forcing my eyes to hers.

“No, I’m not having it. You are not sinking under the pressure, Addi. This is just a scoop of positivity, a reminder of what things will be like when the threat is no longer so imminent. I also refuse for my best friend to walk around with a stick up her ass, grumbling and grouching at every damn thing.” She gives me a pointed look, and I know I deserve it, but there’s no way I’ve been walking around with a stick up my ass. I’m about to protest when she shakes her head. “I know there isn’t a stick up your assyet, I’m just making sure there isn’t one at all,” she clarifies, and I sigh.

I really should be grateful. As always, she puts effort into everything. Even if it is some scattered blankets and cushions on the floor of a tent to create a “cozy vibe.” She shows up for me, time and time again—they both do—but it doesn’t make feeling joy any easier.

Why am I surrounded by so many people who think they’re so wise and wonderful? It’s awful. I need worse taste in friends.

My cell phone vibrates on the floor beside me, forcing a sigh from my lips as I pull my attention from the topic at hand and see who it is. My heart warms at the sight of Cassian’s name; a message from my wolf in our group chat.

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