Page 36 of Three Scorched Kingdoms

“Oh.” I can’t escape the jab in my gut her words give.

She rushes on to explain. “It’s not about you. I want to marry you, Aries.” She takes my hand as if to emphasize her point. “I have no doubts about you and me. It’s just… once I’m queen, I’ll owe these people my complete attention—and protection. I can’t give them that just yet. I can’t promise to protect this place as my home. Not with Constantine still wreaking havoc on what my home used to be.”

“Mag was right,” I say. “I do understand. And I think that sort of sentiment is exactly what will make you a great queen.”

“Thank you,” she says, her expression once again clear—and full of love. “And we will fix this. Council be damned.”

I nod, needing to believe her.

“The orcs are no match for you with or without the goddess’ magic,” she adds.

At that, the sliver of relief fades, and I remember what news I came here to share. “I thought so too. Until Leo and I went scouting and I saw their weapons.”

“Whoa, wait. What do you meansaw? You went to see them? Today? Without telling me?”

“Leo went with me,” I assure her. “We stayed in the skies. No one saw us. It was a scouting mission only—to see what we’re dealing with.”

She exhales, still looking a little put out. “What did you find?”

“Leo calls them siege weapons, mostly because that is the only term that exists in our world. The technology—it’s not something my people have ever seen. I have though. On television inside your apartment. In your world, I believe you call them guns.”

“I don’t understand. How would guns end up here in Astronia?”

“I can think of only one way,” I say grimly.

Her eyes widen. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

“Constantine has been here.”

“But… I have the book. It’s in our bedroom?—”

“I know. Either he’s coming in another way or…” I take a deep breath. “Oliver told me he knew about this place, about the orc threat. He also knew I was a dragon shifter.”

She looks stricken, and I can’t blame her.

“Why didn’t you tell me that? Before, I mean.”

I shrug. “He was dead. I didn’t think it mattered.”

She nods slowly, her expression still troubled. “You think they planted these weapons? Armed your enemies before we even chose to return here?”

“It’s the only thing that makes sense. These weapons didn’t exist in this world before I left.”

Her gaze drifts past me into the gardens. When she looks up again, fear reflects in her gaze. “We have to do something. We can’t just let him win.”

“We will,” I assure her, squeezing her hand. “But the horde has grown powerful, especially with weapons like these. We must stop them first.”

“You’re right. Yeah. Okay. Ugh, I guess this wasn’t such a safe place for me to bring us after all.”

I brush my hand across her cheek and am rewarded when some of her tension dissolves a little at my touch. “It was the perfect place to bring us.”

She sighs. “I don’t know about perfect. But I guess it was the right thing to do.”

I study her, frowning as my thoughts return to the present moment. “Are you sure? You’re out here in the gardens alone. If you’re not happy here, I?—”

“I just needed some fresh air,” she assures me. “To clear my head.”

“In that case, come with me.”

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