Page 39 of Three Scorched Kingdoms

“How?” Blossom demands. “He can’t get through.”

“He can,” Mag says grimly. “He must have figured out a way without the book.”

Blossom’s eyes narrow. She turns to me, a rage radiating from her that I recognize as a match to my own. “We need to find a strategy,” she says flatly. “And soon.”

No one else disagrees.

But when none are offered, the meeting is adjourned until we’ve all had time to brainstorm. The advisors are sworn to secrecy, and as Leo and I handpicked each one, I know they’ll keep quiet.

The question is: Why didn’t my mother tell me?

“I need to blow off some steam,” Blossom says as she exits the meeting hall. Mag follows her, both of them headed for one of the empty training areas.

Paige and I fall into step across the courtyard. I slip my hand into hers and find it clammy and cold. She’s shaken over the news about the blight.

“I—”

My words are cut short as a familiar voice rings out behind us.

“You need to stop holding back.”

I stiffen, turning even though I already know who I’ll find.

Esma stands at the edge of a sparring ring, snapping out criticism to the two soldiers in the center.

The others observing the exercise have moved as far away from her as they can get. But no one questions her presence. Not even the captain standing on the other side of the ring. It makes me wonder how many times she’s visited the army’s training grounds, sticking her nose in where it doesn’t belong.

The fight ends, and Esma turns away, huffing as if the entire thing was a disappointment. I watch as she catches sight of us, a disgustedly haughty gleam lighting her eye.

She strolls toward us through the crowd of soldiers who part easily to let her pass. I start forward too, ready to tell her to getlost. But before I can say anything, Paige marches right up to the flamingo shifter.

“This is a closed training session. I don’t believe you were invited.”

“Excuse me, who are you again?”

Paige stiffens. The crowd falls silent as the soldiers tune into the exchange. Leo appears beside me, grabbing my arm before I can intervene between the women.

I stay quiet as Paige answers Esma in a loud, strong voice. “You know damn well who I am. And I know exactly who you are. A ladder climber who’s only interested in one thing, and it’s not these people’s best interest.”

“You know nothing about me,” Esma says haughtily.

“I know you’re not a soldier, nor have you been invited here by one.”

“I’m a member of the royal council, which means I’m allowed to go anywhere I please. You’re not even a citizen of this country. You can’t tell me what to do.”

Paige puts a hand on her hip. “I can, actually. As your future queen and Aries’ mate, this is my house you’re trespassing in.”

“You think you can just waltz into Astronia and declare yourself one of us. But the people see you for what you are: an outsider. They will never accept you as their queen. You aren’t even a shifter!” Esma screeches. She reaches for Paige, her hands up like she wants to claw out my mate’s eyes.

I move to intervene, but Blossom appears, sliding smoothly in front of Paige, knocking Esma back a step.

“She might not be a shifter, but I am,” Blossom says coolly, “and if you don’t watch yourself, you’re going to wind up with a horn up your ass.”

Esma’s jaw drops. “You can’t speak to me like that.”

“Don’t act like you’re innocent,” Paige says, stepping around Blossom so they’re shoulder to shoulder. “You’ve deliberatelyinserted yourself where you don’t belong and not just here in this courtyard. You have no business as a member of the council when your only agenda is to grab a crown for yourself. From now on, keep your claws away from the princes. Neither of them is going to marry you, and that’s final.”

“You don’t know anything about this realm or its laws. If something should happen to Aries, Leo will be king and?—”

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