Page 40 of Three Scorched Kingdoms

“Are you making a threat against the heir to the throne?” Paige asks, her tone low. “I might not be a queen, but I’m pretty sure you have laws about that.”

To my surprise, two soldiers step out of the crowd and flank Paige. They stare pointedly at Esma as if they’re only waiting for Paige’s orders before dragging Esma off to the dungeons.

Esma’s eyes widen as she takes in the soldiers. Instead of arguing, she starts toward Leo, her ire aimed fully at him now. “You’re going to let them speak to me this way?” she demands. “You’re my fiancé.”

“I am not,” Leo says firmly. “We are no longer betrothed, and we never should have been. Paige is right. You orchestrated it all so that you could gain the crown for yourself.”

Esma’s eyes narrow at Leo as all pretense of caring for him vanishes from her expression. “You’re going to regret this, you little?—”

A growl sounds, and a sudden movement behind Esma draws my eye. Bingo rushes for Esma, teeth bared. I don’t have time to warn her before Bingo’s teeth sink into Esma’s backside.

Esma screams, and Bingo immediately releases her, watching with satisfaction as Esma clutches her injured cheek.

She looks from Bingo to Paige then back to Leo.

“You should probably get that looked at,” Leo tells her.

Esma’s eyes widen as if she’s finally realized she has no allies here. She ducks her head and runs away, shrieking curses at us all.

I watch her go in shocked silence. Eventually, I turn back to Bingo, debating whether to reprimand him, but then I note how Paige and the others are ducking their heads, hiding the same smirk I’m trying to keep off my own face.

Mag strolls up, a long sword propped over his shoulder. “What did I miss?”

10

PAIGE

Even after Esma is gone, adrenaline still courses through me. It’s true, I’m not a shifter, nor am I a citizen of this country. What right do I have to stand up to her? Every time I’m tempted to second-guess my behavior, I remember how the soldiers backed me up. I can’t be sure, but I have the distinct feeling that I could have ordered them to haul her to the dungeon, and they would have done it.

I’m not sure how I feel about having that kind of authority.

Or loyalty.

I’m not sure I’ve done enough to earn it.

But there’s no time to dwell on it. Not after the news Leo dropped on us during that meeting. The blight changes things, reminds us all how urgent it is that we face what’s coming. What’s already here.

Aries announces the soldiers should gather around for their new assignments. I look around as the men begin to form lines—almost as if they all know exactly where to go… except me.

When I move to get out of the way, Blossom catches my arm. “Hey, aren’t you staying for this?”

“I don’t know. Are we invited?”

Her brow arches. “You’re the future queen, remember? This is your house. You’re invited everywhere.”

She has a point, but I hesitate. “I don’t know.”

Aries walks up, slipping his arm around my waist and talking low in my ear. “Blossom is right. You should stay. Let them see you stand beside me.”

There’s a depth in his gaze that goes far beyond a moment with his army. My heart squeezes at the meaning. “How can I say no to that?”

“You can’t,” Blossom says lightly. “Where do you want us?” she adds, motioning to her and Mag.

Aries instructs, them and they move to take their positions. When they’re gone, I look at Aries. “You’re not mad?”

“About what?”

“The way I spoke to Esma...”

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