Page 9 of Three Scorched Kingdoms

“I’m fine,” I assure him.

His brow lifts at that. “I’m not sure I believe you, but we’ll likely need to have dinner with my mother before we can get away to talk.”

“We’re alive and safe,” I tell him. “And your throne still belongs to you. For now, that’s all that matters.”

He kisses me quickly, and we move over to join the others.

“You can lift something called a… car?” Leo is asking Mag. “Is it heavy?”

Blossom laughs, and Mag glares at her.

“Yes,” Mag says at the same time Blossom says, “At least as heavy as a boulder.”

Mag scowls. “More like a small house.”

“And you can do that in this form or only when you become the stone monster?” Leo asks.

“In either form,” Mag says haughtily. “And the term is gargoyle, not stone monster.”

“I don’t know. You can be a stone monster all right,” Blossom says.

“I would love to see it,” Leo says, eyes gleaming with the challenge.

Aries claps Leo’s back. “We can hit the training ring soon. We’ll see if you kept up with your training in my absence.”

A shadow passes over Leo’s expression, but he blinks it away. “I’d say my chances are better than ever now that Aries has gone soft for a mate.” He winks at me adding, “At least, he’s no longer my competition. Unless, of course, Paige is open to convincing…”

Aries growls and steps toward Leo, eyes narrowed. “Paige is mine.”

“Whoa, kidding.” Leo throws his hands up. “I meant no harm.”

Aries continues to glare, so I tug him back.

“Forgive Aries,” Mag says. “He’s a little on edge. We all are.”

Mag and Aries share a look, and suddenly, all the amusement is gone as we all remember what we went through to get out of the library. And who we left behind in our place.

“Did something happen on your journey here?” Leo asks.

I don’t answer except to glance at Aries. There are parts of the story I’m not sure I’m ready to voice aloud. Not even to my friends.

“Paige’s world is very different,” Aries says, and I shoot him a grateful look. “There were some who made our exit difficult. We’re just tired from the journey.”

Leo frowns. I can see the questions forming, but he doesn’t ask them.

“Of course,” he says, clapping Aries on the back. “I’m just glad you’re home now. Astronia needs its rightful king to defeat the horde once and for all.”

“We saw the village on our way in,” Aries says quietly. Leo’s expression darkens again, and Aries matches it. “Tell me what happened.”

Leo glances at the rest of us then back to his brother. It’s clear there are things he wants to share privately.

“Go,” I say, ushering Aries away. “I could use a minute.”

Aries nods slowly, though I can tell he doesn’t want to exclude me.

“Go catch up with your brother,” I say when he doesn’t move.

“Fine, but I’ll be right over here if you need me,” Aries says.

---