Page 10 of Three Scorched Kingdoms

“Come. Walk with me a moment.” Leo leads Aries away. I watch them go, their heads bent close together as they talk quietly. Bingo follows, stopping to sniff here and there.

Mag and Blossom remain beside me.

“You okay?” Blossom asks quietly.

“Define okay,” I say with a sigh.

“We’re alive,” Mag puts in. “That’s a start.”

“What’s the plan?” Blossom asks. She glances from me to Mag as she adds, “Constantine is going to destroy that place if we let him.”

“He won’t,” I say with way more confidence than I feel. “But Aries’ world is in danger because of what I did by conjuring himthat day. I owe it to him—to all of them—to help defend against the orcs.”

Blossom doesn’t say anything. She and Mag exchange a look.

“You don’t have to fight,” I tell them both. “This isn’t your war, so I understand?—”

“Aries fought for us,” Mag says firmly. “I’ll do the same for him.”

Blossom nods, determination in her eyes. “Mag is right. We’ll fight here, and when it’s done, we’ll deal with Constantine for good.”

“Thanks,” I tell them gratefully. “It means a lot to have you both by my side through all of this.”

“We aren’t going anywhere,” Blossom says firmly. “Besides, you’re our secret weapon now, Miss I-can-conjure-portals-at-will.” She hip-bumps me. “That was kind of amazing.”

“Thanks.”

“At least, we know we can get back when we’re ready to deal with him,” Mag says.

Blossom nods. “I can’t wait to see what else you have up your sleeve.”

“Constantine won’t know what hit him,” Mag adds, eyes gleaming.

“Right,” I say, forcing a smile.

Conjuring a portal to get us back into the library is one thing. What we’ll do once we get there is another problem entirely. The last glimpse I had of the library was one full of dark, violent creatures bent on destroying us all. Creatures that are undoubtedly ready and waiting to try again should we return. I’m not sure my particular skillset helps us avoid that fate. But Blossom and Mag look at me with such belief that I can’t bring myself to tell them I have no idea how to actually defeat the monster we fled from—which may very well mean the world aswe know it will someday belong to him. Or worse, cease to exist at all.

3

ARIES

Leo fills me in on the horde’s invasion which apparently began shortly after I left. I’m grateful he does so away from the others because the outlook is bleak. In the absence of ruling dragon mates on our throne, the orcs have become increasingly brave. By the time Leo has caught me up on the latest attack—the one that drove the villagers here to the castle—I’m feeling the weight of it all bearing down on my shoulders.

There’s so much at stake here. Every Astronian life poised beneath the blade’s edge. Now that I’m home, it’s up to me to lead us all to safety—except I’ve just come from a failed battle. I can’t bring myself to tell Leo that part, so I evade his questions about my time in Paige’s world, turning the subject back to our own at every turn.

Across the room, a maid enters and approaches us. “Dinner, Your Highnesses.” She drops into a curtsy. “If you’ll follow me, the queen and her new, um, friends will meet you there.”

Paige quirks a brow. “The gnomes?”

I shrug. “I guess.”

We’re escorted to the family dining room where memories wash over me. As always, without my father, it feels a bit empty—despite the extra people here. Another table has been brought in along with extra chairs to accommodate us all. As she has done since my father died, my mother sits at the head of the table. Once I am crowned, that will become my seat.

A reality that is speeding ever closer now that Paige is here.

I take the seat at my mother’s right hand but not before holding the chair beside mine for Paige to sit. Leo settles across from me, and the others fill in around us. The gnomes are already seated at the opposite end, their plates laden with biscuits and desserts. Their shirts too.

With a rueful smile, my gaze shifts to the food. There is wild boar and pheasant, no doubt roasted to perfection. And seafood as well, clearly dragon-fire grilled, which leaves a nice, smoky taste. Likewise, the vegetables, different from those back in the library, are fire-roasted. There are rolls made from the same dough as the cookies my mother gave to the gnomes. Doubtless, there are even more desserts waiting once we finish with the main course.

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