Page 3 of Three Scorched Kingdoms

All eyes swing to me.

My hands curl into fists as the need for vengeance nearly takes me over. “The war has begun.”

Or it’s already over.

With my blood churning, I race down the hill to the gates of the city. The road is barricaded from the outside, but it’s an easy task to toss aside enough of the rubble to gain access. The gates themselves are burnt and broken, and the guardhouses are empty.

The others are right behind me as we pass through them into the city.

We walk silently, and I remain watchful for some sign of danger. But nothing moves or comes to greet us, least of all the people who lived here.

“Where is everyone?” Blossom asks in a hushed tone.

I don’t answer.

“Hopefully, they got out,” Paige says, the words strained with worry—and fear.

I look over, wanting to comfort or reassure her, especially after what we’ve just gone through. I note the blood on her clothes and the tear in her shirt. Blossom is equally as disheveled. Mag’s flesh has already turned to stone, and I know he’s bracing himself for a threat as I am.

“Please tell me we didn’t leave one battle behind only to have to fight another,” Blossom says.

Paige offers her an apologetic look. “Aries’ homeland has been attacked by an army of orcs in his absence.”

“You’re serious?” Blossom glares at her. “You really conjured a portal straight into a war? Are you for real right now?”

“It’s why we’ve been trying to get back here,” Paige tells her. “I’m sorry, but Aries’ people need him. And us.”

“Girl, you are so lucky I love to kill things,” Blossom says.

Paige smiles. “I love that about you.”

“Me too,” Mag adds.

Blossom rolls her eyes. “You’re such a kiss ass,” she tells him.

“I hope you mean that literally,” Mag tosses back with a wink.

Blossom groans, but her irritation is gone, and we all go back to searching for signs of life.

When we come to the alehouse, I veer off and walk to the door. It’s shut but unlocked and pushes open easily at my touch. I peer into the shadowy interior and find it empty. There are a few plates of aged food sitting out as if the customers left in a hurry. I scent nothing recent in terms of visitors.

Turning away, I resume our trek, stopping to check several more homes and businesses.

All empty.

My worry grows even as I tell myself it’s better to find the place empty than full of bodies.

“This ghost town doesn’t have any real ghosts at least,” Mag says at last.

I glare at him. One of the books that we explored in our fruitless venture to save Hoc, Paige’s adoptive father, had been a literal ghost town. The ghosts in residence hadn’t been the most pleasant.

Blossom smacks Mag.

“I was just trying to lighten the mood,” he protests.

“Maybe learn to read the room?” Paige suggests.

Mag grimaces. “I didn’t mean to offend.”

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