Page 25 of Three Scorched Kingdoms

I’ve been offered a single shot at regaining my throne from assholes who shouldn’t have had the power to take it from me in the first place. I’m still debating on the fight instead when Esma marches up to me.

“This isn’t over,” she hisses.

Bingo snarls at her and lunges, but Leo holds him back. Barely.

“She’s not worth it,” Leo murmurs, petting the hound while staring the flamingo shifter down.

With one final glare at us, Esma whirls and stomps out. Bingo continues to curl back his upper lip until the door shuts behind her.

I look down at the hellhound. “I know exactly how you feel.”

7

PAIGE

After breakfast, I go in search of the others. I don’t get far before I spot Kitty chasing Zed down the hall. The gnome is screaming taunts and insults as he runs, a mischievous grin plastered on his face. Kitty is making a mewling sound that borders on feral. “Hey! You can’t do that here,” I hiss at them, grabbing Zed by his collar until his feet come off the floor, kicking wildly. “Now, take me to Blossom before I feed you both to a barn cat.”

“We were just having fun,” Zed complains.

Kitty huffs and tosses him a triumphant look that I can only assume means she’s happy he’s the one in trouble and not her.

I pin the raccoon with a glare so she knows she’s not off the hook either. “I know you have manners,” I tell her pointedly. “Use them.”

She simply turns and lifts her tail, giving me a clear view of her behind as she leads the way.

When I arrive at their room, Blossom and Mag are already up and dressed. I can’t help eyeing Blossom’s pants and tunic with open jealousy.

“You look great,” I tell her. “Where did you get those clothes?”

She shrugs. “They brought two sets for Mag, so I stole one.” She gives me a once-over. “Nice dress. Isn’t it supposed to have more layers or something?”

“Ugh, the undergarments freaked me out, so I skipped them.”

She grins. “Is that the same as not wearing any underwear here? I wonder if Aries finds that sexy?”

“Shut up.”

A maid brings them food on trays, the fruits and cheeses the same as the ones I had with Lucinda. I sit with them as they eat. No one brings up the Athenaeum. I wonder if, like me, they’re just not ready to voice the facts aloud yet. We failed. Constantine won. And I have no idea how to stop him.

“I could get used to the food here,” Mag says.

“It is delicious,” Blossom says. “At least, this place has that going for it.”

Something about her tone suggests there are far more things she doesn’t like about Astronia than those she does. Before I can ask what those things might be, she sits back, rubbing her belly appreciatively.

“I can’t remember the last time I had a meal I sat down for,” she jokes.

“Sweetheart, I’ll be your meal anytime,” Mag tells her. “Especially dessert.”

I groan and roll my eyes.

“I question why I’m with you multiple times a day,” Blossom deadpans.

“You know you love it.” Mag grins.

“There’s such a fine line between love and murder,” Blossom quips.

I shake my head. “You two fight like an old married couple.”

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