Page 31 of Three Scorched Kingdoms

“Warriors come in all shapes and sizes.”

His words spark something in me, and I push to my feet too. “Actually, I think I have more important skills to hone.”

His brows lift. “Should I be worried?”

“Not at all. Well, not about me.” I smirk. “Maybe about Blossom kicking your ass in front of the other soldiers training down there.”

He winks. “Who says I won’t let her win? There are benefits to needing your wounds tended.”

I groan and shove him toward the door. “Go. Tell Blossom I’ll come by to watch her victory when I’m done training for my own.”

8

ARIES

“They’re all insane.” I stomp through the castle’s halls with Leo on my heels. Between the council’s outrageous vote and Esma’s attempted coup, I’m not sure how much more I can take before I lose it.

“They’re greedy men who see an opening for more,” Leo grumbles. “If Father were here?—”

“Well, he’s not,” I yell, whirling so quickly that Leo stumbles back.

He frowns at me, and my shoulders sag. “I apologize. I’m just so fucking pissed.”

“No apologies necessary, brother. You have every right to be angry with me. I should never have let it get this far. In letting Mother handle it, I missed how bad things had gotten.”

“No, it’s not your fault.” I sigh. “It’s mine.”

“It’s neither.” My mother’s voice echoes from an open doorway just ahead.

I can’t help feeling a bit of this anger aimed at her. She doesn’t shy away from it, though, and instead waves us both into her office.

“Come. We should talk.”

Inside, I stalk to the window, my dragon feeling more and more caged as the minutes tick by and reality sets in. Leo drops into a chair by the fire, leaning his head back. My mother surprises me by taking a bottle of whiskey from a desk drawer and pouring us each a drink.

“Here,” she says, bringing me a half-full glass. “You need it.”

“It’s barely noon,” I say, but I take it.

She offers a look of apology before walking over and giving Leo the other glass. Then she tips hers up, emptying it without waiting for us to join her.

Leo and I exchange a look.

I’ve never seen my mother drink outside of wine at official events.

He shrugs and then downs his own drink.

Fuck it.A moment later, I do the same.

When we’re finished, my mother collects the empty glasses and returns to her desk where she remains standing. “I take it you’ve just come from the council meeting.”

I force my voice to remain even, though I can’t help the sharpness in my words when I answer her. “You should have told me.”

She sighs. “I had hoped they would change their minds when they saw you in person.”

“Well, they didn’t,” I snap. “I had to threaten them with bodily harm just to have the chance to earn my throne back.”

Her eyes widen. She looks from me to Leo.

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