Page 43 of Three Scorched Kingdoms

Turning away, frustration boils inside me. Maybe my magic isn’t as useful as I thought. Or maybe it’s just me. Either way, this mess won’t help anyone.

“Hey,” a voice says behind me so close that I let out a shriek as I whirl.

Aries offers a lopsided smile. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

I scowl. “It’s fine. I was just… Never mind.”

“Just practicing destroying our enemies?” he asks easily.

The easy way he phrases it has me scrunching my face. “Not quite. That tree isn’t going to be battling in our name anytime soon.”

“I wasn’t talking about the tree.”

“What are you…?”

His brow lifts as he nods at the wooden shards near my foot. “What did my childhood birdhouse ever do to you?”

Some of the wood is painted in bright blues and reds. Beyond that, it’s no longer recognizable. Shit. I hadn’t even noticed it among the mass of branches. “You built that thing?”

“Gave it to my mother for her birthday when I was ten.”

“You’re kidding. Oh crap, your mom is going to hate me.”

He takes one look at my horrified expression and laughs. “Relax. She’ll understand—and that’s if she even notices it’s gone.”

He’s probably right, but I’m not about to find out. I don’t answer him, instead putting all my energy into sending my magic out to the pieces of wood lying in the grass at my feet. My magic is already coursing through me, on its way to recreate the birdhouse, when I say, “How about we don’t give her that chance?”

“I have a better idea,” he says, stepping closer. “Why don’t we talk about what it would take to make birdhouses out of our enemies?”

11

ARIES

The next morning, I wake to find Paige snuggled in close beside me in our massive bed. The tunic I gave her to sleep in that first night has been replaced by a sheer gown one of her maids must have provided. The material is ivory in color and leaves little to the imagination. My cock hardens at the sight of her bared thigh draped over my own.

Back at the library, a wakeup like this one would have prompted me to use this moment to its full advantage. But now, my desire for her is at odds with the pressing need to fight.

According to my advisors in yesterday’s meeting, the village has been re-opened, and the castle walls are now emptied of the townspeople who sought refuge here during the orc’s attack.

What they had thought was a full-scale invasion ended up being only a single legion of orcs—most of them scouts who saw an opportunity and took it. Our soldiers weren’t expecting the war to come here. Not when the majority of the horde’s army was still camped in the north.

It’s not a mistake we’ll make again. Not with me in command.

Still, our scouts have returned with the news that the orcs are marching ever closer to our largest villages.

I can’t remain safe behind these walls much longer. I might have left already if it weren’t for the beautiful woman lying beside me. Paige will not be convinced to remain behind when I go. So, I’ve delayed as much as possible, hoping she’d discover her magic’s true power at least enough to defend herself when we march to the front.

I cannot lose her.

And I cannot bear to separate myself from her either.

Yesterday, in the garden with that birdhouse, I saw a glimpse of what she can really do.

It was fucking amazing.

My thoughts wander back to her body, and I run my hand up her thigh, cupping her ass. She stirs, her leg lifting higher, and I stifle a groan as all thoughts of war slide away.

All that exists is my mate. Her body and mine.

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