Page 63 of Three Scorched Kingdoms

“Please. He’s terrified of you. You just have to figure out why.”

“He’s got a funny way of showing fear—taking over the library and nearly killing us and all.”

“He’s relentless in his pursuit of you, Paige.”

“Yeah, because he’s psycho and obsessed.”

“Maybe, but I think he knows you’re the one who can stop him.”

I scowl. “I wish I knew it, too. Or how to actually do it.”

“You’ll figure it out. You always do.”

“Sometimes your blind faith in me is really annoying.”

She grins back at me, the usual mischief in her eyes tempered by something softer. “Someone’s got to hype you up, right? Who better than a best friend?”

I laugh, the sound more genuine than I expected. “Yeah, I guess so.”

For a while, we just sit there, the fire crackling between us, sharing the quiet comfort of each other’s presence. The fear is still there, but it’s manageable now, tempered by the knowledge that I’m not facing this alone.

Eventually, Blossom speaks again, her words quiet. “Hoc would be proud of you, you know.”

I swallow past the lump in my throat, the weight of her words settling over me like a blanket. “Thanks. That really means a lot.”

She nods, and then her expression shifts, a teasing glint returning to her eyes. “That said, if you could avoid getting yourself killed tomorrow, that’d be great. I’ve grown kind of attached to you.”

I chuckle, the tension in my chest easing just a little more. “I’ll do my best.”

The first lightof dawn filters through the tent, casting a pale glow over the fabric walls. I wake slowly, especially after my midnight chat with Blossom. The warmth of Aries’ body is still wrapped around mine, his arm draped possessively across my waist. For a brief moment, I let myself savor the quiet, the feel of his skin against mine, the steady rise and fall of his chest as he breathes.

But reality comes crashing back with the distant sound of a horn, its mournful call signaling the start of what I’ve been dreading. My heart lurches, and the fog of sleep clears instantly, replaced by a sharp, cold awareness.

The battle is upon us.

Aries stirs behind me, pressing a soft kiss to my cheek before he sits up and tosses back the blankets. We dress quickly and quietly and meet at the flap, hesitating there as we lock eyes.

“It’s time,” I say finally.

He nods, his expression hardening as if a weight is settling over him. There’s no more time for words, no more time for anything but what must be done. The intimacy of last night is gone, replaced by the fierce determination in his eyes, the look of a man ready to face death if it means protecting what he loves.

We step out of the tent together, the early morning light casting long shadows across the camp. The hillside is alive with movement, soldiers donning armor, sharpening weapons, their faces set in grim lines as they prepare for the fight of their lives.

I scan the horizon, searching for any sign of the orcs. The valley below is shrouded in mist, the mountains in the distance barely visible through the haze. But I can feel them, a dark presence just beyond the edge of sight, waiting to descend upon us.

“Paige,” Aries says, his voice low as he hands me a dagger. “Stay close to me. No matter what happens, we fight together.”

I nod, slipping the dagger into my belt, the cool metal reassuring against my hip. “I will.”

Leo approaches, his armor gleaming in the early light, sword strapped to his back. He gives us a curt nod, his expression unreadable. “Scouts report movement in the pass. They’re coming.”

“Are the men in position?” Aries asks.

“Ready and awaiting your orders for the ambush,” Leo says.

“Tell them to wait until the front lines spot our advancing army in the valley. They’ll fire on my command.”

Leo nods. The three of us exchange a look, a silent understanding passing between us. This is it. There’s no turning back now.

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