Page 29 of Kingdom of Briars and Roses

Sonoma’s expression softened with sorrow. “We’ll find a way. But it’ll take time. Heliconia’smagic isn’t entirely from this realm, and it’s not something we fully understand. We don’t even know where to start.”

Lesha voiced her question reluctantly. “What if the only one who can undo it is Heliconia herself?”

“Actually,” Sonoma said slowly, “there is one other whom the Fates gifted with the power to undo Heliconia’s damage.”

My heart hammered in my chest as she looked at me.

The comments Heliconia had made in the forest, the accusations she’d aimed at me during the party, the way my mother had insisted I hear the truth from Sonoma…

“It’s me,” I said bleakly. “Isn’t it? I’m some sort of chosen one meant to save the realm.”

Sonoma’s expression was pained. “Yes.”

“I knew it. Mother refused to answer my questions last night. Said we should wait for you and Father to be there.” I glared at her. “All this time, you’ve kept this from me.”

“I was going to tell you,” she said quietly. “We all were.”

“When?” I demanded, the word whipping out like a blade.

Lesha flinched, but Amanti and Sonoma stood their ground. I studied their faces, noting that Amanti and Lesha didn’t look surprised. Everyone knew but me. And keeping it from me had very nearly gotten us all killed.

“Let me guess? You were waiting for the right time,” I snapped.

“Something like that,” Sonoma said quietly.

I snorted. “And look at where we ended up while you waited for the perfect moment.” I shook my head, wishing for boots and a sword rather than this stupid, flimsy nightgown.

“I hope you’re proud of your lies,” I snapped, hot betrayal rising and roiling inside me.

All three of them, powerful warriors stronger than any the realm had ever seen, hung their heads.

None of them answered.

The truth of it—known too late—only fanned the flames of my temper.

“Is this why you trained me as one of the Aine?” I nearly yelled. “So I’d have a fighting chance when my time came to challenge her?”

My hands curled into fists at my sides. When Sonoma wanted to train me, I’d thought it was a compliment to my skills. Some special talent she saw inside me. But no. It was a duty borne of knowing my destiny before I did. Just like with the stupid wedding, I was no more than a tool, a weapon. One they hadn’t even bothered to consult before sharpening me into points.

My mother’s words of encouragement. About believing in me. That I was a warrior. It was all based on this hidden destiny. This secret. That somehow, without any memory of it on my part, the Fates had looked upon me and decided I would be the one to deliver us from Heliconia.

How in the seven Hels I would do that, especially when I had no idea they’d chosen me in the first place, was beyond me. But the Fates were goddesses from a realm beyond our own. Strangers to me. Ethereal ideas of beings. The warriors who stood before me were my family. And that hurt worst of all. Standing among the women I most respected and admired in the entire realm, I’d never felt more alone.

Hot tears burned my eyes, but I blinked them back, refusing to give in to them.

“You are done keeping things from me, all of you,” I said, my voice trembling with rage. “And no one gets to make decisions for me ever again. From this moment forward, I’m in charge of my own life. Do you understand?”

They exchanged a look then Lesha and Amanti lowered their heads as if to defer to Sonoma.

“All right,” Sonoma said, and the others nodded with her.

I looked back at the three of them, heart aching with theknowledge that, if we were going to survive whatever came next, I’d have to find a way to forgive them eventually. But not today.

Today was for mourning.

I took a deep breath that felt as if it might break me into a million pieces if I let it. “Never lie to me again.”

Chapter Ten

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