Page 44 of Kingdom of Briars and Roses

“Is it true?” he asked. “Is Aurelia alive?”

My jaw tightened as I thought of the Obsidian’s last words. That Aurelia and Callan were destined for one another. “Yes.”

“Heliconia failed then,” he mused, almost to himself.

There was something in his tone, a flicker of emotion I couldn’t place. It was undoubtedly self-serving and made me suddenly oddly protective of the spoiled warrior princess.

“You’re going to get her?” he asked.

I didn’t bother to mask my irritation. “If you eavesdropped on the entire conversation, why bother asking me?”

“I’m going with you,” he said.

“No.” I strode for the door.

Callan hurried to catch up. “She won’t come willingly.”

I bit back a snarl at the way he tossed my words back at me.

“I can make her want to come,” he said.

I winced at the innuendo of that statement. But Callan merely blinked, his expression hopeful as he waited for me to respond.

“She’ll want to see me,” he added confidently.

“She broke your engagement then hid for seven years,” I said. “Why would you want to seeher?”

His confidence melted away until desperation burned in his golden gaze. “Heliconia sent a message to Father.”

I frowned. “What kind of message?”

“She proposed marriage,” he huffed disgustedly.

I stopped walking and stared at him. “To whom?”

“To me, asshat. Who do you think?” Callan managed to look both offended and revolted.

“Why would she do that?”

“Father says it’s because she knows the courts don’t recognize her as a true queen, no matter how much blood she spills. He thinks she’s attempting to marry a crown for the recognition it would bring.”

My brows rose because it made sense. “She’d kill you before the end of the first night.”

“No shit.” He shuddered. “She’s insane.”

“Don’t tell me the old man is considering it.”

“He thinks he could eliminate her first and take Concordia for himself.”

Of course he did. He was too cocky to realize Heliconia was ten times more powerful than all his sorcerers combined. He’d be dead before he realized what had happened.

Callan, at least, understood—and had the fear in his eyes to prove it.

“The princess is your way out,” I said.

“We were engaged once. If she’ll honor that agreement, she’ll come willingly. Marry me willingly. And save our kingdom in the process.”

I shook my head at his selfishness. He would sacrifice the princess if it meant saving himself. “If you do this, Heliconia will come for us. Come for her.”

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