Page 66 of Kingdom of Briars and Roses

The kiss was…soft, hesitant. He tasted of mint and, beneath it, the barest hint of blue vervain. It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t what I’d expected either. I froze for a moment, too shocked to move, but then?—

I shoved him back.

“What was that for?” I asked, glaring up at him as I wiped my mouth.

Either Holt or Fletcher snickered.

Callan frowned, looking more disappointed than sorry. “I thought—” He straightened, his cheeks flushing faintly. “It’s what the stories claimed. The legends tell of the Sleeping Beauty curse, and?—”

My eyes narrowed. “And what?”

He glanced away, suddenly unwilling to meet my eyes. “It’s said that only true love’s kiss can break the curse of eternal sleep.”

I stared at him, dumbfounded, waiting for him to laugh or smirk or show some sign that this was a joke. But he didn’t. He just stood there, straight-faced and unapologetic.

“That,” I said slowly, “is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.”

Callan blinked, clearly taken aback. “Excuse me?”

I threw up my hands. “What fairytale are you living in? Do you really believe that a kiss will magically solve all our problems? A curse doesn’t break because someone’s lips touch mine, Callan.”

His jaw tightened, a muscle ticking beneath his skin.

“Let’s go.” I hitched my bag onto my shoulder and turned on my heel, heading for the door without waiting for his reply. “We need to get out of here before the wards are remade.”

For a moment, I thought he might protest—might stop me and demand we talk more about whatever nonsense he’d heard about kissing being the answer to anything. But then he sighed behind me, the sound heavy with resignation.

He followed, his soldiers trailing behind.

Neither of us spoke as we made our way down the torchlit corridors toward the exit.

What could he possibly say?

That kiss had been a mistake. It wasn’t love. Wasn’t anything close to it. This alliance was nothing more than a necessary evil, and I had no room in my heart for anything else. Not after what I’d just lost.

Sonoma’s absence was a jagged wound, her happiness at reuniting with my father both a comfort and a knife twisting in it. And Ire—gods, Ire. That look he’d given her before they’d disappeared into the shadows was one of blinding affection. And love. And yet, he was gone now too, slipping from my grasp like smoke through my fingers.

Prophecy or not, I was alone in this—truly.

There would be no fairytale ending for me.

My only purpose was to save this land, and I’d do that if it killed me.

We reached the doors where Callan had once made his grand entrance into my life. I stopped, overcome with memories. Callan paused beside me, his hand briefly brushing my arm.

I glanced up, meeting his golden eyes.

“Aurelia,” he said softly.

I knew what he wanted to say—that we could make this work. That there was still something between us, some sliver of hope for more than just a cold political marriage. But I didn’t want to hear it.

“We do this for my kingdom,” I said quietly. “And yours. We do this to destroy Heliconia. Nothing more.”

Callan didn’t argue.

I placed my palms on the doors and shoved. They swung open, and brittle dawn spilled over us. The wind bit at my nose, promising to only grow worse the farther I ventured into it.

Once, I’d dreamt of being an Aine. A warrior nomad who traveled far and wide to defend crown and country. Today, I’d gotten my wish—and it had broken every last piece of my heart.

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