Page 77 of Kingdom of Briars and Roses

Ahead, a large stretch of farmland yielded to a road, and we aimed northwest in a procession that became louder and more carefree the farther we went. The soldiers clearly deemed the lands this far into their kingdom safe.

I hoped they were right.

Callan rode beside me, chatting easily about the landmarks we passed.

I stole glances at him while pretending to listen, unable to shake Rydian’s warning last night—that Callan and the king would try to use me. It wasn’t very far-fetched to think a scheming politician might have his own angle. But this warning had felt different. Darker. More nefarious.

Then again, everything about Rydian felt that way.

Still, I tucked my magic in deep and willed it to remain dormant along with the rest of my secrets. If Callan kept his word—if he helped me find a way to wake and free my people—it would be worth sharing my kingdom with him. Or that was what I told myself.

We stopped for lunch on the side of the road.

Callan led me away from the others to a fallen log where we ate in relative silence. Despite the mostly open road, I still hadn’t seen Rydian or his scouts since leaving camp. Far to our left, a forest ran parallel to the road with farmland between. I studied the tree line but glimpsed nothing and no one inside it.

“Where’s Rydian?” I asked.

Callan’s gaze shot to mine. “I sent him on another errand. Why?”

I shrugged. “I expected him to escort us all the way to Grey Oak.”

Callan shook his head, his expression tight. “That’s not exactly Rydian’s scene.”

“What is his scene?”

His brow rose in a sort of challenge. “Why so many questions about a bastard-born son?”

I suppressed my flinch at the insult. Clearly, he was trying to remind me what Rydian was—and wasn’t. “He saved my life. I’m entitled to curiosity, aren’t I?”

Callan frowned but said nothing.

I decided to take the hint and change the subject. “Are you nervous about introducing me to your father?”

“Of course not. Why would I be?”

“My mistake. So, he knew you intended to rescue the long-lost Sleeping Beauty and whisk her home to live happily ever after despite having no kingdom or army to her name?”

He shook his head, refusing to take the bait. “He expects me to take a bride of royal breeding with sufficient magic so that our offspring’s power benefits the kingdom.”

I blinked.

Offspring?

Seven years had been enough to make me forget all that would be expected of a royal alliance. The reality came crashing down around me.

I swallowed. “Spoken like a true politician.”

He grimaced, but then his gaze became almost beseeching. “We were honest with one another once. About what this was—and what it could be. Am I wrong to think we might have that honesty again?”

I ignored the way my own conscience squeezed my heart. The only thing between us was a pile of secrets—but I wasn’t going to tell him that. I gave him my best vulnerable look and fluttered my lashes. “You tell me.”

He sighed then admitted, “My father is not an easy man. He’ll be unhappy you don’t have an army to offer him.”

“A fact I warned you about when you proposed,” I pointed out. “You said there were other benefits to our alliance now.”

“There are.” A shadow passed over his features.

“Callan,” I warned. “What aren’t you telling me?”

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