Page 85 of Kingdom of Briars and Roses

I let my eyes flick to the sword in her hand then back to her face. “No. But it needs work.”

Her grip tightened on the hilt, the faint tremor betraying the effort it took to keep herself from aiming the blade at me. I bit back a grin.

“What are you doing here?” she demanded.

“Checking on the crown’s jewel. Making sure you’re settling into royal life once again.”

She flinched, just barely, but her glare could’ve set fire to the air between us. “Is that what this is? A welfare check?”

I stepped closer, watching as her stance stiffened in response. “Call it… curiosity.”

“As you can see, royal life leaves me a bit bored,” she said, gesturing to the sword in her hand.

I didn’t tell her the sword suited her better than a crown anyway. Nor did I let myself think of her at that party so long ago. The way she’d looked in that dress…I’d hated her then. For so many reasons that no longer mattered or were even remotely true.

I hated her now—or I was desperately trying to.

“It’s also made you soft,” I said because it would infuriate her. Her eyes flashed as I’d known they would. I couldn’t help enjoying her temper and the way it always seemed to light her up so completely. But I also knew she’d need the power that came with it.

Her lips parted in a snarl as she started to reply, but I cut her off. “Tell me, Furious, what kind of protection are you using to guard your lands now?”

“That’s none of your business.”

“I hope it’s stronger than whatever you had before. Given what’s coming.”

The fire in her eyes banked to adeadly glow. Good. She understood the weight of my words after all. “And what do you know about what’s coming?”

More than I should, but I wasn’t about to tell her that. Instead, I asked, “How is that alliance coming along? Has Callan proven to be the key to Heliconia’s demise yet?”

Her chin lifted. “My relationship with Callan is none of your concern.”

Rage streaked through me. “Is that what this is? You and he are in a relationship now?”

Her smugness slipped as she asked, “Would you care if we were?”

I frowned, refusing to admit that I cared a Hel of a lot more than I had a right to. “I care about stopping the dark queen.” I made myself shrug. “If a relationship with my brother helps make that happen, so be it.”

She dropped her eyes but not before I saw the disappointment that flashed.

Fuck.

“Autumn’s army is the only one large enough to stand a chance,” she said.

“An army won’t break that curse.”

“What do you know about breaking curses?” she shot back.

“I know the only way to fight fire is with fire.”

She shifted uncomfortably. “I don’t know what you?—”

“Where did you get that mark?”

Her hand shot to her throat, covering the ink I’d just seen as she’d angled herself away from me. Even with her hand covering it, I couldn’t help but stare. Knowing she’d survived that death blow seven years ago was one thing. And I’d seen enough proof since then to stop doubting what she was. But the sight of that mark left me shaken.

How had I missed it before?

“It’s a private joke,” she said, adjusting her hair to coverthe tattoo. “Between me and my teacher.” Her lie wasn’t even remotely believable.

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