Page 117 of Kingdom of Briars and Roses

“Your people?” He huffed. “Is that all that matters to you then?”

“Of course not. I meant your kingdom and mine.Ourpeople,” I corrected.

But Callan’s mouth tightened. I could practically see his ego rearing back. “I intend to help you break the curse. But you have to do something for us first.”

“What?”

“We’re building a weapon. Something capable of destroying Heliconia with one blast.”

“What could possibly do that? The only thing powerful enough is?—”

“Magic.”

I exhaled. There it was. I’d been waiting for this since the moment I’d learned of the donation centers. The moment when Callan would ask—or pretend to ask—for me to contribute. And if I said no, what then? They’d forcibly escort me down and drain me of my magic too?

Did they expect me to offer Summer fae magic? Or did Duron know what I truly possessed? I swallowed hard, my throat tight with fear.

“Absolutely not,” I said, as haughty as a princess should be over such a thing.

Callan’s brow furrowed. “Why not? You’re the heir to the Summer Court. You’re supposed to have the power of the sun at your fingertips. That would be more than enough to activate our weapon.”

His confusion disarmed me. So I decided to try for the truth—or some version of it. “Because.” I swallowed hard. “I don’t have that kind of magic.”

“Yes, you do.” Callan grabbed my arm, pulling me close, his eyes blazing with determination. “The ward you put around Sunspire when we left. That kind of magic is beyond anything I’ve ever seen.”

Was that jealousy flaring in his golden gaze?

My pulse raced in my ears, and I pulled away from him. “I can’t give you what you’re asking.”

“Then we’re out of options,” he said coldly. “And your people will remain where they are, trapped in sleep.”

I stiffened. “There has to be another way.”

“I saved your life, but my help doesn’t come free.” He ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident in every tense movement. “You owe us something in return. If you can’t give it, there’s nothing I can do.”

“Why bother letting us marry at all if he thinks I’m so weak?”

Callan glanced away but not before the guilt in his eyes sent the truth leaping between us.

“He plans to do to me what he would have done to Heliconia,” I said, the breath sucked from my chest at the realization. He’d see me wed to Callan and then kill me before the ink was dried on our marriage contract.

Gods.

“My father wants power,” Callan said, his voice distant in my ears. “He’s a politician who will use whatever resources he has available to strengthen his holdings.”

“And I’m a resource.” Not a person. Just something to be used. I was going to be sick. “The other courts will never ally with you when they find out.”

“He doesn’t intend to kill you, Aurelia.”

“Right. That would cut off his supply.” He meant to drain me slowly. To keep me alive as long as there was magic to drain from my veins.

Callan didn’t bother to argue. “He’ll wait until after theparty so that you and I can woo the other courts. They’ll come here and see how healthy our land is. How strong we are. And they’ll join us, fight with us.”

I stared at him, disappointed and angry. “That’s it? You continue to beat the dead horse of alliances with the other courts? That plan failed seven years ago, and you’ve come up with nothing better?”

He glared at me. “You have no idea the work I’ve put in to win them over,” he snapped. “Rumor has it, the Midnight Court has an army more than triple yours and mine put together. If we can bring them to our side, we’ll have the numbers and the strength. Their magic alone?—”

“The Midnight Court hates everyone,” I snapped. “Out of all the courts, they’re the least likely to help us. Besides, their magic is probably just as affected as ours considering their land borders Concordia. I’m sure Heliconia?—”

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