Page 131 of Kingdom of Briars and Roses

One look at Rydian’s expression and my hopes of escape came crashing down around me.

He stood between me and the river, blocking the way. His arms were crossed, his body taking up too much space even out here in the wide open. The light of the moon slashed across him, making him look more like a predator than a soldier.

I froze.

“Going somewhere?” His voice was low, calm. But the look in his eyes wasn’t.

My pulse spiked, but I kept my expression neutral. If he was going to stop me, I wasn’t going to make it easy. “Move,” I said, my voice steady. “I’m leaving.”

“You need to go back inside.”

I clenched my fists. Magic built inside me, pushing against my skin, ready to explode if I let it. “You don’t know anything about what I need.”

He didn’t flinch. He just stood there, watching me like he always did, like he was waiting for something. “You leave now, you’re as good as dead. Do you really think there aren’t more Obsidians out there waiting for us to let our guard down?”

“I can take care of myself,” I snapped, stepping closer.

“And where do you intend to go?”

“The coast,” I said, daring him to argue with my plan. “Even the Rada aren’t as bad as this place.”

His eyes darkened at that, but he didn’t move out of my way. “You won’t make it halfway. You know what’s out there. What’s waiting.”

I took another step forward, close enough now to see the tension in his jaw, the tightness around his mouth. And the swollen bottom lip. Duron had gotten him too. “What’s waiting out there is better than marrying your preciousbrother and being drained of my power until I’m one of the Withered.”

The mention of Callan had rage flashing in his eyes, though I had no idea if it was meant for Callan or me. He shook his head, his expression hardening. “I told you, Furious. The next person who puts his hands on you dies. Or did you forget that part?”

I bit my lip, deciding to spare Callan’s life by not mentioning the way myex-fiancé had grabbed me earlier. Not to mention the kiss.

“Is there something you want to tell me?” His voice had gone low and full of violence.

Nope. Definitely not telling him. “I refuse to be a pawn—in the coming war or in your sibling rivalries. Now move.”

For a split second, I thought he might. But then his eyes locked on mine, steady and unwavering. “I can’t let you do that.”

The words hit me harder than I wanted to admit. I’d thought—hoped—he might help me, that whatever strange connection we had might be enough to make him let me go. But no. He was still Duron’s soldier—Callan had been right about that after all.

“I’m not your property,” I said, feeling the magic flare hotter inside me, begging to be released. “You don’t get to decide what I do.”

“You think this is about me controlling you?” His voice sharpened, something cold slipping through his calm. “I’m trying to keep you alive. You leave now, and you won’t make it a day.”

The frustration, the fear, the pressure that had been building for weeks—months, years—all crashed into me at once, and I let the magic loose.

It burst out of me in a violent pulse, sending a wave of black flame surgingtoward him.

He grunted, stumbling back as it hit him. But he didn’t fall. Or burn. He barely even flinched.

“Aurelia, stop,” he warned, his voice tight.

The sound of my name on his lips shuddered through me.

I had no idea how he’d withstood what I’d just thrown at him, but my rage and desperation made it impossible to care. I gathered more magic, feeling it burn in my chest as I pushed it outward again, harder this time. Instead of flame, raw power burst from inside me.

The ground shuddered as the force slammed into him.

Rydian held his ground, growling as he braced himself against the impact. He was stronger than I’d realized—too strong. Before I could summon another burst, he moved, closing the distance between us in an instant. His hand wrapped around my waist, his grip firm and unyielding as he dragged me against him.

There was no malice behind the move.

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