Page 39 of Kingdom of Briars and Roses

Gods, what had he been doing out there?

It couldn’t have been a coincidence. Was he tracking me? How could he have known I’d be there when I hadn’t?

Then there was the dead healer.

Had Rydian killed her to keep her from talking to me? I’d come home empty-handed, and that stung. Well, not entirely empty. The Obsidian’s confession rang in my head, rattling me. An alliance with Callan that ensured Heliconia’s destruction. I had no idea how to feel about that.

No, that was a lie.

I’d considered it several times over the years and rejected it every time. Callan had been a coward that night. He’d tried to run rather than stand beside me like the brave general he claimed to be.

I wanted nothing to do with that arrogant bastard.

Hearing I’d need Callan’s help against Heliconia only made me hate him that much more. And if Rydian was on his side…

“What happened?”

I pulled up short. Sonoma stood in the doorway of the castle’s staff entrance, her eyes sharp and discerning.

I tried to smooth out my expression as I closed the distance. “How do you know something happened?”

“Your boots are stained, and I can smell the Obsidian blood from here.” She propped a hand on her slender hip. “Now, what happened?”

My shoulders sagged as I gave up my lie. “It was a dead end.”

“The healer was gone then?”

“Killed before I got there,” I said bleakly.

She said nothing to that. I knew we both wondered if it had all been a trap, though until Lesha returned, we wouldn’t know anything for sure.

If she returned at all.

I shoved that last thought away.

“And the Obsidian?” Sonoma asked.

I sighed. “The contact was unavoidable.”

“Please tell me you at least used the opportunity to get intel.”

“I tried,” I said tightly.

“And?”

“My initial contact didn’t leave much room for lengthy conversation.”

Her expression didn’t alter an inch, but I could feel her disapproval from here. “I told you, Aurelia, self-restraint is harder than self-defense.”

“I know, all right?” I huffed, her tone making me feel like a kid all over again. “I tried to make it talk. The thing spoke in riddles.”

“What riddles?”

I dropped my voice low in a dramatic—and admittedly terrible—impression. “Heliconia sees what she fears most. You and the prince united—to her destruction.” I blinked and said in my own frustrated voice, “Even after seven years, the most I have to offer my kingdom is to become a bride?”

She frowned, looking pensive. “I don’t know.”

I waited, hoping she’d dismiss it as nonsense. When she didn’t, I looked away and fought the urge to let my thoughts wander to Rydian again. No way was I mentioning him to Sonoma. She’d only worry needlessly. We had the wards to protect us, so what did it matter, anyway?

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