Page 5 of Kingdom of Briars and Roses

Aurelia

The trees of the Emerald Forest whispered as I wove through them, my steps soundless on the familiar path. The sunlight streaming overhead was warm, but down here, under the dense leaves, the air was cooler, laced with the damp scent of earth. After the meeting with my parents, I felt lighter inhaling that scent. The forest had always been my refuge, a place where I could breathe, away from the watchful eyes of the court.

Here, the trees were sentient and long-lived, their consciousness a sort of comfort. I listened to their whispers, trying to discern what messages they carried, but their language was too old and obscure to decipher. Druids rarely bothered with mortals anymore anyway, not even the fae who were longer-lived than most.

I pulled the hood of my cloak over my head, grateful for the cover as I ducked beneath a low branch. If anyone saw me out here, if they knew what I was about to do… It would mean the end of afternoons like this one forever.

Heliconia’s wrath had come for nearly every Aine warrior across the realm. Four years ago, she’d slaughtered an entirecamp of recruits in one night. After that, the Fates decreed that no more Aine would be chosen to compete.

From that moment on, training with the Aine was forbidden.

A princess of Sevanwinds doing so was beyond dangerous, but these training sessions with Sonoma were my lifeline. And despite the weight of my future bearing down on my shoulders, learning to fight and hunt had never added to that burden.

My pulse quickened as I neared the clearing where Sonoma and I met in secret. The trees were thicker surrounding it—part of the wards Sonoma had erected to keep curious eyes from wandering too close. And not just Summer Court citizens either. Some of the hunters and merchants who traveled these woods had reported sightings of Heliconia’s creatures as far south as the Broadlands—a territory dangerously close to Rosewood’s borders.

Our best soldiers patrolled the forest in defense.

The last thing I needed was one of them stumbling onto a training session between Sevanwinds’s most powerful Aine and the heir to the Summer throne.

As I drew closer, the tang of powerful magic hit my tongue—Sonoma’s shield, which muted our voices from curious ears and kept us invisible to any errant visitors. I stepped easily through the barrier, my skin buzzing. There was no magic left on Menryth as powerful as the Aine’s magic. Except for maybe the dark queen herself.

Sonoma stood in the center of the clearing, her back to me, her silver hair braided and hanging over her shoulder. A pair of wings—a gift the Fates bestowed on all the Aine—were tucked in, their translucent surface reflecting what light filtered through the trees. In her hand, she held her sword, Latha, the names of the Fates etched into the blade in a language long lost to our people. She spun it idly in slow,practiced arcs, and I found myself distracted by the power that practically shimmered along its surface.

Turning away, I let my cloak slip from my shoulders. Sonoma didn’t turn, but her voice carried through the space, steady and sure. “You’re late.”

“Mother says a princess is never late. Everyone else is early.”

“The queen’s rules apply to everything except training,” she replied, her gaze still focused on the movement of her wrists, though I could feel her attention shifting to me. “You’re distracted.”

I scowled. “I have a wedding to plan.”

Sonoma’s brow rose as I pulled my own sword free from its sheath. It had been handed down to me from my father. A gift on my twelfth birthday—the day I graduated from a wooden sword to a real one. I’d been so proud of myself until Sonoma had swung out with hers and I could’ve sworn the impact broke my arm.

Thank the Fates, it had become much less painful over the years.

Sonoma finally turned to face me, her silver eyes sharp as she noted my expression. “Today, you meet your betrothed.”

I couldn’t help but wince. “Apparently.”

Sonoma’s eyes narrowed slightly, and for a moment, I thought I saw the same turmoil reflected in her gaze. She lifted her sword, motioning for me to attack. “Begin.”

My sword cut through the air, and Sonoma met it with a smooth, effortless parry. The clash of metal echoed against the stillness of the forest, the flurry and rush of it grounding me. We moved in a familiar dance, Dorcha and Latha singing with each strike and deflection.

Sonoma was better than me. Much better. Even without the use of her wings to aid her speed, she was faster than any fighter I’d ever seen. Some said it was due to the Fates’ gifts, but I’dheard enough stories from her and the other Aine to know most of their talents had to be inborn to make it through the recruitment process. The Fates only chose the strongest and most skilled warriors—and then they honed them to lethal points.

But I’d learned to hold my own—mostly.

As my body grew tired, my form slipped. Sonoma’s sword ripped past my defenses and tore a hole in my tunic.

I scowled.

Sonoma looked smug. “You could have stopped me.”

“You have decades of experience on me,” I groused.

“I meant with your magic.”

My scowl deepened. “Am I supposed to smother you in rosebushes like my mother or give you a hot flash like my father?”

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