Page 61 of Kingdom of Briars and Roses

Sonoma lay on the bed, her body unnaturally still, her face too pale. Dark circles ringed her eyes, and her wings lay folded and frail at her back.

“Sonoma?” My voice cracked.

Her eyelids fluttered, and she forced them open just enough to meet my gaze. “I’d hoped you’d come,” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the roaring in my ears.

I rushed to her side. “I should’ve been down here sooner, but?—”

“I know you’re angry with me. For not telling you what you are. Where you come from.”

“No,” I hurried to say.

“Liar.” She tried to smile, but the effort was too much, and it faltered halfway. “Listen to me.Your uncles… they’ll reinstate the wards once I’m gone. Stronger ones. Impenetrable by anything in this realm.”

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut, and I swallowed hard. “I can’t do this alone. I need you?—”

“My time here is done, my darling. But you can do this. The prophecy?—”

“I don’t care about the stupid fucking prophecy.” I nearly screamed the words, but Sonoma merely blinked, waiting for me to calm. It infuriated me—the way she was acting like this was all normal and fine. So I said the one thing I thought might rattle her now. “Callan is here.”

Her calm slipped, but she only looked confused. “The Autumn Prince? How?”

“The wards are down, and he and a couple of soldiers found their way in. I caught them in the royal bedroom.”

She closed her eyes, exhaling, and I instantly regretted upsetting her. But she merely opened her eyes again, unruffled, and asked, “What does he say?”

“He wants to marry me,” I said bitterly. “To rekindle our alliance. He doesn’t seem to care that I have no army to offer him. He’s an idiot, as always.”

“Say yes.”

“No.” I jerked back, horrified. “Absolutely not. He’s arrogant and entitled and—I won’t be used like that.”

“You have to leave this place, Aurelia.” Her silver eyes pierced mine, pleading. “There’s no going in or out once they seal the wards again. You’ll be locked out until you can find a way to break the curse.”

“So what?” I scoffed. “You taught me to defend myself. I’ll figure it out. The Broadlands?—”

“You and I both know Heliconia will find you. That Obsidian would’ve told her about us by now. You must accept Callan’s offer. Use him for protection. He has resources. Access. Find out what kept Lesha and Amanti from comingback. Find out what the Obsidian meant about your alliance being the key to Heliconia’s destruction.”

I shook my head, but my resolve was crumbling. Sonoma was right, and I hated that in this moment. Hated everything including the Fates and the Furiosities. Especially them. “There has to be another way.”

Sonoma’s smile was sad. “You’re stronger than you know.”

Tears blurred my vision. I couldn’t stop them anymore. I leaned down, my forehead pressed against her hand. My voice was no more than a whisper, but I couldn’t hold back the one word I’d kept secret all these years. Just once, I had to say it. Out loud. Just for the two of us. “Don’t leave me, Momma. Please.”

But when I sat up, Sonoma only smiled faintly as she brought her hand up to cup my cheek. “My daughter,” she murmured. “I’ll still be watching over you.” A strange calm settled over her features, and she closed her eyes. “I’ll see your father soon.”

My heart clenched. “I want to meet him too.”

“He loves you very much, you know.” I bit back a sob at the longing on her face. “He sacrificed knowing you to protect you. Being apart from him was the hardest choice I ever made. But choosing you was the easiest.”

I took her hand, holding tight as if my grip could keep her here.

A shudder passed through her body, and for a moment, I thought she was already gone. But then, with a sudden gasp, her eyes flew open, wide and glassy and full of wonder. “Finally.”

I looked up, my breath catching in my throat.

In the corner of the room, a figure stepped out of the shadows. Tall, dark-haired, and with an unmistakable aura of power that clung to him like shadows.

Ire.

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