Page 8 of Kingdom of Briars and Roses

“I am not your sister,” Sonoma spat.

I stared in confusion while Sonoma shoved me aside to plant herself between me and our attacker.

“What is going on—?” I began.

“Get out of my kingdom,” Sonoma spat at the strange female.

“Nothing’s changed, I see. Still wearing your heart on your sleeve. It always did make you reckless, you know.”

Sonoma snarled.

I blinked, confused at the intimacy between them. No one had ever called Sonoma reckless, but this creature said it like she knew from personal experience.

“Who are you?” I demanded.

The woman smiled at me. “My name is Heliconia.”

Shock rippled through me, though deep down, I’d known no one else could’ve pulled off the kind of magic she was using now.

“I take it you’ve heard of me,” Heliconia added smugly.

“What do you want?” Sonoma demanded through clenched teeth.

“Confirmation,” Heliconia said. Her voice was deceivingly light, but the look in her eyes was pure malice. “You did a good job of hiding her, I’ll give you that,” she added, her gaze flicking to me.

Sonoma seethed, but I jolted.

“What are you talking about?” I asked.

“You’re the one they think will stop me,” Heliconia said.

I blinked. Was my marriage to Callan that intimidating to her?

“The Fates do not make mistakes,” Sonoma said, and I whipped my head toward her, my stomach churning.

Whatever Sonoma meant by that, one thing was clear: This wasn’t about my marriage.

Heliconia smirked. “Is that so?”

“What do the Fates have to do with me?” I demanded.

“Ah, you haven’t told her about her destiny.” Her amusement made it clear she didn’t remotely consider me a threat. Nor even worth addressing as she looked at Sonoma again. “Imagine the disgrace when I show up here and watch her cower like a novice at the sight of one of my soldiers.” She snorted. “This is the best the Fates have for me? It won’t even be a fair fight when I cut her down.”

“There is an army waiting for you to try,” Sonoma said coldly.

I couldn’t help the pang of embarrassment that she hadn’t bothered to stand up for me directly. But I kept my chin high, refusing to react to the slight.

Heliconia merely narrowed her gaze. “You’ve gone to great lengths to stop me, old friend. But in the end, it won’t matter. I will come for you and take the Summer Court for myself.”

“The only thing waiting for you here is your destruction,” Sonoma snapped, raising her sword. “If you’ve come for it now, stop hiding behind spells and shadows, and fight me.”

“And what about your young trainee? You’d steal her chance to be a hero?” Heliconiatsked. “Not very Aine of you at all.”

“IamAine, and I will destroy you,” I said with as much confidence as I could muster. It sounded weak even to me, but I couldn’t stand by and watch her dismiss me like a trifling inconvenience.

Heliconia snorted, but her dismissal only urged me on.

“I will not let you harm my people,” I added.

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