Page 25 of Blooms of Darkness

I lifted my chin, keeping my teeth solidly together to save my lip from quivering.

“I will not risk my best friend,” he murmured.

A rustle in the gardens beyond had us pausing our conversation, immediately putting us all on alert. On instinct, I reached for the dagger hidden on my thigh. The slit of my velvet aubergine dress allowed for easy access.

After waiting in silence for a few moments, I directed my attention to Ian. “We’ll come back to this later,” I whispered. “This conversation is far from finished.”

Corbin and Leif nodded one after the other before disappearing amongst the thick brush of the roses. Secret pathways carved between the hedges led to a small hidden exit, allowing for easy escapes such as this.

Ian shifted into his hawk form as soon as I strode into my room, his gaze heavy while I tiptoed up the garden stairs.

Despite it being petty, I slammed the doors, not bothering to glance back, even when I heard his caw of farewell.

Chapter 7

“How long will the moping last? Kalliah said from my chamber doors, her hands on her hips. “Because after four days, I’m sick of it.”

Staring at the empty fireplace, I wondered how long it would be before Ian and I talked about the upcoming drop for Storm and Kade. I knew I had been petty. The past few days of silence between us madeeveryoneuncomfortable. We hadn’t had an argument like this in years. In fact, we had only ever had an argument like this one other time, but we vowed never to speak of that day ever again.

“He didn’t mean to imply you weren’t capable, Lan,” Kalliah said gently.

The difficult part about opening yourself up to people and letting them see beneath your mask is they start to see you all too well. It becomes impossible to hide, even when you wish you could.

“I’m sick of the tone,” I snapped. “Don’t coddle me. I don’t need to be babied. If you have something to say, just say it.”

“Fine, you’re being absolutely snobbish and let’s add in selfish as well. Ian’s job is to protect you, and you know thatbetter than anyone.” Kalliah slammed my chamber door shut, locking it behind her before moving to stand in front of me. “You aren’t able to heal yourself. It’s not an insult, it’s the truth. You don’t have magic to do so. So, should you suffer a wound Ian can’t heal, while you are both fighting this unknown enemy, and you can’t return to the castle in time to be treated by a healer, you die. Brookmere is left without an heir and your family’s line ceases.”

“You are an abomination of all Fae kind. A void,” the man’s voice sneered.

Water dripped in rhythm to my slow heartbeat. He’d won again today. I let his words sink into my heart.

I wasn’t worthy of the crown. The throne. A magicless Queen would be a disgrace to Brookmere.

"Lana?” She clicked her fingers, the noise snapping me back to the present. Kalliah hadn’t said any of those things. It washim.His vitriol made me believe in my weakness.

Kalliah and Ian’s words were logical. They were alwayssological. Everything they said held true. Yet, I couldn’t let go of wanting to be a part of this. I couldn’t lose this one thing, reminding me I had the power to change our kingdom for the better, even without magic.

“You’re right.” I sighed, completely defeated. “But I do not want to be a princess in a glass cage.”

Kalliah groaned. “I know you don’t. This is unfamiliar territory for all of us and ignoring each other isn’t the way to handle things productively.”

“Okay, okay… I will talk to him, civilly this time.” I nodded, resigned with the knowledge Ian had tried to not only be a good friend, but fulfill his duties as my personal guard. “Now, what do I owe the pleasure of your company, besides coming in to kick my ass about being a snobbish royal?”

She grinned. “You have lunch with the king and queen today. Andras reminded me, while I tried to enjoy the tea I hadprivatelyin the Royal Gardens. That man is forever trying to ruin any quiet moment anyone has to themselves.”

Unquestionably, lunch would be another boring afternoon, listening to Andras drone on and on about utter nonsense, just to hear his own voice, as he updated the king and queen on all the happenings in the kingdom. The other royal advisers seemed to have glazed eyes and somewhere to be when Andras got into a mood, ensuring he had the king’s full attention.

“And you’re here to make sure I don’t look like”—I gestured to myself, crinkling my nose at the sight of my wrinkled training ensemble— “this.”

“Obviously,” she said with a devious grin.

I rose from the chaise and immediately moaned. I’d run on my own throughout the back gardens, well inside the hedged enclosures so I wouldn’t need Ian alongside me. I’d thought perhaps it would keep me from sinking further within my mind. Now, the ache in my legs screamed too loud to ignore after such a grueling run. I reached toward the side table where I kept the gift Elisabeth had given me—a salve to rub into my muscles when I first started training. But it had disappeared.

I knelt on the floor, searching around the table to find if I had knocked it over. Kalliah had walked to the wardrobe in my bedroom to choose my dress for the rest of the day.

Scanning under the chaises lined in the sitting area, I caught sight of it. Inching my fingers forward, I latched onto it.

“Get off the floor!” Kalliah chastised. “We don't need you getting any dirtier than you already are. We are cutting it close as it is.”

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