Page 76 of Blooms of Darkness

My jaw clenched. No one knew of the prophecy, and it wasn’t as if I’d tell him, of all people. “There’s much you don’t understand, which makes sense, given you can hardly comprehend palace life and the duties we have. You have no real home, just traipsing across Brookmere, right?”

“Right. Traipsing across Brookmere.” Kade chuckled dryly. “Well, with all my travels, I have seen what is threatening your kingdom and the suffering ofyourpeople. Knowledge is power, and I choose to barter with a currency that is priceless.”

I stared at Kade, refusing to speak, the heat of the fire stoking the flame of anger within me. This man had some nerve.

“I wonder why you possess such loyalty to a father who wouldn’t allow you the courtesy of choosing your King, or preparing you for what lies ahead. If Storm and I can see what’s happening, be sure he knows as well.” He shifted his gaze to Ian. “How does the same King retain the loyalty and devotion of a Captain of the Guard, who he keeps leashed and uninformed?”

The crackle of the fire served as the only sound interrupting the awkward silence between us. My right eye twitched. I had to compose myself before responding. I needed Kade and Storm on this journey right now, and leaping across this campfire and beating the hell out of him would be an unacceptable response.

“My father is a good and just ruler. I don’t need to defend him to you. If you’d prefer to spend your time in the dungeons for your treasonous tongue, it can be arranged.” I curled my hands into fists on my lap as tears rose to my eyes.

I hated that my body’s response to anger was crying. I had never been able to overcome this reaction. Howdarethis man speak such words against my father.

Yet, I hated myself even more in the moment. I hated how I had thoughts similar to Kade’s. Hated the way they made sense because I, too, questioned so much as of late. However, I refused to let it be known to others.

“Enough,” Ian whispered threateningly. “We offered you an opportunity to find information with us, but donotmistake our kindness for weakness.”

Kade stared at Ian and eventually inclined his head. “How do you feel about the other contenders?”

Storm cleared his throat, likely to silence Kade from another series of questions, which were certain to get him in trouble.

“It’s not for me to have an opinion about them,” Ian said curtly.

I rose from my seat, grabbing my blanket from the pile as I turned to my bedroll, located just behind me. “I think I’ve had all the fun I can handle for one evening. Goodnight, gentlemen.”

I couldn’t hide or find a place to collect my thoughts without being watched. Straying from the fire would only cause me to be cold. I shuffled into the bedroll, my back toward the fire, and closed my eyes tightly.

The men didn’t chatter, but they moved around me. Ian leaned down and squeezed my hand, keeping the silence between us, but providing his comfort. Storm grumbled he would take the first watch as we all finally settled.

Ian laid his own roll out farther than mine, and I didn’t bother rolling over to note where Storm and Kade set themselves up for the evening.

The warmth of the fire had not yet reached my toes, but a gift from the Fates, or more likely one of the men across the way,cascaded along my body. A gentle heat enveloped each part of me as I snuggled further into my bedroll.

The sky above me sparkled, clearer than I’d ever seen. There were so many stars to behold in the void of blackness above.

I wanted nothing more than to stare at them all night and imagine what life could be outside the confines of the palace walls. A life with no prophecies or marriage trials. No incurable illnesses for my father, and definitely no crazed Fae trying to attack my people. I didn’t want there to be secrets my father kept from me, and I didn’t want to hold on to the dark secrets of my past, which I had yet to share with him, either.

Then, despite the thousand more important things to focus on, my mind wandered to the man sitting a few feet away from me at the campfire.

Why did he rile me up so much?

I feared the answer was clear. The stirring in my gut had been enough to realize my attraction to Kade couldn’t be ignored.

And then the damned kiss had to happen.

I curled even further into my bedroll, determined to stop thinking of Kade, his treasonous thoughts, his lips, and everything else I had yet to experience with the egotistical man.

Chapter 22

The warmth against my back made my toes curl in delight.

I’d fully expected to wake up shivering from the cool morning air, so the pleasant surprise of heat cocooning me encouraged me to linger a moment longer before waking entirely.

The dying embers in the fire cast a gentle orange glow in the pile of wood. I arched my back to stretch out and immediately froze.

Slowly turning my head to the side, I took in the sight of the solid body behind me. It took everything within me to stifle the groan working its way up my throat.

The damn bedroll had nothing to do with keeping me warm, but Kade certainly did.

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