Page 55 of What Blooms from Death

“It could also be better.”

“You two were destined to be wed. You’re trying to tell me you never imagined what it might be like to have her close? And all to yourself?”

It irked me for some reason, hearing him talk about her as if she were little more than a political piece. “We were never actually engaged,” I reminded him. “She agreed to nothing.”

She also certainly hadn’t agreed to being the apparent balancing act for my wayward magic—which was why I would be doing everything in my power to keep my distance from her, regardless of how desperately I might have craved the clarity and strength she seemed to bring me.

I didn’t like being anybody’s burden.

I never had.

I’d had roles to play throughout most of my life. I’d always known exactly what they were, and I had performed themperfectly. Never a foot out of line, never a word misspoken, never an extra weight added toanyone. All my life, I’d thought I could keep my kingdom intact if I just did what was expected of me. This idea had been driven into my head, staked into my heart, buried into the very core of my being. Strict and unflinching. For twenty years, that had been the only world I knew.

Then came Rose Point.

And this chaos surrounding me now…

Ihatedit.

“Let’s stay focused on the bigger picture,” I said, forcing my gaze to stay on Zayn, and to not stray to the primary conductor of the chaos herself. “Our supposedbondaside, the more important fact is this: She was able to get into this realm. Which means she can help us get out of it, too, hopefully.”

“Andthatreturnwill be an interesting day in our kingdom’s history, hm?”

I didn’t comment on this.

Interestingwas not the first word that came to my mind.

I didn’t know what game the Keepers of Light were playing. But I knew what they were capable of. There was a reason the Elarithian throne was as powerful as it was—why most of the Valorian Empire cowered before it.

ButIwas the head of that throne, not them.

It was the role I’d been groomed for my entire life, and the more I thought about it, the more I refused to believe they would dare put an imposter in my place.

So what was truly going on?

Zayn sauntered away, heading to join Nova and the others. I don’t know what he said to her, but moments later, she was shouldering her bag and walking in my direction.

She looked pleased with herself, which—if I had to guess—was likely bad news for me.

I went back to arranging my own bags, casting her a wary glance as she stopped directly in front of me. “Your smile is entirely too cheerful, given our circumstances. What chaos have you orchestrated this time?”

She lifted her chin. “I made a deal with Thalia.”

“Do tell.”

“She knows of Luminor and its location.”

“Right. Or sheclaimsshe does, at least.”

She ignored my pessimistic outlook. “She’s agreed to guide us to it,ifI agree to bring you along and keep you and your magic from destroying anything else along the way. She wants us to stay close to one another, as that seems to keep our magic, well…balanced. And the sword is apparently being kept in a safe place that’s nullifying its magic and keeping it from doing any more damage than it already has, so…”

“So she ultimately wants to lockmeand my magic in that same place, I assume, so that I might be neutralized along with the sword? And how lucky for her that you came along to serve as a guard and escort.”

“Well, she didn’tsayany of that—”

“But of course, why wouldn’tI agree to such a brilliant plan that could in no way end poorly for me?”

She fumed, clearly too annoyed to reply right away. And the pout of her lips, combined with the fiery challenge in her eyes…

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