Page 125 of What Fury Brings
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The blade at Sanos’s throat was abruptly wrenched away, and Olerra spun him in place. She swept her eyes over him in a look that was so possessive it was making his blood heat.
“You listen to me, and you listen well,” she said. “I don’t give a fuck what your name is.”
His eyes widened.
“You’re mine,” she continued. “I claim you, and I choose you. And while you’re going to spend forever making this up to me, there is no way I’m giving you back over to that tyrant. I made you a promise. He would never hurt you again. I’m keeping it.”
Hope rooted in his chest as she spun him back around. He had no idea how there could be a way through this, and she had already started speaking to his father again before he could ask.
“We both want to avoid war, Atalius, so I’ll tell you what. You want your heir? I’ll fight you for him. Single combat.”
Sanos reached back for her, as though he could stop the words she’d already said. The queen was turning toward them, clearly surprised by this turn of events.Good, maybe she can stop this madness.
No one faced his father and lived.
The king’s advisers swept forward, ready with more opinions on the matter. Atalius shooed them all away with a single flick of his wrist.
The grin he shot Sanos froze his blood.
“Deal.”
Sanos spun around on his own this time, heedless of whatever act he was supposed to be putting on. “What are you doing?”
“I just said what I was doing.”
“You can’t fight him. Letmefight him.”
Olerra smiled, clearly touched by his offer. “This is a fight over you, Prince. You can’t fight it. Besides, you said you couldn’t beat him. I can.”
He took her hands in his. “It’s not that I don’t believe in you. It’s him. He’s too good. I will not have you die for me.”
“Yes,” the queen interjected. “I will not have you dying for him, either.”
“I will not die,” Olerra said. “Trust me. I can do this. It will solveallour problems.”
Sanos didn’t know what other meaning Olerra was hinting at, and he didn’t care. He needed her safe. Sanos prayed to his god that the queen would put a stop to this. If Olerra wouldn’t listen to him, surely she would listen to her aunt.
“I trust you,” the queen said at last. “Do what needs to be done.”
“No!” Sanos said.
Olerra removed her hands from his and gripped him by the upper arms. Her right hand covered the armband. “I know you want to kill him. I know he has been tormenting you for years. I don’t know the extent of your suffering, but I know this: I will end it. If you were to kill him publicly like this, fightingforthe Amarrans, you’d have no hope of becoming the next king. You’ve spent your whole life protecting others. Now let me protect you.”
“How am I supposed to become kingandbe with you?”
“Trustme.”
He didn’t want to. He wanted to rage and tie her up and hide her somewhere his father would never find her again. Sanos was a warrior. He’d been trained all his life to fight, to withstand physical torture. To lead and strategize.
He didn’t know how to let another fight his battles. He didn’t know how to stand by and do nothing.
But he realized that if there was any hope for their future, he had to fight for them, too.
By doing nothing.
By supporting her, believing in her when he didn’t even know the full extent of her plan.
