Page 22 of A Queen’s Betrayal (Legends of Worldbinders #1)

He laughed, shaking his head. “You won’t burn us, Ren. Give it a try.” His eyes were bright, watching her with a boyish innocence.

Arenna’s palms shook as she turned them toward the logs, closing her eyes. She had no idea what she was doing.

Please, come back , Arenna asked inside her mind. She asked as if the fire were a being and she needed permission to wield it.

Show me the flame. Let me use it.

There was an eerie silence hanging above her. Arenna’s body seemed utterly normal, not a spark in her veins. She felt Koltin’s eyes on her as the sweat beaded on her brow despite the cold.

“This is awkward,” Arenna muttered.

“No, it’s not. Keep trying.”

After a few minutes of utter silence and disappointment, Arenna opened her eyes, closing her hands into tight fists. “It’s not working.”

“Another time, then. You’ll figure it out.” He placed a hand on her shoulder. “Maybe when you settle in Vlazias and find someone to trust, they could help you understand this power. Maybe even teach you how to control it.”

Arenna nodded, but did not let his words settle. Besides him and Isabella, she did not know how she could trust anyone again—especially a Fae in Vlazias.

Koltin made an actual fire, and the silence had Arenna’s head spinning. Dark thoughts fluttered about her mind until she needed an answer to a question she had been horrified to ask.

“Did I kill anyone?” she whispered.

His mouth pressed into a thin line. “As far as I know, everyone got out. And then you were just gone . Isa said she tried to get to you, but with the druque and the flames, she didn’t know where to go.”

The thought of innocent people shrieking in fear, running from the flames she created—her friends and the people she cared for, possibly dying because she had exploded—made her sick.

I have to get this under control. I have to .

“I snuck back into the castle during the tournament. In the hours afterward, Jaksen wouldn’t leave the North Tower.

We figured he had to be keeping you there, likely studying whatever it is you are.

” Arenna flinched. “Ren, I’m sorry,” he rasped, reaching out a hand to her. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

She shook her head, trying not to show her hurt. “It’s okay. I don’t know what I am either.”

When Arenna found herself bathed in quiet, she often thought about what she might be.

She couldn’t be Fae; her ears were round and humanlike, as was the rest of her.

Her body showed no signs of abnormal strength or beauty; she was as average and dull as the rest of humanity.

Nothing made sense about why she could wield fire, and she wasn’t sure there would be anyone to answer her questions anytime soon.

Koltin pulled the now fully cooked rabbits off the fire and handed one of the sticks to Arenna. She spun it between her hands, horrified at the thought of eating it. Its beady eyes were still there, watching her every move.

But she smiled at the animal, her eyes glistening. The last time she had eaten something like this; she had been at the carnival with Faylen. Her eyes slid closed to prevent her tears from falling.

Guilt stormed inside her, threatening to destroy whatever bits of her were left. If she had just used the tournament as a distraction to slip away, Faylen would still be here. They would be on the road together, surviving together, and more importantly—living freely together.

She bit into the rabbit, savoring the happy memory of Faylen.

* * *

The rest of the day blurred, and night would be upon them soon.

Koltin and Arenna rode on, covering a lot of ground quickly, and he told her they would reach the cliffs on the edge of Burwood within the hour.

Based on how the trees opened up and the air thickened with salty water, she thought it might be just minutes.

Though she was eager to be one step closer to Smeeds and her freedom, a sinking feeling settled deep in her gut.

Kayson would be meeting them at the cliffs before joining them on the journey to Smeeds.

Once they arrived, Koltin would head back to Brookworth, leaving Arenna to continue alone with the emissary.

She hated every bit of that plan.

What she despised most of all was knowing her friend would be returning to Brookworth. Koltin was adamant they would meet again, this time with Isabella and her family—maybe even Kleo. Arenna wanted to believe that with all her heart, but her gut told her these would be their final hours together.

Without warning, Koltin pulled back on the reins, causing Solaris to screech to a sudden halt. Arenna slammed hard into Koltin’s leather back. “What’s wrong?”

“Quiet,” he hissed.

Worry choked her as her head whipped to the right at the sound of a broken branch. Vorgrith?

“They’ve found us.” The blood in her veins froze painfully. He carefully drew his blade from his hip. “You have yours?” he asked, his voice low and sharp.

Arenna felt the bulge in her boot and nodded.

“Grab it.” Koltin dismounted Solaris, still gripping his dagger tightly as six Brookworth soldiers emerged from the trees.