Page 43 of A Queen’s Betrayal (Legends of Worldbinders #1)

“It’s made from bloodiron, a mineral mined in the Bloodridge Mountains. You won’t find it anywhere else in the world,” he explained, then gesturing to the black handle added, “Voidstone, from the Draka Mountains. It’s similar to obsidian in color and texture but as hard as a diamond.”

Kayson pulled a black leather belt from Bramnen’s pack. “This is for you too,” he said, his voice eerily calm. He swung the belt around her waist, tightening it snugly over her hips.

Arenna’s breath caught as his fingers brushed against the exposed skin between her tunic and pants, a sizzling sensation rippling across her skin.

Kayson seemed to feel it too—his jaw locked, shaking his hands out at his sides. “Keep this on you at all times,” he mumbled, sheathing the sword into her new belt.

She looked at the polished sword on her hip, the dragon scale vest on her chest, and swallowed hard. “I may never be able to repay you for these. Are you sure—”

“Enough,” he interrupted. “Just accept the gift.”

For once, pride didn’t drown out every other emotion. The Fae King had provided her with protective clothing and a weapon to wield. He had given her the means to defend herself, not just rely on others. She whispered, “Thank you.” This time, the words didn’t sour in her mouth.

Kayson nodded. “Whether you like it or not, you’re part of this kingdom now. Anyone I fight alongside won’t fall in battle because of poor armor or dull weapons.” He re-tied the cloak strings around his neck. “ That would be embarrassing.”

She took an uneven breath, then nodded, refraining from uttering another thanks. Ears burning, Arenna turned and descended the steps.

Fae eyes followed her, lingering on the position she seemed to hold beside Kayson’s dominating presence. “They’ll get used to it.” He stopped beside her at the bottom of the stairs, towering over her.

She fought the urge to cower under his power, as she had with Jaksen for years. “I’m not worried about it,” she lied, though she was very worried. “I assumed, with humans seeking sanctuary on this side of the ocean, they’d be used to seeing one.”

“They’ve seen humans, yes. But they’ve never seen a Firewielder.” Kayson tapped the inside of her palm, where fire danced idly beneath her skin. “You are different. You are their salvation .”

A wave of conflicting emotions rattled her as she glanced at the part of her hand where he had touched. The swirling embers under her skin had originally been odd for her, but she was now starting to find comfort in them. “I don’t want to be anyone’s salvation,” Arenna muttered.

“Better get used to it,” he called over his shoulder, continuing up the narrow paved path. Marea snorted as she passed, muttering something under her breath, while Bramnen offered a small—but hopeful—smile.

She rubbed her arms, trying to shake the growing seed of doubt. Without looking up, she knew the eyes of the portfolk followed her, and Arenna hated that their first glimpse of their so-called salvation was a malnourished, poor excuse of a human.

Arenna closed her eyes and took a slow breath. It will take time , she reminded herself. You will re-write it all .

Swallowing thickly, Arenna followed the trio, keeping a cautious distance.

To their right, massive stone cliffs draped in moss and grass loomed above, the distant crash of waves against their base echoing even from this distance.

Far ahead, a dense forest of towering pine trees stretched across the land.

She thought it might be Everglow Forest, with the Sylvania River just beyond it, and Emerlon following.

“ A river made of blood and kingdom made from bone ,” her mother used to say. In Kingdom Worden during the First Years when Fae trapped and enslaved humans, it was said death and violence were so rampant the water ran red with blood, and the rocky foundation beneath the castle was made of bones.

Arenna’s eyes flicked toward the king and his council.

Though it was likely just a legend, she could easily imagine the three of them entangled in such horror.

They were all tall, lean, and muscular, Kayson the tallest among them.

Armed with deadly steel and clad in thick vests, their exposed skin was peppered with scars.

Years of battle had marked not just their bodies, but also caused the hollow sharpness in their eyes.

But at the same time, she could not reconcile the violence those legends proclaimed with the reality before her.

Bramnen was one of the kindest individuals she had ever met.

Though his imposing figure and dazzling weapons screamed brutality, his features did not.

Neither did his behavior or words. Then again, perhaps it was just a facade.

After she caught up, Arenna asked, “Where will I be staying?” While trapped in the hold on the Hadley , she had spent many hours wondering what Emerlon would be like and where she might find a home within its city walls.

Brookworth might not have had much information about the massive city of Worden, but it had enough for Arenna to often find herself attached to it—dreaming and pondering the possibilities for many days after she finished reading.

“With me.” She couldn’t see his face but still knew Kayson grinned.

Arenna stopped walking. “ No .”

“Oh, yes.” Kayson turned slowly, folding his arms across his chest. “Do you think I would leave my greatest asset to wander the streets of Emerlon? That power of yours is still unpredictable, and you need to train. We also need to figure out how to find Water and Wind. Therefore, I need you as close as possible.”

“I can be wherever you need me if you only call on me. There’s no need for me to stay in the castle with you,” Arenna replied. The thought of living within the same walls and being forced to see Kayson more than she would like was horribly unappealing. “Let me stay somewhere else.”

“And risk you running away?”

Arenna tensed at that. Panic replaced the blood in her veins, and the door within her mind that kept her memories of Jaksen’s torment locked away creaked open. “I didn’t realize I was your prisoner,” she snapped.

Kayson’s features softened. “That isn’t what I meant. I have not spent years searching for you only for you to disappear again. You can go where you wish and fill your days with anything that brings you joy. But you will stay in my home.”

Disappear again ?

The king turned on his heel and walked toward Everglow again. Bramnen stayed behind while Marea trailed Kayson. “What he didn’t mention is that he worries for your safety, and having you in the castle—within his wards—will keep you safe from anyone who might wish you harm.”

Arenna scoffed, not buying for a single moment Kayson cared for a shred of her wellbeing. “He cares about my power and making sure I fulfill my role,” she said.

Bramnen smiled softly. “Give them time. It isn’t easy to have a human in our lands. Not after . . . everything .”

“Everything?” Arenna asked.

His dark brown eyes glazed over. “In time, you will learn. Let’s just focus on getting you settled in first.” Bramnen smiled again, his teeth a lovely contrast to the dark undertone of his skin.

Reluctantly, Arenna nodded. Bramnen really did seem kind, and for his sake, if nothing else, she could try to be agreeable.

They walked in silence as they caught up to the king and the commander, huddled close as if engaging in a secretive conversation.

“Wylder should be back by now,” Marea mumbled.

Kayson glanced at Marea, then at Bramnen. Though he didn’t speak, his face contorted as if he were wrestling with unspoken words. When his council nodded and began walking farther toward the grassy knoll, Arenna sensed something was amiss.

“Were you speaking to them?” she asked abruptly.

“No.”

“Are we lying to each other now?”

“Unforeseen partners we may be, Serpent, but I am under no obligation to tell you anything.”

“ Stop calling me that.” Arenna gritted her teeth. “And if you want to have a successful partnership, I would advise you to do the opposite.”

“Oh?” Kayson’s eyes narrowed, intrigued. “If we’re turning into open books,” he said, “I am rather curious about how you got that scar.” He tapped the jagged flesh that ran down her face.

Instinctively, she turned her face to the ground, swatting his pestering hand away.

“I—I don’t want to talk about that.” There was no reason for her to feel shame.

Arenna had done nothing to deserve that scar or the torment it brought, and she knew that now.

But still, her cheeks warmed, and her eyes burned.

“But I thought a successful partnership entails telling each other everything ?”

“You’re a prick,” Arenna mumbled, shouldering into his chest as she pushed past him.

From the loud footsteps behind her, Arenna knew Kayson was following closely. “Serpent,” he called out from behind her.

“Leave me alone.”

“Arenna.” That stopped her in her tracks. Twice now he had used her actual name, not her foolish former title, and twice now her stomach reacted. He gripped her wrist, preventing her from taking another step and sending white-hot pain sizzling through her very bones.

She yanked her hand away, rubbing at the phantom manacles. Kayson studied his palms. “I don’t know what that was.”

“I don’t like my wrists touched,” Arenna replied, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her.

His face remained blank. “Noted. There are reasons I withhold my trust from you . . . reasons I cannot share yet.” Kayson ran a hand through his hair and cringed as if the words physically pained him.

“This continent, my kind . . . is everything to me. It is my job to protect them, and I’m sure you can understand why I hold restraint when it comes to you. ”