Page 33 of Kingdom of Briars and Roses (Cursed Fae Courts #1)

Chapter Thirty-Three

Rydian

C allan had made his choice—and I had made mine. The moment he’d summoned me, I’d known what he would order. More lies. More selfish pursuits without a care who he hurt along the way. For him, Aurelia was nothing more than an item to possess. But looking at her now, I could see what he couldn’t.

He’d already lost her.

Just as I would in the end.

But this—her request…it went beyond what even I was willing to let her see.

“No,” I told her firmly and started for the door.

“Wait. Where are you going?”

“I’m taking you to the library. You can hunt for answers there.”

“Stop.” The command in that single word stilled my feet.

I turned to her. “You do not order me.”

“Last I checked, you’ve been instructed to babysit me.” The haughtiness in her tone reminded me of my impression of her the night we’d first met. Pampered princess—na?ve and spoiled. I’d thought her too much like Callan then and hated her for it.

The only one of us I hated now was myself.

“I was tasked with keeping you safe,” I said. “The donation center is far from that.”

She scowled, and her gaze fell, landing on a spot on the rug and lingering there. I followed, frowning at the sight of the hole burnt into it. It hadn’t been there the last time I’d visited. I would’ve remembered since Callan had warned me over and over again not to ruin his rug with my muddy boots.

“What happened?” I asked, my eyes snapping back to hers.

“What are you talking about?”

“The mark on the rug,” I said, doing my best to rein in my shadows. Nightmares swam beneath my skin, begging to be unleashed, but now was not the time.

She tensed. “Nothing.”

I stalked closer. “What. Happened?”

“Callan was angry when I returned last night.”

“What do you mean you returned? The soldiers didn’t bring you? Callan didn’t come for you?”

“No. I walked home.”

I studied her, my hands curling into fists as my mind raced ahead of her words. He hadn’t said anything to me today. “Angry about what?”

“I don’t think he believed I was alone.”

“What did he do to you?” I asked, barely able to keep my control leashed.

“Nothing,” she said quickly. “He… made a point.”

“Furious,” I said through my teeth, “if you don’t tell me exactly what happened, I will assume he put his hands on you. Do you remember what I told you would happen to anyone who did that?”

She had the sense to look nervous then. “He didn’t touch me. He used his magic to burn the rug near my feet. I think he wanted to scare me.”

I blew out a breath, my body rigid with the need to hunt Callan down and make him regret his little outburst.

“Rydian.” Aurelia’s voice was soft.

It snapped me out of my rage.

I exhaled, closing the distance between us and sliding my hand around her neck. The fact that we were standing in her fiancé’s study ceased to matter. I just needed to feel her skin against mine. To convince the animal inside me that she was, indeed, unharmed. Leaning in, I pressed my face to her throat and inhaled her scent.

Lovely.

Delicious.

So fucking tempting.

“Rydian,” she whispered my name like a plea. Her hands gripped my shoulders.

Fuck, I wanted her badly enough to throw it all away.

To get us both killed.

I stepped back, releasing her, though it caused me pain to do so.

Her expression flashed with hurt, but she covered it quickly. “I’m not going to tell him,” she said. “About seeing you yesterday.”

“I wouldn’t care if you did at this point.”

Irritation flickered in her eyes. “Well, you should. Without my arrangement with Callan?—”

“Heliconia wins,” I spat. “Yes, I know. You and the prince. Destined to defeat her—together.” The words burned my throat, the finality of them eating at me from the inside out.

She shook her head, despair crowding her gaze. “I had hoped there would be another way.”

“If there is, I swear to you I’ll find it.” Shadows leaked from my fingers as I spoke. I yanked them back again, tucking them away.

“What are you?” she asked suddenly.

I shut my mouth, scowling.

“You’re not Autumn fae—not fully. Even if Duron is your father,” she added.

I hesitated. The blood oath kept me from admitting the full truth, but that wasn’t what held me silent. I’d never spoken of my power to anyone. Not even Slade or Daegel knew the full story. To tell her any of it now… it would only put her in more danger. Not to mention she’d likely hate me.

“I am a weapon aimed at your enemies, Princess. Wield me how you see fit.”

I could see the questions brimming. Like a coward, I dropped my gaze, hoping she wouldn’t demand answers I couldn’t give. A mark on her wrist caught my attention, and I stiffened.

She quickly tucked her hand behind her back, but I grabbed it and held it up, noting the Verdant rune with a growing dread.

“What is this?” I demanded.

“None of your business,” she said, trying to wrench herself free.

But I squeezed her arm, refusing to let her go. “Where did you get it?”

“In the city,” she said with a shrug.

“Furious,” I warned.

She glared at me. “I made a bargain.”

“With whom?”

“An oracle.”

I sighed. Meerdra. It had the look of her handiwork. “And what did you promise her?”

She hesitated before admitting, “A favor of her choosing. ”

“Seven Hels,” I muttered, finally dropping her hand. “You do understand this bargain is unbreakable.”

“She fulfilled her end. I’ll do the same when she needs me.”

“And what did you get in return for this unnamed favor?”

She squared her jaw as if ready to defend her answer. “Information.”

“What kind of information?”

“I’ll share if you do,” she shot back.

I shook my head, pacing. Likely, the information had to do with her dormant power—light or dark, it hardly mattered at this point. Meerdra wouldn’t have offered the bargain without upholding her end, but that didn’t mean her explanations weren’t cryptic as fuck. I knew from experience.

“Your mark—” I tried, but the words caught in my throat.

She crossed her arms, tucking away the one Meerdra had given her. “It’s not a big deal.”

“Not that one.” I reached for her neck, brushing her hair away and running my thumb over the black moon at her throat. Power rippled between us, but I held fast, not wanting to let go of her just yet. “This.”

Her gaze met mine, her lids heavy with desire. I knew if I kissed her now, she wouldn’t stop me. But there was one thing I needed from her more than her mouth on mine. I released her, letting my hand drop.

Disappointment flashed in her eyes. “You know what it means, don’t you?”

This was a complete disregard for the bargain I’d made. But I couldn’t stop myself from trying to answer her. “It means,” I said, shoving the words out through clenched teeth, “You have been blessed by the gods. What you do with those blessings is your choice.”

“What exactly am I supposed to choose?” she asked, her brow pinching .

Fuck.

I wanted to reach up and smooth her concern with my fingers. To stroke her skin until all her worries and fears had melted. Instead, I searched for the words the vow would let me speak. It wasn’t easy. The leash Duron’s blood vow kept me on was tight. And then there was the promise I’d made to my true king. He was even harder to work around, but then he was a Hel of a lot smarter than Duron.

“Do you know why Menryth’s magic waned after The Great War?” I asked in a strained voice.

Her eyes widened, and I knew Meerdra had mentioned it. At least she’d done some of my work for me. “The oracle claimed the gods drained its power for themselves.”

“Do you know which—” My throat closed and I fell silent.

“Which gods?” She finished for me. “She said it was the Fates and the Furiosities.”

I nodded even though it sent pain shooting through my skull. “And?” I ground out.

“And the gods fought over Menryth, but their agreement prevented them from doing direct battle. So, they chose a champion to imbue with their power.”

“What else did she say?” It was the only thing I could possibly ask that wouldn’t kill me right now. Even so, my breaths were labored. Sweat dotted my brow.

Suspicion slanted her gaze. “She said the champion would have to choose which side to fight for.”

I nodded, and awareness flared in her icy blue eyes.

My heartbeat galloped at unsustainable speeds, and I gritted my teeth, hoping like Hel it didn’t burst from my damned chest. This was beyond fucked. I shouldn’t have gone this far. But if I hadn’t, she might not survive this wretched place.

“Are you all right?” she asked worriedly.

Power screamed inside me, sealing my lips shut. Forced silent, I nodded at her, urging her to make the gods-damned choice already.

She scowled. “I don’t see how it’s a choice at all. Heliconia’s power was gifted by Hel. Why would I fight for the same side as my enemy?”

Fuck.

I blew out a breath, and with it, all my hope drained away.

The pain in my head receded, but the ache of disappointment hollowed me out to my very bones. She’d made her choice. My duty was done. But try as I might, I couldn’t make myself walk away. Not even the blood vow pounding in my veins had the power to override my need to protect her.

Whatever I did next was going to be reckless and stupid and would likely get me killed. But Duron would make his move on her soon. Maybe seeing the donation center would help her understand the danger she was truly in here. She could still choose to leave Grey Oak—to save herself. I couldn’t tell her what he had planned, but I could show her.

“Come on,” I said, taking her elbow and starting for the door.

“Where are we going?” she asked, but her feet moved with mine.

“The donation center. But I’m telling you now, you won’t like what you see.”