Page 13 of Poisoned Kingdom (Secrets of Dagome #1)

‘You know, thinking about it, I suddenly feel a powerful urge to return home,’ Riordan said with a smirk. ‘Don’t stay up too long—you’ll need a clear head if you want to pass this decree tomorrow.’

He left, and I took the opportunity to read through more paperwork once I was alone.

The latest intelligence from my spies revealed nothing new.

M?ot was still sending shipments somewhere south.

I didn’t know who was helping him, but the route he used couldn’t be more dangerous, passing through the swamplands on our border, where even my most skilled trackers lost the trail.

Piran’s Swamp sprawled between the Care’etavos Empire, the Kingdom of Lumivitae, and the Dukedom of Tivalaran—a festering no-man’s-land crawling with creatures too ancient and deadly to name. Entire patrols vanished there before they even sensed danger.

What frustrated me most was not knowing which of those realms the srebrec was destined for.

The dark fae of Care’etavos and the light fae of Lumivitae both relied heavily on magic, making them less likely to want large quantities of the ore—yet their extensive knowledge of its uses meant they surely understood its potential.

And then there was Tivalaran and its ever-irritating duke, a constant political thorn in my side.

The uncertainty gnawed at me, but unless the trade route passed through Dagome, I couldn’t use force to intercept the shipments without giving my neighbours reason to start a war.

Tivalaran was the only place I could enter.

Well, I could have if the old duke hadn’t refused me.

An old law passed by some idiot years ago had granted the dukedom vassal status rather than integrating it fully into Dagome, effectively tying my hands.

I need a reason, one the duke can’t refuse, I thought, pulling out the contract he’d sent.

Marrying Tivala’s only living child would end the vassal state conundrum, giving me full control over the fertile region, with its easy access to the sea and trade with the rest of Tir ha Mor.

It was a perfect political choice—except I felt nothing but disdain for the woman who allowed herself to become a pawn in the political games between her father and the Crown.

I strode over to the window and forced it open. My breath misted the air, but the wind from the river and the night’s chill calmed my senses, bringing with it the longing I’d spent too long trying to hide.

‘Orm, you bloody bastard, if you only knew how I envy you,’ I muttered, closing my eye as I recalled a memory from five years ago.

It had been late autumn when Annika, my brother’s mate, had stood in Dagome’s throne room and challenged the world for her Anchors.

It was at that moment that I realised the brother I’d pitied had found something I craved—a woman with integrity and courage.

She’d stood by her men to the bitter end, even facing down a goddess to save their lives.

The moon shone on my face with its cold, unfeeling light, deepening the shadows lurking in every corner, but my attention was caught by the shooting star that cut across the sky, disappearing over the horizon.

As futile as it was to wish upon a star, deep down, I hoped that maybe it was a sign that Inga Tivala was the woman who could stand by my side. Perhaps I was just fighting fate.

‘Fine, let’s give it a chance,’ I muttered to myself.

I wrote a quick note asking my secretary to go ahead and invite all the noble families to the Winter Solstice Ball, something I’d been holding off on. It was still almost four months away, giving me a chance to stall the nobles and see my potential bride before deciding on my future queen.

Shuffling through the rest of my correspondence, the last letter made me smile.

It was from my brother, and the gods knew I needed good news.

They’d finally convinced Annika to bear their child, and though no one knew whether it was my brother’s or Alaric’s—the third in their relationship and one of Annika’s other Anchors—the love was evident in every word.

I was happy for him, even if it meant I wouldn’t see him as often. Orm already complained that Vahin, his dragon, refused to take Annika into the sky or leave her side for longer than the few hours it took to patrol the Ozar Kingdom.

‘And that’s how you finally get grounded.’ I chuckled, feeling a warmth slowly spread throughout my chest, chasing the bad mood away.

I signed a few more documents, placing them in a neat stack for my assistant before deciding to go back to bed. I didn’t want to answer any questions if, once again, they found me working through the night. As I stood to leave, one final issue came to mind.

‘ Arrange a meeting with Boyan ,’ I wrote at the bottom of my notes. It was time the grand master of the Dark Brotherhood updated me on his search for my mystery woman.

If I were ever going to be wed, I couldn’t be dreaming of kissing another. I had to kill this yearning, because my heart wasn’t as big as my brother’s. It could only fit one person, and it had better be the woman I married.