Page 74 of Thorns & Fire (The Ashes of Thezmarr #2)

Torj

‘For decades, the kingdom of Delmira has been without a reigning sovereign, until now’

– Current Chronicling of the Midrealms

‘Y OU REALLY DID know what I was going to do, didn’t you?’ Wren looked at Torj in wonder, her hands trembling at her sides as they stood in the corridor outside.

‘Of course I knew,’ he replied, taking her hands in his, trying to absorb her fear. ‘I knew the moment Thea offered herself up to take the throne. Before even that, really.’

‘But...’ She blinked up at him. ‘I didn’t know myself.’

‘You did,’ he told her. ‘You just needed time.’

Her bottom lip quivered. ‘I’m sorry... I’m so sorry—’

Torj took her chin between his thumb and forefinger, forcing her eyes to remain on his.

‘You have nothing to be sorry for. Do you hear me? Nothing . With the weight of the whole fucking world on your shoulders, you have done what feels right to you, and that’s all anyone can ask.

Delmira is your family’s kingdom. Your birthright. ’

‘I don’t know what this means for us,’ she said hoarsely. ‘Is that wrong? That in the face of yet another war, all I can think of is the fact that I might lose you?’

Torj kissed her, claiming her fiercely. She opened for him, moaning into his mouth, her lips moving over his desperately.

He broke away, pressing his brow to hers. ‘We survived one war,’ he told her. ‘We’ll survive this one too.’

He remembered when he’d first met Wren as a beautiful young alchemist in the Bloodwoods, the hem of her skirts muddied, dirt lining her fingernails... It wasn’t until years later that he’d discovered who she truly was – not only a fiery woman of Thezmarr, but a princess of the midrealms.

And now?

Now he was soul bonded to the future Queen of Delmira.

Torj peered into her willow-green eyes, watching as the dark shadows of grief morphed into determination.

‘Tell me what you need, Embers,’ he murmured.

She squeezed his hands. ‘I need Kipp.’