Page 35 of Warrior Princess Assassin (Braided Fate #1)

Behind us, Callum calls, “Why’d you bring Stripes?”

I glance back. “Stripes?”

“The guy with the lines.” Garrett gestures at his face. “If we’re not sending him back to the border in pieces, what are we doing with him?”

I inhale to answer—before realizing I have no idea what to say.

Because the princess loves him . Because I need her to trust me. Because I don’t want her to hate me.

It’s more than that, though. It’s about Asher, too. I don’t know how to explain that I simply couldn’t leave him there—just like I couldn’t leave her there. Individually or together, they’re both intriguing. Compelling. Striking, if I’m being honest with myself.

But they’re also exasperating. Complicated.

Messy. Between Asher’s complete lack of a plan to kidnap me and the fact that Jory convinced him to do it, I can’t decide if they’re the bravest pairing I’ve ever met, or if they’re so wildly chaotic that they might one day lead each other straight off a cliff.

Something about these two makes all of my protective instincts flare.

Dane grabbed her arm, and I threatened to declare a war.

When he backhanded Asher in the throne room, I wanted to set him on fire.

It settles something inside me to know I have them both in a carriage, safe and sound.

Even though they both hate me for it.

I’ve been silent for too long, because Callum is saying, “I know what I’d like to do with him.”

His tone is low, but it’s not full of promised violence at all . Beside him, Garrett snorts. “Leave it to you to lust after the Draeg spy because he’s pretty .”

“I didn’t say I want to build a life with him,” Callum says, aggrieved.

“Just that he’s pretty ,” Garrett grunts.

“Actually, you said that he’s pretty—”

“Enough,” I snap, and they shut up.

As soon as I say it, I regret it, because I don’t sound commanding, I sound resentful. Sev’s eyebrows go up, and he glances over, but he says nothing.

I’m not even sure which part of that little bickering match sparked it. Callum flirts with anyone, and he’s attracted to everyone. He teased me about the princess being beautiful, and she absolutely is. I’m not surprised to hear him make a comment about Asher.

I’m more startled by my reaction. Am I annoyed? Protective? Or something else entirely?

I remember Jory’s voice, so soft in the drifting snow.

Sometimes...sometimes I wonder if he lets anyone touch him.

Between the violence and the circumstances, I hadn’t thought about Asher being pretty . Intriguing, yes. A little bit fascinating—while also somewhat tragic. I don’t know what’s happened to him, but I’ve begun to build a picture of it.

Sev looks over and studies me for a solid minute, then turns back to stare out at the snow. When he speaks, his voice is low. “I know that look,” he says. “But—”

“What look?” I demand.

“ That one. The one on your face right now.” He pauses. “They attacked you and took you prisoner, Ky.”

“I know.”

“Violently.”

“I know.”

He makes a frustrated sound. “They could have—”

“Sev! I know.”

“Oh. Well!” His eyes flick skyward. “As long as you know .”

I set my jaw, but I’m not angry. Not really.

He glances over and drops his voice even further. “After a few hours, I started to wonder how we were going to control Victoria.”

My sister. She’s so innocent—and so dangerous. My chest clenches.

When I speak, my voice is rough. “It would be no different if I fell in battle.”

He snorts and tugs at the scarf covering his jaw. “Trust me, I don’t like to think about that either.”

Under his flippant tone, I hear the genuine worry. I haven’t really spared a moment to think about what this must have been like from his side—and I should have.

I look over again. “You might have to. One day.”

I’ve said this before—and he never responds.

He doesn’t respond now. His eyes are still fixed on the snow ahead of us.

But I can tell he’s thinking about a decade of fighting at my side.

Ten years of battles where we’ve both gotten into situations that were so close to life-or-death that we don’t even discuss them anymore.

So many close calls where I saved his life—or he saved mine.

Until this morning, when I vanished from the palace, and there was nothing he could do about it. I imagine how I would have reacted if our roles were reversed, and my chest clenches.

I put out a hand. “But not today.”

He gives me a look. “Yeah. Not today .” But he reaches out to clasp my hand in return. In his grip, I feel the weight of his worry, and I realize how deeply unsettled he must have been.

Especially because he doesn’t let go immediately, and he holds my eyes. “You truly don’t believe they’re working with Draegonis?”

“No.” I think of Jory and Asher and how very desperate they were, and my voice goes quiet again.

“I’ve never liked Dane. You know that. But being in their court.

..” I shake my head, thinking of those bruises on Jory’s wrist. Thinking of the way Asher went pale.

“Everyone here is wary of Incendar. Of me . Astranza is supposed to be the jewel of the continent, but something is wrong here .” I hesitate, trying to figure it out.

Maybe Astranza cloaks their wickedness in shadows, disguising anything distasteful.

Maybe their brutality isn’t obvious, the way mine can be.

Perhaps King Theodore hides Astranza’s corruption behind well-fed citizens and unpaid laborers.

Slavers . Bleeding skies. If I’d known about that, I might have had a few more demands for this alliance.

I glance over again. “I couldn’t leave them there, Sev.”

He looks right back at me. “I know,” he says. “I felt it, too.”

But then he heaves a sigh, because my soldiers have resumed their bickering.

“Don’t be jealous, Gar,” Callum is saying behind us, his voice low and mocking now. “You’re pretty, too.”

“Shut the fuck up.”

“Just the prettiest soldier in all the—”

His voice cuts off on a choked sound that tells me Garrett punched him—and it wasn’t playful. They grunt and swear when Callum hits back, and hooves shuffle in the snow as the horses adjust for their scuffling.

Those two will end up grappling in the snow in a second. They might share a bed again later, but they’ll try to kill each other first.

I turn my head a little. “Roman! Take second. Callum, move back.”

The scuffling ceases immediately, but it’s only a minute before I hear muttering behind me again.

“You’re not getting my fucking pack,” Roman is snarling at Garrett.

I can’t take much more of this.

I look at Sev. “Forget what I said. Let’s find an inn now .”

WE DON’T EXPECT to find one nearby, but after another mile, Nikko spots a faint glow across the snow, and a plume of smoke from a wood fire spills into the sky.

The smell of roasted meat greets us when we draw close, and my stomach lets me know that it’s been a long time since I put food in my mouth.

When we reach the small cluster of buildings, the snow is tamped down underfoot, and our horses aren’t the only ones here.

Some are tethered out front, and there appears to be a stable behind.

Maybe others were desperate for a hot meal, too.

Once we stop, I open the princess’s carriage first. Jory and Lady Charlotte are sitting on opposite benches, and much like when they climbed in, they don’t look at me. Behind me, the soldiers are trading barbed words while they tether the horses, but the two women are stock-still.

Oh, that’s right. She still hates me.

I hold back a sigh. “My soldiers need to eat,” I say. “We’ve reached an inn.”

Jory keeps her eyes on the opposite wall. “We will remain here.”

“You’re going to avoid a hot meal and a warm bed just to spite me?” I say.

Her expression doesn’t flicker. “Yes.”

I glance at Lady Charlotte, and her expression is equally stony. Clearly a coordinated effort here.

My eyes shift back to the princess. Even in a cloak, with velvet gloves, she seems to be holding back a shiver. I could draw her into my arms and make her warm immediately, but I think she really would put a hairpin in my eye.

I’ve run out of patience, so my voice goes sharper than I intend.

“My soldiers barely slept last night. They spent most of the day searching for me . Thanks to your Hunter’s warnings about poison, no one has eaten, either.

But for spite , you’re going to make me order one of them to stand in the cold and guard your carriage—”

Behind me, the bickering soldiers shut up quick.

“I’m not making you do anything ,” the princess snaps. Her gaze returns to the wall, a clear refusal to move. I’m tempted to drag her out.

I lower my voice. “Hate me if you like, Princess. But my men don’t deserve to—”

“Please close the door, Your Majesty.”

Rage swells in my chest, but I slam the carriage door closed and turn away. I don’t care that it seems petty and juvenile.

Behind me, she turns the latch that locks it.

Fuck .

The others are watching me with guarded expressions.

They’ve pulled their packs and weapons for the night, but it’s clear that every single one of them was listening to that exchange, and they’re bracing for my orders.

Wondering which one of them is going to have to be cold and hungry because Princess Marjoriana is being a royal—

I cut off those thoughts before they can fully form. But if she expects to be my queen, she’s not exactly endearing herself to the army. Maybe that’s not surprising. I doubt she has ever gone hungry.

I glance behind them at the inn. Smoke curls from the chimney, and the smell of cooked food is strong from here.

I let out a breath and fetch my quiver and bow from where they’re tethered behind my saddle. Then I strap on the quiver, hang the bow over my shoulder, and put my back against the carriage. “I’ll take first watch,” I say to them. “Go. Eat. Arrange for rooms. Whatever is available.”

None of them move.

Sev sighs, then hangs his own quiver over his shoulder. He steps away to come stand against the carriage beside me. “ We’ll take first watch,” he says. “Go.” When they still don’t move, he adds, “That is an order .”

They turn to obey, with the exception of Garrett, who approaches me and Sev. He glances at the other carriage. “What about Stripes?”

I try to imagine Asher’s reaction if he hears them call him that—and I fail. “He’s injured and chained to the seat,” I say. “He hasn’t made a sound. I don’t think he’ll cause any trouble.”

But as I say the words, the latch behind us clicks open. The princess appears in the doorway.

Her eyes are cold when they meet mine. “I did not fully consider your men,” she says icily. “I should have.” Her eyes flick to Garrett, who’s stopped, probably ready to listen to another argument. “Forgive me,” she says.

His eyes widen, just a bit, and I can tell she’s surprised him. He gives her a nod. “Yes, Your Highness.”

“Charlotte and I will join you.” She moves forward, ignoring the hand I offer, climbing down from the carriage herself. Her lady follows closely behind, and she ignores me just as effectively.

As they move past, the princess stops and looks at Sev. “Captain Zale. You will escort us.”

Sev inhales sharply, and his eyes snap to mine. I’m sure he expects me to be annoyed, and I am, but I’m mostly just tired. “Go ahead,” I say.

He clamps his mouth shut and offers his arm. “Your Highness?”

Jory rests her hand on his elbow, and I clench my jaw.

“Your king has told me that he plays the role of a soldier,” she says to him, as if I’m not standing right there. “So as to not make himself a target.”

“I am not playing a role ,” I grit out.

Garrett is still watching this exchange, and his eyebrows go up.

She doesn’t even look at me. “I will do the same, Captain. You will call me Jory. Charlotte and I will be ladies of the court, sent to prepare for the princess’s arrival in Incendar.

” She pauses. “And you will tell your king that my acquiescence now is no indication that I trust him or his deceitful actions. I am looking after his loyal soldiers, not him .”

Sev stares at her for a long moment, and when it’s clear that she seriously expects him to parrot this information, he looks back at me, bemused. “Ah...the Lady Jory says that—”

“I heard her.”

Jory is still looking at him. “And you will tell your king that I expect Asher to have a warm bed as well. He will not be chained in a cold carriage all night.”

Again, there’s silence, and Sev inhales heavily. “Lady Jory also expects—”

“Sev.”

He lifts a shoulder in half a shrug, and they turn for the door. I expect her to look back, to say something equally taunting, but she doesn’t.

“Maybe a warm bath for him, too?” I call after her. “Some chocolates for his pillow?”

“That will do,” she calls back, just before they go through the door and into the tavern.

My fists are clenched the whole time.

What a great start to our alliance .

But they’re gone, and I’m left in the snow with Garrett, our breath clouding in the night air. I’m painfully aware that my soldiers have witnessed her attitude toward me, and I’m sure they’re all having thoughts about it.

Especially Garrett, who’s watching me expectantly.

“Not a word,” I say.

His lip quirks, but he’s silent.

I move toward the other carriage. I have no idea how the owners of this establishment will take to us bringing a prisoner inside. I wonder if Asher will be docile enough to bring along unchained. I consider his injuries, the way he favored his right side like his shoulder was dislocated.

But then I consider his vicious skill. The way he bested me, and then Nikko.

The way he’d surely risk everything to get Jory away from me.

The way he likely wants me dead.

“If I were going to say something...” Garrett offers.

“Don’t.”

He laughs under his breath.

But I pause with my hand on the carriage door. It’s absolutely silent inside the carriage, and I wonder if Asher has fallen asleep.

So I look at Garrett. “All right, what ?”

“Sometimes the fighting makes it better.” He pauses. “In the end.”

I scoff. “She hates me.”

He grins. “I know.”

I give him a look, then pull the door wide. For a second, I see nothing: just a pile of blankets and scraps of splintered wood. No Asher.

“Fuck.” I grab hold of the doorframe to lean in. I have no idea how he could have escaped without us noticing. “ Fuck. ”

But then a shadow moves and a fist comes out of nowhere to crack me in the face—followed by a kick to the chest.

I fall back, scrambling for weapons.

But I’m too slow, or maybe he’s just too fucking fast. Asher explodes out of the carriage, and before I can blink, he’s got a chain around Garrett’s throat.