Broken by Daylight (Beasts of the Briar, #4)

by Elizabeth Helen

If I am not worthy of basking in her radiance, then I will walk behind her as a shadow. As her shadow, I will engulf any who would dim her light. If darkness is all I have, then I will use it to serve her.

A cold breeze caresses my skin. A breeze far too cold for the Summer Realm. Kairyn and I both turn to the open sea. Waves freeze into floats of ice before cracking again. But there’s someone leaping from ice floe to ice floe. Even from this distance, I can see the wrath held in his body, the piercing blue gaze. “I would run if I were you,” I say to Kairyn. The High Prince of Winter is here.

“It’s like being stuck in the eye of a storm you can’t escape. It’s suffocating, consuming. It’s waking up every day with a weight on your chest, wondering if today will be the day it crushes you entirely. Love is continuing to drink poison because it’s also the only antidote. For me, it is a battle that if he wins, I lose, and if I win, somehow, I still lose. Love is the only reason I still choose to draw breath.”

“I promise. Use me however you want,” he pleads. “Just please, don’t ask me to leave.”

“You have me, Rosalina,” I breathe. “Wherever I go, you have me. Whatever desert I leave my footprints in, whatever wilderness I inhabit or mountain I scale. It was set by the Fates and bound in the stars. You have me.” Tears run silently down her cheeks, and in my mind, I hear her voice: Promise me you’ll come back, Ezryn. Vow it. On your knees. I do. I sink to the floor and stare up at her. “Whatever it takes, I will return to you, my Queen. If I have to crawl, I’ll crawl. If I have to swim through rivers of fire, I’ll swim. If I have to defy the Fates themselves and rearrange the stars, I will do it.”

Delphia’s gaze flits across the ship to where Farron and Nori are curled together under a tartan blanket, looking at the young princess’s notebook. “Adventuring wouldn’t be that much fun on my own, though.” “I happen to believe those Autumn royals aren’t too bad for company.” Color darkens her cheeks, and she swipes a glare at me. “Nori knows a lot about plants. I would have eaten, like, twelve poisonous things already if she weren’t around.” “Well, we wouldn’t want that.” I laugh, pulling her to my side.

“She finally got brave enough to try holding that damned thing,” I growl. “You O’Connells and your Queen’s blood.” “I have to talk to her,” Rosalina says. “Yeah, well, she doesn’t really seem in the mood to talk.” I grab Rosalina’s shoulder. “Rosie, one strike from that bow could bring down a High Prince. If she hits you⁠—” Rosalina snaps the reins, the steed responding instantly, darting down into the arena. “I have to try to get through to her. She’s my sister.” Something dark and ruthless sounds in Rosalina’s voice. “And that’s my bow.”