The Veiled Kingdom (The Veiled Kingdom, #1)

by Holly Renee

“He’s your brother?” “The one and only.” “I’m so sorry.”

“You don’t have a house here?”

“We do, but Dacre and I haven’t lived there since my mother was killed. We prefer to stay in the warrior quarters.”

“My father’s love is this rebellion. He doesn’t mind living on his own.”

Despite the fact that Dacre was an ass, it was impossible not to notice how infuriatingly handsome he was.

“I’m not being an ass. It’s the truth. She’s deadweight.”

“There’s that backbone,” he said with a smile as he launched himself at me.

He thought he could break me, but there was nothing left for him to break.

“She’s lying. I’m just not sure about what.”

“I have never been able to conjure any sort of magic.”

“I believe you. It’s just we’ve never heard of a fae who didn’t carry at least some magic. It seems impossible.”

“Winged fae are a rarity, and most don’t live anywhere near the palace if they can help it. The only way King Roan can tax their power is if he can find them, and he spent years clipping their wings at every tithe so they couldn’t fly.” He clipped their wings.

“Our parents spent

their lives building this rebellion, my mother gave her life trying to protect it, and he feels the burden of that responsibility now more than ever.”

“She doesn’t rile me up. I just don’t like her.”

“Don’t worry. I don’t like you either.”

“It looks like I wasn’t the only one talking badly about the other.” “I called you an ass. It’s the truth.” The corner of his mouth curved into a half smile. “And I called you weak. It looks like we’re both just telling the truth today.”

“I don’t care what you think about me.” My voice was low and forceful as I met his gaze once again.

“We’ll see about that.”

“You shouldn’t speak of things you don’t know of either. You have no idea what growing up in that palace was like. You think the king is a monster, yet have you ever met him? Have you had to face him every day of your life?”

“Maybe you’re right.”

“I’ll see you in the morning for training. Don’t be late,” Dacre said gruffly.

“I’ll be the weak one. You can’t miss me.”

“You know the only time I’ve ever been attacked in my life was by you.”

“Your girl told me that you wanted me to train her, but as soon

as I asked her to give me a second, Eiran stepped in.”

Eiran was so smug and arrogant, the thought of him assisting Nyra in her training made me want to put my fist through a wall. I pictured her sharing secrets with him that I was dying to know, and I couldn’t stop the frustrated growl that escaped from deep within me. “She’s not my girl.”

“I trained with Eiran because Kai was busy. It isn’t a big deal.” The possessiveness that rushed through me surprised me, even as I struggled to keep it in check. “It is a big deal,”

“You train with who I tell you, or you don’t train at all.”

She hated me as much as I hated her.

“She died, and you make a mockery of everyone who died for this by putting this mark on you when you haven’t done a damned thing to earn it.”

“I’m sorry,” she stammered.

“I see your time with Eiran has taught you a lot.”

“Was he trying to teach you anything other than how to get in his bed?”

Her voice was low and breathy as she struggled against my grasp. Her body writhed against mine, and I felt utterly out of control.

“You’re not learning anything else from Eiran. You’re mine to train.”

“I’m not yours to do anything with.”

I was angry and frustrated and had no control over the possessiveness I felt. “You’ll train with me and only me. If I catch you...

I could feel the heat of her body against mine, and for a moment, I allowed myself to indulge in the desire that had been simmering beneath the surface.

“You know I won’t stop until I find out the truth,”

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

I felt the swelling in the front of my trousers as thoughts of being rough with her clouded my mind.

“Nyra and I are actually about to hit the springs. She’s not going to make another day of training if she doesn’t heal her body a bit.”

“They don’t worship me. They respect me.”

“I could train you for a century, and you still wouldn’t be able to take me out.” “You’re very full of yourself.”

“I have reason to be. I’ve been fighting for this rebellion for most of my life.”

I suddenly never wanted him to stop touching me, but I didn’t know how much longer I could handle being this close to him.

“Because no one here trusts you, and I don’t trust them with you.”

“Do you have any idea what room is Eiran’s then? I’m sure he’ll take me in for the night.”

“That’s not going to fucking happen.”