A Twist of the Blade (Shadows and Crowns, #2)

by S.M. Gaither

She frowned as she studied the people surrounding her. Far too many of them were eagerly nodding along with what their ruler was saying. The Solasen Court and its supporters were working hard—today and every day—to spin history in a way that made them appear to be the saviors rather than the instigators…and it seemed to be working. Frustrating, but Cas couldn’t bring herself to be too angry with that crowd around her. She knew they were frightened. And fear made people cling even to questionable truths, she supposed.

“But that’s the problem with loving deeply, isn’t it?” she asked her hands with a bitter little laugh. “It means you have to hurt deeply, too. And that hurt can twist you up in unexpected ways.”

“But in all seriousness, you essentially already have two brothers prepared to threaten and kill on your behalf, so who cares about Varen? Family is not always blood, and blood is not always family.”