The Inadequate Heir (The Bridge Kingdom Book 3)

by Danielle L. Jensen

“My flock whispered your speech into my ears, Keris. Told me that you swore to protect those who need protecting and to bring the villains who would prey upon them to justice.” Serin’s laughter turned wild, absolutely devoid of sanity. “If you wanted to protect Zarrah, you should have taken her far, far away, but instead, you sent her back into the arms of the greatest villain I’ve ever known.” Dearest God, what have I done? “For all his faults, your father loved you. Protected you. And I think even if I were to reveal this truth to the people, they’d forgive you, Keris, because they want what you’ve promised. But Petra? Petra does not love. Petra does not feel. And Petra and I have a rapport that goes back all those years ago to when she delivered word to my flock that her sister, the true and rightful heir to Valcotta, was staying, virtually unprotected, at a villa near the border. I, in turn, whispered that information into the ears of your father.” His breath caught, horror turning his veins to ice. The empress had arranged the murder of her own sister. Zarrah’s mother. “To twist the knife deeper, Petra took her niece and raised her in defiance of everything her mother believed in. Taught her to revel in violence and vengeance and war, not the peace her mother sought.” He smirked. “Just what do you think Petra will do to Zarrah when she discovers that her niece was not only the lover of her mortal enemy but that Zarrah ruined her one chance to destroy Maridrina? Becaus...