Court of Ice and Ash (The Broken Kingdoms, #2)

by L.J. Andrews

“He always will,” Tor snarled. “You will either be his rise or his downfall. And neither of you sees it.”

“What happened?” She dabbed a cloth over my brow again and sighed. “You insisted on being a hero again and allowed your body to be impaled. It is a habit of yours I rather hate.”

“Why do you stand by him when he hardly looks at you?” I winced, his words cut, swift and harsh. “When someone trusts you so much that they reveal their broken, splintered pieces, you cannot unsee them. You help them mend. You share yours.”

He didn’t care about anyone watching when he pulled me close and kissed me. Not long enough, and the kiss came from a place of fear. A tremble darkened his voice when he whispered against the curve of my ear, “Never doubt for whom my heart beats.”

“You might care with the best intentions, but I love her,” I shouted at them, finishing the rest over my shoulder as I walked away. “Go to Ravenspire for your reasons. I go for Elise Lysander.” No one followed me. No one tried to soothe me again. I stormed back to her shanty, locked the door. My back scraped over the wood as I slid to the ground. To the eaves I made a silent vow. By the end of tomorrow, I would find Elise. I could not stand any longer than that. By the end of tomorrow, I would be king.

“I have several,” I said evenly. “But most know me as Valen Ferus, the Night Prince.”

As my mother stood from the floor, she grabbed my hand and placed something cold in it. “For your marriage night.” I dropped my gaze to a small knife. One slight enough to hide on my thigh without being noticeable. I pointed my confusion at her. She pressed a kiss to my forehead, the gentlest she’d ever been. “Use it well.”

“My name is Valen Ferus, the Night Prince of Etta! And you, false king, you are in my seat.”