Curse of Shadows and Thorns (The Broken Kingdoms, #1)

by L.J. Andrews

A hum of warmth bled from her fingers. “When you see the beast within, let him in to let him go.”

The honor of the Kvinna's vows falls to the young, Herr Legion Grey.”

Legion took a step closer, voice rough. “If I had to guess, I’d say I make you nervous, Kvinna.”

“But vow negotiations are prestigious work. I have prepared for this for some time. I assure you, Kvinna, you are in capable hands.” “The only hands I consider capable are my own.” Legion lifted one brow, a playful gleam in his eyes. “Ah, but you have never experienced what mine can do.”

“I’ve been called a wraith more than once.” He flashed his white smile. “Will you join me inside?”

👀👀 is he??

“Of course, now that my dowry negotiations are open,” I went on. “It would be rather scandalous if I were seen with a man. Other than you, of course. Because you would never attempt to seduce me as negotiator.” “Oh, I wouldn’t say that,” Legion said with a sly grin.

“That is the hope. Many a mother would happily toss their daughters at your feet.” “Wouldn’t work, I’m afraid. I prefer my women off their knees, upright, and standing on their own.” “At your back?” “At my side.”

The Blood Wraith was gone on second glance. He’d returned. To my land. For me.

it’s def legion bye

Halvar hesitated. His grip around my waist tightened. “I swear to you, Kvinna Elise, we would not let him bring you harm. No one will.” “We?” “You understand what I mean.” I smiled. Legion.

I scrubbed the cup harder, but shuddered, forgetting how to breathe when a firm hand tugged on my arm. Legion hadn’t truly touched me before. I’d hardly call sparring an affectionate sort of touch. But his palm slid down the length of my arm, drawing me close enough I could see the hint of gold in the depth of his dark eyes.

Legion’s grin returned. “You are not made of weak bones. Not glass like I expected.” Cursed gods. I held my breath, frozen as his thumb brushed over a scrape on my chin, still visible from the other night. My fingers curled around the folds of his shirt.

“Not all Timorans ruin the earth. And not all Ettans tend it. We choose who we become, Elise.”

“The world would be darker should you be silent.”

“Elise, I asked because I wanted to warn you about him,” Legion said, a rough strain in his tone. “I got the feeling he has little loyalty to your king, or your family.” “No, he said Calder has the desire—” “Yes,” Legion interrupted. “The prince has plans, not the king.”

One pace from the hooded man, I stabbed my knife through the meat of his back. He roared his pain. He crumbled over his knees. Legion’s eyes were ablaze, but they locked on me, wild with astonishment.

“Bloodiest Ettan Battles.” I shook my head. “Mattis is aware I nearly died, right?” Bevan tried not to smile but failed. “I believe that feckless nephew of mine sent these books intentionally. To be inappropriate.” I scoffed. Only Mattis would hear I’d been stabbed, then supply me with writings of blood and battle.

I trapped Legion’s face between my palms, breaths heavy. “I thought . . . I didn’t know what happened to you.”

The calluses of his hand were rough on my cheek as he cupped one side, his thumb brushing away a tear. “You cannot be rid of me so easily, Kvinna.”

“Elise, stop,” he commanded. “You are not a murderer. Without you, I might not be standing now. The bloodlust you think you had, was nothing more than instinct. I assure you—I have seen, have embraced bloodlust. You defended the both of us. Nothing more.”

“I . . . I don’t like the idea of you being alone.” My insides backflipped. “You go above your duty, Herr.” “Duty does not drive me in this, Kvinna.”

“You were unexpected. Instead of a spoiled, arrogant princess, I was given you. Someone bold and daring and kind. What you have been dealt is . . . wrong. When these fools who come to me with coin, and promises, and threats, all for your hand, I see them as a strange kind of enemy. Forgive me, but it’s the truth on how I feel.”

At that, he took my hand and kissed the ends of my missing fingertips, his eyes rolling up to meet mine.

“All respect, Kvinna, but that is what consorts are for.” “I disagree,” Legion said softly, facing me. “If anyone should find a match that could be both lover and equal, it will—it should—be Elise.”

“All of this is what you deserve in a match. And I wish, by the gods, I wish I could give it to you.”

“A troubled heart,” she said. The room went silent. The girl stepped closer. “Release the past and trust those undeserving of it.”

“What your heart desires, there your fate lies.” She lowered her voice to a rough whisper. “When you see the beast within, let him in to let him go. Only then will he bring the change you seek.”

“The tomb. Open it. Change it all.”

“I ask how I am to give you to some fool because I do not know how. How am I to accomplish anything I set out to do here when my heart burns to have you for myself?”

He pressed another needy kiss to my neck. “Gods, Elise. This . . . you mean everything.”

Legion dug into his tunic and removed the black, polished stone from around his neck. His thumb rubbed over the surface, and he peered at it. Like looking at a reflection. Nothing happened, and I wondered if the stone was a totem of sorts, something to help him think, until at last he said, “He’s made it to the kitchens. Hurry now, if we want to keep our heads, we’re running short on time.”

he has a magic rock

“This will bind you to him,” Bevan explained. “His strength will be yours; you will not be harmed so long as he’s breathing. The bond of loyalty will last through the night.”

“Elise,” he said, as though embarrassed. “I cannot be harmed. I cannot die. Nor can Tor or Halvar. We will not bond with the Agitator because we do not trust her, and this only works with trust.”

Legion nodded and cleared his throat. “Elise Lysander. For this night I bind myself, my loyalty, and my protection to you.” My forearm prickled as the power from the potion traveled to my heart. Bevan gave me an encouraging nod. “Legion Grey, I . . . bind myself and my loyalty to you until the sunrise.”

“Trust and choice mean a great deal to you.” “They mean everything. Nothing can change if you do not choose it.” I took a deep breath and stepped back. Hot tears blurred my sight. “Understand something: I will never choose you again.”

The clergyman sobbed, begging for mercy. Legion noticed him first, then his slow gaze found Jarl, next me, tied to the bed. When the scene clicked, it was a frighteningly, perfect moment. Though, I ran from him, I could not deny I reveled in what his gaze told me would happen next. I’d seen the bloodlust in the Wraith’s eyes. Red, glowing, inhuman. This look was different. Black, simmering rage. The look of a mortal man defending what was his with his life.

“Who touched her?”

Jarl straightened at the window. Alone and at a precipice of fight or die. Hatred boiled in his eyes for me, but he slid his sword free from its sheath. “She is mine to take. But let me live, and you may have a piece first.” Halvar chuckled, lifted his crossbow, and gave a little nod at Legion. “Wrong thing to say to the likes of him.”

“No, I mean it. You’re different. Something about you calls to him. Even when the curse takes hold. When the fury changed those people, the ones who attacked your manor a week ago, he slipped me again.”

“I am forever changed knowing you.”

“I may know my name, but I have yet to question for whom my heart beats.”

“I’ve not forgotten, nor will I ever forget any part of you and your sacrifice.”

“Even still,” he went on. “This is where we must part, Elise.”

WHY

“I plan to stand against them but have no plans to reveal myself. The Night Prince is dead.” Valen closed the space between us, an arm curled around my waist. “I must avenge the past.”

why did i just get the ick

He made his choice. And I wasn’t it.