The Rivaled Crown (The Veiled Kingdom, #3)

by Holly Renee

I had been with Wren and Kai, barely standing after they dragged me from the sea. We hadn’t made it far. I had been in no condition to run, my body weak from exhaustion, my hands torn from gripping the oars for gods knew how long. Even Kai had been struggling under the weight of my near-unconscious form. And he had been in no shape to take them all on when they found us before we reached the outskirts of the coast. I had known the moment I heard the rustle of shifting bodies beyond the tree line that we were outnumbered. The torches flared first, illuminating the rebels who had become like family to me as they emerged from the dense brush, surrounding us. It was our men. My father’s men. And they were there for us. Wren had stepped in front of me, her bow half raised despite the way her hands trembled. Kai’s dagger was already drawn, his stance tense, protective. But we all knew the truth, it wasn’t a fight we could win. Not in my condition. Not against so many. Then, he had stepped forward.