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October 3 - October 8, 2025
She means when I say no. If profanity from the princess wouldn’t cause a scandal, it would be fuck no.
An assassin from the Hunter’s Guild would never be associated with the prim and proper Princess Marjoriana. But Asher is my dearest friend. My only friend.
“Hush, lovely.
“Even in Incendar,” he says. “I’d find my way to you. King or not, magic or not, I’ll do whatever needs doing.”
People have begun to speculate that my fire magic is somehow causing the droughts. It’s not, but I won’t deny it. The truth is worse.
I’d never say these words out loud in the palace, but I can tell that this man does not fuck around. I like it. It scares me how much I like it.
“I said that if this alliance is to proceed through marriage, he will not lay a hand on you again. If he does, I will consider it an act of war.”
It settles something inside me to know I have them both in a carriage, safe and sound.
The way he said, You’re mine right now. Like he’ll start a war if he doesn’t like what he sees. Sudden longing tightens my chest, and it’s so unexpected that my breath almost catches. Fuck. Fuck. Because I hate him. He already tricked me once, in exactly this way. But something deep inside me craves every emotion that his voice evokes. Something inside me trusts him, despite all he’s done and all that’s happened. I’ve been broken a thousand different ways, but never like this. Never with choice. Never with patience.
“It’s not that I hate it,” he says, his voice so quiet. “I’m just . . . broken, Jory.”
She’s so different from Asher, and I find it fascinating, especially considering their connection. He’s full of violence and rage, and it’s completely unbound. Every time he settles under my touch, it’s like taming a wolf. The princess is the opposite. This feels like freeing a caged falcon and hoping it returns to your hand.
“Am I hurting you?” she whispers. “No, lovely.”
“We’re not allowed. He told us not to explore.” At that, I look up and meet her eyes. “Jory. When has that ever stopped us?”
“You are not my prisoner, Asher. You are free to stay, just as you are free to leave. But no one will take you away from her. No one will take her away from you. Certainly not me.” I lean in, letting him hear the righteous conviction in my voice. “You are free. But if this is where you choose to remain, know this: no one will take you away from me.”
