Thorns & Fire (The Ashes of Thezmarr, #2)

by Helen Scheuerer

But it didn’t matter how much damage he inflicted, or how much enemy blood he spilled… There was no forgetting what he’d done. To her.

He’d hurt her, hurt her to save her, and now… he’d never have her.

And then the sight of the confusion and hurt on her beautiful face when he’d ended things between them without so much as an explanation. He’d done it for her. To save her.

With all four guards taken care of swiftly, Torj and Wilder exchanged a look of grim satisfaction. Neither had broken a sweat.

“Gold will turn to silver in a blaze of iron and embers, giving rise to ancient power long forgotten…”

That gold would turn to silver in a blaze of iron and embers. That it would give rise to ancient power long forgotten.”

The queen gave a sad smile. “You loved her then as you love her today, and will for all the days that come after. You will always love her. That is the only thing that matters, Bear Slayer.”

“You’re the one they call the Bear Slayer,” she surmised.

The need for her burned so fiercely that he didn’t feel the chill in the air. He ached to touch her, to talk to her, and he fought every raging instinct to go to her, to take her pain as his own.

“You don’t get to call me that anymore.”

he forced himself to look away, to pretend her presence didn’t still set his soul ablaze.

“You’re mine to protect,”

“No one wanted it before. But now…” she managed. “Now it’s a prize.” Torj’s voice was grim. “Exactly.”

“This is where you lived?”

“Yes,”

“It’s very you…”

“What? Messy and chaotic?”

“...

“Wild and extraor...

You’ll bring that Warsword to his damn knees.”

“Do you think I’d allow someone to approach my wife like that?”

“Though I’m not the Bear Slayer tonight. I’m your husband.”

It was dangerous, being so close to him. The force of him was overpowering, and she worried she might lose herself again.

“That man burns for you, Wren. The sooner you both catch alight the better, lest you set the whole world ablaze.”

“The thought of anyone else touching you… kissing you… It drives me mad.”

“A Warsword’s duty is bound to the will of the Guild Master of Thezmarr. Their word is law.” —The Warsword’s Way

Wren stared at him then, and he couldn’t for the life of him read the storm brewing in her eyes.

I won’t let you. You’re mine to protect⁠—”

“No matter what happened between us…” Torj had to get the words out, had to let her know. “You’ll always be mine to protect.”

“Why did it feel like you’d taken a piece of me when you left?”

“I will find out soon enough, Bear Slayer, and when I do… you will answer for it.”

“I don’t break easily, Embervale.”

“We’ll see about that, Warsword.”

“I think that societies that do not adapt or bend tend to break.

The effects of whatever happened here today would be felt across the midrealms for centuries to come.

Gods, she hadn’t been joking about driving him mad. He’d overplayed his hand, and now he was once more at the poisoner’s mercy. Wasn’t he always?

This woman would be the end of him, and she knew it.

She was thinking of him. He could feel it.

“You have no authority here, Warsword,” Crane argued, albeit with a paling complexion. “No?” Torj challenged. “Fucking try me.”

it was the poisoner, the storm-wielding alchemist, who threatened to bring him to his knees.

“What I want to do to you isn’t what a good man would do,”

“Does that mean you want to do wicked things to me, Bear Slayer?”

“Wicked isn’t the half of it, Embers.”

“You are too valuable, too important to take risks like this⁠—”

“Do you know what it’s like to want someone so badly you can’t breathe?”

“And to know that no matter what, you can’t have them? They can never be yours?”

He hadn’t spoken those words aloud.

“I can’t take it anymore. I want you, Wren. I want you so badly I can’t breathe.”

“Tell me why it’s like this, Torj. Tell me why I can feel you in my blood, under my skin. Tell me why I can see your memories and share your dreams. Tell me why I can hear your thoughts. Just tell me why⁠—”

“Because we’re fucking so...