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

by Helen Scheuerer

“Let me get this straight…” he said slowly. “You’re asking me to put aside my personal concern for your happiness and wellbeing?” “Yes. I need an army. I need funding. I need resources. I need time.” “And you want me to strategize as though this is some cold, unfeeling decision?” he asked, peering into her face as though searching for signs of madness. “No,” Wren told him. “I want you to strategize like this is war.”

“His name was Andor Terling,” he answered, each word falling like a stone into still water. “But he goes by Silas the Kingsbane now.”

The word betrothed rang out across the hall. And an arrogant smirk found him in the crowd. Darian fucking Devereux.

“You have been poisoned, my Bear Slayer. That is what Lucian Devereux told me in the archives. You were targeted when you rescued Queen Reyna.” “What?” Torj started. “You can’t believe a word that bastard says. He’s lying.” She shook her head sadly. “He’s not. I tested your blood for toxins myself.”

“Whatever it’s made of, it was designed specifically for you.” Torj thought back to the queen’s rescue… he remembered the chaos of the vapor, and the blue-grey smoke billowing from the broken vial beneath the enemy’s boot. Searching his memory for more detail, he jolted. The darts.

“Lucian thinks I’m caving to his will, that he has me over a barrel, but the engagement to Darian buys us time—time to find an antidote, and more resources to defend Delmira.” A hollow laugh bubbled from his lips. “How did we fucking get here? Darian, Wren?”