A Queen Comes to Power (An Heir Comes to Rise #2)

by C.C. Peñaranda

If time didn’t tear them apart, his heart would, for it had always belonged to another, and the truth that churned

his gut with self-resentment…was that he had used Faythe. Used her to feel again when he’d spent decades with a heart so numb.

“It’s not the act but the intention that separates the good from the evil.”

Caius

“You have me,” he whispered against the tender spot below her ear. “Until the last star in the sky winks out, you have all of me.”

“All we can do is never surrender. Never bow to fear, never yield to odds, and always be ready. Until the end comes.

Gods. He didn’t even want to acknowledge the dark feeling that coiled in his gut and flared his ire when he saw the beaming smile on the princess’s face at the chance of some alone time with Tarly. Jealousy.

“Magestone.” Tauria had only ever heard legend of the fae-incapacitating stone and matched his terror as she looked over the cell walls that sparkled with polished black.

“I’ve faced worse monsters, Faythe,” he said with an unexpected but soothing warmth. “Let me help with yours.”

Feelings of care. So slowly, since the day he laid eyes on those golden irises he didn’t even know, until it became too late. He couldn’t turn his back on her now.

“She is her mother’s daughter.” Agalhor stared wide-eyed at Faythe. The uncanny resemblance was enough to erase any doubt about who she was. It wasn’t only her mother she took after in appearance. “My daughter,” he little more than whispered.

“I promise to stand by you, Faythe Ashfyre. This day, until the end of days.”