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July 22 - July 23, 2023
“You seem remarkably pleased to be heir to a nearly bankrupt kingdom.” “Better that than a grave.”
So you see, Your Grace, a great deal is dependent on the continued survival of your little island fortress.”
“Zarrah.” Keris gave the slightest of nods. “You want me to arrange for her escape.”
“if you do it, she’s promised Eranahl will be supplied with enough food to outlast my father’s siege.”
“Which is why you’re going to use them to help orchestrate your own escape, and when you run, you’re going to take Zarrah with you.”
it was time Aren remembered how to think like an Ithicanian.
each of them with eyes of Maridrinian bastard blue,
The harem’s daughters.
“I intend to take back what’s mine.”
But Lara didn’t need his help. Or anyone else’s.
“No!” Aren tried to lunge forward, fighting against his restraints, but the table barely shifted.
I can’t help but want you. I know that I’d die without you.
which meant he’d been unwittingly working with his wife this entire time.
But instead of listening, he searched for Lara’s familiar form,
Aren stared, captivated, as Lara dodged and ducked.
moved, the knife in her hand flying past Aren’s ear. Twisting, he found a soldier behind him, sword lifted to strike even as he toppled backward, Lara’s knife embedded in his left eye.
“Forgive her. She loves you.” He dropped the old woman’s arm, feeling Lara’s gaze on him. Knowing she was listening. “She doesn’t know what love is.” “That’s why you should forgive her.”
She’d consumed his thoughts. Consumed his dreams. So it felt almost like they’d never been apart.
The blood covering Lara did more
What he wanted to feel was repulsed, but instead desire burned hot in his veins.
“Do you trust him?” Dark eyes looked up at him. “With my life.”
Her dark eyes met his. “On my word, if I get out alive, I’ll have supplies delivered to drop points in Ithicana where your people can reach them.” Then she touched her hand to her heart. “Good luck, Your Grace.”
“Jor tells me that you should be able to put this together,” she said. “He’s alive?” “Was the last time I saw him. He said that if you can’t build this, then perhaps you deserve your fate. I’m Bronwyn, by the way.”
They are not yours.”
Bronwyn reached over to pat him on the cheek. “Oh, you are magnificent.” Aren jerked away, glaring at her.
Aren’s stomach dropped. He gripped the railing, watching as Lara soared silently downward,
the world exploded around them.
“I’m going to buy us some time.”
SHES SO BAD I LOVE HER
Aren saw her dangling from a balcony. Climbing.
I need to go back.
“I’m not going anywhere with you, Lara. I’m going back to Ithicana.”
Please, Lara. You need to keep fighting.”
“I’m grateful not to be going with you two. There is nothing worse than being the third wheel in a lovers’ quarrel.”
Relief flooded through him as his errant wife stepped inside,
Nana’s voice pulled him back into the moment. “Well, the stars are truly not in our favor tonight, for here you are, still alive.”
“Because she’s a liar and a traitor who deserves to have her throat slit, that’s why!”
“You will never speak about my sister in that way or it will be you whose throat is slit. Understood?”
PERIOD
“You mean nothing to me. You are nothing. The only reason that the rest of my sisters and I agreed to help you was because Lara loves you, and we love her. Never mind that we owe her our lives.”
Lara remains Queen of Ithicana even if you’ve given up on being its king.”
SARHINA SLAYS
“Which is why,” Lara continued, “you and I are going to ride south and mend Ithicana’s relationship with the Empress of Valcotta.”
“You get better. I’ll have it no other way.” “You’ve gotten very authoritative, Your Majesty,” Bronwyn said before leaning into her.
For that reason, we’ll skirt the edge of the Red Desert until we reach Valcottan territory, then we can return to the highway and ride straight to Pyrinat.”
“Don’t be petty, Aren. Withholding this just to piss me off is a low blow.”
Loving you was my mistake.”
Making a decision, Lara dug her heels into the sides of her sweating horse and led Aren and his mount into the Red Desert.
But Lara didn’t falter, and he refused to be the first to break.
All they had to do was race the storm.
You can do this, she silently screamed at herself. You will survive this.
Keep going, she chanted. You will not let him die.
“Don’t you dare die on me, you idiot.”
Keep going. You are the goddamned Queen of Ithicana! You will not be defeated by sand!
PERIOD
