I rub my aching forearm. Alistair looks at it, then at my face. The girl and the lady are long gone, having run off while I was having a tete-a-tete with a harpy.
“Because of your arm?” he asks.
“Dunno.” Something is wrong. Can’t explain it. Can’t find the right words, even if I wanted to, which I don’t.
“Where’s Briar?” Alistair demands.
Alarm races through me like wildfire. I left her alone. What if there are other monsters? Why are they all coming here, all of a sudden? Belterre castle has never been directly attacked before. Not since before the fae wars.
“Safe,” I tell him, hoping it’s true.
Satisfied, he swipes a sleeve across his damp brow and says grimly, “They’ll never doubt my worth again. Not after today.”
As disgusted as I am by his self-absorption, he saved my life just now. I owe him. He’s been desperate for acknowledgment of his prowess in battle for years. Leaning on me was a shitty way to get it, but I cannot blame him for taking pride in an actual accomplishment.
“You fought well.” I clap him on the shoulder. “You’re a brave prince.”
I can’t lie and tell him he’s a good one, but at least he’s not a coward. A smile ghosts over Alistair’s lips. For a moment, it feels like we’re friends again.
“You’d better see to your people.”
Alistair scans the death field and nods grimly, reminded of his slaughtered wedding guests. “Right. That’s going to be a mess.” He turns his back on me. “I’ll finish this. Go and fetch my bride.”
Just like that, I hate him all over again.
Briar isn’t where I left her.
Fuck.
“Briar!”
No response. Panic explodes in my chest.
No.
Can’t be.
“Briar!”
She has to be here. She can’t be gone. She can’t. I need her too much. The entire kingdom needs her. She is the key to these monsters. I’m not sure how or why, but they’re drawn to her. She is the reason they’re flocking here now.
Briar
I break eye contact with the dragon and slip off the rock, my heart hammering. Dragons don’t venture into royal hunting grounds a half-hour ride from Belterre castle. They live in deep caves and high on mountaintops.
Dragons do not lurk in well-maintained royal hunting grounds in broad daylight, as a rule.
That soporific history book I was reading last night said so.
Apparently, you can’t believe everything you read in books.
If Killian doesn’t return immediately, I am going to die.
Fear floods my senses, overwhelming my ability to think straight. I’m a little girl again, lying in bed and trying to hide from the monsters I’m convinced lurk beneath it.
What did I do back then?
I gathered my courage, threw back the covers, and ran to my parents.
