“Then stop speaking.” I turn to storm into the woods.
Elena rushes to my side, pulling at my arm.
“Just court her.”
“She does not wish to be courted by me.”
“Oh, trust me, she does. It’s been two weeks since you’ve been back, and she makes every excuse not to accept the others’ courtship gifts.”
My hands ball into fists at the mention of the others.
“Don’t be so grumpy that you miss out on the one chance you have at happiness.”
“Do not assume you know what happiness is to me,” I growl.
She stops, and I continue forward, fire burning in my chest.
“Fine, do whatever you want, but one day, Asha will be forced to take someone, and you’ll have to watch from your hut as they walk hand in hand through the village, laughing and being obnoxiously cute while you go back inside to your hand.”
Shocked, I spin to look at her. “What did you just say?”
Instead of answering, she gives a small“humph”and walks away.
How dare she assume!
As I storm past the treeline, my strides slow, and I eventually stop.
Every word Elena said pokes at unseen wounds, and I know that over time, they will grow, until there is nothing left but pain.
Princess Kasmina has no hope of mending them, as the very thought of her twists my stomach, filling me with dread.
I never wanted Princess Kasmina. She was all I had.
There is only one for me, and I treated her carelessly, driving her away.
But perhaps all is not lost, and I can prove to my Little Vaeyark that I am not the grumpy warlord she thinks I am. That I can be more.
For her.
“Squeak!”
“Fine!” I grumble at Harold, turning back around and marching toward the village. “We will win back this Penticari princess, or we will lose our honor trying.”
But first, I must find Nori.
26
ASHA
I watch from a distance as Elena argues with Ramsey, wondering what it is they’re discussing.
She was right to steer me away from him, as he is so dour, I don’t think my spirit could handle being around him constantly.
Lies!
Elena turns, and I hurry back across the village, to the longhouse where Gaerth is arguing with Amber.
“We must tend to the hides!” he grinds through clenched teeth.
