Page 55 of Merciless Is My Crown

“You can turn around, Anaria. It’s not like you haven’t seen everything already.”

I turned, our mutual embarrassment turning the moment into an awkward dance of shuffling feet and heated faces, both of us finally settling on tentative smiles to get us to the next minute, which couldn’t come too fucking soon.

“So…I came to tell you there’s been a change in plans.”

“We’re staying?” he asked hopefully, toned shoulders flexing as he buttoned up his trousers. He really was built, not an inch of fat on him, the line of dark red hair trailing down his flat, toned abdomen into his…I jerked my eyes up to his now-grinning face.

“I wish.” I paused to listen to the thumping downstairs. Tavion, most likely.

“We could use the rest,” Tristan pointed out quietly as he pulled on his shirt. A hint of disappointment went through me as he covered himself up. “We’ve been on the move for weeks without food or sleep and exhaustion is catching up to all of us. Surely a few days won’t make a difference?”

“No such luck. Thanks to Adele”—I couldn’t even bear to call her my mother right now—“we’re leaving as soon as you’re ready.” I launched into an abbreviated version of events and watched him devour the sandwich then down the coffee in one swallow.

He set the cup down carefully, dragging his finger around the rim as if debating something.

“Dane’s not lying. The Barrens witches are dangerous creatures. I had some…dealings with them when I was young, and they are infinitely more ruthless than any Fae I’ve met. All they covet is power, and they’d defend their throne ruthlessly.”

His eyes flashed, and for the briefest second, I glimpsed that red flame. “May I see this mark, if you don’t mind?” I rolled up my sleeve and he peered at the tree then dragged his finger slowly down the center. I felt that brush of his fingertip to the very depths of my soul.

“How much do you know about this challenge Adele supposedly issued on your behalf? What does it entail?”

I shook my head. “Nothing. Dane’s spooked, though. He was surprised the witches weren’t already here.”

Tristan’s mouth tightened. “Like I said, those witches care about only one thing, Anaria. Power.” He nodded to the mark on my arm, and I yanked my sleeve back down. “You are a threat to their power. Not only that, you issued a direct challenge. He should be spooked.”

“Then we’ll make it clear this is a misunderstanding,” I said quietly, not letting myself show how afraid I was. “Once we’re there, we stick together. And Adele issued the challenge, not me. I have no desire to fight anyone, least of all my own blood. I’ll find some way to negotiate with them, explain all we want is an alliance for our mutual benefit. I have no interest in their throne.”

“There is no negotiating with these creatures, Anaria.” Tristan’s lips thinned, but he blew out a breath as if this was a point not worth making.

“Thank you,” he said softly. “For helping pull me out of the shift. It’s been so long since that happened…I got lost. Couldn’t find my way back. Not until I heard your voice.” He went quiet, as if there was so much more to say, he couldn’t bear it.

“So,” I said casually. “A wyvern, huh?”

His eyes sparked as he pulled on his boots. “A wyvern. But as you saw, shifting into my beast is a dangerous business, in case you’re getting any ideas, Anaria.”

“I’m not getting any ideas,” I lied.

“At least your bow and arrows were with your horse so you still have your weapons.” I grinned. “After watching you put that arrow through Solok’s eye, I’m not sure your wyvern’s the deadliest thing about you, Tristan DeVayne.”

I picked up the heavy fur coat Tavion took from the Wynter Palace and ran my fingers through the soft fur. “I suppose I’ll need this. Find the heaviest cloak you can, Tristan. From what I’ve heard, we’ll be lucky if we don’t all freeze to death before we reach the Barrens.”

Dane shouted something unintelligible from downstairs, echoed by Tavion’s creative cursing.

“Damn, this day gets better and better.” Tristan crossed the room and opened the door for me. “Tell them I’ll be ready in five minutes and we’ll ride out. And Anaria…”

Tristan caught me by the arm, his fingers gripping me gently. “Whatever you’re expecting to find in the Barrens…you won’t. You might be half witch, but you are not one of them. You will never be one of them.” He leaned closer, and I swore—though I was probably wrong—he ran his nose along my hair.

When he pulled back, something ageless shone from his eyes, lit by a flicker of red fire. “You are something wholly different, something this world has never seen.” His teeth flashed in a wicked, feral smile.

“And you are going to change this whole godsdamned world.”

21

ANARIA

The next morning, minutes bled into hours as we rode, the silence so deep it was deafening.

“Howlers,” Dane had explained before we left, “come down from the mountains to hunt the passes before they hibernate for the season. They’re built like wolves but bigger, can move on two feet, but are faster on four. Be on the lookout for tracks. Tav and Tristan will guard our rear. If you see something, raise a hand, but no talking, and for fuck’s sake, no shouting unless you want to end up in one of their stomachs.”

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