Page 20 of A Curse of Breath and Blood

The queen did not look back at him. “Good. She will need you in the future.”

Caiden kicked the air aimlessly. “She has a king to take care of her now.”

“She still loves you, and you love her more purely than I could have hoped for.” Isadora faced him then. Her heavy ballgown dragged on the stone floors.

“What are you playing at, queen?” Caiden arched a brow.

Isadora sighed, rubbing her head. “I need you to promise me something.”

Caiden swallowed hard. “Anything for Aelia.”

“Good.” Isadora pulled a dagger from the folds of her dress. “I want you to swear you’ll protect my daughters.” Dragging the blade across her palm, blood dotted her pale skin.

“The laws of this land bind me to my word. Why all this?”

“Because the laws of this land can be broken, but blood is forever.”

Caiden pulled a dagger from his bandolier and slit his palm.

Magic buzzed between them, heating their palms and fizzling out.

“What are you?” Caiden looked at his palm where a scar had already formed.

Isadora ran a hand through her silken hair, twisting the end around her dainty finger. “A mother who loves her children.”

7AELIA

Burningpain seared into every inch of my body as I headed back to the inn. The manacles still bound my hands. One soldier remained unaccounted for. More would come.

I had to get back to the inn and warn the others.

Dawn’s first light peeked over the horizon, casting the city in pink and yellow. Fisherman and salt sellers made their way to the lake for another day of hard labor.

I kept to the alleys, hoping no one would look my way, always looking behind me. Gideon’s men were quick, but it would be hard to track me with all the foot traffic heading toward the lake.

My head ached as the dust wore off. This would not be pleasant.

I pushed the door open to find Amolie still asleep in her bed.

“Amolie, wake up. I don’t want to alarm you, but we have to go now.”

Amolie’s hazel eyes blinked awake. “What are you talking about?”

“I fucked up. I fucked up big time.” I paced back and forth, body shaking.

Amolie popped out of bed, her messy curls flying everywhere. “Oh, Aelia. What did you do?”

“Pack, and I’ll get Caiden. We need to leave. Now.”

The door to the men’s room opened before I could knock. Lucius answered, wearing his padded riding attire, his hair pulled back into a white bun. “What did you do this time, Springborn?”

“I need to talk to Caiden, and I need you to take care of these.” I held up my manacled hands.

Lucius clicked his tongue. “I can’t decide if I want to know or if I should just pick the lock and let it be.”

“It’s not what you think it is.”

Lucius drew a lockpick from his pocket and got to work on my handcuffs. His face contorted as he waited for the click of freedom.

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