Page 169 of A Kingdom of Shadow and Ash

Wren curled her lip in disgust, blowing a strand of hair out of her face. ‘Watch that mouth of yers, brotha, before I wash it out with soap for saying silly things like that. I’m neva marrying.’

‘Thank the gods,’ Kage muttered.

Wren whirled and elbowed him hard in the ribs, grinning when even Kage let out a small grunt of surprise. ‘Do not be a twat, Kage Blackburn!’ She turned to Bryn, eyes flashing. ‘Ya ought to be defending me honour!’

Bryn only lifted his hands in mock surrender, barely concealing his laughter. ‘I wouldn’t dare intervene, sista.’

And just like that, the two men burst into laughter, sharing an unspoken amusement at her expense. ‘Fine, make fun of me both of ya!’ Wren huffed, spinning on her heel, storming off with exaggerated irritation. But the moment she disappeared around the corner, a wicked grin spread across her face.

‘Oh boys, ya just too damn easy,’ she muttered, skipping all the way back to Kage’s room.

…

After hours of indulgent wine-drinking and the delicate strumming of soft music filling the air, the grand feast was finally announced. Guests were ushered to their seats beneath the glow of golden chandeliers, the long tables dressed in lavish spreads of aureate and silk. Kage had spent the better part of the evening uncomfortably stiff, forced—by none other than Wren—to spend time with her brother.

To hismild surprise, Bryn Wynter was nothing like his sharp-tongued, ever-chattering sister. And yet, in some ways, he was eerily similar. Though Kage would rather drown himself in molten steel than admit it to the wolverian princess, he found himself tolerating her presence more than he ought to. Perhaps because she had the peculiar ability to make silence disappear, and for some reason, he didn’t seem to mind.

‘Ya seem like a fair prince,’ Bryn said, his voice as thick as the northern snows of his homeland as he dipped a spoon into the steaming bowl of soup before them—a drakonian delicacy, thick with mushrooms and honey. ‘But I would like to know why me sista is in ya room.’

Kage snickered, his dark eyes gleaming with mild amusement. ‘She’s looking after something for me.’

Bryn’s blue gaze sharpened, flashing with suspicion. ‘She getting herself into trouble?’

Kage leaned back against the chair, fingers tapping against the carved wood. ‘I do not know Wren so well, but the little I do know about the wolverian princess is that trouble seems to follow her wherever she goes.’

Bryn chuckled, nodding as if this was a universal truth. ‘Aye, that’s me sister. Small, but mighty.’ His tone was full of pride, and he took another bite of soup. ‘Ought to know what trouble she’s in, or can I trust she can handle it?’

Kage had barely touched his food, pushing the bowl aside. He would eat later, when the kitchens sent something palatable to his chambers. ‘She can handle it.’

‘Good.’

Kage opened his mouth to shift the conversation, to inquire about the wolverian prince himself, when a flutter of movement across the hall caught his attention. Haven.

She strode into the Grand Hall with the grace of a shadow, her presence subtle but sharp, herevery movement a study in quiet command. Kage stiffened, immediately rising from his seat to catch her eye. She saw him at once, but took her time approaching, stopping here and there to exchange pleasantries with familiar faces, her expression unreadable.

When at last she lowered herself into the chair beside him, offering a courteous nod to Bryn before turning to Kage, he wasted no time. ‘Why are you here?’

‘I left last night,’ she said. ‘I could not miss the engagement celebration, Kage. It would not look right when our sister is married to the Fire Prince. Kai decided to stay behind.’

Kage absorbed that information, his mind spinning.Interesting.

‘Mal left early this morning.’

Haven’s sharp, black eyes gleamed with confusion. ‘What? Where?’

‘She took Daku and flew home.’

A sigh slipped from Haven’s lips as her fingers drifted to the shadow-serpent curled about her neck, caressing its smoky form with absent familiarity, just as a servant approached with a steaming bowl of soup cradled in their hands. She declined with a quick shake of her head. ‘Well, at least Kai will be there when she arrives,’ she said, more to herself than to him. Then she frowned. ‘But why did she leave now? She will miss the engagement party.’

Kage gave her a look.Later.

She read his expression instantly. She always did. Haven had not been gone long, yet in her absence, it felt as though an entire lifetime had passed.

‘How are our parents?’ Kage asked, his voice softer now.

‘Worried,’ Haven whispered.

‘Any trouble flying across the wasteland?’

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