Page 97 of A Kingdom of Shadow and Ash

Queen Cyra lifted a single shoulder, a motion as dismissive as the words that followed. ‘Three sisters.’ She said it as though the number was insignificant. ‘I have heard of others that had many more siblings ahead of them and became kings.’

‘But why would father—’

The queen twisted, her icy gaze sharp as a blade. ‘We need allies, Alina. The witches are growing in power, plotting their revenge against us all. They will have our heads on spikes if we do not plan properly. The more kingdoms on our side, allied to us through marriage, the saferourHouse will be.’

‘Witches?’ Alina rose to her feet. Her mother abandoned her painting, gliding towards the table where the wine sat, unbothered by the rising tension in her daughter’s voice. ‘The witches are weak. No one has even seen a witch in over a decade. They are probably all dead.’

Queen Cyra snorted, an elegant, derisive sound. ‘The witches are far more powerful than anyone believes them to be. I have spies all over, child. They tell me what they see.’

‘Even if it’s true. Marrying prince Zahian does not change anything. I could marry any other prince. Prince Bryn of House of Snow is close to me in age. Why not him?’ She didn’t reallywantto marry him, but she needed to understand. ‘He is to become king.’

‘Do you really want to spend the rest of your life trapped in a castle made of ice and snow?’ Queen Cyra scoffed, her tone sharpening. ‘The phoenixians are similar to us. They believe in the same god. They have similar traditions and they are our neighbouring kingdom. Besides, I do not understand why you are acting as if Zahian Noor were a frail old man. He is a handsome young man who is a few years older than you.’

‘But surely father—’

Queen Cyralaughed. Not a soft chuckle, not a breath of amusement—but a sharp, knowingcackle. ‘Do you really believe that your father actually plans anything at all? Do not be foolish, Alina. I do not have a voice in this kingdom, so I whisper in the ear of the one who does.’ Her voice dripped venom. ‘Your father wouldn’t know if a war was coming to his gates until it hit him in the face, and even then he would not know what to do.’Her lips curled, the beautiful lines of her face momentarily darkened by disdain. ‘Who do you think gave your father the idea to marry Ash to the wyverianbitch? You truly think he came up with that all by himself?’

‘Why?’ Alina’s stomach twisted.

‘Because, Alina, there is a prophecy in place. And Ash is the chosen one. He will save us from the witches when they come. Until then, we must prepare for war.’

Alina stared. For the first time in her life, she wondered if her mother had lost her mind.Perhaps the stress of preparing for the wedding had pushed her too far. It was an enormous burden, hosting all the great rulers under one roof, ensuring alliances were mended, managing the whispers of court, the tempers of princes and princesses, the silent wars fought throughpoliteness and deception.

Maybe this was simply… too much.

‘One day, you will be the queen of the Kingdom of Light.’ Her mother turned, a slow, indulgent smile curling at the corners of her lips. ‘Your brother will rule here and you will rule overthem. I have seen it.’

‘Mother,’ she said tightly. ‘Mareena Noor is to become queen of their kingdom.’ Alina exhaled, her patience fraying.

She had said it before and she would say it again.

But this time—this time her mother smiled wider, and it was no longer a thing of beauty. It was something cold, something ugly, something that made the air grow thick with warning.

‘There is always a solution to that.’

…

Kai heard the scream of fury before he saw her.

Lying lazily on a stone bench beneath the shade of an ancient tree, he tossed an apple into the air, catching it again and again with a dull flick of his wrist. The morning had promised to be uneventful, weighed down by the stifling heat of this wretched land, but it seemed fortune had finally smiled upon him. Through one of the garden’s archways stormed Princess Alina, her hands planted firmly on her hips, golden skirts swishing with each furious step. She was muttering under her breath, sharp words laced with venom, her temper curling around her like a rising flame.

As always, she lookedmagnificent.Her golden dress concealed every inch of her form, leaving everything to the imagination, which only amused Kai further. He had often wondered what it would be like to unravel what lay beneath, tostrip away the silk and lace and uncover the woman hidden beneath the trappings of duty and expectation. The morning sun caught in her blonde hair, turning it into liquid gold, and her eyes—plain tawny drakonian eyes, by the standards of her people—held within them something far greater than their simple colour suggested. They burnt with an unspoken fire, a depth he doubted even she fully understood.

‘Is something troubling you, princess?’ Kai sat up, squinting against the sunlight.

Alina gasped, spinning around, eyes flashing in alarm before settling into annoyance. ‘What a fright you gave me!’ She exhaled, composing herself, before stepping towards him, the edge of her frustration still crackling in the air. ‘What are you doing?’

‘Enjoying the sun.’

Alina tilted her head. ‘I thought wyverians hated hot temperatures. Do you not spend your days moaning about how very hot this land is?’

Kai grinned lazily. ‘Do you pay so much attention over what makes me moan, princess?’

A violent flush crept up her neck, staining her cheeks. ‘Do not twist my words around to suit you! I don’t care what makes you moan.’ She crossed her arms, biting her lip in frustration, her anger now directed entirely athim.‘I have bigger worries to deal with.’

‘Such as what, princess?’ Kai leaned back against the bench, stretching like a satisfied cat. He could not imagine a single thing Alina Acheron had to concern herself with. She was royalty—pampered, adored. She dined on the finest meals, wore the richest silks, and was free to do as she pleased. Well,almostanything. He still had not quite figured out the absurd rules of the Kingdom of Fire and its many restrictions on women.

With a sigh,Alina moved towards the bench and sank down beside him.

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