Page 61 of The War Queen's Daughter

Golden eyes flash with relief, a gorgeous smile, and the touch of a hand that sets me on a different kind of fire than the one I’m planning for Winderose has me gaping.

He tugs on me hard, jerking me forward into the carriage, and I land hard on the seat, spinning to call out to the Overprince, to warn him away. But Zenthris has Atlas by thewrist and is manhandling him on board, too. The door clicks shut behind the startled blond as Zenthris lets out a low whistle.

“What…?” Atlas meets my eyes, clearly in the dark, the carriage lurching into motion. I know who sits in the driver’s seat, not needing to peek through the curtains to prove it to myself. I hear Kell’s deep voice cluck to the horse as we pull away.

“Highness,” Zenthris winks at me. “Nice dress.” He gives Atlas the once-over as well. “Overhighness.” He sits back with a satisfied sigh while I scowl back. “Nice rescue.”

“She rescued herself,” Atlas says. “I just provided the means to leave.” Those blue eyes turn to me again, careful but unafraid. Trusting me. I wish he wouldn’t put that kind of pressure on me right now. “Which you figured out, apparently.”

I have zero trust in myself at the moment. “Drop the Overprince on the way,” I say.

“I’m afraid that won’t be possible,” Zenthris says. “We might need him.”

“You’re kidnapping him?” How stupidisthis rogue?

“I’m here voluntarily,” Atlas says in a gentle rebuke.

Zenthris laughs as the carriage picks up speed. “Of course, you are,” he says, amber eyes locked on me, mocking me. “I suppose you think you’re in love with her.”

Atlas shrugs, settling back in the seat. “I know I am,” he says. “You too, then?”

They stare at one another, the blond Overprince’s astute observation surprising me and Zenthris both.

“Where are we going?” I don’t have time to fall apart, and I’m blaming the rogue—the drakonkin rebel—for it. At least it gives me something to focus on.

“To meet some people,” Zenthris says, leaning toward me, hand on my bare thigh, the burning sizzle of what he claims is a kinspark waking again at his touch. I stare defiantly back. “Makesome plans.” He taps the end of my nose with his other index finger. “And maybe, just maybe, find a way to wake the dragon magic so you can do what you’re born to do.”

“What would that be?” Atlas’s polite question makes Zenthris frown. His usual buildup of charm falls flat when the Overprince interrupts with his honest curiosity, and I’m honestly here for it.

For all of it. I laugh, though there’s so little to laugh about.

Zenthris grins while Atlas’s smile lights up the carriage. “I’m amusing.”

“You’re precious,” I say, meaning only good by it. “Hands off,” I growl at the rogue who tilts his head at me. “I mean it. If you corrupt a single thought in his head, I don’t care what kind of spark you think we have. I’ll light you up, too.”

He bows his head to me, his smirk softening into something far more appealing and, at the same time, frightening. “Remi,” he says.

“I like that,” Atlas tells me. “It feels more complete than Rem.”

They are both going to be impossible to live with, aren’t they? “Shouldn’t you be jealous of one another?”

They exchange a look, amber on blue, before they laugh and shrug.

I’m crying suddenly, and again. “I hate you both,” I whisper as Atlas engulfs me in his arms.

“You’ll get over it,” Zenthris says, though he sighs and sounds sad. “I’m sorry, Remi. About all of it.”

“No more secrets.” I wipe at my face, but let the Overprince continue to support me because it feels nice and I’m cold and tired and broken inside, and something about him makes it better.

Zenthris pulls an item out of his shirt, on a gold chain. The round, clear stone isn’t a gem exactly, it’s too spherical, unfaceted. And as I stare at it, it seems to undulate slowly inside.

I’m leaning forward, fingers out to touch it before I can stop myself, but he shakes his head and tucks it away again.

“Not yet,” Zenthris says. “Not until we know for sure.”

I look up and meet his eyes while Atlas asks my question for me.

“Sure of what?”

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