Page 147 of A Reign of Roses
I scowled at them both.
Amelia stood, righting the slinky layers of her pale green dress. “How is what Arwen herself was just suggesting any different? If I could have offered my own life for the safety of my people, I would have without a second thought.”
When none of us uttered a word, she added, “But I am sorry for the pain my actions caused. Of course I am. Perhaps procuring the sword was the first step of many I can take in earning back your trust.”
“You willneverhave our trust,” I gritted out. “You will be lucky to still have your own head when all of this is over.”
“So be it,” she said, utterly calm. “Today at least, we fight for the same side.”
“She’s right,” Arwen said. And then, to the kingsguard, “I can’t believe you’re alive. After you helped us I thought…”
The kind-faced man shrugged, almost bashful. “Lumerians are terrified of dragons. I told them Prince Ravenwood ripped you from my grasp…They didn’t find my story so far-fetched.”
Of course they were afraid of dragons. In Onyx, my shifted form was a symbol of our power. Our strength. In Lumera, the wyvern was one of fear and brutality.
Arwen smiled at him, and when my eyes found hers I saw they shone with a new resolve. I knew she saw the same glow in my own eyes.
We hadthe blade.
Flickers of triumph rose in my veins. Everything was different now.
“How did you even get here?” Eardley asked the newcomers.
“I fight with the aid of the entire Antler coven,” Hart said. “We got word to Queen Amelia that the blade needed to be salvaged from the palace wreckage. With the help of Wyn here we retrieved it, and my coven portaled us to Evendell.”
“Hart told me that if I helped”—Amelia’s stoic eyes fell to mine— “I might be spared upon my return.”
She was right, it was the deal we’d relayed to the rebel king. Still, I couldn’t look at Amelia for too long without bloodlust misting across my vision.
“Where did you find the blade?” Arwen asked Hart.
“Lazarus wouldn’t risk bringing the weapon with him, knowing he’d be in such close proximity to the two of you. That only left a few of his usual traps, and I’ve been studying the man for decades. I had a hunch.”
Whore or not, it turned out we were lucky to have the rogue on our side.
“Hart arrived once Lazarus and his army left for Onyx,” Amelia continued. “It was as easy as asking Wyn to use his clearance as a kingsguard to get Hart and his coven into one of the monster’s lairs.”
Wyn swallowed hard, some memories of what he’d battled swimming behind his hazel eyes. “I wouldn’t sayeasy…”
Hart laughed hard and rough and I almost couldn’t help my own grin. This ludicrous team of traitors and rebels had retrieved the fucking blade.
Arwen’s gaze wasn’t harsh on Amelia as she shook her head, amazed. “You and Wyn. Both in Solaris, and neither knowing the other wasn’t really allied with Lazarus.”
“Well.” Amelia smirked at the kingsguard. “After you blew up half the palace, Wyn came and found me. He said he’d seen us talking at the Lumerian Solstice and asked how he could help.”
Arwen’s eyes shuttered as she beheld Wyn. “You knew?”
Wyn shrugged. “I’m not as feeble as I look.”
Arwen shook her head, crossing the room to embrace him. “You never looked feeble to me,” she muttered into his shoulder with a half laugh. “We’ll need you in the coming fight.”
“You’ve got me.” He smiled faintly. “Put me to work.”
Eardley loosed a rare grin.
Hart cleared his throat. “I’ve put my faith in you, Kane Ravenwood, and I don’t intend to yank it back now, but I can’t stay. I cannot go to war with you all.”
“You?” Griffin balked. “Why?” After all I’d told my commander of the battle-loving bastard, I, too, was confused.
