Page 74 of Warrior Princess
“Lyanna!”
When I heard someone shout my name, I whirled around to face them… coming face to face with, “Orion. You’re here.”
“Stop this.” He slowly prowled toward me amidst the chaos of fighting soldiers. “You’re outnumbered. We have soldiersfrom Eldwain, Ellyndor, and the Central Plains. You don’t have enough to beat us.”
My eyes widened. I’d forgotten Caelan had befriended the governor of the Central Plains. We truly were outnumbered. I should have used Mykal’s spy network to do more recon instead of rushing in headfirst.
“Where is my father?” I demanded, scanning the area for a glimpse of where he was being held.
“He’s safe.” Orion took another step toward me, narrowly missing the swing of a sword. He tsked. “You know Caelan would never hurt him.”
I snorted. “I don’t knowwhatCaelan is capable of anymore. He is not the boy I once knew.”
“Lyanna—”
“Don’t call me that!” I shouted, gritting my teeth. “You’re a traitor! You promised Sir Edric you would protect me and you’ve broken that promise! What does that make you?”
He grimaced. “I’m not breaking my promise, because I truly believe I’m protecting you, Lyanna. Caelan is your best option. Ronan…” He shook his head, his upper lip curling in disgust. “He is no good for you. Look what they’ve already done to you!” He pointedly stared at the vivid scar across my neck. “Your blind devotion to him will only get you killed in the end.”
I frowned. “What happened to you? You never used to be like this.”
Orion gulped and his eyes darted away, ashamed. “My people come first. They always will.”
I nodded knowingly. “So you’re not doing this because you truly believe Caelan is my best option, you’re doing this because the elders told you so. Have you been monitoring me this whole time? Has everything always been leading us to this moment?”
“You don’t understand, Lyanna—”
I scoffed and raised a hand. “You knownothing.”
Orion’s eyes widened slightly before he gave a relieved sigh. Before I had a chance to wonder at his sudden shift, someone behind me grabbed my wrist, spun me around, and locked my wrist behind my back. My gaze widened when I realized who it was.
“Caelan!” I gasped and pushed against him with my free hand, but he grabbed it in a steely grip.
“I guess I didn’t have to go to you, after all,” he murmured seductively. “Thank you for coming to me.”
“Release me,” I growled.
He smiled icily. “No. I’m done playing nicely—”
“When have you ever?” I scoffed. “All of this… it’s just a game to you. But you won’t win in the end.”
Caelan smirked. “Valoria is already in my pocket, Lyanna. Together, you and I will rule Asteria.”
I grimaced and attempted to pull away. “What is your problem, Caelan? Don’t you know who your mother is?”
He froze, his hazel gaze watching me intently. “What is it you think you know, Lyanna?” he whispered.
I steeled myself. “Concubine Wilhemina is not your mother, is she?”
His expression hardened, and then he snorted. “You know.”
I nodded. “Yes, I know. You’re my half-brother, aren’t you?”
He tightened his grip on me. “It changes nothing!” he gritted between his teeth.
“It changes everything!”
The maniacal glint in his eyes was blinding. “Marrying within the family keeps the bloodlines pure. It’s been done in the past—”
