Page 5 of Silver & Smoke
‘According to my spies, he was poised to march on Delmira a matter of days ago,’ Lucian replied. ‘My sources say he will aim for the capital, Dorinth, and establish a stronghold there in the ruins of the old castle, for it’s the only place Princess Elwren can be legally crowned queen.’
‘A challenge, no doubt,’ Darian declared. ‘A dare to the rightful heir to come and claim her throne.’
‘One you expect all the kingdoms of the midrealms to answer to, no doubt,’ King Leiko said, a clear note of bitterness in his tone.
‘I have no expectations,’ Wren told him coldly. ‘Though the midrealms should understand the threat... If the usurper holds Delmira in his grasp, he has the might of the silvertide roses to further his dark agenda, and they are out of our own hands to create any countermeasures. That means the rest of the kingdoms and their freedoms will be next.’
King Leiko’s narrowed gaze fell on Wren and the gold dress she still wore. ‘And how does the heir of Delmira plan to respond?’
Before she could answer, Darian swept in. ‘We shall visit the noble houses of the Devereux bannermen, gathering allies to Princess Elwren’s cause, calling in old oaths. We shall build an army in her name with every resource of the Devereux name at her disposal.’ Darian brought her hand to his mouth, his lips brushing her knuckles. ‘The world is at your feet when you are by my side, my love.’
Wren’s breath hitched as she caught Torj’s stare across the hall. His sea-blue eyes were full of fire, watching them from the shadows as Darian referred to her ashis.
I belong to you, she called down their soul bond.
But there was only silence.
‘Well?’ King Leiko demanded abruptly, staring at her expectantly. ‘Is what Lord Darian is saying true? Are these your intentions?’
If someone had told Wren at the end of the shadow war that this was where she would end up, she would have scoffed in disbelief. She wasn’t made to be a queen. She loathed the games of the rulers and nobility, but here she was, playing the biggest game of her life, with the highest stakes on the table. And so Wren refused to falter, refused to let a tremor into her voice. She didn’t look away, didn’t shrink back from the challenge. Instead, she stood and braced her palms against the table.
‘Wecannotlet Silas take Delmira. It houses the most potent silvertide roses in all the kingdoms, which could be our cure, or our poison. The usurper already has shadow magic in his possession, and, in the hands of an alchemist and a tyrant, the consequences would be catastrophic. As such, my education as an alchemist at Drevenor is at an end. My duty is now to Delmira, to the midrealms... and I intend to take back what is mine.’
CHAPTER 3
Torj
‘Denial is about as useful a cure as opium – deadly comfort that only hastens the inevitable’
– Wisewoman Vara
TORJ WAS GOINGtokillDarian Devereux. He was going to squeeze the life out of him with his bare fucking hands. Devereux’s father too. The whole damn family was poison and the midrealms would be a better place in their absence. Rage was consuming him like a fire from within, burning and burning, the flames almost out of control – until Wren’s soft voice sounded in his mind, her words echoing through their bond.
I belong to you...
But the ring on her finger said otherwise.
Perhaps a day will come when I’m not pretending.
Before them all stood a queen announcing her intentions to the world, which both soothed and tore at his heart. The midrealms deserved a ruler like her: perfectly flawed, duty-bound and strong, smart and cunning. Only she could unite the kingdoms against Silas and protect the silvertide roses that might be their only salvation against his spreading shadow magic.
Torj watched the council disperse, his shoulders bunching withtension. Whether it was because of Darian or not, Wren could never marry him. Not now.
As though the prick could sense his turmoil, Darian tucked a strand of hair behind Wren’s ear and laughed at something she said.
‘Easy, brother,’ Wilder murmured beside Torj.
It was rich, coming from Wilder. He knew if anyone so much as looked in Thea’s direction wrong, Wilder would punch through their chest and rip their heart out. Now, his fellow Warsword was poised in readiness, as though he expected he’d need to hold Torj back at any moment. Which was a fair assessment, especially as Wren and Darian made their way around the table, talking to the stragglers, including Darian’s father. Torj could see the ruthlessness in the older nobleman’s eyes as he surveyed Wren, no doubt weighing up how much she was worth in his schemes.
‘You have beenpoisoned, my Bear Slayer.’Wren had said she’d done this to save him, but Torj knew the Devereuxs, and he didn’t want either viper near her—
‘Torj?’ Dessa obstructed his view of the betrothed couple.
‘What is it?’ he said, trying to peer around her.
‘Wren asked me to run some tests,’ she replied. ‘We need working samples of your blood to show the masters. They might be able to help.’
That caught his attention. ‘What?’
