Page 82 of A Kiss of Flame

She turned on him angrily and Finn felt the shadows snarl around her, rising in an instant. Her hand almost pulled away from his, but he held onto her, which made her pause.

‘No one knows the future,’ she replied, almost evenly. ‘It is not yet written. It can only be guessed.’

The prince smirked at her, a deliberately infuriating expression. He thrived on such behaviour. ‘You’ll find Hestia is remarkably good at guessing.’

‘Enough, Leander,’ Hestia snapped, her tone all warning. ‘You’re impossible.’

Leander scowled at her, his face tight with pain, loathing in his eyes. She was using the bracelet to try to stop him but this time he was fighting his way through the pain. ‘She didn’t see the crown of Ilanthus on my head when Father dies, brother dearest. She saw it on yours. Happy now?’

CHAPTER 43

WREN

Finn wouldn’t even consider it or discuss it. He stalked from the gallery, heading back down the stairs to the door and the outside world, and Wren hastened after him while Hestia remonstrated with Leander. The crown prince was about to lose that crown, and all hope of a future one. He’d seized his chance to kill Finn and almost succeeded again.

No wonder Hestia thought he had to be part of this plot in Pelias, let alone anything happening back in Sidonia.

But if not Leander, then who?

There were not many people who could produce shadow-wrought steel. Perhaps it was old, left over from the last war. Or perhaps Hestia was right and witchkind were somehow involved.

The courtyard outside was deserted, the other Ilanthians having already left as instructed. It seemed they had been eager to follow those orders.

‘Finn, please wait.’ Wren hurried after him. His legs were long and his pace was fast, especially when he was upset.

‘For what?’

‘For me?’

That did it. His step faltered and he did stop, looking back at her, his face apologetic. ‘Wren, I… it isn’t true. It can’t be true. It’s a trick or a lie or… or a mistake. She can make mistakes.’ He didn’t sound convinced.

‘Everyone can,’ she told him. Her hand touched his face, trying to comfort him, and he leaned into her touch, his long-lashed eyes flickering closed.

‘If I’m to be king of Ilanthus… what would that mean for us?’

It was the one question she didn’t want to think about, the one that had roared through her mind the moment the words were said. How could they be together? How could they have any future at all? How could Finn continue to serve the Aurum and remain himself if he was made king of a country dedicated to the Nox?

Balance, Hestia had said. There was a way through to be found if they could find balance. But giving him up entirely to the darkness wasn’t balance at all. How could it be? It would make him a slave. That had always been its plan.

‘I don’t know,’ she replied, truthfully, and stepped in close, letting his arms come up around her, needing to feel his touch. ‘But you could say no.’

He half laughed, a bitter and slightly twisted sound. ‘I’m not sure it works like that, my love.’

Wren kissed him, pressing her lips softly to his. ‘Really? Because it’s the only hope I’ve got left, in my case.’

Finn returned the kiss with a fire, pulling her to him and devouring her. She returned it full force, needing this, needing him, wanting him to know that she was still his and praying that he was still hers.

If she was queen of Asteroth after Elodie and he was king of Ilanthus…

This was wrong. It was all wrong. It had to be. There was no balance to be had in any of this. It was all or nothing. It wasn’t fair.

Reluctantly, Finn pulled away, gazing at her, his eyes so deep and dark they were almost black as well. She could see herself reflected there.

‘Running away and hiding in the forest is starting to sound like a definite plan,’ he told her.

‘I would leave with you in a heartbeat.’ She would if it would work. And why not? Why shouldn’t they? Just go, right now, and never look back. But then the pang of remorse hit her. ‘But… but I need to make sure Elodie is all right first.’

Finn had seen her embrace the darkness and be prepared to use it. She saw that knowledge flicker across his eyes. ‘Is that safe? To go back to the palace? To be so close to the Aurum?’