Total pages in book: 13
Estimated words: 11696 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 58(@200wpm)___ 47(@250wpm)___ 39(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 11696 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 58(@200wpm)___ 47(@250wpm)___ 39(@300wpm)
A disbelieving laugh escaped her. “Did you forget already how you found me last eve? And what the ogres’ intentions were?”
“Yesterday you were terrified and had no time to think. So think on it now.”
She forgot, now and then, how Brom sometimes irritated the piss out of her. Think on it? What was there to think? Her uncle had long held that ogres were planning to destroy Innis. At one point, he’d argued for making the first strike, marching into the mountains and routing them out of their caves—only to have his son, his generals, and his councilors advise him to wait, as Innis’s defenses were stronger than an army advancing into unknown territory would be. Which was why her uncle had been so desperate to form an alliance with the Stoneheart clan; whether striking out or defending, the warriors’ strength would improve Innis’s chances either way.
When Flora had been taken, her uncle had been proved right…except the ogres hadn’t attacked the kingdom. Instead only two had tried to provoke Innis into declaring war on the ogres.
Nausea suddenly churned in her gut. “You think my uncle hired them?”
“So does your cousin.”
That could not surprise her. “Vash was always of the opinion that the evidence my uncle gave of the upcoming attack seemed slight. And I was always of the opinion that I was safe from him. That is why he took me in, and would have married me off—so he could make use of me in a way that wouldn’t enrage the rest of Innis. Instead he hoped to enrage them so they’d demand to go to war.”
“We believe he did.”
She gave a sick, hollow laugh. “No wonder he proposed marrying me to you. He knew that you would have led the Stoneheart clan into the mountains yourself if the ogres had eaten your betrothed. Is that why you rejected the proposal?”
“No. I would have always refused such a marriage.”
Her heart shriveled. “Oh.”
“And Vash and I had not guessed then that your uncle would use you in such a way.” His voice suddenly roughened. “Flora?”
“I am well.” She hastily wiped away the tears that had dripped onto his forearm. But her response was hardly more than a croak and he would know it for a lie. Pressing her palm to her mouth, she tried not to sob, but it seemed a long time before she could trust herself to speak, and still it emerged on broken breaths. “What was…the message?”
His arm around her tightened its embrace. “To Vash?”
She nodded.
He hesitated for a moment. “It is as I said. The Stoneheart clan will never be friends to King Martas.”
But Brom was friends with Vash. And Brom had vowed that Innis would be protected.
Oh. “Vash will kill my uncle and take the crown?”
“He will.”
Probably for the best. “He did not ask for your support?”
“Not when it might seem as if the Stoneheart clan had betrayed the offer of friendship that your uncle extended.”
And so that no one would wonder whether Brom had made a puppet of Vash after he claimed the throne. “I see. What was it that my uncle had hoped to gain by marching an army into the mountains?” Oh, but she could answer that herself. “The mines. It is said they are filled with jewels and gold, which the ogres care nothing about.”
“Two did.”
“True.” Because her uncle must have paid two to kill her. And now…what was she to do? “So you are taking me out of my uncle’s reach.”
“I am.”
“And I am to wait until all is settled before I return to Innis?”
Brom stiffened behind her. “You wish to return? Did I not please you?”
“I… I don’t—” Her lips smashed tight as tears threatened again.
His voice was harsh. “By the wetness of your cunt as you came, you seemed well pleased. So I will continue to court you.”
“Court me?” Pain ripped a bitter laugh from her chest. “You already rejected me.”
“Never would I reject you,” he snarled. “I rejected that marriage.”
Had she gone mad? Did words make no sense? “I don’t understand. How—?”
“Never would any of our clan marry to secure an alliance—or any other such arrangement. Only a marriage for love is acceptable.”
Her lips parted as his words filled her with hope, so much hope, yet she could not be foolish again. “For love? But your hearts are stone!”
“As they should be,” he said, and caught her chin to tilt her head back against his shoulder, his brow furrowed as he studied her face—as if baffled by her confusion. “Is yours not?”
“No! I wish it was!” Then it could never have shattered. “How can you speak of love if your heart is too hard to let it in? Wouldn’t your heart be impervious to love?”
A slow smile curved his mouth. “How can you speak of love if you believe a heart is soft and weak?” Abruptly he laughed. “Like chalk. That is what you meant? I believed it a jest when you said my heart must be akin to a soft, white stone. Is that what you wish? To share a love that will easily crumble in your fist?”