“Briar, I figured it had nothing to do with you, so why mention it?”
I curl my fists. “I’m a part of this family and kingdom, too, in case you’ve forgotten while you’ve been away. No one seems to give a shit about if I’m in the loop or not these days.”
Maines steps forward. “You know that isn’t true, Briar.”
I spin on my feet, facing her. “Oh, of course, you take his side. Ask Barlowe what happened with your brother.”
Maines narrows her eyes. “You know I’m on your side. I’m just diffusing the situation.” She throws her arms. “Wait, what the hell happened with Thatcher?”
Biting the inside of my cheek, I mumble, “Never mind, it’s nothing.”
She drops the conversation and looks at me with wariness. “The king making an announcement is a big deal for everyone in this kingdom, so I’m not surprised he asked your brother to be here. That’s all I was saying.”
An unexpected bang startles all of us on the roof, the distraction welcoming. Most of my training equipment lies on the ground from a strong gust of wind.
“What do you do up here, Briar?” Barlowe finally speaks.
“She kicks ass! Right?” Maines winks in my direction.
“Sure do, and I’ve been wanting to kick your ass since you returned home, Barlowe.”
Before he can react, Maines grabs a fallen sword, and we spring into action, backing him against the stone ledge of the roof. Laughter bursts from our throats as Barlowe attempts to twist away but fails to do so.
“Get the hell away from me. You two are crazy,” he jokes, completely defenseless.
I step back, allowing Maines to move closer to Barlowe, pressed against the ledge. His eyes widen at her mere presence. While she is quickly becoming known as a healer in Daramveer, news of her beauty has spread far and wide, and I’m certain Barlowe notices it too.
“Barlowe, are you holding back? I thought you were Daramveer’s war commander,” she giggles.
She turns to me to boast when he springs off the ledge, knocking her down as he lands above her, both of his muscled arms on each side of her head.
Barlowe glares deep into her piercing blue eyes. “Say the word, Maines, and there will be no holding back from me anymore.”
Her lips part, and her blinking becomes rapid as he slowly stands, his hands brushing the side of her face. She springs off the ground, brushing the dirt off her clothes from the tumble.
“Get a room, you two,” I remark, trying to ignore the exchange altogether.
“I don’t know what you are talking about, Briar,” Maines backtracks, but her stare doesn’t leave Barlowe.
He pauses, thinking of his next words carefully. “Maines knows exactly what you mean, Briar, and someday I’ll gladly do that.” Backing toward the doorway, Barlowe says, “Maines, if you continue to impress me with your fighting skills, I may drag you up to the training camps to join the Daramveer army.”
“No way. I’m too busy healing the poor men you injure up there to subject myself to that kind of torture.”
“Please, both of you, be in the throne room no later than seven this evening. Father is having everyone meet for the announcement.” His gaze is slow to leave Maines as he looks her up and down. He shifts into the shadows, and Maines exhales, her shoulders relaxing.
She refuses to look at me for a few moments. I turn again to ignore the awkward encounter to pick up a few of the fallen weapons scattered around the roof. The small dagger that rests by my foot makes a thought enter my mind:
Take some of these back to your room.
After the past few days, there is no way I’m going back into the castle unarmed in the slightest. I break the silence, “You still have a crush on him, don’t you?”
She bites the inside of her cheek. “Briar, I’ve not seen him in years. Any crush I had is long gone. He made his point when he left five years ago. We had different priorities.”
I have a hard time believing that, but I nod.
I move to the edge of the roof. Over the past few nights, my dreams have become more real—as if preparing me for something coming—and I can’t shake the unsettled feeling within me. Looking out over Daramveer, my kingdom, thunderclaps in the distance rattle the ground around me and direct my gaze toward the lone isle of Andorwood. In a flash of distant lightning, my eyes catch sight of the outline of a ship heading in our direction. But as quickly as my eyes adjust, itvanishes. I can’t help but shudder as I feel a looming presence heading toward us.
Maines walks up beside me, taking my hand. “Things are going to change soon,” she warns. “Something has been twisting in my guts for days, and I have a bad feeling—a bad feeling about you, Briar.” She turns to me, fidgeting with her hair. I see a small tear forming in the corner of her eye. “That’s why I came home—to make sure you are okay.”
