A Vow So Bold and Deadly (Cursebreakers #3) - Brigid Kemmerer Page 0,3
honestly. Since Grey gave him an ultimatum, Rhen has been tucked away in meetings with Grand Marshals from far-off cities, with military advisors, or with his Royal Guard.
Which is fine. When I’m with him, a tiny ball of anger burns in my gut, and nothing ever seems to douse it.
The anger makes me feel guilty. Everything he does, he does for his kingdom. For his people. Being a prince—being a king—requires sacrifice and tough choices.
No matter how many times I remind myself of that, I can’t forget what he did to Grey and Tycho.
I can’t forget that I came back here instead of going with my brother.
Instead of going with Grey.
I turn back to Zo, but she’s sheathed her sword. Her eyes are tense. “I should return to my quarters.”
She doesn’t want to be here with Rhen. I hesitate, then frown.
Zo came to the castle months ago, when Rhen was trying to rally his people to defend Emberfall against the invasion from Syhl Shallow. She’d been an apprentice to the Master of Song in Silvermoon Harbor, but she had skills in archery and swordplay, so she applied for the Royal Guard—and Grey chose her, then assigned her to be my personal guard.
We became fast friends—a first for me, after the chaotic life I left behind in Washington, DC. She’s clever and strong, with a dry sense of humor, and sometimes I’d stay up well into the night when she was stationed outside my door. We’d wonder what happened to Grey after the curse was broken, or we’d whisper about the rumors over a missing heir, or we’d muse over what would happen to Emberfall if Syhl Shallow attacked again.
But then Grey was found hiding in another city, and he apparently knew the identity of the missing heir—but he refused to tell Rhen. Rhen tortured him to get the information, and he got it—but not in the way he expected. Grey knew the identity of the missing heir, because he was Rhen’s older brother. He was a magesmith, with magic in his blood. He was the heir to the throne.
He’d never known it. Neither had Rhen.
I helped Grey escape after Rhen tortured him.
Zo helped me.
It cost her a position in the Royal Guard. Grey once told me that his guards forswear family and relationships for exactly this reason. She was sworn to Rhen—but she acted for me. Rhen is never cold to her; he’s too political for that. But there’s an edge between them now. Like the ball of anger in my gut that won’t go away, I’m not sure it will ever soften.
I want to beg Zo to stay, because every moment I spend with Rhen feels prickly. But asking Zo to stay feels selfish.
Asking her to help Grey was probably selfish, too. Zo and I are friends, but she was my guard. Did she help me out of friendship, or out of obligation? I’m not even sure if it matters. She helped me, and now she’s out of a job—a job she loved.
Rhen isn’t heartless. He gave her a year’s worth of pay and wrote her a letter of recommendation, both of which she keeps in her quarters—but she hasn’t left, and he hasn’t forced her out.
She wanted to be a guard. She gave up her apprenticeship. She says she doesn’t want to leave me alone while everything is so precarious, but a part of me wonders if she doesn’t want to go home carrying the weight of the choices she made. Of the choices I made.
I’ve hesitated too long. Rhen comes through the doorway to the courtyard, trailed by two of his guards. He’s tall and striking, with blond hair and brown eyes, and his clothes are always finely detailed, right down to the ornate hilt of the sword at his hip or the silver hand-tooled buttons of his jacket. He moves with purpose and athletic grace, never a hesitation in his step. He moves like a prince. Like a king. A man born to rule.
But I can see the subtle changes. The shadows under his eyes have grown slightly darker. The edge of his jaw seems sharper, his cheekbones more pronounced. Unease has taken root in his eyes over the last few weeks.
His guards take a place by the wall while he strides across the courtyard toward us. Zo sighs.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper to her.
“Nonsense.” She curtsies to Rhen, even though she’s in breeches and armor. “Your Highness.”