Page 36 of Queen of War and Ruin

Anura and Elrick both stare at me.

“I am not going to annul my marriage.” The words come out sharp and hard. “I don’t want a divorce, I don’t want to be married to Blayne, and I do not want to marry Prince fucking Laurance.”

Elrick’s mouth falls open. I don’t think I’ve ever said that word before, fucking. It feels delicious.

“You don’t have to stay with the snake,” Anura says, almost apologetically. “Just because you were forced to marry him, or because he brought you back here. That doesn’t mean you’re indebted to him.”

I cross my arms over my chest and press my lips together. Zarek’s stupid, drunk whisper rattles through my mind. Don’t let me go.

Gods above. Every part of me hurts, from the blister on my foot to my stupid, broken heart. I don’t think I’ve ever been this exhausted; I do not have the patience to explain myself right now.

“Blayne?” Elrick finally asks, breaking the awkward silence in the room. “Your tutor? What does he have to do with anything?”

“He’s my other husband,” I say, bitterness dripping from my words. “He had King Malrik sign a new marriage contract right after murdering our father. Then Blayne forced me to drink a potion that almost killed me because he thought I might be pregnant.”

Elrick looks pale. “Gods,” he says.

“So, if I annul this marriage, I’ll have that to look forward to,” I say. My voice sounds as sharp as a blade.

“We could annul both,” Anura offers.

“No!”

It comes out louder than I intended. Both Anura and Elrick freeze.

“Why is this so hard to understand?” I yell. “You both got to choose! Why is my marriage suddenly your business?”

Elrick frowns and pinches the bridge of his nose. When he looks at me, I see the shadow of my father’s face, scowling and disappointed.

“You would choose the snake?” he asks.

I grit my teeth and keep my mouth shut. I’m done arguing about this.

“Lilias, that man is a walking disaster,” Elrick says.

And you didn’t even tell me you married my only friend, my mind screams.

Next to him, Anura opens her mouth, then closes it. There’s a crash from the kitchen below us, followed by distant laughter. Elrick sighs.

“Okay,” he says, shaking his head. “I guess the snake is coming with us to Ethiria. As your husband.”

I try to stifle the vicious rush of pride that comes with his words. I’ve never refused one of my brother’s ideas before. It’s a strange feeling, saying no.

“One more thing,” I add, before I can lose my nerve completely.

“Of course,” my brother says. He looks pale and exhausted.

“I’m not going to Ethiria until I’ve had a bath.”

Elrick grins. “By all means. The bathing room is just off the kitchen. But you’ll have to carry the buckets yourself.”

I nod, then leave my brother and his wife alone in their room.

Chapter 20

Zarek

YOU DON’T HAVE TWENTY GOLD