Page 60 of Queen of War and Ruin

Ishiver as I stare through the window at the smooth stone of the castle’s wall. There’s a tiny lip just outside the window. Perhaps it would be enough to support my weight, and I could cling to the wall and somehow make my way to the balcony by Elrick’s room⁠—

I push away from the window. I feel like I’m about to be sick.

The guards haven’t left me alone for a heartbeat. Ever since the first guard spotted me sneaking out of the stables, he’s stuck to my side like a burr in a boot. I didn’t even get a chance to tell Elrick that we’re no longer the only royal guests in Ethiria.

I turn to Zarek. He’s frowning at the window like he’s calculating something, and my heart twists in my chest. If he tells me he’s climbing out of that window, will I let him? Could I watch that happen?

I walk over to him. Gods, he smells good. I feel almost dizzy, standing this close to him.

“I-I’m sorry,” I whisper.

His back stiffens.

“About what?” he replies in a low, dangerous voice.

“You were right,” I continue. “Last night. None of that was normal, and I— I didn’t believe you. I should have.”

Zarek glances at the door, then turns toward me.

“What did you see today?” he whispers.

He’s so close I can feel his breath against my neck. Heat rises in my body, and even though I know it’s not the time, I imagine turning to meet his lips, losing myself in his taste.

I shake my head, trying to force that aching pulse of need out of my mind.

“Malrik is here,” I tell him. “Laurance is going to make a deal with him, offer him something he wants.”

“Shit,” Zarek hisses.

“There’s someone else with him,” I add, forcing myself to continue even though the words sound ridiculous. “With Vsenrog. He looks like—an elf.”

Zarek is suddenly very still.

“Was he tall?” he asks. “Light hair and blue eyes?”

“I— I didn’t see his eyes,” I stammer.

“Godsdamnit,” Zarek whispers. “Malrik’s weapon. The war found us.”

I shiver. Zarek brushes his fingers across my arm, almost like he’s trying to comfort me. I imagine leaning into his touch, closing the distance between us, kissing him like I did hundreds of times in the tiny border towns as the Vsenrog crier called for unity between the kingdoms.

But Zarek pulls away. He stares at the window with a dark expression, and I wonder if he’s thinking about the tiny lip in the stone wall just beneath the glass, if that would be enough to hold his weight. When our eyes meet, there’s something wild and fierce in his gaze that makes the room feel cold.

“You need to leave,” he says quietly. “You, your brother. All of them. Tonight.”

I nod. My throat feels dry, and my heart hammers in my chest like it’s ready to run.

“Elrick needs allies,” Zarek continues, “but he won’t find them here. His next move should be Lisal, I think. He can call for a conference of the Seven Allied Kingdoms.”

Zarek’s fingers tremble against my arm, then fall to his side.

“I’ll distract the guard in the hallway,” he whispers. “When we’re out of sight, gather everyone in Elrick’s room.”

I nod again. Zarek points at the darkness outside the window.

“Elrick’s room opens onto a balcony,” he says. “From the balcony, you can drop onto the roof of the second floor. There’s an oak tree against the southern wall. You should be able to climb down that and get to the stables⁠—”

“Wait,” I whisper, cutting him off. “What about you?”