Winter Queen by Erica Marie Hogan

Author:Erica Marie Hogan [Hogan, Erica Marie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Elk Lake Publishing Inc
Published: 2017-10-20T23:00:00+00:00

Brecken frowned at Brae’s back as they walked down the street. Noelle was sitting on his shoulders, kicking her little heels against his chest as her hands ran through his hair, mussing it. But he didn’t care. He was to ride out of the city tomorrow with half of the king’s army to seek out and kill Mirae Sundragon. The thought alone twisted his stomach. How could he willingly kill his wife’s sister, knowing what it would do to her? Imprisonment and a trial were the law in Sunkai for treason, yet his king seemed to have forgotten. Brecken was certain he could take Mirae without much violence, but disobeying orders would put him in the Blood Keep dungeons with her, and he couldn’t risk his family in that way.

Maxx appeared at his shoulder, narrow eyes glaring at anyone who looked at Brae. He was not dressed in the king’s colors today; instead, he was adorned in the dark blue and dulled brown boots he often wore during a long journey. Maxx was supposed to be riding to their mother’s old home in Quintaria, to warn their sister Clea to take herself and her household to safety in anticipation of the battle to come. Instead, he’d chosen to stay one more day, to be certain Brecken and Brae were safe walking the streets of Sunkai.

Of all of them, Maxx was the most suspicious, and there was something about the king’s manner in these recent months that had him struggling. Brecken never asked after his brother’s personal thoughts—Maxx had never been forthcoming. He did worry, however, that his brother whispered in shadows with faceless men and was sighted patrolling the dark streets when he was supposed to be resting in his barracks. There was a distance between him and his brothers ever since they took Sunkai alongside Roderick five years ago and unfortunately, the space had only grown larger. This was the king they had. A king who sowed distrust between brothers who were once inseparable.

Perhaps we were better off with the Sundragon. Brecken took a deep breath, shaking the thought from his mind. He was loyal to Roderick Kael, and nothing could change that. Reaching up, he took Noelle’s hands from his hair, mumbling under his breath. He grunted when she kicked him hard in the chest, and she giggled.

“Don’t kick your father, Noelle.” Maxx finally looked away from the merchants, grinning at Brecken. “He’s sensitive.”

“Never mind that.” Brecken shoved his little brother before jogging ahead to keep up with Brae. “Has the king spoken to you?”

“Our orders stand, Brecken.” Maxx glowered, his grip tightening on the hilt of his sword. “We are to dispose of Mirae Sundragon at the first opportunity.”

“Quiet!” Brecken hissed, glancing at his wife. “Brae doesn’t know our orders.”

“You have to tell her, Brecken.” As quickly as they’d hardened, Maxx’s eyes softened. He reached over, gripping Brecken’s shoulder. “Word will spread, she will find out on the streets, and then what will you do?”

“She’d never forgive me.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.