Crown of Roses by Hillary Raymer

Author:Hillary Raymer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hillary Raymer

Casimir gave Maeve three more days of recovery and then she met him in one of the courtyards to train.

It was the last thing she wanted to do. Already too much time had passed since they left Kells and ventured to Faeven in hopes of finding the anam ó Danua. There was no way of knowing how badly the Scathing had spread across Kells, if there was anything left, or if anything could be salvaged. Saoirse was concerned the Scathing would spread through the Cascadian Mountains to the south, and then down into the neighboring kingdom of Cantata. The threat was very real. And though they’d already been gone for over a week, it felt as though they’d gotten nothing accomplished and weren’t any closer to saving the human lands.

Thus far, the entire trip had been nothing more than a death trap from which they’d narrowly escaped. A harrowing journey that seemingly dumped them in the Summer Court and left them there with no way out.

The glint of Casimir’s sword cut through the air above her head, jarring her from her thoughts.

“You’re distracted,” he mocked, twirling the hilt with one hand.

“No,” she snapped. “I’m thinking.”

“Same thing.” He lunged toward her and their swords clashed, the rattling clang of metal echoing in the courtyard. “Thinking can get you killed. There’s only action and reaction when it comes to war.”

Maeve blocked his next strike. “You’re wrong. Preparation before battle is key.”

She whirled away from him, but he matched her step for step. Hand-to-hand combat was second nature to her, especially when she sparred off against Casimir. She moved with him, relied on muscle memory to lead her, depended upon the knowledge he drilled into her over and over. It was like a dance when she trained with him, an intimate study of one’s partner. Though it hadn’t always been that way. There were many times he sent her back to her quarters in Kells bloodied, broken, and bruised. Today, however, the sun was blazing down upon them and even their shadows seemed to lag with the heat of the day. Sweat slid down her legs, and the cotton dress she wore clung to her skin, so every motion, every jab, was sluggish and leaden.

Casimir struck again, but she dodged the blow. She ducked low, rolled against the soft ground, and popped up behind him. Tangled wisps of messy hair fell from her ponytail and stuck to her dampened skin. She shoved them back from her face and stole a breath of the sticky air.

“Tell me what’s on your mind, Your Highness.” He stalked closer. Predator to prey. “What’s gotten you so distracted that you’re out of breath and panting?”

His taunt made her simmer with fury.

“I am not panting.” She swung hard and the clattering sound caused a few Summer fae guards to stop and stare. Even Saoirse, who was paired off with Brynn, paused to watch them. “The only thing on my mind is getting out of here, finding the soul, and saving Kells.

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