Danielle Jensen

“How liberating.” Lara managed to get the words out between coughs even as she envisioned the horror on her father’s face should he discover the island he’d failed time and again to beat in battle was defended by women.

“Perhaps fate will favor you and one day you’ll find out, Your Majesty. Although as it stands, you’ll need to content yourself with my flawless needlework.”

shook his head. “Maybe she dislikes cocky little bastards.”

shook his head. “Maybe she dislikes cocky little bastards.”

He fought like he’d been born to it, fearless, but clever, and she found herself unable to look away.

He hesitated, and she buried her face in his shoulder, certain he’d set her aside and reenter the battle. But he was injured and spent, and it would not end well. Panic rose in her throat, and she whispered the only thing she could think of that would get him to stay: “Please. Don’t leave me.”
His hands were hot against her back, both of them soaked with the blood of their enemies. “Lara . . .” His voice was pained, and she knew he was seeing the bodies of his people. That he was seeing his bodyguards, fighting and faltering against the enemy.
You could fight.
You could fight for him and save these people.

Aren grabbed hold of her arms, pulling her close. “Are you all right? Are you hurt?” He was pulling at her clothes, the blood of the dead sailor mercifully concealing that from her victims on the pathway.
“I’m fine,” she gasped, finally able to breathe. “You’re not.” He was bleeding heavily from a gash on his forearm, but she suspected that wasn’t the worst of it.

“Still believe those Amaridian sailors deserved mercy?” Aren said softly from behind her.
“No,” she whispered as she strode toward the nearest injured Ithicanian, ripping strips of fabric from her tunic as she dropped to her knees. “I don’t.”

“I will be the next Queen of Ithicana. And I will bring the Bridge Kingdom to its knees.”

“Maridrinian women are soft. They are weak. They are good for nothing more than keeping house and raising children. Except for you twelve.”