Page 28 of Ruin of Revenants

I didn’t bother stifling my laughter, letting everyone think I was joining in because of Lily’s joke.

“Really, if you’re going to gaze into each other’s eyes and stare at each other’s mouths right now, we can give you privacy,” Owen cut in. “Lily and I have no interest—”

“Oh! Do kiss.” Lily clasped her hands together. “It’s nice to see you happy. It’s a miracle that a female has finally convinced you to settle down.” Mischief danced in her eyes. “I hardly believe it!”

I stiffened and tried to conceal it with a smile. “I’m sweaty from our training; I’m not sure—”

“You’ll always be absolutely ethereal to me, my love,” Archer interjected. His smile was like a challenge, his eyes sparking with mirth. He wanted to annoy me.

I rose to the challenge. “Then kiss me senseless, my prince.”

Archer’s smirk widened as if he wanted nothing more, even though we’d lurched away, terrified of the very thought mere moments earlier. When he turned to face me, his back to his friends, there was cruel laughter in his eyes. I had the sudden terrifying feeling that he would sooner bite me than kiss me, and maybe while pretending to be in love, he could hurt me. He probably wouldn’t mind sharing in my pain if it gave him the satisfaction of tormenting me.

Make it quick, I snapped at him.

Trust me, I want to kiss you as much as I want to kiss a lizard.

He dipped me backward and I screwed my eyes shut, my stomach rising to somewhere in my throat and making me fear I’d vomit all over the floor and give away our ruse before it had properly begun. His hand at my lower back was warm, burning through my tunic until it seared my skin, while his other held my waist firmly. When his mouth pressed to mine, it was gentle, but hot, like flames dancing across my skin.

You’re not convincing anyone. Archer’s voice inside my head was as startling as ever. Kiss me like your life depends on it—because it does, Feathers.

And so I did, a chaste closed-mouth kiss that I hoped Lily and Owen didn’t read into, but even so, every point of contact with Archer continued to burn me.

I wasn’t sure what was more terrifying—the fact that my enemy’s lips were pressed to mine, or the fact that they were full of such scorching heat. I couldn’t repress my shudder, but thankfully, anyone watching would think I was shivering in delight from the prince’s touch rather than my aversion to it.

You’re a snake, I thought as Archer pulled away, smirking triumphantly as if he’d won something. And birds eat snakes.

Before he could retort, footsteps interrupted us. “Your Highness,” came an anxious, feminine voice.

We all turned toward the entryway, where a female in a wispy dress the same shade as her curtain of light blue hair gasped for breath. Her eyes were cloudy yellow and looked right through us. “I’m seeing disturbances in Blackshore. They’re trying to fend off the dead.”

Archer stiffened. “We need to leave. Now.” He nodded to the female across from us. “Thank you, Liana. You’re dismissed.”

Owen shot Archer an accusing glance as the female departed. “You’re still having the royal message keeper inform you every time she sees revenants across the kingdom?”

“Father doesn’t know, not with the charm she wears,” the prince muttered, but he sounded almost…apologetic. It was odd, hearing this arrogant prince sound humble when confessing to his friend. “I can’t abandon my people.”

Owen glowered, crossing his arms. “You think you can play hero when you’re Emberglade’s future? If something happens to you, you leave us in Princess Briar’s hands.”

“What does it matter if the whole Mortius-cursed kingdom is slaughtered?” Archer practically growled, stepping closer to his friend. “There won’t be anything left to rule.”

The tension that radiated between them felt old, like this argument had been rehashed more than once. Apparently, Archer’s foray into the fight at Solea's temple hadn’t been his first. I didn’t know what to think about that. If he believed the phoenixes were to blame for the revenants and he had cursed us, surely he wouldn’t be this desperate now. He’d know he was whittling away our magic and stealing our very lives.

But if not him, who?

I gritted my teeth, my mind whirling as Lily stepped between the males. “We don’t have time to argue about this. Owen, we already know we’re going with Archer, because we can’t stop him. Let’s cut to the chase and leave.”

Owen deflated visibly. As Archer pushed past him, his jaw set determinedly, we filed behind him.

“Does Isoria know what to expect?” Owen asked quietly as Archer led us into his bedroom.

“Somewhat, but we can explain more in the carriage.”

Lily didn’t waste a moment coming to my side and taking my arm gently in hers. “Ladies must stick together,” she murmured. “Besides, I’m eager to hear all the details about how you’ve successfully wooed the male who has spent his life charming every female within the kingdom.”

Archer cast a look over his shoulder, his emerald eyes cold and sharp with warning. He didn’t need to say a word for me to know he was reminding me to be cautious with my words and let him pick up portions of the story where I couldn’t twist the truth.

“Everyone ready?”