Read Online Princess of Thorns by Unknown - Free Book Online Page B

are ridiculously wee, so precious I would be tempted to make fun of them if he weren’t acting so strange.
    “Stop looking at me like that,” he says.
    “Like what?” I ask, innocent as a lamb.
    “With your careful eyes, and that careful voice, too,” he says, glaring. “I haven’t taken leave of my senses. My fairy mother says Ekeeta has enlisted carrion creatures as her allies. The queen throws them her scraps when she’s done harvesting a soul. In exchange, they spy for her.”
    “Scraps, eh?” My empty stomach churns. “I thought they were giving the criminals who feed the ogres’ hunger a decent burial these days.”
    “The days are changing.” Ror tugs his ear as he searches the sky one last time. “Maybe they didn’t see me. I hid the moment I spied them.”
    “Or maybe they were normal vultures and nothing to worry about,” I say, unable to keep the mocking note from my voice.
    “And maybe you’re a fool,” Ror snaps, but when he turns back to me he doesn’t look angry. He looks worried, older.
    For the first time, I notice faint wrinkles at the sides of his lips, lines that emphasize his soft mouth. The boy is pretty enough to be a girl. His sister must be even prettier. It wouldn’t matter if she were the ugliest lump of troll dung ever birthed—it would be worth wedding a dog with an ass at both ends to live to see my nineteenth birthday—but I can’t deny I’d enjoy a pretty wife more than a homely one.
    Just as I’d enjoy a friendly relationship with my brother-in-law rather than a strained one. Best to humor the boy. There are worse things than being too careful, or too shy to take a bath with other men around.
    “Go on, take a soak. You’ll feel better after.” I chuck Ror on the shoulder, doing my best to put him at ease. “When you get back, we’ll have a bite and you can get some sleep. I’ll take first watch.”
    “All right.” Ror moves toward the woods but turns back before he reaches the path. “I’m not crazy. Ekeeta does have animals spying for her.”
    “I believe you,” I say, with what I hope is an encouraging smile.
    “This isn’t a safe journey,” he says, tugging his ear again. “It’s dangerous to travel with a briar-born child.”
    He takes a deep breath, dropping his eyes before glancing back up with an expression so pitiful it makes me want to give the kid a hug. He doesn’t look old now. He looks like a child who has lost his mother. “Maybe you should leave me. I’ll understand. I don’t want you killed.”
    “I won’t be killed,” I say, pushing on when Ror opens his mouth to argue. “I understand the risk, and I’m willing to take it.”
    He blinks, and a furrow forms between his pale brows. “Why? For the chance to meet my sister? It doesn’t make sense.”
    “Wanting to marry your sister isn’t a passing fancy,” I say, sheathing my sword. “I thought long and hard before I came looking for her. Aurora is the only match that makes sense for me. I’ll do whatever it takes for the chance to win her. Even risk death escorting her brother across the country.”
    Ror bites his lip. “But there are other princesses. Princesses who have country and family and no price on their head. No ogre queen for an enemy.”
    “Ekeeta is everyone’s enemy.”
    “You know what I mean.” His head tilts to one side, studying me. “And why the rush? You’re not even eighteen. My father didn’t take his first wife until he was twenty-six. Wouldn’t you rather wait until you’ve had a few more bakers’ daughters?”
    “I’ve already had my share of bakers’ daughters,” I say with a wink. “And farmers’ daughters, and noblemen’s daughters, and magicians’ daughters, and a few fairy girls I met at a carnival who taught me the most amazing trick with—”
    “I understand.” Ror rolls his eyes. “You’re terribly successful at convincing girls to sleep with you. I’m sure your country is very proud.”
    I laugh, but Ror