“Neither are those boots you’re wearing.” Bri tipped her head to Lina’s feet. “Styles change. You are the future Queen. You make traditions, not follow them.”

Lina froze, holding Bri’s stare. She seemed to war with herself, an unclear emotion bubbling to the surface.

“I suppose you will have to be making traditions too, if you compete for the Eastern throne,” Lina said. “Are you ready to be a ruler?”

“Does anyone ever feel ready?”

Lina grinned. “It will be good to have an ally in the East, should you win the crown.” Her smile faltered. “Though, I think you’ll disappoint many Westerners who think you’ll usurp me.”

Dragging her hand down her face, Bri said, “I don’t want this crown. I don’t want to rule the court that banished my mother with newborns in her arms.”

Lina stiffened. She had finally acknowledged it, the unspoken truth between them. Lina’s mother had banished Bri’s mother for fear of what Bri would do to her reign.

“Perhaps when the prophecy said you would seize the crown from its sovereign they meant Augustus, or perhaps . . .” Lina picked up her axe again. “Or perhaps they meant me.”

“I don’t know what the Fates whispered to that oracle on the day of my birth,” Bri growled. “What does seizing a crown even mean? It did not say save a kingdom. Who knows if the witch’s Mhenbic words were even translated properly.”

“Some of my people think that’s what it means, that you will save our court.” Lina gripped her axe tighter as she narrowed her eyes at Bri.

“You look like you really want to hit me with that thing.” Bri’s lips pulled to one side.

“I really do.”

“Let’s go, then.” Bri lifted her sword, readying to spar again.

Lina didn’t wait this time. She had so much pent-up aggression, and Bri was happy to be on the receiving end of her wrath if it meant watching the gorgeous Princess rain down blows with her battle-axe.

She ducked under another swing, darting away and then back in again, trying to land a blow. Lina dropped to one knee, trying to sweep out Bri’s legs, and Bri jumped, waiting for the recoil to kick out at Lina’s exposed shoulder. Instead of dodging the kick, Lina ducked lower, letting Bri’s foot fly past her neck and then shooting back up with Bri’s knee hooked over her shoulder. She grabbed Bri’s thigh, lifting her off the ground as she stood. Bri’s stomach muscles barked as she sat up, the momentum making Lina fall backward. Bri grabbed Lina’s neck, catching her head before it collided into the unyielding ground.

Her eyes locked with Lina’s for a moment, the two of them panting in surprise at the intimate position they’d found themselves in. Lina released Bri’s thigh, lowering herself to the ground, and Bri dropped to her knees beside her. They eyed each other again, surprised laughter rumbling in their chests.

“I was not expecting you to do that.” Bri chuckled, shaking her head.