Chapter 1

Before I could say another word, Sebastian's temple vein bulged. He grabbed his bow and shot the messenger pigeon right out of the sky.

"Don't say things you don't mean. Lena and I will stay in your guesthouse tonight. Better than going back to the barracks and having the whole garrison gossip."

I didn't hesitate. "If you insist on keeping her here, then consider this engagement dead. I'll go to the King myself and have the decree revoked."

Lena stepped forward and punched Sebastian lightly on the shoulder. "Let's just go back to camp. No need to trouble Miss Lindon—she's a sheltered noblewoman, after all. Besides, the men already know how close we are. We've stripped down and shared a hot spring together. No one bats an eye."

She looked up at me, a dare in her eyes. "Hope you don't mind, Miss Lindon. On the march, we don't stand on ceremony."

I let out a dry laugh, too tired to play along. "You have ten seconds to get off my property. After that, I'm calling the sheriff for trespassing."

Sebastian's jaw tightened at my icy glare. Lena reached out on instinct to calm him—and that's when I saw it. My father's heirloom locket, dangling from her belt.

I crossed the distance in three steps and ripped it clean off.

Then I slapped Sebastian across the face. Hard.

"That was my father's dying wish—to keep you safe on the battlefield. And you gave it to her?!"

His cheek flamed red, but his eyes burned with anger. "It's just a piece of metal."

He snatched the locket from me and smashed it against the floor. "If it protects my deputy, then it's serving a higher purpose."

The crack of gold against marble—I'll never forget that sound.

I lunged forward, locked my fingers around his throat, and squeezed. "Don't forget, General. If it weren't for my father, you'd be a nameless corpse in a ditch."

My father taught me to fight from the time I could walk. He only kept me off the front lines because he couldn't stand the thought of me freezing in some border wasteland. But hand-to-hand? Sebastian once called me his teacher.

His face went purple. He couldn't breathe.

Lena drew her sword and pressed the blade to my throat. "Kill a war hero, Miss Lindon, and it's your head the King collects."

I glanced at the sword, considered my odds, and let go.

Sebastian coughed once. Then he ordered thirty mounted guards to escort Lena back to camp. He didn't turn around until their dust had settled on the horizon.

I didn't wait for his lovesick stare. I wiped the blood off my neck with a handkerchief and walked into the family chapel.

Three candles lit before the wall of family portraits. I kneeled on the prayer bench, lowered my head, and spoke softly, "If any of you were still alive, you'd never let me marry a disgraced general who keeps a mistress under my own roof."

I didn't get to finish. Sebastian stormed in and hurled a handful of wild berries at my knees. Then he yanked me off the prayer bench and slapped me across the face.

"Lena is a decorated officer who fights for this kingdom. You're a woman trapped in a gilded cage. Lena and I share something pure—brotherhood in arms. Don't cheapen it because you don't understand."

His brow still bore the scar from his blood oath, but I barely recognized the man in front of me.

"Pure enough to knock her up?" I asked flatly.

His knuckles went white. Then something vicious flickered across his face—the same look he probably wore before running down enemy soldiers.

He grabbed a wine decanter and hurled it at my family portraits. Then he drew his saber and split the carved memorial table in two. Candles and ashes scattered across the floor.

My eyes burned, but I didn't cry. I kicked him square in the stomach, twisted his arm behind his back, and lashed him to the banister with his own belt.

"Pig," I said.

The sound of carriage wheels on gravel pulled me back. I stepped outside and opened the gate.

Charles Crane had arrived—bearing engagement gifts, a full marriage contract, and absolutely no shame—to formally ask for my hand.