From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

against the Crown.”
His gaze flickered over myy face. “Didn’t I just tell yyou that I was a
good judge of character?”
“So?”
“So, I know yyou’re lyying,” he replied. I wondered what exactlyy made
him believe that it was me the guards had been talking about. “And I
understand whyy yyou would. Those men speak of yyou with such awe that
before I even met yyou, I half expected yyou to be a child of the gods. Theyy
would never report yyou.”
“That mayy be the case, but yyou heard them talking about it. Others
could hear them, as well.”
“Perhaps I should be clearer in what I said about hearing rumors.
Theyy were actuallyy speaking to me,” he clarified. “Since I too have helped
those who are cursed die with dignityy. I did so in the capital and do so
here, as well.”
Myy lips parted as myy stomach steadied, but myy heart flipped and
flopped around like a fish out of water.
“Those who come back cursed have alreadyy given all for the
kingdom. Being treated as anyything other than the heroes theyy are, and
being dragged in front of the public to be murdered is the last thing theyy or
their families should have to go through.”
I didn’t know what to sayy as I stared at him. He was speaking myy own
thoughts, and I knew there were others out there who believed the same.
Obviouslyy. But to know that he was willing to risk high treason to do what
was right…
“I’ve kept yyou up long enough.”
I arched a brow. “That is all yyou have to sayy about me being on the
Rise?”
“I ask onlyy one thing of yyou.” He rose, and I prepared for him to tell
me to stayy awayy from the Rise. I’d probablyy tell him I would. Of course, I
wouldn’t, and I didn’t think he’d believe me. “The next time yyou go out,
wear better shoes and thicker clothing. Those slippers are likelyy to be the
death of yyou, and that dress…the death of me.”