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“Yes, please lead the way.”
I stretch my arm out toward the path back down the brink. She nods and walks past me toward the tree line on the opposite side. Her hair lifts on the breeze, swirling the intoxicating scent of roses around me.
There’s no path in the trees, and I hesitate to follow. She pauses, looking over her shoulder at me. Only the outline of her face peeks through her curls. “Do you not trust me, Theo?” she asks.
I search for that nagging voice in the back of my head that usually questions all of her motivations and actions, but it’s gone.
Yes. I trust her. She might be the only person left in this realm that I can trust.
I walk toward the queen and catch sight of a brief smile curving those sensual lips.
When we get closer to the tree line, I glimpse a small path, but it’s barely visible through the darkness. The forest canopy scarcely allows light to penetrate through the overgrowth.
“Do you want help, Theo? I can lead if you’re worried about tripping again?” the queen asks noticing I have halted before the path.
I’ll never understand how she seems to read my mind.
“Yes, please. I’d hate to get injured out here and become carrion for your monsters,” I say.
The queen cackles as she slides her delicate hand into mind. Flashes of lightning dance across my skin, more intense than the times before. Little pinpricks scatter along my fingertips into my palms.
The queen leads me through the shadowy woods along a path only she knows. She slows, and I step beside her, not releasing her hand from mine. The cloak of darkness enhances my bravery.
“Are you ready to see something truly magical?”
There’s wonder and joy in her voice. I give her hand a little squeeze before she drops it and steps forward.
“Welcome to paradise, Theo.” As she speaks, light floods the space around us.
She pulls back a curtain of thick, leaf-covered vines which act as a wall hiding a glowing waterfall with a small pool below. The moonlight reflects brightly off the water and stone, chasing away the shadows.
Cascading water mists the air where it crashes into the pool below. Rock walls form a half circle with caverns along the underside of the cliff snaking behind the waterfall and out the other side. Stepping into the light, the peaceful roar of the falls provides a soothing melody for my racing heart. The scent of fresh water and rich soil permeates the space.
The path tucks tightly between two large boulders, and we walk onto the soft-green coastline of the pool. Standing side by side, we take a moment to enjoy the view. This is the second time tonight she has shocked me, and I wonder what other mysteries this captivating woman holds within her. She smiles radiantly at her hidden spot as her eyes fill with delight.
How many people know about this place? Nyx, King Asher? I highly doubt there’s anything he doesn’t know about his beautiful queen.
A deep pain erupts in my chest at the thought, and I run my hands through my hair to distract myself. When I look back at her smiling face, warmth spreads through me.
“Do you want to go for a swim?” Her sweet voice snaps me back to reality but doesn’t erase the need growing inside me.
That’s a terrible idea.
“I would love to,” I say. Her smile grows at my words.
Gods, that smile may be my undoing.
If she asked, I would fall to my knees and denounce my king to align with her. I would bow to her and only her for the rest of my days just to see that damn smile.Pathetic.She’s been able to break through my resistance too easily. All I want to know now is if her skin tastes as sweet as her lips and if she moans the same as in my dreams. My cock hardens at the thought.
Her smile falters, and I worry I said something out loud. She backs away, and I fight the urge to reach for her. She pulls at the bottom of her maroon shirt, untucking it from her black trousers. Walking toward the waterline, she takes a seat on a boulder and unlaces her boots.
The image brings back memories of a time long ago with another beautiful, red-haired girl and our first kiss by the river. The fates have a twisted sense of humor.
Standing, she pulls her shirt over her head, exposing her pale, lean body to the night air. Her eyes dance as she sets the shirt down on the rock. My body hums with anticipation. I watch as she pulls the laces of her trousers and wiggles out of them, placing them atop her shirt.
She stands there for a moment in her undergarments, looking directly into my eyes. Her body is more divine than my wildest dreams: supple breasts with the hint of peaked nipples showing through her thin bra, a toned stomach lined with old battle scars, and long legs that would look perfect wrapped around my head.
I trail my gaze up her body as she turns to the water. The moonlight catches the scars marring her back. They crisscross in long, harsh lines. Several of them are raised and jagged, as if a rough knife were used to carve at her skin. Others are smooth, white lines with strange uniformity. A deep, primal rage boils within me at the thought of someone hurting her bad enough to leave those marks.
