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Hiram clears his throat from the hallway, out of sight. The queen settles herself in my lap, and I relax back into the chair.
“I guess I will have to settle for a bedtime story then.”
Her soft giggle causes me to smile. I could easily get used to the sound.
The queen reads me the story of the end bringer. The smooth timbre of her voice rolls into me in comforting waves. With each line spoken, the sensation of the story being on the fringes of my mind intensifies. The memory hidden deep within, waiting for the right moment to be released.
When she’s done, she places the book on the table before settling back in my lap. Being with her like this feels as if it’s how we’re meant to be. Trailing my gaze over her, I get snagged on the sight of the thin band on her left hand.
“If you’re not married, why do you wear a wedding ring?” I question.
She lifts her hand, the metal glinting in the lantern light.
“It’s a family heirloom, not a wedding band. It happens to only fit that finger,” she says.
A fleeting feeling washes over me of wanting to replace the ring with one of my own, but I push it away. That’s an irrational idea, especially since we haven’t even known each other for a month.
I’ve tried to force down the growing feelings I have for the queen, but it’s becoming harder to do. After a decade of thinking I’d never find love after losing my flower, it’s hard to realize that I may have found it hiding in the darkness. How poetic of the fates to have me fall for the daughter of the man who murdered my Amari.
I pull the queen tight into me, needing her presence to slow my racing heart. I’m not sure I’m ready to admit my affection for her, but I’ll gladly enjoy the way her body feels against mine.
The hair rises on the back of my neck, and I look up to see Hiram peeking around the wall. He quickly darts out of sight when he realizes he’s been caught.
“Nyx and Hiram don’t like me very much, do they?”
An audible growl comes from the queen, and I fight back a laugh.
“It’s not that they don’t like you, they don’t trust you. They’re afraid you’re going to hurt me.”
I give her a squeeze.
“They realize you’re the most powerful divinus ever seen in Omnia, right?” I question.
She shifts in my lap, trying to get a better angle to look at me.
“Yes, I reminded them both. For Nyx, it’s different though. Princess Juniper and you have been friends since childhood, right?” she asks, leaning on the armrest and bringing her gaze to mine.
“Yes, and you can call her Junie,” I answer.
She gives me a warm smile. I picture her with Junie. Two queens with opposite personalities, but I feel that they would be good friends. My heart beams at the thought of them together.
“Ok. If Junie were spending time with someone you didn’t know, wouldn’t you be concerned about her safety?” she asks.
I think this over for a moment and realize I would act like Nyx if the shoe were on the other foot.
“I would do anything to keep her safe.”
The queen nods slowly.
“You two are not very different. As for Hiram, you broke his nose when you got here, so he may hold a little grudge,” she says with a smirk.
Hiram peeks his head around the wall again to nod at me.
When I bring my gaze back to the queen, she is watching me. Her eyes are soft, and I pray the emotion behind them matches my own. I wrap a hand around the back of her neck, pulling her to me. The kiss is slow and passionate, and the desire burning through me rages.
She breaks our kiss and places her forehead against mine. I slide my hand down her back to settle around her waist. She takes a deep breath as her fingers move to twirl a strand of her hair.
“Go to the autumnus festival with me,” she asks, her voice low.
