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I’m naturally paranoid, so I reassess my instincts.
Yes, still feeling something is off.
On my palm, her magic stirs, heating it up, and then it’s gone. The females round a large bush, and I hurry along when I lose sight of them.
Deep inside the garden, her promising suitor Kostya awaits. Near him is a portal not of the queen’s making.
I start jogging. “No,” I say loud enough for her to hear.
The queen reaches the male, who looks up at me and smiles a smile of victory before placing a hand on the small of Chloe’s back and disappearing with her through the portal. Before I raise the alarm and go after her with an army, the older lady approaches me.
“Relax, Commander,” she says, sounding calm and sincere. “My grandson dotes on his queen.”
Standing near her, I can see the resemblance between Kostya and her. That’s why she looked so familiar.
“He breached the protocol. No portals are allowed on court property.”
“So the court will fine him.”
Or kill him. “What’s the meaning of this?”
“You are an imposing male, Commander, who tried to remove my grandson from court during the season.”
“I didn’t try. I did remove him.”
“Because he was courting the queen.”
“Because he broke the rules.”
She smiles, and, without my offering her an elbow, tucks her arm under it nevertheless. She squeezes my biceps, and her eyes twinkle in delight. “You are as handsome and as strong as the tales say of you.”
“Flattery will not get you anywhere with me.” I accept her unspoken invitation to walk in the gardens.
“Kostya is no match for you. I had to step in and concoct this devious plan. It has not been easy, I assure you. You are vigilant.”
“Where has he taken her?”
“To a nearby lake. Don’t worry. No harm will come to her.”
“I’ll kill him if it does. You must know this.”
She nods. “My grandson wants to make the Spring queen happy.” The old lady stops and looks up, her brown eyes pleading.
“Many want to make her happy,” I say.
“Then let her be happy with them.”
“I’m not holding her back.”
“You might not be, but when she looks at you, her heart swells. The longing is profound and painful.”
“You are empathic.”
This means she can read me too. This type of magic, while uncomfortable, isn’t impossible to shield from. The queen mother of the Summer Court wields similar magic, and I’ve made it my job to learn how to shield myself from it. I can shield from everyone other than Prince El’jah.
And I know I have hidden my feelings from the older female, because she says, “This queen requires love, laughter, and gentle handling, none of which you are willing to give her. The marriage between her and my grandson is what’s best for our court.”
“You don’t know what’s best for the court.”
