He kissed her tenderly, savoring her warmth.
There would be no warm kisses in his future.
A content sound slipped from her. He pulled his lips back.
“With every touch,” she began, “I can feel Magic unraveling inside me. You were right. It was me who cast this spell.” Mal watched her throat as she swallowed. “I’m scared to let it rip completely,” she confessed. “If I do break it, I’m scared of what that will mean.”
He kissed her lips once more, withdrawing slightly, and said, “It’s not a question of if. It’s when.”
“And when you have a queen. . .where will I be?”
He didn’t answer. He knew that moment with her was fleeting. As death circled Maeve, his own reaper breathed at his back.
“I don’t have an answer for that,” he admitted, his voice even.
A heavy breath shifted through her, but she did not complain. She didn’t have time to as his mouth claimed hers.
Chapter 15
Maeve pushed on Abraxas’ chest, gently moving him aside, and kneeled before Maxius, fixing his hair for the celebration at Castle Morana. “You’ve recited your speech twice already, Brax. Go away.”
“You’re inmywing of the castle,” he retorted. “The whole wing is mine.” He huffed and continued pacing across his lounge. “‘Go away’,” he muttered. “You go away.”
Maeve looked over her shoulder at him incredulously. He began to recite his speech a third time, despite her protests.
Juliet and Lyrux were already downstairs. Abraxas was, uncharacteristically, stressed as he marched across their luxurious residence inside the castle. Alphard had returned home as well. Though Maeve was certain he was relishing all the attention and praise he was already getting at the festivities.
Maxius let Maeve fix him as he played with his fingertips.
Maeve talked over Abraxas. “Victory, blah blah, all thanks to our new Queen, blah blah blah.” She pulled on the buttons on Maxius’ overcoat a little too hard. His eyes shot to hers. “Sorry,” she said, smiling softly.
Will Mal be there? Maxius signed.
“Yes,” she replied, careful to keep her voice void of any emotion. “Though I think tonight you should address him properly in his crowned title.”
Maxius shook his head and signed,He said not to.
“Well,” said Maeve affectionately, her heart heavy, “aren’t you special?”
Maxius smiled and crinkled his nose.
Abraxas was still muttering his speech under his breath as Maeve stood and took Maxius’ hand in hers. With a long and grounding exhale, she prepared to meet Mal’s Queen.
Abraxas’ speech was just as irritating the fourth time she heard it. She stood by Alphard, just below the throne’s dais, awaiting Mal, who officially claimed the title Dread King, and his new savior queen’s entrance.
Applause rolled through the hall. Abraxas oozed the perfect amount of confidence and humility as he had the honor of announcing such a monumental step for The Dread Lands. His arm spread wide as he turned towards the center of the dias.
Magic coiled up Maeve’s throat, her black inky veins hissing in warning. Maeve retreated a step, pressing back against Alphard. His hands steadied her hips as the corners of Maeve’s vision flickered white.
“Hold it together, my girl,” said Alphard, his voice low for only her to hear. “You can do it.”
His thumbs traced slow circles on her hips, a motion he’d made many times in the past during her episodes.
Abraxas’ voice became a distant whir of sound. His dazzling smile and his bright blonde hair blurred into one fuzzy image. One of Alphard’s arms slid around her front, holding her up just as Maeve’s legs began to turn to mush.
Two figures appeared on the dais, blurs of black and white. Mal was there; she’d know his silhouette anywhere. And she could only assume the white mass of light in her decaying vision was his new Queen making her grand entrance with Abraxas’ perfectly practiced words of gratitude.
Alphard’s voice was distant in her ear, but suddenly, both arms were around her, yanking her to the side.
