Page 136 of The Crown’s Temptation

The words caught me off guard. I wrapped my arms around his neck and said quietly, "I love you too."

He climbed on top of me and slowly eased himself inside me. "Yes?"

Something in me eased. "Yes," I murmured.

"My queen," he said quietly, moving inside me. "I will say it again, in case you have forgotten. You are everything. Whatever you want, Asharin, you will have. Name a kingdom. Or a grievance. I am yours."

"Mine?" I breathed.

"All yours. Everyone who hurt you. Everyone who fucked with the life we had finally clawed our way to. They're going to pay."

He didn't move immediately. He simply looked at me as though he were memorizing my face all over again.

He thrust again and this time I could not take it. I clawed at his back drawing blood, my legs shaking as I climaxed.

When I came back to myself we were kissing in bed and I heard Fiorakis cry.

I went very still. I heard Saurin enter the room and begin reciting a nursery rhyme to her in a low voice.

I looked at Colsar. “Do they know?” I asked quietly.

He shook his head. “They do not know, they think you are dead. And you do not need to whisper, the room cannot carry sound or sight, apparently.”

Fiorakis wailed again.

My hands trembled. My own child was crying and I could not go to her for fear of being discovered.

“Saurin is not saying it right," I said quietly.

"Saying what right?" Colsar said.

"The nursery rhyme. It is not the right ending."

I listened carefully as she recited it.

A little hare hopped here and there

Looking for a crown to wear.

He searched all day, then went to play,

And found one waiting there.

"Are you sure?" he said.

"Yes." I paused. "That rhyme is the one I wanted them to know the most. I used to hear mothers telling their children it and I always told myself I would tell it to my children since no one ever told it to me." I sighed. "They have heard so many stories from us already but that is the one I was saving."

"Why did you wait?"

"Because I never knew the right version. I only ever heard it in bits and pieces being said to other children and I wanted them to have the perfect version. So I waited to find the storybook." I was quiet. "And now I realize my version was the best. I realize now that the children would have cared more about who told it to them than what was correct."

"What is your version?"

A little hare hopped here and there

Looking for a crown to wear.

He searched all day, Till Owl did say,