Page 191 of Tale of the Heart Queen

Then I press a kiss to her forehead. I don’t know what else to say. I wish this weren’t happening. I wish I could take her away from this. All I’ve ever wanted is to protect her, and I feel like I’ve failed at every turn.

She seems to understand and nods.

“Get some rest,” I say again.

Then she lays her head on my shoulder as we watch night descend inside our prison.

CHAPTER 67

LOR

Neither one of us really sleeps. As the light fades, the temperature drops, and Nadir and I cling to one another for warmth, making use of the threadbare blanket Herric provided. The wounds in my stomach start to heal, and the gash on Nadir’s shoulder looks better after a few hours of rest. At least Herric can’t stop our Fae healing.

Still, my stomach is empty and I’m exhausted from lack of sleep. In the hazy place between awake and asleep, I literally dream of sleep. Of a quiet room in a quiet cabin somewhere on top of a mountain, surrounded by miles of softly falling snow, where I can rest for days and wake up only to feed myself. I imagine Nadir next to me, his long dark hair spread over the pillow and the sheet tugged down to reveal his bare, chiseled torso.

I imagine curling up to him and basking in the warmth of his skin as sunlight falls over our bodies. I smell coffee and freshly baked bread that we share together under the covers before we make love until we fall asleep and then do it all over again.

I want it so much I can taste it.

“Lor,” he whispers as his mouth presses to the curve of my throat and to the dip of my collarbone. To the soft place below my navel. I snuggle deeper into soft white sheets, sighing in contentment.

“Lor, wake up.”

My eyes peel open, and reality crashes back in when my surroundings come back into focus.

“It’s starting to grow light out,” he says. I push myself up and rub my eyes as I roll my neck.

“Did you sleep at all?” I ask, noting the dark circles under his eyes and his pale cheeks.

“Not really. But I’m fine.”

“You’re not fine,” I reply. Neither of us is fine.

“No, but what are we going to do about it?”

I press my mouth together and shake my head, trying to hold in my tears.

“Let’s go. The sooner we get that rose, the sooner we can get the fuck out of here.” I’m about to protest that we have no chance of finishing this when he silences me with a look and clasps my chin between his finger and thumb. “We are getting out of here. There is no other alternative.”

“Okay,” I reply, wishing I could believe it.

He stands and then draws me up, and we wrap our arms around each other, holding one another for several long seconds.

“Come on.”

We pack up our meager possessions. I tuck my dagger into the sheath around my leg, and we emerge into the sunny morning. Or whatever this is.

Instead of the crowded stands, a mirrored dome now spreads over our heads, reflecting everything trapped beneath. Are the crowds still there, sitting beyond it? I close my eyes and embrace the freedom from their screams and cheers, basking in the comfort of the forest’s normal sounds: the rush of wind, the distant tumble of water, and the buzzing of insects.

“Where is everyone?” I whisper, and Nadir shakes his head.

“I suspect this is part of the game and intended to throw us off.”

Sticking close to the trees, we weave our way towards the mountain, and I can’t help the shiver that travels up the back of my neck. It feels like we’re being watched by a thousand invisible eyes rooting for our downfall.

We continue our journey to the center, keeping our sights trained on the distance and awaiting potential threats. The forest is dense and lush, filled with flowers and mushrooms. Trees hang with shiny red berries, and my mouth waters at the sight.

“What are the odds that any of these are edible?” I pluck one from a branch and hold it up to the light as if a warning might be etched into the tender skin.