Page 61 of Tale of the Heart Queen

“Isn’t that your job?” I ask, trying to keep the judgment out of my voice. Probably not all that successfully.

“I knew that jacket would suit you.” She reaches out and dusts my shoulder before she adjusts the lapel, clearly trying to change the subject. I guess that’s the end of her chatty mood. I resist every urge to throw her hands off me.

“I think we’ll have one just like it made for the wedding—perhaps with some gold here.”

She presses her hand to my chest and then tips her head with a smile. “Won’t that be nice?”

“Zerra,” I say. “I have a mate. We can’t get married.”

“You just said you were staying.”

“Yes, but I’m not marrying you. I can’t.”

She shoves me in a playful way, but it’s a bit too forceful to be believable. My chair nearly tips due to her strength, and I grunt as I right myself.

“Don’t be silly. Your mate won’t be alive much longer.”

Those words snap me to attention. “What does that mean?”

She hums to herself as she stands up and strides over to the window.

“Zerra,” I growl, following her across the room. I grab her arm to turn her towards me.

“What the fuck does that mean? If you touch her—”

A sharp slap cuts off my words, my head snaps to the side, and I taste blood in my mouth.

“Do not grab me,” Zerra says, calmly smoothing down the front of her dress. “Her presence is a threat. And soon, you won’t even remember her. Soon, all you’ll need is me.”

If I thought I was angry before, it’s nothing compared to the visceral anger now churning in my blood.

“I’ll destroy you,” I hiss, taking a step towards her and backing her against the window. “If you lay a hand on—”

A movement catches the corner of my eye. The mirror lying on Zerra’s dresser flashes. Our eyes meet, and something in her expression tells me to go and look.

I’m moving across the room before I know what I’m doing, and then I see her.

Lor.

She’s running through a forest. Her feet are bare, and her face is covered in blood and dirt. She’s crying and stumbling, shouting something I can’t hear.

“Lor!” I scream as she careens into a tree and presses her forehead to it as tears mingle with the blood on her cheeks. “Lor! Can you hear me?”

My entire body trembles as my fingers go numb. She’s there. She’s alive, but she needs me.

I whip around to look at Zerra, who’s watching me with her hands folded in front of her and that same infuriating smile on her face. I stalk over, holding up the mirror.

“What’s happening to her?” I ask.

“Oh, she’s succeeded on her little errand,” she replies with a gentle shrug of her shoulders.

“The ark?” I ask, my teeth grinding so hard that I’m worried they’ll crack out of my head.

“Yes. She’s done rather well. Better than I expected, really. The only problem is that your father showed up and is currently hunting her down.” She tips her head and pushes out her lower lip. “Pity.”

I lift the mirror and stare into it, watching Lor run through the trees. Her movements indicate that she’s trying to hide. My father can’t get his hands on her. She stops every once in a while to scan the sky, her mouth moving as though she’s trying to keep quiet, but it’s obvious she’s calling for Zerra.

“Lor!” I shout again, but it’s no use. It’s clear she can’t hear me. “Help her!” I say to Zerra. “Do something! Let me go!”