Page 81 of Tale of the Heart Queen

“No. That isn’t true. I wanted to. From the very beginning. I never didn’t want to.”

He smiles, and it’s bright and beautiful, and I ride his hips, clinging to his shoulders as he guides me up and down. Our magic weaves together, his ribbons taming my lightning. We move as one, exploding together before I fall against him, and we sit in the tub, wrapped in one another, until the water grows cold.

Then we exit the bath and cocoon ourselves in warm towels before he sweeps me up into his arms and carries me to the bed. We snuggle under the covers, and he folds himself around me so I’m nestled into the curve of his body.

This is where I belong.

He is where I’ve always belonged.

CHAPTER 31

We sleep late the following day, desperately needing rest. My eyes peel open to the smell of coffee and bacon wafting up from downstairs. We had only a few bites of food before we passed out, and my stomach growls. The sound is enough to wake Nadir, whose lashes flutter as he gives me a lazy smile.

“Morning, Lightning Bug.”

“Morning,” I say, snuggling up to him.

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m tired and sore, but I’m so happy you’re here,” I say as my stomach protests again. “And hungry.”

“Well, we can’t have that, can we?” he asks before he lifts the covers and scoots out of bed.

“Where are you going?”

“I’ll be right back.” He digs into the pile of clothing provided by the innkeeper, finding a pair of pants and a tunic that are a bit tight for his large frame.

Then he leaves the room, and I take my turn digging through the clothing, finding a pair of soft brown leggings and a smaller tunic that fit well enough. There’s something about fresh, clean clothes and fresh, clean skin that feels like the most incredible luxury after the dirt and heat of the sand and the forest and that sweat-slicked escape I barely survived.

A moment later, Nadir appears carrying a tray laden with breakfast. He sets it on a small table in the corner and we sit down across from one another. I almost weep at the taste of coffee and how my teeth sink into the greasy ecstasy of buttered toast. I used to be so acquainted with hunger, but I’ve grown softer since then. I can’t grit my way through it like I used to, but I refuse to feel bad about that. No one should ever have to feel that way.

“So, tell me what happened,” Nadir says, and I sigh. I need to tell him so many things, but so much of it scares me. “Go back to the beginning. How about when you killed me?”

My expression drops, and he reaches over to grab my wrist.

“Lor. It’s okay.”

I rub my face with my other hand. “It’s not. I thought I—”

“But you didn’t. I’m here.”

“Yes, but I fear it made things even more complicated.”

“What do you mean?”

“I have a lot of things to tell you.”

“Okay, I’m listening.”

With my hands wrapped around my mug, I take a long sip of coffee, preparing myself. I tell Nadir about waking up in his father’s cart and everything that came after it.

“I broke through a pair of those cuffs—the glowing blue ones? Tyr was wearing them, too.”

“You mean arcturite?” Nadir asks, his eyebrows climbing.

“You had them on, too, but I suppose Zerra must have removed them.”

“You broke through arcturite.” He sits back in his chair, his voice full of disbelief.