Page 112 of The Rose in the Shadows

“Yeah?”

“I had just hit my head pretty badly. I couldn’t use my powers, and the shadows were crawling up my skin. The pain was unbelievable. I was just about out of my mind with it. But I remember thinking about you. I remember thinking that I was sad that I would die without having the chance to kiss you again.”

He grinned sleepily. “The next time I kiss you, I’ll make it worth the pain.”

Clay slept through the night peacefully. He kept assuring me he was fine and I could return to my rooms, but I knew I needed just one more night at his side. The world would return to normal the second I left this room. There would be expectationsand responsibilities. There would be rules about who I could be with.

So I spent the night wide awake, watching him sleep and thanking every God I could think of for sparing his life. When the sun rose high in the sky, and I knew I could no longer avoid it, I folded the blanket neatly and laid it in the seat behind me. I didn’t bother waking him to say goodbye; he needed rest, and I needed to do something he would disapprove of.

I ran a hand tiredly over my face as I closed the door quietly behind me and prepared to face the world. “Okay, Dimitri, I’d say it’s time I go home-”

I froze.

Dimitri wasn’t the one waiting for me.

“I thought we should talk,” the Dragon announced, stepping forward from where he leaned against the wall.

The rest of the hallway was empty, not a guard or nurse in sight.

“Very well.”

He nodded his head and began walking away. The command was clear, and I followed the Dragon through the halls of the infirmary wing. I didn't know where our destination was, but I didn't dare ask. The Dragon didn’t like me on a good day and this week had been filled with bad ones.

He cleared his throat and tucked his hands together behind his back. “The nurses tell me you’ve been staying with him.”

“Yes, your Majesty.”

There was no use in denying that.

He sighed heavily, and for a few moments, we walked in silence. We stepped into the grand foyer of the palace with its sweeping arches and golden murals. He steered us toward the East Wing, back to the suites of the Council members. He was walking me home.

“Miss Moore, I must be frank with you. It’s become quite clear that my son is rather infatuated with you. I wasn’t particularly happy with this when I realized it myself, but at the time, it seemed that you could at least do one thing right by turning away his advances. Apparently, I’ve misjudged you yet again.”

The Dragon stopped walking suddenly, focusing his attention on me entirely. “My son has responsibilities to this realm. He will be a king, my girl. And you will never be his queen.”

“I’m very aware of my position in this court,” I reminded him. “I’m well aware of both of our responsibilities.”

“I’m sure you are. But let me remind you, your usefulness is in your womb. Plenty of fine suitors overseas would be more than happy to have their wife sharing their home.”

I sucked in a breath. Surely he wouldn’t do that. The Dragon wanted a complete Council. If he shipped me off as some mail-order bride, that would mean giving me to another kingdom entirely. He wouldn’t do that.

Unless he really thought Clay and I’s relationship was that risky.

“Love.” He scoffed. “A useless notion for people like you and I, don’t you think?”

Biting my lip and any retort that rose to it, I nodded. “I suppose.”

“Stay away from my son, Theadora. I don’t intend to have this conversation twice.”

He began to stride away, and I wanted to let him. I wanted to let him go so I could fully embrace the feeling of my heart-shattering, but I knew there was still one thing I needed to do before this day was over. And he was the only person who could make it happen.

“Your majesty?”

He turned, raising an eyebrow. He looked so much like Clay at that moment that it was truly painful.

“I’d like to speak with Camilla.”

The silence echoed around us briefly before his hollow laugh filled the air around us. “Absolutely not.”

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