Page 14 of Regal Queen

He was still sleeping, his eyebrows furrowed, even in his deep slumber. I tentatively reached upwards, brushing a lock of his golden hair from his face. The space under his eyes were hallowed out, blackened by pain or exhaustion. He was still gorgeous but he was different, more gaunt and haggard.

There was something else that was different: the feel of his skin under my fingers didn’t send a thrill through me like it had before.

And Bourbon?Where was he?

I turned, agony shooting through my body as I moved. I bit down on my lip as pain shot up my hand and into my arm when I accidentally brushed my damaged finger across Coulter. God, that hurt.

And yet, I needed to see Bourbon.

Every millimeter was agony. My arms felt like a million weights were strapped to them, like I was pushing against deep sand. But I finally managed to lay onto my back.

I searched the room until finally, dark blue, piercing eyes, clouded with pain and worry, met mine.

I sucked in a breath, breathing in the warmth billowing in my chest, along with that tingling sensation that had been missing only seconds ago.

God, he was so beautiful and so warrior-like at the same time.

I couldn't believe that he was here in the room, looking at me. Concerned about me.

How the fuck did I get so lucky?

I smiled, unable to stop the happiness spreading out onto my face. “Gothel."

His eyes flickered with humor but the edges tightened with restraint. “Rapunzel.”

“Your nose.” I wanted to reach out and touch his face but my arm was too heavy. “It looks shorter.”

His lips twisted up in a half smile. “It’s an illusion.”

I closed my eyes briefly, the sound of his raspy voice filling every cavity in my body. I loved the sound of his voice.

When I opened my eyes again, he was still staring at me with a too deep, too intense look. I suddenly wished he was closer. I wanted him by my side, to press myself to him, to physically feel his demanding but protective presence.

Why was he all the way over there, instead of in bed with me and Coulter?

I turned my lips downward into a pout. "Am I too ugly for you to cuddle with?"

Even though it was a joke, I was suddenly aware of how I must look. I hadn't had a mirror in Dimitri's estate, but I could see the cuts and bruises on my arms and legs. Large ones and tiny ones. I also didn’t have a comb. I must look terrible.

“You are beautiful, Rose.” His eyes turned a fierce shade of blue, and they wandered over my face then down to my finger. "I want you to know that I’m going to kill him, piece by piece." His voice was a dark rumble of promise. "No one touches you, Rose. No one."

My breath caught. No one had ever made me a promise like that before.

To protect me? Revenge for taking me?

I pinched myself. I must still be dreaming. “Ouch!" I breathed through my teeth and Bourbon's eyebrows furrowed.

"What are you doing?"

“Making sure I'm awake."

“You’re ridiculous.”

“Come here.” I lifted my fingers, patting the bed softly. After a brief hesitation, his eyes moving from my hand, to my face, then past me to Coulter, he sighed heavily, then slid out of his seat to kneel on the floor before me. His piercing gaze was back on me again, and his hand reached forward to touch my jaw, caressing it softly with his finger. He was serious again.

"Never again, Rose."

My throat was suddenly full. I choked back my tears. My eyelids fluttered with the comfort in his touch, but why wasn't he holding me?

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