Page 121 of The Dawn of the Cursed Queen

“How about we focus on this?”

I pursed my lips into a thin line. “Okay.”

She pushed her piece back toward me as I braced myself. That same force vibrated both pieces as we forced them together. I held fast as it shook. Hilma and I swirled our free hands, emerald magic weaving through our fingers. The pieces vibrated as if fighting. They wanted to stay separated.

“Madam?”

Hilma and I glanced toward the door, still holding the pieces.

“Not now, Lucielle,” Hilma snapped, turning back with a look of pure determination crossing her features.

“I apologize. I was supposed to stop by sooner and drop this off, but I had to help heal an amputated leg.”

Lucielle walked forward, dropping a small tied bag near us. The aroma of spiced meats and stew wafted from it, making my mouth water.

“The High Guard of the First Legion suggested this for you, Camilla. I believe the note reads: To help do your job properly.”

A zing spiked through my chest. He knew he wouldn’t make it here for lunch, and he didn’t want me to eat with the other guards. My magic flared at the images that flooded my brain, and the pieces we were holding snapped into place. A slow hum filled the room and then died the next second.

Lucielle jumped back, her eyes as large as saucers. I grinned in triumph, holding up the solid piece.

“We did it.” I smiled at Hilma, who was looking at the small bag between us.

Something flickered in her eyes, but it was there and gone too quickly for me to process it. She smiled at me and said, “No, you did it. My magic stopped the second Lucielle started talking.” She shot the girl a glance that had her squeaking before fleeing the room. Hilma watched her go with narrowed eyes before grinning at me. “You really are one of the strongest witches we’ve come across, or maybe you just needed encouragement.” Her eyes darted to the small bag and note again.

I placed the piece of carved stone down and cleared my throat. “No, I think we just make a great team.” I tried to cover up the uneasiness in my voice but failed completely.

“Sure we do.” She reached for another piece. “Ready to try a few more?”

I nodded, not daring to look at the gift left for me. We tried and failed eight more times before we left. We could only get the one piece together, but at least it was progress.

I took the bag with me when we finished for the night, but I waited until I was in my room with the door closed and locked before I glanced at the note. I read the note repeatedly until the moon crested, and a wave of uneasiness filled my chest.

FORTY-EIGHT

DIANNA

I groaned and pried my eyes open, smiling at the sight of the beautiful, large man sitting beside me.

“Black is definitely your color.” My voice cracked as I ran my fingers over his biceps. The heavy muscles flexed beneath my touch, straining his long-sleeve shirt. “Oh, you also smell nice, and you cut your hair again and trimmed your beard.”

“You’ve been asleep for four days, and the first thing you do when you wake is flirt with me?”

I snickered and stretched. I might have arched my back a bit, allowing the tops of my breasts to stretch the tank I wore.

“I’m hungry,” I purred, keeping my arms above my head. “Feed me.”

A slow, sensual smile curved his lips as he leaned over me. The same damn flutters I always got when he was near went into overdrive. I nuzzled at his neck, but he just grabbed something off the nightstand beside the bed and sat back up. He held a cup toward me, the contents the color of dark mud.

I pouted. “That’s not what I meant.”

“I know it’s not, but we’re also in a small tavern off the edge of Crustinaple with about thirty people below us.”

“So?”

“So, I am still not used to the feeling when you take from me, and I do not wish for a group of people to storm the room when you start screaming for me. So,” Samkiel said, shoving the cup toward my face, “this will suffice for now.”

I huffed and sat up, grabbing the cup from his hand. “So proper.”

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