Page 15 of The Dawn of the Cursed Queen

Samkiel peeled one eye open, that damn smirk still curving his perfect lips. “Relax, akrai. On your home world, she would be no more than fourteen. She is merely a sweet kid.”

My jealousy instantly died, the Ig’Morruthen in me curling up and going back to sleep. “Now that you mention it, I haven’t seen any kids here.”

“There aren’t any. She’s the youngest, and from just what I’ve seen, she has no friends. So, yes, I asked for bubbles since you hate the other soap, and I was being nice.”

I smiled, leaning back into him, but before I could speak, he hissed and half sat up. I jerked forward, water splashing to the floor as panic outweighed any critical thinking in my head. The memory of that tunnel flashed through my mind when his face crumpled in pain and his skin turned gray, his light dying.

“What is it?” I scanned him wildly.

“Nothing.” He shook his head, failing to convince me with his fake smile. “You pressed . . . I’m just sore, that’s all.”

“Maybe having sex so soon wasn’t a great idea. Maybe we—”

“No!” He sat up straighter, and I snorted.

“A few more days or even a week isn’t going to kill either of us. Besides—”

“No.” He clasped his hand with mine. “It’s another way to spend time with you, and it’s the only time I don’t think. I just feel. If you don’t wish to, that’s fine, but don’t hold back from me because you think I cannot handle it.”

My hand swept across the side of his face, his hair still sticking up in different directions. “Okay.”

“Besides,” he lifted a shoulder, “I’ve fought battles that left me limp and damn near immobile and still had sex afterward. This is nothing.”

My hand dropped hard enough that the water splashed. “With who?”

His laugh echoed off the walls as he wiped a few stray bubbles from his face. “I was just trying to distract you.”

“Distract me?” My nose scrunched. “Oh, so funny. I’ll distract you.”

I leaned toward his laughing mouth, my lips hovering over his as a swirling mass of energy formed in the doorway.

“Roccurem,” Samkiel said, but it was not the playful tone I heard mere seconds ago. Now, he was agitated. “Knocking is a pleasantry I’d like you to adopt.”

I snickered as Samkiel shifted in the tub, trying to hide me behind his massive frame.

“My apologies, my liege. I did knock, however, to no avail. The queen requests you. Her subjects have been persistent in wanting to remove the remaining stitches this morning.”

The muscles along Samkiel’s back flexed at that, and I drew a face in the soap bubbles that slicked the heavy muscles.

“That was to happen at midday.”

“Yes, my liege. It is way past.”

My finger stilled. “Wait, what time is it?”

I pushed at Samkiel’s shoulder, trying to move around him. He whipped his head toward me, a low noise of disagreement rattling in his throat.

I rolled my eyes. “Would you stop? Roccurem has seen both of us naked and together, I might add, probably several times. You know fate and destinies and all.”

Samkiel waved a hand. “It does not matter. Roccurem can wait outside while we get dressed.”

I could have sworn a light smirk touched the fate’s face, but it was gone just as quickly. “As you wish,” Roccurem said, seeming to approve of Samkiel’s protectiveness toward me.

He disappeared, and I stepped out of the tub, Samkiel right behind me. I gave him one of the towels and wrapped one around my body. “So territorial,” I said with a smirk.

He flicked my nose before kissing it. “I don’t share the naked sight of you with fate or otherwise. Now let’s get dressed.”

“Yes, my liege,” I said, lowering my voice like Reggie’s.

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