Page 19 of The Dawn of the Cursed Queen

“I am not trying to upset you, but you need to consider all possible outcomes. Even for yourself.”

My head whipped to him. “Why are you being so headstrong about this? It’s been weeks. If something were going to happen, it would have by now. I mean, he seems—”

“My visions are sporadic. Some come in waves or fragments, but they are all broken.”

Dread clenched my gut, goosebumps flecking my skin. “What?”

Reggie shrugged a shoulder, and I realized he was slowly starting to seem more mortal than fate. “The whispers, the words from the universe, have never behaved this way before. I even have days where I see nothing but darkness, no matter how hard I manifest it. Whatever you did in that tunnel altered more than you think. The universe will always have its balance. There will always be consequences. I know mine, but what are yours?”

“Reggie.” I stood up straighter, reaching for his hand.

He pulled back. “I do not tell you this for pity, but you must be aware. If this has happened to me, what else has been altered? For you? For him?”

“I don’t care what happens to me,” I said, pulling my hand back, an easy, honest smile curving my lips because I meant it. “If you think I’ll ever regret it, you’re wrong.”

“I do not. I know your selflessness well, but I worry nonetheless.”

I clicked my tongue and smirked. “A fate with a heart. Who would have thought?”

The tension between us seemed to melt away then. Reggie cocked his head with a small smirk. It was such a mortal expression from one so ancient. “Perhaps I have just been in your presence for far too long.”

“If I’m your role model, you’re definitely fucked.” My chuckle made even fate’s lips twitch.

“You are far too hard on yourself.”

“Maybe, but now that you’ve mentioned it, could this be what is affecting Samkiel’s healing?” I asked. “I mean, it’s been weeks, and while it’s better, it’s still bad.”

“They think you two being unable to stay off of each other is slowing the healing process,” Reggie said, glancing at the half-cracked table behind us.

I snorted even as heat flushed my cheeks. “Kissing and sex are two very different things. We just had sex this morning for the first time in weeks. That is not the problem.”

“I am only telling you what they whisper,” Reggie said. “Everyone has heard the hidden moans after training or between his healing sessions. They are only concerned.”

The smile on my face was pure mischief. It was true that we hadn’t had sex until this morning, but that didn’t stop Samkiel from kissing and touching me since he awoke. For days, I’d been so damn worried when he hadn’t even opened his eyes. When he did, I needed that closeness.

A week after he woke, we had attempted to be together fully, only for him to nearly pass out from the pain. Since then, we hadn’t gone further than his hands pressing and squeezing, dipping between my legs. It was more than sex for us. That intimacy was another way we proved we were alive and still together. Of course, orgasms are always a plus.

My eyes narrowed. “Concerned? Yeah, okay, I’ve seen the way they look at him. I think their only concern is if they can have a turn.” I looked at Reggie and put my hands on my hips. “It was the one with the ponytail, wasn’t it? She’s always watching him. I wonder if anyone would notice if I pushed her off the balcony. Wait, can they fly?”

Reggie made a noise of disgust and covered his face. “Dianna.”

I went on but noticed he didn’t answer if they could. “Listen, besides my murderous tendencies, I think the magical death spear that was shoved into his gut and ripped the realms open is what has slowed his healing. You know, the one he died from? Not us fooling around.”

Reggie nodded. “Well, yes, but we cannot tell them that, I presume? Maybe their healing techniques would be different if they knew what he was stabbed with?”

“No.”

“I merely mean it may speed the healing process.”

“And the process of our enemies knowing he is alive. I don’t trust them enough to share that. Besides, if they are these miraculous healers, they should’ve been able to heal it without knowing. We stick to our original plan. If anyone asks, he is a soldier from The Eye, and I’m the defected Ig’Morruthen.”

Reggie sighs and rubs a hand over his face. “Very well.”

I exhaled, watching him carefully. “Is there something else?”

I knew Reggie, knew those wheels were turning in his brain.

“How’s your appetite?”

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