Page 215 of The Dawn of the Cursed Queen

Silence fell, the unspoken truth hanging between us all. I glanced behind her at Logan, who stood in his cell, and then Neverra across from him. Both had their backs straight, their eyes glowing a bright cerulean blue. Neither of them moved, standing like perfect statues.

“Do you think they will come back?”

“Samkiel does.” Dianna didn’t hesitate, holding my stare. “And I will try my damnedest to make sure they do.”

“Thank you.” And I meant it so damn much. “For everything.”

Dianna nodded, sighing as she stood. She wiped her hands along her sleek black pants. “Yeah, well, that’s what family is for, and you said I was a part of yours a long time ago. I won’t let you take it back.” She smiled once more at me before heading up the stairs.

“She has an armada, Dianna,” I called out. “That much I do remember. A fleet large enough to take over every realm, and you’re her first priority.”

Dianna stopped, and darkness built in the room. “She will find, like so many others, that taking me, army or not, is no easy task.” She looked at me over her shoulder, her eyes burning and blazing red. “I fear no gods and no kings.”

My smile was brief. “I think she knows that, too.”

EIGHTY-EIGHT

DIANNA

The door closed with a click behind me, and I heard Cameron settle for the night. It was deep into the night, and the castle was dimly lit, but I didn’t need night vision to know a grumpy god was there.

“Eavesdropping, huh?”

Samkiel leaned against the wall, his arms folded. He seemed relaxed, but by the way he held his body, I knew he was pissed. “You’re not allowed to feed him alone.”

I snorted, not needing my ring to know what he was feeling. His eyes were hard and glittering, and I could read every emotion that flickered in their depths. Yup, definitely grumpy. I grinned before standing on my toes and grabbing the front of his shirt, pulling him down to place a kiss on his lips.

“Are you sure you’re not part Ig’Morruthen?” I asked against his lips. “The jealousy and territoriality are identical.”

He made a noise in the back of his throat before returning my kiss. I pulled back before we could get carried away and nipped at his lower lip.

“He can’t help how he feels,” I said. “Don’t make this more difficult on him, okay? He was turned, used, and left.”

“Like you?” he asked.

I chewed the inside of my lip, thinking of how to word the next part gently. “Not really. Kaden helped me more.”

That didn’t help. Samkiel bristled, the perfect line of his jaw flexing. “Before or after he asked you to . . . How did you word it? Blow him?” Samkiel said, and I felt the storm in his voice.

I rolled my eyes. “Okay, that was a poorly timed joke. Kaden may be scum and evil incarnate but we . . . He and I . . . We weren’t together until after I survived Thrash, and it was always consensual, even if he turned out to be a cheating asshole afterward. It wasn’t always like that.”

It was the truth, and Samkiel told me that was what he wanted from me, so I’d give it even if it pissed him off. There had been good times between Kaden and me, but they were brief, and the bad far outweighed them.

Samkiel looked away, his jaw clenched. “I like this fantasy I have in my head where you are mine and mine alone, and you have been for centuries.”

I couldn’t help the small laugh that left my mouth, thinking of a few other fantasies I had shown him. “I like that fantasy too, but if that were true, I wouldn’t know how to do that one thing you like so much.”

He shrugged with every bit of arrogance and confidence I had come to love so much. He nuzzled my neck, his breath hot against my ear as he whispered, “You’d be surprised. I’m a great teacher.”

I snickered and swatted his shoulder, pushing away from him. “Okay, teacher. Now, tell me why you were really eavesdropping. Miss me?”

“Actually, yes,” he said, straightening. “But also because Orym sent a message.”

Orym and Veruka had taken a few days to heal before they packed and left. It was bittersweet. I knew Orym wouldn’t stay once he got his twin back, but Miska took it the hardest. She was so used to having no friends that she latched on to the ones she had made. Orym promised to send her wisps and visit when he could, but I knew those would be few and far between. They were spies and hunted ones at that.

I crossed my arms. “He found something?”

Samkiel nodded. “Yes, he and Veruka both did. I am assuming it’s another member of The Hand. I say we both go, but now I’m concerned about Cameron.”

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