Page 63 of Queen of Serpents and Shadows

I set my palm on his bicep. “I’m so sorry.”

He placed his hand on top of mine. It was warm and the touch was comforting. “You’d have liked her.”

“I’m certain I would have.”

“Cora? Everything alright?” Sophia called.

I turned to see her waiting ahead, watching us with curiosity. I dropped my hand. “We’re fine.”

We started walking again and I couldn’t help but feel guilty for calling Bahar away from his people. I was so worried about saving my own that I’d left them unprotected while he was here with me. “If you need to return, I understand. I shouldn’t have summoned you.”

“I belong by your side. Kabir is there in my place. He can handle whatever arises in Drakous while I’m here. And I brought some dragons with me. We can help. When the Fae King arrives, I will fight alongside Athos to ensure your safety.” He was staring straight ahead, not looking at me.

My chest felt tight. “I don’t deserve any of the loyalty you’re showing me.”

He glanced over, a small smirk on his lips. “Careful, princess. You keep speaking like that and I might start to think you actually care for me.”

I was silent the rest of the walk to the palace, afraid I’d say something that might scare him away. Or worse, makethe warm feelings I was starting to have thaw into something more intense.

There weren’t guards stationed at the wide open gates. People were flooding in, and the few guards I saw were busy directing families to the empty spaces around the palace.

A few of Bahar’s men were stationed near the front doors, as if waiting for their king to return. To my surprise, they inclined their heads in greeting but didn’t speak to him or follow us inside. They seemed to have taken over spaces usually reserved for our guards. They were already working with us, defending my people, even without a marriage. But what would happen when things got more challenging? Would they even give us a warning before leaving?

We strolled down the marble hallway, past rushing servants carrying bundles of food and fabric. Every resource in the palace was being distributed to the citizens taking over the grounds.

“So, are you ever going to tell me the reason you needed me here so badly?” Bahar asked.

I grabbed his sleeve and tugged him away from the main hallway into the breakfast room. The table was empty, and the room seemed so small without my sisters gathered. I wondered if we’d ever do that again.

“Had to get me alone, did you?” he teased.

“I want us to get married. Now,” I blurted.

The playful smile on his lips faded and his brow furrowed. “No.”

“What?” I released my grip on his tunic. “I thought you wanted to marry me.”

“I do. But not like this. Not because you’re afraid I won’t help your people,” he said.

“Lagina told you,” I said.

He shook his head. “Nobody had to tell me, princess. It’s obvious you don’t want to marry me, but you care about your city, your home. Don’t worry, I’m not going to abandon you just because you haven’t given yourself to me yet. I can be very patient.”

I crossed my arms over my chest. “I don’t have time for patience.”

“You don’t want to marry me. And trust me, I have no problem getting my needs met elsewhere until you’re ready.” He shrugged.

I was fuming. “How dare you.”

“What?”

“How dare you threaten to fuck other women when you have me right here!” Rage consumed me. There was no way I would ever allow him to touch another woman. “You are an engaged man. You don’t get to bed other women. That’s not how it works.”

“You’re free to be with other men, if that’s your concern,” he said.

It felt like I’d been slapped across the face. I’d been with lots of men, for no reason other than boredom. I’d been with men to learn things for my mother, or to gain favor for my family. Then there was Tomas. The one I thought I was with for love.

None of them mattered anymore. None of them would ever satisfy me again. I grabbed the front of his tunic, low on his chest, then pulled him closer to me. His brows lifted in surprise.

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