Page 81 of Queen of Serpents and Shadows

I knelt down so I was in front of her. “Close your eyes.”

She did.

“Think about Bahar. What do you feel when you imagine him standing in front of you?” I could have reminded her about her duty to Athos. That would have been enough. But I took a chance, certain she was already at the point of no return with the bond.

She took a deep breath, then released it slowly. “I think of how annoyingly self-assured he is.” Her jaw tensed and her lips pressed together into a line.

I worried I’d made things worse.

“I think about his strong arms, and his stupidly handsome face,” she added.

A smile tugged at the corners of my mouth.

“I think of how he looks at me like he might devour me whole, but also like he’s never seen anything as fragile asme. How he cares about his people. How he went from demanding I give him heirs to refusing to marry me…”

She opened her eyes. “Why do I feel so warm? It’s different than how I felt about Tomas. I always thought I loved him, but what I feel for Bahar is not what I felt for Tomas. Is that what it’s like for you with Ryvin? Was it different than how you felt for David?”

My throat tightened as I tried to compare my feelings for Ryvin to David. He was the closest thing I had to someone I loved before Ryvin. The guilt of what I did to him would never leave me, but her words made me realize what I felt for him wasn’t love. It never had been.

“The closest thing I have to what I feel for Rvyin, is what I feel for you and Sophia and Lagina. There was never a true connection with David. Not like I have with Ryvin. It’s like he’s part of me, and I’m part of him. It’s hard to explain.”

She nodded. “I think I understand.”

“I know it’s strange,” I said.

“Sometimes, I’m angry that the fates took the choice from me,” she confided. “Tell me it’s worth it.”

“It’s worth it,” I said, without hesitation.

“Alright. But when I have babies that can turn into dragons, you’re coming to stay with me,” she teased.

“I wouldn’t miss it,” I said.

Another knock sounded, and I returned to the door to find Lagina and Sophia. They were both dressed for a wedding. Lagina in a reserved deep blue peplos, and Sophia in an airy turquoise chiton.

“You’re not dressed,” Lagina chided.

“It’s time, Cora,” Sophia added.

“She can wear one of my dresses,” Cora said, hurrying to the wardrobe. She pulled out a pale blue silk chiton. “How about this?”

Lagina walked over to the wardrobe and selected a deeper blue dress. “This. There should be no doubt that she’s representing Athos.”

“Perfect,” Cora said as she returned the other dress.

My sisters quickly helped me dress, then fussed over my hair and makeup. When they were finished, I was more elaborately dressed than I usually allowed. My hair dotted with pearls, my face shimmered with gold, and my lips were painted crimson.

“If only mother could see us all now,” Cora said.

Sophia winced and Lagina and Cora sandwiched her between them before Cora dragged me into the hug.

“Don’t do that, Sophia,” Lagina said. “Mother would be proud of you, and you know it.”

“Nobody cry, it’ll ruin our makeup,” Cora said with a laugh that was half sob.

Another knock forced us apart, and I had a momentary pang of sadness as we separated. When the fight was over, Cora would leave to Drakous, Lagina would continue to rule Athos, and I had no idea where I would be. But I knew, despite my blue dress and the love I felt for my people, I didn’t belong in Athos anymore.

This time, it was Ryvin and Vanth, along with Argus. Ryvin’s eyes widened when he saw me. He opened andclosed his mouth a few times, as if struggling to find words. “Wow.”

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