Page 59 of When Day Breaks

She leans her head back, lips parted and squirming against the bruising hold I have on her thighs. I watch as she unravels before me, squeezing my head between her legs as I trace her entrance with my tongue.

The rest of the night we are prisoned to each other. She relinquishes her body to me, and I don't waste a single momentexpressing my gratitude and loyalty to her as I take my time devouring my wife.

20

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Lucynda

October 28th

The sun greets me in a warm caress, soothing over the chills that berate my skin as I leave the comfort of my husband's bed. I know he was up early this morning to prepare for the meeting he'll call over Hollows Trace later, which I hope to attend as well so long as Troian and I can secure the meaning of our plans today.

I'm starting to feel better about my place here as the queen, but also as Rivian's wife. As far as I know, there is no turning back. After hearing the options on how to escape vampirism, my only option is to try and work this out.

Maybeonly optionisn't the right term, seeing as I do really want to be here, and I appreciate the effort that Rivian is puttinginto his redemption. It's safe to say that I look forward to my days learning new things about him and this kingdom and my nights getting lost with him in our desires. No matter how angry I might be with him, our physical chemistry is undeniable and I'm glad to know that will always be there. Though there is a thaw. I feel it so deeply inside me. Part of me wonders if I continue to rebuild the walls he is desperately trying to knock down because I am not mentally prepared to face the fact that I do have feelings for someone who was willing to betray me.

That’s such a cliche thing to say:I have feelings for someone. Especially given the trajectory of what’s led up to that conclusion.

I stretch my body from the sleep, letting a yawn escape me before I pad over to the bathroom to freshen up. I find that he's brought some of my clothes from my bedroom's closet along with some of my other belongings, smiling at the idea that this might just beourroom now.

I get busy putting myself together before I'm greeted with a light knock at the door. I turn around to see that Natasha is standing there in the doorway.

"Oh. Hi, Natasha," I greet the sweet old lady as she bows her head at me. I blush at the formality, but I guess that's something I'll have to get used to.

"Your Highness. I wanted to know what you fancy cooking for dinner tonight?" Natasha's old and sweet, weathered voice fills the silence in the air as confusion washes over me.

I've never been asked what I've wanted for dinner before.

"I'm unsure of what you mean?" I tilt my head at her and wait for her response.

"The king stated that you might want to cook dinner tonight," she says and I chew over the thought.

Me. Cook dinner tonight? Why would he think that?

"He said that cooking was a novelty you enjoyed." I let her words sink in and understand that Rivian couldn't have possibly noticed that unless . . . he had been watching. Which I know he was.

I smile at his thoughtfulness. But I'm not sure I should be taking any more free time than necessary to perform simple, domestic things. Dancing was one thing. Cooking might bring my love for my old life back to the surface; when I was able to dance freely about my kitchen, taste testing foods that only I would get to enjoy, and…

Stella.

I know he didn't mean to kill her. She was a small creature after all. But something about her reminded me of myself and I did find comfort in knowing she was there.

Suddenly, sadness finds its way back into my bones and I look over to Natasha who is waiting for me to answer her.

"I don't think tonight is a good night for this, Natasha. Maybe we can plan for a different day?" I offer her as kindly as possible, not wanting to rub her the wrong way. She simply nods her head with a small smile and agrees, "Of course, Your Highness." And then she leaves.

I turn to my reflection in the mirror and study my appearance to make sure I'm ready to go. I don't know what I can expect from today's events, but I don't overthink it too much as I turn to leave the room.

I run into Troian downstairs who seems to have been waiting on me.

"'Bout damn time, princess-" She stops herself and I see her question how she was about to approach me.

We both eye each other down for a beat. Her stare holds animosity and confliction while I look at her with hesitation. We're sisters, but I am her queen, and I tried to kill her out of a fit of fury. But she saved my ass to help Rivian, who is herbrother and the reason why her mother, my mother, was in the castle to begin with, becausehewas trying to killher.

What a dynamic.

"Listen, Troy-" I start but she cuts me off.

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