Page 157 of The Alpha's Cursed Queen

Darian turns me around in his arms, and this time his kiss is sweeter. Holding me to him, with one hand around my waist, he picks up his shirt from the ground and wraps it around me. My own top is in tatters on the ground. I don’t even know when thathappened. He settles me on the sofa, his arms wrapped around me.

“We still can take this upstairs,” he chuckles hoarsely.

“You’re insatiable.” I lean against him, tilting my head back to kiss his jaw. “No, thank you. No more tonight. I am so tired.”

I feel his chin resting on my shoulder. “You know, there’s a shower up there.”

I sigh. “You’re one determined man.”

He grins at me. “You got that right.”

We sneak up the steps like teenagers, holding our clothes to us and trying not to get caught. The shower makes me even more exhausted because Darian can’t seem to keep his hands to himself, and I don’t seem to be able to resist him when he touches me. After pulling on a robe, I run a brush through my wet hair, my light mood starting to fade rapidly.

I set the brush down on the dressing table and turn to look at Darian, who is sitting on the bed, reviewing a report sent to him by one of the Arrows.

“I have to go back to Arizona tomorrow.”

His head pops up. “What?” Setting aside his tablet, he starts to approach me. “Is it me? Did I do something? I thought things were going so well between us.”

“Before you start jumping to conclusions, I’m not leaving for good. I just need to go for a few days. Katherine needs me.”

That stops Darian in his tracks. “Why?”

“Last night—No, wow, it was today. Before the accident involving Jimmy, Mary, and Mira, her parents were also in a car crash. They didn’t make it. Despite that, she was still helping us. I need to be there for her. I know things haven’t settled down yet and you don’t want me leaving the palace until they do, but I really need to do this.”

My mate looks reluctant. “I can’t go with you. And if you expect me to let you go by yourself—”

“I know you’re worried about the danger, but send a couple of the Black Arrows with me if you have to. I need to be by her side, Darian. She’s a very close friend, and right now, she’s all alone.”

“What about Mira?”

I hesitate. “She’ll be with her father. She’ll be fine.”

“You’ve never left her alone with me before,” Darian says after a beat.

“Haven’t I?" I ask innocently.

“I thought it might be because you don’t trust me completely.”

There are doubts in his eyes, doubts that have no place there anymore. I cover the distance between us and go up on my toes to kiss him on the cheek. “I’ll say it again. I love you, Darian. And I trust you. I’m leaving Mira here with you because you are her father and I trust you. The past is behind us now.”

Darian searches my eyes. “Really?”

“Did you not hear the part where I said I love you?”

“I’m going a little deaf in one ear.”

“Darian!”

“Kidding!” He kisses me, laughing now. “I love you, too. Okay, you go see Katherine tomorrow. I’ll deal with things here. Mira will be looked after. Nara took away her memories of what happened at the lake tonight, so she should be fine.”

I sigh. “I don’t like messing with her head, but this was necessary. I don’t want her to be traumatized.”

“She’ll be fine. She’ll be excited about the palace. Go be with your friend. I’ll deal with Thomas, the witches, and the backlash. I’ve got this. Trust me.”

I sigh. “I do. I do trust you.”

*****

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