Page 22 of Blood of Two Crowns

“The honor is mine, Goddess of Death.”

Mareina frowned, giving a subtle shake of her head. “I know very little of my power, but I certainly hope that it lies with something more than death.”

Rumiel’s brows pinched. “Living in Bellorum has given you such a human perception. You forget that death does not signify merely an end but new beginnings. Reincarnation. Birth. Respite for the weary. The cleansing of karmic debts. Liberation for the soul… Without these things, the realms would descend into chaos. It is because of death that we are saved. Death brings peace. Healing. Transformation.”

Mareina’s expression gradually tensed as she took in my father’s words. “And what of the suffering? I have wrought more death than any single being should ever be allowed and witnessed firsthand the pain that death can bring.”

“Violence and death are mutually exclusive, and one needn’t precede the other, My Queen. If you speak of grief, there is much to be learned from it, as there is with all suffering. It is a necessary part of growth within the physical realms.”

Mareina’s gaze softened even if it appeared as though the weight of the world sat upon her shoulders. Her deep green eyes shifted to mine, making my breath catch all over again.

“What of Zurie?”

“Alive… For now.”

Mareina’s features tightened as she nodded. “I’m sorry, Nakoa… I’m so sorry I never told you the truth. I?—

My chest tightened with guilt. Though I still felt some modicum of betrayal, I understood her reasoning. I also recognized I’d not given her a reason to trust or be loyal to me. And having her stand here in front of, I suddenly didn’t give a fuck about any of it.

I just wantedher.I wanted mysoulbound.My queen. The woman destined to bewife, I prayed.

“Don’t be. Words are not sufficient in expressing the remorse and shame I feel for my past actions.”

Mareina cleared her throat, gradually nodding. My mind reached for words that wouldn’t come, and thankfully, my father broke the brief silence.

“Where is your father?”

Mareina’s expression tightened almost imperceptibly. “Visiting another realm.”

I glanced at my father. I couldn’t help but wonder just how much he could detect beneath Mareina’s words. The tightening of distrust and wariness through mine and Mareina’s tether told me she was hiding something. If Rumiel sensed it, he said nothing and merely nodded in acceptance.

Mareina took a deep breath as she held my gaze, something like guilt shuddering through her expression. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

Chapter

Ten

ZURIE

“My son will not be pleased to discover you’re allowing me such luxuries,” I murmured as I stared longingly at my bathing pool. Azrael hummed. “What’s he gonna do?Kill me?”

My eyes flicked up to his just as he turned to leave. Something wet began leaking from my eyes when I found myself staring down at my bathing pool, as it filled with steaming, fragrant water. I’d already scrubbed my teeth clean and washed off the layer of grime coating me when I was in the shower, and now I wanted a proper bath. Swiping away at the wasted water spilling down my cheeks I gave Keres my back, lest the wretched female witness it. Wisely, Keres and Azrael had refused to let me bathe in peace, though the latter had resigned himself to hunting down Miroslav. Why they thought that I would have any inkling of his whereabouts was beyond me. The male had been plotting against me since before we’d even met.

Both Azrael and Keres were searching for the Goddess of Life, Persephone. I wasn’t surprised when they’d chosennotto disclose why.

Kere’s eyes on my nude form felt like the scrape of a blade as I stepped into the bath. Every hair on my body rose from the delicious heat, and I didn’t bother to stifle my groan.

Azrael had kept his promise and procured something to help with the pain. It was a little clay-colored tablet that he said would help block the pain receptors in my brain. Apparently, it was a drug from the largely human realm, Terrenea. The effects felt like putting a tiny bandage over a gaping stab wound,butit had reduced my fever and dimmed the splitting pain in my head enough to stand.

Sinking beneath the hot water of the pool was better than any orgasm that any male, outside of Rumiel, had ever given me. My eyes slipped shut as I leaned back and thought I might even be able to have a nap like this. With any luck, maybe I’d drown, and I wouldn’t have to deal with any of this anymore. Less so from the withdrawals or the time I’d spent in the dungeon and more so due to the treacherous lovelessness of this world.

You’ve done nothing to deserve love,the thready, barely-there voice of my conscience whispered. Clearly, I had no argument. The chasm in my chest widened.

“There’s something else I’d like to speak with you about.”

My annoyance flared. “Oh? Is it to apologize for your deception in leading me to believe you were someone else?”

“I didn’t think you would entertain me otherwise.”

---