Page 81 of The Queen & the King

“My figure?” I snap back, struggling to rein in my anger. “Perhaps, Mother, if you didn’t insist on me wearing such frumpy, shapeless clothing, you would notice that my figure is, in fact, definitely not something you need to concern yourself with.”

My mother’s eyes blaze. “What was that?” I notice the crack on her face deepen a little, and realizing something, I tilt my head innocently.

“I asked which part of my figure you wanted me to work on,” I say placidly and move toward her, feigning a look of concern. “Are you all right, Mother? You look pale.”

My mother frowns and looks down, trying to understand, and I can see how much she’s struggling with this. Has she been having hallucinations regularly? Gaia’s power is destroying her.

My mother touches her head. “I think I should go lie down,” she says weakly.

I nod. “I’ll ask Margaritte to make you some tea.”

My mother mutters to herself incoherently as she walks into the house, still cradling her head.

My lips twitch as I watch her, satisfaction filling me. I glance at her prized vegetable patch. While I would never harm a plant or flower, I can change them in a way that she will hate. I wave my hand over them, and every single vegetable grows prickly thorns.

I hear someone tsk from behind me, and I tense, dreading that someone caught me in the act.

My anxiety is short -lived when Helios says, “Now, now, what are you up to?” I hear the signature smirk in his voice.

I glance at him. “Do you know how long it has been since I ate anything that wasn’t a homegrown vegetable?” I smile. “Plus, she’s losing confidence in Gaia’s power. Can’t hurt to hurry it along.”

Helios’s eyes glimmer with mischief, and I know they reflect my own. “Well, good thing I came prepared.” Helios holds up a paper bag with the logo from my favorite takeout place in the city. “With love from my girlfriend.” Helios practically beams with pride when he uses that label for Mellie.

I am almost embarrassed for him. I grin at him, taking the bag and moving to a sheltered area where I can’t be seen from any of the windows of the house. We sit next to each other on the grass. “Girlfriend, huh?”

Helios’s smile grows even more, if possible. “Yep, girlfriend, but I’m working toward wife.”

I roll my eyes. “You’re playing with fire, Helios.” I take a bite of the noodles and curse under my breath. “Fuck, this is incredible.”

Helios shrugs. “I love the burn.”

“Weirdo.” I laugh, nudging him.

Helios snickers. “How are you and the big man?”

That feeling of longing comes back, and my chest aches. “I just want to go home.”

Helios wraps his arm around my shoulders. “I know, Petal.”

I lean my head on his shoulder, enjoying the comfort of a friend. Helios opens his hand, and in a flash of sunlight, a rumpled white shirt appears.

“It’s Hades’. He wore it yesterday. For you.”

I sit up, glancing at him, and then pick up the shirt. I bring it to my nose and inhale deeply, practically moaning at the scent of my mate.

“Home,” I whisper.

“You’re obsessed. It’s embarrassing.”

I rub my fingers over the soft cotton but force myself to pull back after a moment, looking at him with an eyebrow raised. “You’re wearing Mellie’s neon hair tie around your wrist. Fuck off.”

“But the difference is, everyone already knows I’m obsessed with her already, sooo…” Helios looks wistfully down at the hair tie, brushing his fingers over it.

I nudge him. “Thanks for the food.”

Helios chuckles. “I do have to admit, Mellie sent me. She’s worried about you.”

I don’t miss how his face changes when he talks about her. He’s got it bad.

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