Page 70 of Queen of Ever

She shook her head, though the smile at her mouth revealed she was more pleased by that than she’d own to.She rose and tried to climb out of the tub but failed, sliding back down.

‘My legs don’t seem to be cooperating,’ she laughed.

Climbing out myself, I scooped her up.She shrieked, flinging her arms around my neck, but she relaxed when I kissed her.

‘NowI’m going to check over every inch of you,’ I said.

Chapter 28

Imogen

IfIdidn’thaveso much on my mind, I would have fallen asleep in that bed with Tarian’s body tangled with mine and an easy bliss settling on me.But as it was, thoughts circled like vultures, drifting away only to return again.

Tarian’s hand traced my skin, gliding along my stomach, sending a shiver through my body.‘If you’re still thinking this hard about anything other than me, I think I should be offended.’

A smile stretched my lips despite my stormy thoughts of war and succession.I had to talk to him about all of it, but I was also loathe to leave that bed, so I settled for rolling over, resting my head on his chest where I could hear the steady beating of his heart.

‘There are some things we need to talk about,’ I said finally.

‘That sounds ominous.’.

‘It’s not that kind of talk,’ I said, which was a relief, but I realised I had no idea where I was even supposed to start with this mess.What was I even going to suggest we do?It wasn’t like I was going to be any help in a war.I didn’t even know how to use my magic.Hell, until a few hours ago, I didn’t even really know what my magic was.

‘What kind of talk is it, then?’he asked, reminding me that I had lapsed into silence.

‘I want to help the lesser fae,’ I said.As soon as the words left my mouth, I knew they weren’t helpful.They did nothing to explain anything.

‘You want to help the people who kidnapped you?’

‘Not the strangest thing I’ve done with someone who kidnapped me,’ I pointed out.

‘True.’His fingers began to trace down my back, then slowly up along my shoulder blade, the movement almost hypnotic and completely distracting.

‘First, I think I should tell you that I apparently have a rare type of magic,’ I said, trying to ignore the sensation of his fingertips on my body, the goosebumps that scattered across my skin.

‘Creation magic,’ he said.

‘Wait, you knew?’I asked, my head snapping up so I could look him in the face and gage his reaction properly.How the hell did he already know?And why hadn’t he told me?

‘Haddock told me after the furies attacked,’ he said.‘But how did you find out?’

‘The lesser fae queen knew.Well, I suppose Marietta would have told her since Solas knows.Which at least finally explains why he’s been so interested in me.It’s apparently why everyone wants me,’ I said bitterly.I hated that this power I didn’t even know existed until a few hours ago had taken so much control of my life.

‘Not everyone,’ he said suggestively.

‘You’re not helping,’ I said, but my tone lacked any firmness.Hewashelping, he was making me feel like a person instead of a tool.But I needed to get back to the topic at hand before he made me completely forget what it was we were talking about.‘The lesser fae have a few options open to them, at least as they’ve explained it to me.They remove Solas and your mother from power, putting rulers on the throne who would be willing to negotiate a peace.’

‘Marietta, I would understand, but you can’t expect me to believe they’d be happy with me on the Unseelie throne,’ he said sceptically.But he didn’t seem angry about that as he continued to trace his fingers along my skin.I’d expected him to be angry, to tell me there was no way in hell they’d take his throne.After all, hadn’t the throne been the reason we’d fallen apart before?That prophesy had come between us because he didn’t want to lose it.

I put that question aside for now, it would only serve as another distraction and if Tarian had found me already, then it couldn’t be too long before Solas did.

‘I suppose they hope I’ll be a calming influence on you,’ I said.

He laughed then, a sound that I loved.‘They clearly don’t know you very well.’

My mouth popped open in offense as I smacked him playfully.‘What are you saying, exactly?’I asked.But I knew damn well what he was saying.Maybe there were times when I could get him to listen, but there were also plenty of times when I made him crazy.The same could be said of him, though.

‘So, they’ll have me on the throne so long as you’re there to control me?’

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