Page 95 of Queen of Ever

Before I could stop him, he snatched it off my head, tucked it back in the box and scurried out of the room muttering to himself.

‘Uh…’

‘He’s a bit weird, that one,’ Ethan said.‘I think he’s been alone for too long.’

‘This is really happening, isn’t it?’I asked as it finally started to hit home.This was real.This was going to be my life from now on.

‘Lighten up, Immy, it’s good to be the king,’ Ethan said, a grin on his face.‘Speaking of lightening up,’ he added, looking around the empty room.‘Where’s Mr Misery?’

I narrowed my eyes at him.‘You could use his name.’

‘Nah, this suits him better.’

I rolled my eyes.But actually, I had to admit I didn’t know where Tarian was.He’d been gone when I woke up that morning.It was unusual for him to disappear without telling me.Having him there would have helped to ease my anxieties a little.

As if Ethan had summoned him with his question, Tarian entered the room, dark shirt ruffled, hair windswept, holding a brown paper bag in one hand, of all things.

‘Speak of the devil and he shall appear,’ Ethan said.At Tarian’s quizzical look, he shrugged.‘Well, I’m going to pass the baton over to you.Try to keep her from spiralling.’He hopped off his chair and headed for the door.

‘Where are you going?’I asked.

‘I’d love to stay and hang around like a third wheel, but I’ve got a hotty of my own waiting for me,’ he said with a wink.

‘I will never understand him,’ Tarian said, frowning after Ethan as he trounced off, all sway-hipped swagger.

‘I think he likes it that way.Where have you been all morning?’I asked.

‘Finding you a coronation present.’He held out the bag.

I took it, eyeing him quizzically as I opened it.Inside, there was a single, glossy tube.Pulling it out, I stared at it, before arching a brow at him.‘Sunblock?’

‘SPF fifty,’ he said triumphantly.

‘Do you even know what that means?’

‘No, but the human woman I bought it from assured me it was important.’

‘Uh huh,’ I said, turning the tube upside down, looking for some kind of hint as to why he thought it would make a good gift.It looked like regular, chemist brand sunblock.‘And you went all the way to the Human Realm to get this for me because...?’

‘Because we don’t have it here, and I thought you might want it before we get where we’re going.It sounded important.’

I blinked, nonplussed.‘Where are we going?’

His smile widened.‘Fiji.’

‘Don’t tease me, we are not.’

In a flash, he’d captured my hand and pulled me against him, an arm looping around my waist.‘Why?Don’t you want to go?I’ll even rub the sunblock on for you.’

‘You’re serious?’

‘I’m always serious.’He leaned in, pressing his lips to mine in that delicious way that promised more was to come.

When I broke away from him, I read his expression, trying to make sure he wasn’t just stirring me up.His dark eyes held mine, and in their depths I could see a gleam of anticipation, maybe even a little uncertainty, like he wanted me to be pleased but was secretly unsure how I’d react.

A slow grin spilled across my mouth.‘When?After the coronation?’

‘There won’t be time after.’

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