Page 130 of Gemini Queen
Another imperiousrat-a-tatmakes me grin. He’s fuming out there on my doorstep, which he totally deserves for being such a shit to me this morning and to Ronin all freaking day.
I sashay over to the door and take my sweet time opening it, with my face arranged to project innocent surprise and a sassy remark all primed for that effing rattlesnake I’ve got for a prom date.
Too bad every single word flies out of my head the second I open up.
This happens because, one, it’s not just Vasili standing outside my door. It’s Vasili and freaking Neo, like,together(which never happens, as in literally never, given Neo’s status as my fated mate and Vasili’s hatred for all things royal). And, two, they both look so insanely gorgeous that I’m ready to cream my nonexistent panties right there.
Vasili’s got that David Bowie rock star glam going full force in a sparkly electric blue frock coat with the collar popped over a swanky shirt, black breeches that hug his lean hips and sinewy thighs, and boots with heels that make his legs go on for miles. He’s rocking MTV hair frosted so pale it’s almost white, cat-eyes that glimmer like liquid mercury as they slide slowly over my body, and a glossy pink mouth set in his signature smirk.
And, smirk or no smirk, I want to drag him in close and kiss the lip gloss right off his sexy mouth and tongue his fangs until he moans.
He won’t be smirking by the time I’m done with him. He’ll be kissing me back the way he did last night.
His face is guarded because, after all, he is the Goblin King and it wouldn’t do to look approachable. But there’s a vulnerability lurking in his ice-blue eyes that tells me he’s still broken inside.
Which just makes me want to kiss him more.
Until he untucks his forked tongue from behind his teeth and talks.
“At least you’re on time, and the frock fits properly… more or less.” He sneers. “A bit snug across the chest, isn’t it? Let’s get this farce over with.”
Now I want to slap him. Same as always.
“Nice to see you too, asshole,” I snipe back, all my stupid prom girl hopes of a magical night and a goodnight kiss fizzling out like a spent Fourth of July sparkler. “And you look lovely too, by the way, fuck you very much.”
We’d probably just keep going like that, except Neo gets between us.
He looks like a magenta-haired John Travolta inSaturday Night Feverlooming over me and filling my doorway in a trendy white tux over a jet black button-down that encases his wide chest and broad shoulders in a manner I thoroughly approve. His vivid hair’s still grazing his shoulders and falling in his eyes, but he’s wearing contacts instead of reading glasses tonight. His kryptonite-green eyes are wide as he drinks in every detail from my go-go girl ponytail to my cobalt-blue booties.
And literally one look at his kissable mouth is enough to start me scenting.
“Hey, babe,” he says softly. “You always look incredible in everything you wear, but… wow. Just wow. And I’m totally saying that for both of us.”
He shoots a reproachful look at Vasili and hands me a small flat box with a bow, which I accept automatically, almost brainless with relief and gratitude that my mate’s talking to me again.
Then my brain gets stuck on what he just said.
“Wait a sec.” I peer suspiciously past him at the Goblin King, who’s checking his lip gloss in a little mirror and still (of course) sneering. But maybe I’m starting to see past that. “Are you, like, both taking me to the prom? Because last time I looked, the two of you hated each other.”
“The Janus Dance is hardly a prom.” Vasili snaps his compact closed and flashes me an irate look. “This isn’t high school, darling. And, yes, we’re both taking you. Assuming you intend to come at all.”
Neo sighs over Vasili’s waspish manners and gifts me one of his slow sexy smiles. “We agreed we’d try harder to get along, him and me, for your sake. We figure we need to do better at communicating, because there’s a lot going on right now in thisdomusand we need to keep you safe. And he’s asking you if you’re ready, not telling you.”
Neo’s going to be so happy (I hope) when I tell him I’m staying.
The Goblin King, not so much. Him I’m not sure I can trust.
And I don’t totally mind Vasili telling me what to do under certain circumstances (ahem), but now’s not the time for that particular convo either. Or we’ll be late for sure. Because I never had an actual prom in high school since I ran away so young, and now that I know I’m going to the dance with both of them, I’m actually looking forward to it.
“Okay, but I have something to say first.” I give Neo my full attention and lay a gentle hand on his sleeve. “I owe you a major apology, baby. I never meant to lie to you or hurt you, and I flat out suck for doing it. I mean it—I literally suck.”
“No you don’t, Zara.” This mate I really don’t deserve blinks down at me. “You really don’t. It took me a little while to figure this out, but you didn’t know at first you could trust me, did you? Since you didn’t actually know me? Now you know you can.”
An overwhelming rush of relief pours through me and makes me feel all warm and floaty. Because knowing I hurt him has been killing me all day.
The last thing I ever want to do ever again is hurt him. Because he’s… my fated mate.
“I am,” he breathes, his voice thick with emotion, and wraps me tight in his arms. “I really am. And I’d go through a whole lot more than I went through today just to know you finally believe it.”
