Page 41 of Queen of Legends and Lies
That last bit comes off as a bit…condescending.
“Thanks.” The word sounds hollow, even to me. “I’ll do that. And I would like a report tomorrow.”
Serle’s smile dims a bit, but he takes his leave, escorting Celeste, Elijah, and Helene away for what I am sure is going to be a long night in the tower.
Around us, the revelry blooms like a field of wildflowers in the spring. A riot of music and laughter, of life continuing despite the shadows that encroach upon our joy. I could stay, watch my people dance under the waltzing flames that cast flickers of light across their faces, but the idea of celebrating while Sterling lies unconscious and pale as death…
I just want to go to him. To be there when he wakes up.
No, I can't face him now, not when he’d glare at me with those dark eyes filled with cold venom. Not when I’m sure his first act would be to try to kill me. Not tonight.
But that doesn’t mean I have to stay here either.
Each step toward my chambers is a battle. My body begs for rest, my mind reeling from visions of a war that’s already bleeding into reality. Part of me worries that Sterling hasn’t really returned. That it was just another waking dream.
I pass tapestries and portraits of monarchs long gone, their painted eyes following me with silent judgment. All of them Bardas. All of them the enemies of my family. Now I sit on the throne while the last of their bloodline lies chained and drugged. And still corrupted.
The only man I’ve ever loved.
Tears burn in my eyes.
Useless tears. They’re too late.
Finally, behind the safety of a closed door, I remove my crown, set it on the nightstand with athud, and allow myself to collapse onto the bed. The room spins just a bit as exhaustion wraps around me like a shroud.
“Please, let this be the right decision,” I whisper into the dim quiet, sending the plea to whatever gods might be listening.
My eyes close, and I give in to the pull of darkness, the ache of my wings fading into the backdrop of dreams where no councils or cunning leggy blonds can reach me.
Chapter Fifteen
The next morning, Eldor appears at my door, a tray in his hands and a purposeful glint in his russet eyes. With his chin-length hair sticking out in every direction, he bustles past me without waiting for an invitation andclinksthe tray onto the low table.
As usual, my grandfather is armed to the teeth. Though the man is a skilled fighter and a little rough around the edges, he also enjoys studying and possesses knowledge on a vast array of topics.
I gesture toward the table. “The maids already brought my breakfast.”
Cups, plates, and a cluster of papers—including invoices, military movements, guard schedules, and laws—populate the surface. After passing out almost immediately following the coronation, I woke up with the compulsion to educate myself.
I can’t be a good queen if I fail to understand how the kingdom works.
“Alannah’s special healing tea.” He pours the steaming liquid into an earthenware cup. “Made from new buds of the Fusion Root Vine she’s been tending. Rather creepy looking if you ask me, but it’s good for a variety of problems like heatexhaustion, aching kidneys, brain fog, dry mouth, fatigue. Probably other ailments too.”
I’m pretty certain my grandfather’s just filling the silence, trying to ease the tension coiling within me.
I curl my fingers around the cup, soaking in the warmth. “Do the Fusion Root plants suffer from mites?” My need to keep the conversation light drives the question more than true curiosity.
Eldor raises a silver-speckled eyebrow, mild surprise flickering across his features. “Yes, they do. At times.”
Nodding, I sip the tea. Earthy bitterness slides down my throat, and the vapors soothe my dry mouth and sinuses.
Eldor scrutinizes me. “You’re dehydrated. That’s why you have no tears. Why your eyes are so dry.”
“Yeah, it’s probably because things got pretty dicey during my adventure with Agnar,” I deflect, not ready to dive into that well of emotions, “and I’ve been doing a lot of traveling. Long flights on dragons dries out your eyes.”
His frown signals his skepticism. “You were dehydrated yesterday morning as well.”
I shrug. The tea soothes me though. As I drink, I realize I never had a chance to talk to anyone about what I saw after the ceremony.
