Page 59 of Queen of Legends and Lies
Chapter Twenty-One
The title won’t leave my mind. Another prophecy about me. Another burden to carry.
Is my reign as queen a curse upon Tirene?
The thought chills me to the bone.
I stare into Sterling’s molten eyes. He lifts an arm and snaps his fingers. The shuffling and chatter halts.
Ash Queen.
“Pleas are done for the day. You’re all dismissed.” His deep voice carries through the vaulted space.
Ash Queen.
The people and council members alike waste no time gathering their things and filing out, their footsteps echoing on the marble floor.
Ash Queen, destroyer of crops.
As silence settles, I glance around the spacious, newly vacant room.
Wait. Not entirely empty.
A handful of council members linger near the grand double doors, including Vicar Moise. His green eyes appraise me cooly, his handsome face unreadable.
I start to rise from the ornate throne, ready to run back to my rooms. I need time and space to think. And maybe to research the archives.
Sterling’s warm palm rests on my thigh, calming me. “Leave us,” he instructs them.
The remaining council members depart without argument. Even Moise exits, though he takes his sweet time.
We’re alone now in the cavernous space, the shuffle of feet outside the doors the only sound.
Emotion clogs my throat, and moisture pricks my eyes.
Sterling’s calloused fingers find mine, and he draws me up to stand before him. “Don’t cry, love. You arenotthe Ash Queen.”
I open my mouth to protest, but he places a finger to my lips.
“You are fire and life. The flame that ignites me.” He trails kisses up my throat, across my jawline. “You are the fuel that powers goodness in this world. You’re hope personified.”
I want so badly to believe him, to let his conviction burn away the doubts plaguing me. But all my failures and fears threaten to smother even Sterling’s light. His confidence in me.
I rise up on my tiptoes and cup his chiseled face in my hands. “I don’t feel that in me.”
Strong arms circle my waist, tugging me flush against the hard planes of Sterling’s body. Even through the layers of my gown, his touch ignites a familiar heat low in my core. “Then I’ll show you.”
A needy whimper escapes me, and I melt into him.
I thread my fingers through his silky hair as he kisses me like he means to convey everything I am to him.
Ziva’s flames, it doesn’t matter how many times I have him. I always want more. As if he’s reading my thoughts, one hand drifts down to palm my rear.
I tear my mouth away, panting. “Sterling, I…”
But he silences me with another drugging kiss, his tongue delving deep to claim me. Fire licks through my veins. I surrender to the inferno of passion he effortlessly conjures within me.
Until the niggling whispers of doubt snuff it out again.
