Page 254 of Night's Fall
This idea terrified me, becauseI’dbe the face of it.
But it was an excellent idea.
“I can do that.”
It was then, she removed her hand from my elbow and took my own, giving it a squeeze.
And that was out-and-out affection that, in my current state, made me want to burst out crying.
I did not.
What she said next, though, didn’t help.
“I know these types of things will be hard on you,Laura.I’vealways been an extrovert.Gregarious.Iget my energy from being around people, thus,Idon’t understand, butIdo understand it’s there.”
“I’ll be okay,”Iassured.
“That is not in question.You’vedone swimmingly so far.Isimply wanted you to knowIunderstand.”
Okay.
Yeah.
I totally dugQueenCalisa.
“Thank you, my queen,”Iwhispered.
She gave my hand another squeeze before letting it go. “Andas for that,Ibelieve we’re beyond it.Youmay call me maman from now on.Inprivate, of course.”
Yep.
Still on the verge of tears.
This time, my nose stung with holding them back, butImanaged a smile and mumbled, “Ofcourse.”
She took my elbow again and led me up the rest of the stairs, turning toward the north hall, where, apparently, her and the king’s suite was also situated.
“I need an official tour of thePalace,”Itold her as we went. “WhoshouldNataarrange that with?”
“I’ll haveDitatalk toNata.”
“Great.”
Aleksei’s suite was getting closer, and it was the perfect time to stop and ask her about his behavior.
But now that the time was nigh,Irealized, like withAleece,Ididn’t know how to say,Yourson is being a jerk.Canyou explain?
I tried, “IthinkAlekseiis struggling.”
She nodded. “Isuspected.”Shethen sighed. “Itis often not easy with a dragon shifter.”
“It’s been pretty smooth sailing so far.”
She laughed softly, and listening to it,Iwasn’t sureI’dever heard her laugh.
It was very pretty.
She also stopped us again, a good two doors down fromAleksei’ssuite.
