Page 68 of Courting Death & Desire
Luxuros glared at the Plutonian leader as Lunelle snorted—Mirquios arched a brow.
“Long story,” Lunelle assured him.
“Loleena will be the best option. I will send word when it’s done. Until then, keep chipping away at the prince,” Luxuros muttered to Mirquios. As the second round of pints landed on the table, Luxuros began his exit, but Lunelle trailed him out onto the street.
“Commander?”
He spun, his bronzed skin catching the blue flames of the Plutonian streetlamps.
“The assassins…”
Luxuros ran his hand through his dark waves.
“We’re handling it, I assure you. Though I’m not sure your sister would even need our assistance.”
Lunelle’s heart lightened at that.
“She has not responded to my letters,” she whispered.
Luxuros stepped back toward her, softening in his stance.
“You would be proud of her, Lunelle. She’s handling all of this much better than I would have expected given our first few encounters. But I will be sure to remind her not to neglect the Fire Queen’s most loyal subject,” he said, winking at her.
As he turned to leave, she wondered for just a moment how she could be considered anything near loyal. The Tether in her chest relaxed as Mirquios joined her on the street, though the wash of nausea in its wake kept her grounded.
“It’s about time we had some good news,” he said.
She turned to him, folding her arms around herself.
“Luxuros seems to believe you can break Arcas.”
Mirquios nodded. “We’ve had a few conversations around the subject. They’ve gone better than yours have, I’m sure, but not great.”
“I could convince him,” she said firmly.
Mirquios eyed her, his lips curling at the edges.
“What?”
“Nothing,” he said.
She glared, the ice in her nickname hitting him in the chest.
“It is only… I imagine there’s nothing you couldn’t convinceanyman of.”
She rocked toward him, frowning. “Because of my sharp wit and wise leadership, of course?”
The king leaned forward, the heat of him raining over her. The Tether spun between them, begging them for more, closer,now, now, now.
“Of course,” he murmured.
She let her eyes linger on that ridiculous smirk of his, framed by eyes that saw far too much.
“Princess!”
Lunelle twisted toward the far-off voice, finding a blur of black and blue rushing over the cobblestone.
“Yallara?” she whispered.
