Page 26 of Onyx Queen
“Was it nothing, Onika?”
She pulled from his embrace and stood, “Let me show you.” She held her hand out, pulling him from the floor and guided him upstairs to her room. Once he was seated on the bed, she pulled the crumpled paper from her bedside table.
“Here, read it for yourself.”
Luca opened the tattered paper, his eyes tracking the words written. “What does this mean?”
“I don’t know. But I can tell you the darkness is definitely consuming my body.”
“Onika,” he tugged her hand into his, “You are not evil. Is that what you think?”
“Yes…”
“Stop. We are going to call your mother tomorrow and speak with her. I don’t believe for one second you are evil or filled with darkness. This letter intended to make you doubt yourself, and that’s exactly what’s happening.”
“How do you explain what I did to you?”
“Did you mean to hurt me?”
“God,” she cupped his face in her hands, “I would never hurt you on purpose.”
“Exactly… what happened was an accident. With everything you’ve been through, I think you and your magic are out of whack. Let’s get some rest and speak with your mother tomorrow. She’ll have answers, I know it.”
Onika allowed Luca to strip her clothes off her and ease her into bed. He pulled his own clothes off and crawled in beside her. His arms pulled her close, as he nestled his face against her neck.
“I love you, Onika. We will figure this out together.”
“Maybe you’re right. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner, Luca. I love you.”
She dozed off in his arms, a part of her still worried about the rage she felt even now, safe in his hold.
Chapter 24
“How much longer am I going to be held captive, Jason?” Dimitra folded her arms across her chest as her eyes raked over the man standing in front of her.
Jason’s gaze burned through her body, as if he could see her soul hidden beneath the layers of clothes and skin. His jaw grew taught as he ground his teeth, looking for the words to answer.
“Did you hear me?” Dimitra stepped forward, “How long?”
She lurched forward, her hand striking out to hit him, but he caught it just before it landed on his face. He jerked her body forward, causing her to collide with his muscular frame.
“Stop it, Dimitra.” He held her tight, “I don’t have answers.”
Her resistance broke, and for the first time since being in captivity, she allowed her emotions to show. Her chest heaved as the tears she’d held at bay came streaming out.
“I can’t do this anymore… please. Just let him kill me.”
The barrier Jason had built around him crumbled to the ground. He’d sworn he wouldn’t allow his emotions to get involved, but hearing her tears did something to him. He snaked his arms around her, pressing her tiny frame against his. Dimitra sobbed into his shirt, the moisture of her cries wetting his shirt.
“Please don’t say that,” he whispered into her hair as he swayed with her in his arms.
“Why… I’ve been here for months, Jason. Months. I miss my family… my….my,” she stuttered, “my kingdom. I’m a Queen – and look at me!”
Jason cupped her chin and tilted her face to his, “I am looking at you, Dimitra. And if it’s the last thing I do, I will get you out of here.”
“You keep saying that…” she pulled from his hold, his body already aching from the absence of her touch.
“It’s not as simple as you think… I need to make sure,”
