Page 36 of Queen of Ashes and Scars
“Shush.” I turn back to Alec, his dark brown hair all disheveled, the energy rolling off him even wilder. “Stay.”
“Why would I?” he clips, the dejection thick and raw.
“Because I’m your queen, and I need you.”
My heels slip out of the satin pumps as I stretch to his height and kiss him hard under the pink sky. I don’t have to choose between one or the other. I will have both of them by my side, and that’s that.
Alec gasps in surprise. His hands flying to my waist to ward me off, his grip hard and unforgiving when he squeezes my sides instead, crushing me to him like I’m the only thing keeping him from jumping off the cliff.
Jason and Emilia have the tact to escort the Elder inside the castle, leaving us three to discuss our newsituation.
Sebastian chuckles. “Well. That’ll be interesting.”
I’m a Delacroix. I can have my throne and my men. There’s nothing to compromise.
Chapter18
Sebastian
ARIELLE
Nyx’s chamber is smaller than I remembered, my beast unhappy to be entombed in such a dark, narrow space, especially without a warm human to drink from. Whoever wrote that vampires sleep in coffins have never met a real vampire, I assure you.
I move deeper inside the stone room, my heart in my throat. What happened outside with Alec really tied a knot in my stomach. “Well… that was certainly an eventful ceremony.”
“Ah! The Elder must still be scratching his head.” Sebastian unfastens the knot in his tie and pulls on one end. The silk gives a softswishas it glides along the crisp white collar of his shirt, his gaze glued to me.
I don’t know what I expected would happen out there, but this marriage doesn’t feel like a sham anymore. In fact, I’m not even sure I know the man in front of me.
The Sebastian I know would have made some flippant remarks during the ceremony, making sure to alienate the Elder as he gorged himself on booze—before and after. He’d say something crude about what we’re about to do, so I don’t know how to deal with the quiet, mischievous predator in front of me.
He catches me in his arms, his nose nudging mine, his gaze open and hypnotic. “Hey, Lil’ Bit.”
I barely keep my voice from trembling as I answer, “Hey.”
He licks his lips like he’s trying to find the right words, and the sight is….chilling. “I’m jealous of Beaumont,” he finally chokes out, a shroud of darkness pulling his brows down.
“Jealousy is ugly, Sebastian,” I quip.
“Mm, wise words.” He cracks a smile at that and unbuttons his shirt. “But you care for him, yes?”
“I do.”
“And how do I fit into this scenario?”
I twine our fingers and bring his ring to eye level. “Isn’t it obvious? You’re my husband.”
He shakes his head like this is a big irony. “That must drive him mad.”
“It does.”
“So you’ll… keep seeing him. Even though we’re married.”
It’s my turn to frown. We talked openly about being non-exclusive… What is he getting at? “Like you said: you’re not very domestic.”
“I could be a little domestic. For you.” He tosses his head to the side like it’s a small, meaningless suggestion. “When you said we could pretend… I thought you meant something different.”
I arch a brow, knowing better than to ask out loud. Sebastian is a tomcat. He’ll rub his head on your offered hand, but you better not try to pet him before he’s ready.
