Page 40 of Queen of Ashes and Scars
My fists curl at my sides, my tongue pressed hard against the roof of my mouth. “Your wish is my command, Your Highness.”
“Don’t be like that.”
“Isn’t that my line?” I jump to my feet, throwing the cloth napkin over my untouched plate. “Requesting permission to take my leave,my queen.”
“Denied.” She stands and dumps her golden cup on the nearest table. “Come with me.” Her shoulders tucked in like she’s fucking ashamed of my behavior, she leads me away from the dining room.
A searing heat encircles my ribs, my blood running cold as I shadow her to her bedroom.
She spins around, her anger tangible. “What the fuck was that?”
“You scolded me like a child.”
“I was reading Jason’s thoughts to make sure he’s on our side. Sebastian was goading him into speaking about Peter in case—”
“Oh, I’m sorry I ruined your little snooping expedition. Maybe if you’d told me about it beforehand—”
She grabs her forehead like I’m the biggest ass on the planet. “Maybe if you’d been here this morning, I would have had the chance to tell you, but you were out, and I needed a good night’s sleep after staying awake all day yesterday.”
“You were in Nyx’s tomb,”being plowed by another man.“I had to take a breather.”
“I’m not chastising you for taking a walk. I’m saying that’s why I couldn’t fill you in on our plan.”
Ourplan…If she thinks I’ll put up with this bullshit, she’s dreaming.
She doesn’t own me, but her dark eyes are so fucking beautiful… I’m suffocating. I start ripping off my uniform, throwing the jacket at her head, then the tie.
“What are you doing?” The glacial fear in her voice should make me feel better, but it’s not enough.
“I quit.” I toss my ear piece and my gun over her bed, my chest heaving, quaking,breakingwith every painful breath.
She wets her lips, meeting my stare head-on. “That’s unacceptable.”
I throw my hands in the air, my entire body shaking. “Then have me arrested, I don’t care.”
She slithers closer with grace and elegance, her previously annoyed frown morphing into a soft, loving gaze. “Nothing has to change.”
“I’m not going to obey Sebastian fucking Chastain like a good little soldier, watch him touch you, kiss you in front of everyone while I have to sneak into your bed while he looks the other way, begging for scraps like a fucking chomp. I won’t do it.”
A heavy breath quakes her chest, and she stares into my eyes, her irises so blue I feel like I’m being swallowed by the sky. “I love you.”
I choke on a bitter snort. “You’re married tohim.”
“That doesn’t change how I feel.”
“What if I didn’t look the other way?” Sebastian stalks in from the shadows, and my first instinct is to wrap myself around my queen, protecting her from danger. His eyes fall to my arms, wrapped tightly around her waist, and a wicked smile curves his lips. “She’sourqueen. If she wants both of us, who am I to deny her what she needs?”
I blink a few times, my coiled muscles relaxing one by one. He’s not here to hurt her—or me, and the weight of his question rams into me like a truck. “Are you serious?”
His lewd smile melts into something more congenial—and definitely more honest. “Come on, Beaumont. I grew up at court. I know you’re not against a few…” he moves his fanned hands from side to side, “blurred lines when it comes to sex.”
I swallow hard at the truth in his words. I’m not sure why I’m suddenly acting like a jealous creep, ready to take my woman by the hair and drag her into my cave… it’s not who I am.
Sebastian continues, oblivious to my change of heart. “We’re all consenting adults. We would just be doing openly what countless others have been doing in the dark. Hell, we might be the first ones who even try to live as they truly are.”
I lick my lips and choose my next words carefully. “You talk a good game, my lord.”
He winces sheepishly at the formality. “I like you, Alec. I know I’ve been holding my title over you for as long as I’ve been alive, but I’m willing to stop. You’re ten times the fighter I am. I needed something to boost my ego.”
