Page 69 of The Crown of a Fallen Queen
Percy rolls his eyes. “The orgasms were real enough.”
My lips part. “Orgasm. Singular,” I correct him. “And I managed that on my own, thank you very much.”
“You think I’m going to let you off the hook on a technicality?,” he says sternly. “Seth is right, you two should get this nonsense over with. You’re grumpier when you’re horny.”
“Youhealedhim.”
“Hesavedyou.”
“But you only healme.” I curl a hand over my heart, feeling hurt and childish and yet oddly vindicated in my reaction.
Percy flies up so we’re eye to eye and points his index finger at me in a chiding fashion. “Are you trying to pick a fight with me so you don’t have to deal with the frazzled way your heart is beating?”
I turn away from his know-it-all grimace. “You bug me.”
“Good. Bugging you is literally my life mission.”
“Why are you rooting for Seth all of a sudden?” I whisper quickly, dropping the sarcastic facade in favor of the unease and betrayal slowly coalescing in my blood.
“Diamantay,” he says on a sigh. “I’m only ever on your side. But you won’t get better until you let down those walls you’ve built around yourself. Everyone, you included, keeps worrying about the outside—the scars, the physical proof—but it’s your heart that needs healing. And only you can fix that.”
“Having sex with Seth won’t fix me.”
“Not sex. But you have to learn how to let people in again. Seth saved your life twice, and I know what I just saw.”
“I hate him.”
“Do you really? Or have you forgotten what it’s like to feel something other than anger? To crave other thrills than revenge? Are you afraid to learn how to beyou,without your magic?”
“I don’t want to be me without my magic,” I deadpan.
“Better living without magic than wasting away waiting for a miracle that might never come.”
I’m shook.
Most Fae see Percy as this singular, funny-looking creature that dresses in flamboyant turn of the century fashion while juggling dark humor and sermons, but he’s my whole world. He’s the only male who’s ever cared for me. Protected me.
He’s family. A part of my soul. And henevergives up hope.
“I only loveyou, Perce. You fix me.”
Tears shine in his eyes. “Yes, I do. And that’s why you’ve got to trust me on this.”
Seth returns, forcing our conversation a halt.
“Phew. Good thing we got here in time. It’s a hurricane out there,” he says, oblivious to what he just interrupted.
He resurrects our dying fire, channels the heavy smoke out, and rubs his hands together for warmth. His gaze flicks to Percy and me, both of us with our lips pursed, the end of our conversation still simmering on our downturned mouths.
Seth blows on his cold hands and extends them in my direction. “Maybe you should read my future again. Second opinions are important.”
I narrow my eyes. “You just want me to hold your hand.”
“I’m cold.” He wraps an arm around me and pulls me to him—and to my horror, I rest my head on his shoulder.
The flames dance inside the circle of stones at our feet, and a sense of serenity takes over me. It’s easy here. There’s no one looking. Nothing to prove.
Cuddling to keep warm has got to be the cheesiest trick in the book, but Seth doesn’t kiss me or fondle me—doesn’t try to push this further. He just holds me. And I don’t know what scares me more: the fact that I’m aching to climb onto him, or this innocent, comfortable embrace… Like we’re actually close.
