Page 103 of The Forgotten Queen
“Oh!” Idella said when she saw them. “I, uh…”
“Idella,” Marx said, glancing at the maid through the mirror. “Isn’t my wife beautiful?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I couldn’t agree more.”
Sydria smiled back at his reflection. “My husband isn’t so bad either.”
Marxblushed.
He didn’t even recognize himself.
This was so unlike him.
He was the guy who’d never been impressed by a woman, the guy who had been deemed a jerk because he never would commit.
But with Sydria, he was all in.
Sydria
Queen Malory’s Children’s Ballwasn’t what Sydria had expected. There were no children, no parents of the children, no information about how a person could help or donate money to the children. It was a regular ruling class party.
Sydria had wanted to stay by Marx’s side, to feel his heated touch on her skin as he ushered her around the room, but the queen mother had insisted that she meet some of her friends. It didn’t matter where Sydria was. She felt the gravity of Marx’s stare the entire night. His look sped up her heartbeat, and thoughts of his hands on her body made her stomach toss with anticipation.
Was this what it felt like to fall in love?
The buzzing stomach.
The smile that wouldn’t stop.
Feeling flushed.
Trembling hands.
The emotional pull.
Active senses.
It all mixed together, creating the most exciting feeling Sydria had ever felt in her life. There was no way she’d ever experienced this before because if she had, she wouldn’t have forgotten.
Maybe that was why her dreams and memories were all tainted with an edge of sadness—she didn’t feel like she’d loved the man she’d married. The fringes seemed perfect, but the core was suffocating.
Maybe she didn’t want to know about her past. She was content to stay like this…with Marx.
Sydria sipped her drink, pausing at the appropriate time to smile and nod with the rest of the women at some story Truby told.
“Shew!” Warren slurred, walking toward them.
Sydria glanced up. Was he talking to her? His finger was pointed at her.
“You!” he said again with a little less garble. “You did it!”
Truby paused her story, and all the women stared back at him. Warren didn’t look upset. He seemed completely intoxicated. He tripped on his feet, but somehow he was still standing when he got to Sydria’s side.
“Shew robbed me of my best friend,” he mumbled, leaning in too close to her as he spoke. “And nowah…now I’m miserable and alone.”
Sydria took a step back from him. “I had no idea you and the king were so close.”
“The king’s not close with anyone.” Warren twirled his finger out in front of Sydria before running the tip down the length of her arm. “So here’s what we’re going to do. Here’s the plan.” He flashed her a dazzling, albeit lopsided, smile. “You dump Marx and run away with me.” He wagged his eyebrows up and down at her.
