Page 13 of Queen Takes Darkness: Helayna
She made a low, soft sound and lifted her lips. “As much as I would like to indulge in you again, I should take Svar first. I don’t feel complete yet.”
I fought to keep my doubts concealed as she turned her attention to Svar. She could read my thoughts and emotions, so she must already know the waiting threat. Yet it didn’t seem to alarm her.
Waiting on his knees, Svar turned his head aside, offering his throat. She moved to him easily and sank her fangs into him without hesitation. The sight rocked me to my core. The slight, slender woman against the hulking creature of nightmare. The bliss on his face, as if he had finally seen the sun and was glad to die.
The same look had been on my face. I was sure of it. I could die happy now. I had touched and seen heaven in my queen. I couldn’t imagine a paradise any better or greater than her.
She lifted her mouth, her head falling back. Black essence dribbled down her chin. Her hair shimmered. With…
Light.
I closed my eyes, convinced I had imagined the sparkling brightness around her. These eyes had never seen light or color. So how would I even know…?
I cracked my eyes open and her hair still gleamed, rippling and flowing down her back like water. But we had not had water in Hel for so long even I barely remembered what water looked like.
She turned her head and her eyes knocked me back on my heels. I had never seen the sky, but I’d dreamed it would look like her eyes. Or maybe the clouds. Snow. I couldn’t know. But one thing was certain.
I saw color. For the first time in my very long existence.
Color. In Hel. A place of endless night.
“I need to see the tree.”
My mouth didn’t seem connected to my brain any longer. It took me several tries to get the words out as I gestured above us. “This is the tree. Yggdrasil stretches over us.”
She looked up at the network rising like arches and valleys overhead. “These are roots? That’s how deep we are?”
“This realm is at the very bottom of the world tree.”
Nodding absently, she started to walk away, her stride purposeful. We scrambled to our feet and followed, though I didn’t know what she sought. She winced and lifted her bare foot.
Fire glowed on her sole. At least that is what it looked like to me from dreams.
“Can you carry me to the heart of the tree? I need to get to its trunk.”
Scooping her up gingerly, I swallowed hard. My queen. In my arms. With sky eyes and water hair and fiery blood. If I didn’t die at the sacrilege of touching her…
How could I bear the unending night once she left?
