Page 106 of Queen of the Night
“I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to.”
That’s where he’s wrong, and I’m about to tell him so, but then he speaks again and I’ve interrupted him enough over the past several weeks, so I stay quiet. Trying to be patient. It’s his turn now. I take small breaths since that’s all my lungs will allow.
“So, yes, I was upset, but I’m not now, and… there’s nothing to forgive, Vera.”
I sit there staring at the rocks beneath us blurrily while his words echo in my head at least three times.
“That’s not true,” I say almost angrily.
His eyes soften, and he grabs my hand in his, rubbing a thumb across my skin, leaving it tingly and warm.
“I may have been angry, but I’ve had time to reconcile that. I understand. You stayed true to promises you believed needed to be kept, thought you were protecting people you cared for—that’s an honorable thing—though I must say with the extent of your loyalty, I’m glad you’re on my side now.” He chuckles. “No forgiveness needed from me… it seems it’s you who needs to forgive yourself for not knowing any different.”
Forgivemyself? That’s something I’ve never thought of before. It feels odd to consider.
“Ikar, don’t you think it’s about time to let Vera use the pool?” Darvy stands nearby, smirking as he eyes the way Ikar’s arm presses me close to his side. There’s a towel in his hand that he must have used to dry his short hair that currently sticks up like the quills of a threatened porcupine.
Ikar nods, speaking to both Rhosse and Darvy. “We’ve been invited to a celebration tonight.”
“We could skip it,” I suggest with a whisper, prompting a chuckle from Ikar.
I don’t want to go to a party. I want to stay right here with him, just like this, for the rest of my life as I feel his broad chestexpanding beside me with even breaths. He’s alive, he knows what I am, we’re to be married, I don’t have to hide anymore, and from the conversation and the heady kiss we just shared, Ithinkwe might be more than friends.
“We should go. Queen Odella has been good to us.” Ikar plants a soft kiss on the top of my head. I can hardly believe I’m the recipient of his affection, and this time…it’s not a dream.
Chapter 58
Vera
I’d hoped to see Ikar before dinner, but all is quiet when I reach my room after bathing. I didn’t have time to wash and dry my clothing, as I have nothing else to wear, and now that I know Ikar is alive and well, I loathe donning my blood-stained apparel—especially for dinner, where I know it’ll garner attention.
Rupi soars into the room as I open the door, and I gasp when the first thing I see is a pile of deep-purple flower petals strewn across my bed. My first thought is that it might be a romantic gesture of some sort from Ikar, but when I pick up one petal… others follow, and I realize it’s adress.
“What…?” I pull the entire dress up until it hangs in front of me from shoulders to toes.
“I made it for you.”
My head whips to the side to see the little nymph in the flower petal dress sitting on the squat stool, swinging her legs and grinning somewhat shyly. I should’ve figured she made it; it’s almost an exact match for the miniature version she wears.
“Thank you. It’s beautiful,” I say sincerely.
Rupi chirps in agreement from her perch on the bedpost.
“It’s for dinner tonight. I thought purple might be nice.” The nymph continues kicking her small feet.
I nod, looking down at the dress again. The back dips quite low, but if I leave my hair down…
“Do you truly like it?” she asks.
I look straight into her sparkling, innocent eyes, and shove my doubts aside. “I love it.”
She rewards my answer with a bright smile and hops down. “I’ll help you dress.”
“Oh, that’s okay, I’m sure?—”
Her face falls. “Do you not plan to wear it?”
I sputter for a moment, looking down at the dress. It simply doesn’t seem as if there’s enoughsubstanceto wear it. What happens if the wind blows? I have concerns.
