Page 40 of Queen of the Night
We enter an empty room nearby with two small settees and a delicate table with a large vase of fresh flowers atop it. “Please, sit. I’d like an update on your search for the Tulips.”
His gaze darkens, and do I spy gloam about him for just amoment? That’s impossible. I blame the strange thought on my fatigue from training this morning and Tryn’s irritating anxiety.
He relaxes lazily onto one of the small settees, legs wide and arms stretched out, resting along the back. “You act as if I answer to you.”
“Don’t you?” I tip my nose up the smallest bit as I sit beside Tryn on the other settee, unused to being questioned by anyone but Jethonan, Ikar, and Waylon.
I remind myself heisworking for Waylon and may be deferring to him. That is neither here nor there—he is here, and I expect answers.
He smirks, but neither confirms nor denies my assumption.
I forge ahead, fighting to stay in control. “We have a deal. You’ll take care of the Tulips, and you’ll return the king and his friends to me.”
“Yes… but wasn’t your precious king just here?” He makes a tsking sound. “If you can’t keep him here longer than three days, what makes you think he’ll want to marry you?”
My neck flushes red, and I narrow my eyes at the man.
He begins again, that annoying smile still on his face. “We’ve been tracking, and I think we may have found a lead on a Tulip. I think you’ll be surprised… if she is who I think she is.”
I clench my jaw, unwilling to play into his drama like a dog after a treat—I don’t care who the woman is. I just need Ikar. “Wonderful. I’m sure you’ll have Ikar back to me in no time. I have three weeks.”
“Oh, there’s a time limit now?” He narrows his eyes.
“Hasn’t Waylon told you?” I lift a brow. “He takes the throne in three weeks if we haven’t married. That won’t happen though, will it?” I ask as if it’s a question, but my tone is threatening.
“No, it won’t.”
Chills race across my skin at the promise, or is it from how cold the room has become?
He smirks darkly, and why do I feel as if he laughs at me behind the blue of his eyes? He stands and straightens his jacket, and I’m sure I see a flicker of gloam about his shoulders. I blink quickly to clear my vision, and it disappears.
He bows once more, a mocking grin twitching about his lips. “Three weeks, then.”
Chapter 27
Vera
If I thought I was drawn to him before, it’s nothing like this. I feel as if I could find him anywhere—eyes closed, with only my magic to guide me. The feeling is startling, overwhelming, and one I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to. After some trial and error throughout the day, I discovered that the closer I am to Ikar the more unruly and pushy my magic is. I figured out how far he’d let me hang behind, and then we found an unspoken, acceptable distance. Once that was settled, I spent the day sharing dried fruit with Rupi and tried to keep my eyes off Ikar’s broad shoulders and long, muscular legs as we trekked through dense, gloamy forest.
He acts as if nothing has changed, beyond my being angry with him. Does he truly not feelanything? No one has ever explained how this is supposed to work, and I find myself mildly angry with Tatania. All she ever cared about was telling us to pay the dues and stay away from anyone close to a king. That’s it—entirely unhelpful for the situation I find myself in. I remind myself that Ikar is the type to face issues head-on, unlike me, and I’m positive he would’ve confronted me about itby now if he’d felt something. The thought gives me a measure of relief.
But that relief is short-lived because there’s no reprieve from the pull while we’re together. Even here, sitting across the fire from him where we camp tonight, I can still feel the way my magic reacts to his. It’s practically drooling, and it irritates me because my magic is a perfect match for my feelings and now it all feels amplified.
I look down at my hands and focus on trying to get better at tying up the loose threads of new lucent. I finally get what feels like a strong knot set, then risk a glance up only to see clear intention in his eyes when they lock on mine across the heat of the crackling fire. I don’t know what he intends, but it’s something, and it has me feeling both warm and panicked. The flames flicker and snap, sending sparks as he stands. I resist the urge to cower as he makes his way around it and stands before me as the entire lucent knot I worked so hard for unravels. I feel a mere touch of his hot magic that my cool magic yearns for, and I suck in a breath. It was only a moment. So fast that if I wasn’t hyperaware I may have missed it. I wonder for a moment if I possibly imagined it.
“I need to speak with you for a moment.” His voice is low, as if there are others listening and it’s meant only for me. He looks all shades of serious, which ignites both physical attraction and a fiery pit of fear in my belly. Even Rupi looks up from where she forages for insects in the dry grass close by. Does he realize what I am? Have I been found out?
I give a curt nod, because what else am I supposed to do? He takes it as permission to sit beside me as I shove my trembling hands between my knees to hide the show of emotion. For a moment, all I can hear is the crackling of the flames and the weak chirp of crickets in the gloamyshadows around us.
His shirt sleeves are still rolled up from the heat of the day, revealing forearms that are entirely too distracting for such a serious situation. I try not to fidget or stare as I wait for him to speak, and I can’t help but feel a wave of sadness at the distance between us. He appears guarded and uncomfortable, and sweat beads on my skin as I wait to see what horrid topic he feels the need to discuss with me—none of them can be good.
He starts slowly. “You may have noticed. Or not. I don’t know. But… my magic… it… it’s…” He pauses while he clears his throat and runs a hand roughly through his hair, leaving it delightfully messy. He seems to be looking everywhere but at me. I’ve never seen him this uncomfortable… except for maybe when we were choosing a mate bond potion…
My fear dissipates as I suddenly realize what’s happening.
“It’s what?” I prompt.
If my assumption is correct, I plan to use it in my favor.
