Page 57 of Queen of the Night
I tentatively lie back, attempting to float on the gentle waves as I feel another thought coming to mind. My first instinct is to beat it back into submission, but it feels as if the magic in this warm water, the peace in this beautiful and perfect piece of forest, coaxes me to acknowledge it.
What if I told Ikar I’m a Black Tulip?
Instinctive, deep-rooted fear shoots through me, sending me sinking beneath the surface, flailing until I gain my footing and stand upright again. I wipe plastered strands of hair from my face as images of the dead Tulips in my nightmare come to mind in horrid succession. I waste no time trudging toward the shore, using my arms in the water to speed my escape.
No. Tatania’s words echo through my head. The Black Tulip oath.We will never reveal our Black Tulip identity. We will never bridge with kings.How many times have I repeated that? I promised. How could I even consider breaking that and betraying my Tulip sisters?
I shake my head and climb out of the water to dry myself. Minutes later, as I cinch my vest tightly beneath my bust, I look over the water with narrowed eyes, wondering if, perhaps, it truly was the magic water that messed with my mind tonight.
I sit back on the round pebbles, waiting for my feet to drybefore I shove my boots back on. Rupi looks like a soggy wad of cotton as she hops toward me, then with one quick flutter, lands atop my thigh, leaving small wet spots on my trousers as she hops and flaps her wings. I smile at her antics, but it slips when my thoughts return to Odella’s… advice? The seer vision. I’ve only heard rumors of the first one that got the Tulips killed, but this one seemed eerily similar. Then she tells me to be careful who I trust… Trustwho? Ikar or Tatania? It has to be Tatania, my Black Tulip sisters, but how does that help restore lucent for our kingdom? That’s why I asked Rhosse if there was another option, but he’s certain there isn’t. Why didn’t Odella just tell me what to do? I groan, feeling stuck.
“Vera? You decent?” Darvy calls over the hedge.
“Decent,” I shout, wondering when he showed up.
The door flings open, and Darvy strides through, followed closely by Rhosse, grins on their faces and spare clothing swinging in their hands.
I wiggle my clean toes once more, still reluctant to put my boots on my damp feet. “You kicking me out?”
Rupi’s feathers are almost dry, her fuzz beginning to fluff up and become soft again, but now clean and even brighter white.
“Unless you’d like to stay for the show.” Darvy winks with an incorrigible grin.
Then Ikar saunters through the door with a grin to match theirs. “Did you bring my things?”
Darvy tosses a small bag of items at Ikar, which he catches easily as he comes closer. I know it’s time to leave—I’ve taken up most of the evening here anyway. And also, they don’t appear to have the patience to wait for me any longer. A shirt lands near me in a puddle of fabric, and I quickly grab my boots, unwilling to look up to see whose it was or what otherpieces of clothing might have already come off. I hurry toward the hedge door, enjoying the mossy coolness of the path now that I’ve left the pebbles.
I pass Ikar on my way and meet his eyes. “I didn’t expect you to be here; I thought you’d still be speaking with Odella.” I hate how breathless and jealous I sound.
He glances over my shoulder, and I can tell he’s as eager as I was to use the pool. “We just finished.”
“She’s interesting.”
My comment captures his attention once more, and one side of his lips turns up into a smile. “She is, but also very gifted. She doesn’t see something for everyone. It’s an honor to have her share with you.”
“I just don’t understand what she meant.” I look down and rub a toe through the cool moss beneath my feet.
“Whatever your first impression was, that’s it.”
I don’t have to think hard about it. The moment she saidLucentiaandduty, I thought of my duty as a Queen of the Night. But betraying my oath and my Tulip sisters and potentially putting them in dangercan’tbe the right way. It can’t.
I offer a one-shoulder shrug. “I’ll have to think about it.”
“Don’t think too hard. First impression.” He casts a knowing glance at me and then looks back to the pool.
I can’t agree with him because my first impression is wrong, so I laugh instead. “Go. I’ll head back on my own.”
It’s torture to stand this close to him and speak as if my magic is behaving normally when really it’s frantic with want, racing through my veins.
He looks toward the pool again, where I hear Darvy shout, followed by a large splash. “We won’t be long…”
“Don’t rush on my account. I’ll be fine. I won’t fall through any holes, okay?” I intend itto be a joke.
But he looks back at me, his brows drawn together into a frown. “It’s not funny. Be careful.”
I wave away his concern. “Go bathe; you need it.” I make a face and brush past him.
It’s a lie. Somehow he smells and looks as tempting as ever.
