Page 104 of Queen of the Night
Ikar swallows and looks back over the pool.
“So it turns black if lucent is weak while you’re king?” I ask.
“Yeah.”
“Yours is still gold—that’s a good sign.”
“Some of it.” He breathes out, and with it, his shoulders seem to drop beneath invisible weight.
“What will happen if itdoesturn all black?”
He shrugs a shoulder. “My father had an heir at my age already to add more gold by the time his turned black, tocarry the kingdom forward, if you will. If I don’t fix this and I don’t have an heir…”
Heir—the word brings a horrid image of me forever keeping my dratted secrets and living my life alone with a flock of white fluffy birds while Ikar marries another Tulip and has a brood of gorgeous children. I feel a little like a lusty everwisp right now with jealousy running like hot lava through my veins.
“No,” I breathe out.
The image I’d just created brings almost tangible pain, and I find myself clutching the fabric of my trousers with a white-knuckled fist. One of the reasons I worked up the courage to escape Renton was so I didn’t lose Ikar to another Tulip, or toanyone. If I ever want a chance to see what could be between us, now’s the time to fight for him.
My quiet exclamation catches Ikar’s attention, and he appears slightly confused. I would find it incredibly endearing if I didn’t have to spill my deepest secrets in the next moment.
Chapter 57
Vera
“Ikar.”
I currently feel like I’m going to hyperventilate or barf—both maybe. I just know if I hold my hand up, it’ll be shaking like a leaf in a violent storm. The words I’d made an oath to never share, and that have been trying to fight their way out, feel stuck in my throat—locked behind the promise I made to never tell anyone,especiallya king. But then… that image of him with another Tulip pops into my head again—motivation enough.
“I’m a Black Tulip.” It comes out sort of strangled, quiet, and shaky.
He smiles in a way that makes my heart beat faster than it should, looking more warm and pleased than ever. I’m not sure what I expected his reaction to be, but it isn’t this.
“Finally,” he breathes.
I merely blink at him in obvious confusion.
He speaks again, this time softer. “Thanks for trusting me. I know that took a lot.” He holds my gaze steadily, and my eyesbegin to tear up when I realize the depth of his sincerity, and more so as I bask in the relief of sharing everything with him.
I told him.
“How long have you known?” I mumble in shock.
“Why d’you think I was chasing you through that fae market like a mad man?” He laughs. “Thank the blazes I had that identity charm, or people would think their king had lost his mind.”
He chooses another stone and tosses it expertly across the surface of the pool. I watch as it skips several times, then disappears.
He searches for more stones. “Jethonan helped me figure it out. I would’ve realized it sooner, except for that innocent-lookingfriendship bracelet. Blazing thing threw me off.” He tosses another rock that soars close enough past Rupi that her feathers blow in its wake. She fluffs her wings up indignantly and casts a scolding look our way before she resumes her playful bathing.
“I thought you wanted the names on the list…” I say slowly as the pieces begin to click together. I never let him speak more than three words without interrupting once he caught me that day… then we got attacked, and that has a way of ending a conversation rather quickly. Did I honestly think he would have chased me down just because he needed my help as an originator all this time? Or he needed names on a list? I feel foolish. Still, it was I who needed to tell him. He needs to know I trust him if we’re to make anything of our relationship, and that prompts the question of… what are we?
I bite my lip as he throws another stone. There are a few moments of silence between us where I try to catch up with the fact that Ikar knows everything.I don’t have to hide anymore.He’s known for days. The bracelet that was a tangible reminder of my promises is long gone, but all this time, I admit, there’s been an inward bracelet locking up parts of me just as tightly, and it feels good to finally be free.
“So we can fix this, right?” I ask, almost scared it’s too late.
He looks down at me. “Yeah. We can fix this, with you as my queen.”
A corner of his lips lifts into the handsome half-smile I dreamed about for the last week. Hope looks good on him.
