Page 30 of Queen of the Night
“What’s your secret?”
I tuck a piece of hair behind my ear. “My secret?”
Oh, if he only knew what he asked.
“To pulling so much lucent,” he says. “You just provided three men enough lucent to power enchanted weapons for a prolonged amount of time.” With a slight frown he mutters, “I don’t know if Nadiette can even do that anymore, and in the Lucent Mountains, no less.”
I lift one shoulder in a casual shrug. “It’s a gift.”
I smile weakly, kicking myself for possibly offeringtoomuch lucentnow.
“Well, it’s more than I ever expected. I’m glad you’re with us... But if something happened to you…”
I can’t make myself meet his eyes, so I look at our twined hands instead.
He sighs. “Just don’t do it again.”
“I can’t promise I won’t,” I argue softly.
“How did I know you’d say that?” He chuckles. “I’ll just have to do better to ensure you don’t have to.” Then he adds, his voice firm. “And we’ll be training every night. You can practice sharing lucent with the three of us until it feels more normal. If you don’t feel comfortable fighting, that’s okay; we just need to adjust our technique. Darvy, Rhosse, and I have fought side by side for years, so it comes naturally. It’ll get better, I promise.”
I nod and look into his eyes. For a moment I feel the warm tension build between us, and wonder if another kiss might?—
He pulls his eyes from mine as he plucks a leaf from my hair. I immediately bring a hand up to feel it and cringe as my fingers run over an assortment of small twigs, pine needles, pieces of dried leaves, and a bit of blood.Lovely.
Ikar smirks as I drop my hand. There’s nothing to help it right now.Definitely no kiss.
“We’ll be able to clean up once we find the nymphs, I’m sure.” He eyes my hair once more, grinning a little wider now as his thumb caresses my hand distractingly. Then he pulls his fingers from mine and turns toward Darvy and Rhosse, leaving my hand uncomfortably cold and lonely.
Chapter 18
Nadiette
King’s Council
The low kings sit around the table. The head chair, as old as this kingdom and empty as it should never be, draws my eyes. I can’t deny that it feels wrong to meet here without Ikar. I begin to fist a hand in the fabric of my white jacket, but I catch myself and force myself to relax. I ignore the pang of guilt about my part in this council and promptly remind myself that if not for my intervention, there would have already been mutiny in Ikar’s absence.
The low kings are antsy. I can feel it. Their eyes shift between each other, their shoulders taut—unrest thrums in the room. Well, except for Drade. He slouches in his chair as if this is the last place he cares to be. I purse my lips, irritated by his uncaring attitude.
Waylon eyes the empty head seat with a hint of calculation before he turns his attention to the others. “I have called us together to discuss our high king’s decision to pursue marriage and bridging with a Queen of the Night. It has been made known to me that our dear king is, at this very moment, scouring the Lucent Mountains in search of a flower. We are allin agreement that his mission is reckless, that it puts our kingdom in danger?” His gaze sweeps the table, waiting for nods of agreement. Then he turns his eyes to me. “Nadiette, any progress regarding marriage before he left?”
I’m annoyed he asks. If Ikar left to find a blazing flower, then it’s easy to assume things didn’t go well. Adrian’s chin is already dipping in a steady bob, soon to rest on his chest. Drade is unreadable and relaxed, as usual, but I can tell by the awareness in his dark eyes that he observes the proceedings closely.
“I have not been able to gain an answer from King Ikar thus far,” I say, keeping my chin high and clasping my hands confidently on the table before me while trying to forget about our last conversation. “But I believe with time and continued effort on my part he will agree to marriage.”
There’s a prolonged silence.
Rhomi shifts uncomfortably in his chair before finally speaking up. “How long should we wait before acting?” He asks no one in particular, but his eyes meet mine with question.
I answer with all the confidence I’ve ever portrayed as being the kingdom’s highest originator. “It won’t be long. As soon as he returns, I’ll speak with him. I’m sure I can change his mind.”
Waylon shakes his head. “We’ve waited long enough, my dear. You have three weeks to marry, and no longer.”
My clasped hands tighten around each other on the table. “That’s hardly enough time. He’s away again, as you well know.”
“I don’t disagree, but while we’ve been waiting, our dearkingis gallivanting about the kingdom in search of a Queen of the Night, endangering our entire kingdom, and you dare ask us for more time?” He raises his brows in question.
I clench my teeth, but say nothing.
