Page 75 of Queen of the Night
Haven’t I proven myself yet? How much more does Vera require of a mortal man to gain her trust? I clench a fist on the arm of the chair, frustrated for the hundredth time overthe fact that the murder of the Tulips ever happened. That was the beginning of the possible downfall of our kingdom. A wrong I intend to right as best I can, and to never allow to happen again, but first I have to convince the Tulips I’m not out to kill them.
“What do I do?” I ask, letting my head fall back against the chair. For just a moment, I want someone to tell me what to do. For someone else to carry the weight of a failing kingdom, to be the leader. Make the decisions. Fight the battles.
“Go find her, of course. And gain her trust.” He swirls the small pot and steam in a shade of pink I’ve never witnessed before begins to rise.
“I already tried that,” I mutter.
“Persistence is the path to success, my lord. See it this way: you’re still further ahead than you were when you first began. You have the flower, and now you know exactly which Black Tulip you’re after.”
I consider his words, and, somehow, the perspectivedoesimprove my outlook. I stare at a small crack in one of the window-panes, likely caused by a minor explosion from one of his experiments, thinking about where I might begin my search. It doesn’t take long.Mama Tina.
“It appears you have a plan already,” Jethonan observes from across the room.
I instinctively catch the vial he tosses at me before it hits my face, and I look at it before raising a brow. “Tell me this is a charm to make a woman trust me.”
Jethonan snorts. “EvenIhave limits to my abilities, my lord. There is no such thing as atrust charm. I assume you’ll be leaving again, and in your hand is the charm I gave you to hide your identity before, in case you decide to use it again.”
I toss the vial in the air once before catching it, and stand. “Better get to work on a trust charm because my record so far is lacking.”
“Your self-confidence is inspiring,” Jethonan says dryly.
I chuckle as I leave the room, closing the door behind me, but my smile is quickly replaced with a neutral expression when I see Nadiette waiting in the hallway.
“You said we could speak this evening,” she reminds me.
I nod, tuck the vial in a pocket, and begin walking down the hall. “Originator business?” I ask as she matches my stride.
“Not quite.”
I glance at her, unused to hearing hesitation in her voice. “I have a very long list to?—”
She grabs my arm and we stop, facing each other. “Ikar, please reconsider marrying me.”
I clench my jaw in frustration. My kingdom is falling apart at my fingertips, and she wants to discuss this again? I step back until her hand falls from my forearm.
“I have a duty to fulfill,” I say simply, then turn and continue walking.
“You don’t understand!” Her voice rises. “Waylon and the other low kings, they say if we don’t marry, they’ll mutiny in only two weeks’ time. Doesthatnot fall under your duties to prevent?”
I pause. “Two weeks?”
“Yes, but if we marry, it will restore peace.”
I’ve never seen Nadiette beg before; it’s not a good look.
“If the low kings were on my list of concerns, then maybe I would consider it. They’re not.” She frowns and opens her mouth to argue again, but I interrupt. “You don’t seem to understand that marrying you may restore temporary peace, but it will lead to the eventual downfall of my kingdom. I won’t.”
I know the words are harsh, but it’s the honest truth.
She watches me leave without another word.
It’s a long time before sleep finds me as I ruminate over the depth of trouble my kingdom remains in. Not only do I feel sorrow for Nadiette and guilt for not feeling as devastated about the ending of our relationship as I should, but the low kings are stirring up trouble behind my back. Their pettiness angers me so much that I find my heart racing even as I lie in the dark of my room. I have to trust that I can accomplish my mission before they act, but even after I calmthoseconcerns, snippets of meetings and conversations that were thrust upon me as soon as I returned fight for center stage of my mind… and in the background, distracting as ever, is Vera. Always Vera.
My eyes finally drift closed.
I find Vera beside me, our wrists pressed together as if we’ve just completed the mate bond in the forest just outside Shift City. We simultaneously pull them apart and eye the bright marks on our wrists as dust specks sparkle and float in the warm air around us. A dream has never felt so real, but if it includes Vera, I’ll take it. Her presence, even in a dream, fills the hole she left in my heart when she disappeared.
I look down and meet her gaze with unguarded affection, unhindered by the worries of reality. Here, I’m free. I brush stray hairs from her face, my fingers grazing the soft skin of her forehead. “Do you intend to torture me by appearing in my dreams now?”
