Page 51 of Dark Sun (Wicked Lovely 6)

The outside of Seth’s train was decorated in murals. Beside the train was a garden where metalwork sculptures and flowering plants seemingly sprouted. For a moment, Aislinn looked at the plants. They thrived now that winter and summer were balanced.

The world thrives because of it.

“Seth?” she called as she stepped inside, avoiding a pile of books on the floor, grateful that she was immune to the limits of steel because she was a regent.

“Back here,” Seth called from the second train car, which was where the tiny bathroom and his bedroom were.

She followed his voice to the second car and found him sitting on his bed with books, a notebook, and assorted pens.

“What’s up?” He patted the mattress, inviting her closer. “Did we have plans?”

“No.” Aislinn felt like a part of who she used to be was held in his possession, and as she sat next to him, she felt like the responsibility of being the Summer Queen slipped away. “I just needed you.”

Seth nodded. “I’m right here, Ash. For as long as we are both able, I am yours.”

Something there pricked her anxiety, as if there were a time or reason he would not be hers. The thought of that made her stomach twist. She had no desire to surrenderanythingthat was hers—including Seth. She did, though, and often. They were always apart because he was off doing this or that, and she had to stay where she was.

“What if I wanted to hand over the court?” She said the words in a rush, looking at him. “To Urian. Maybe if I did that, he wouldn’t hurt anyone in my court.”

“Is that what you want?”

“Him not to hurt anyone?Yes.” Aislinn was certain of that much at least.

“To give up the court,” Seth clarified.

And there was no way to answer that. The words she wanted to say would be lies, so she couldn’t speak them. That was answer enough for Seth.

“So what’s the real issue?” He pushed his books to the side, and in the next moment, he pulled her into his embrace. “Talk to me.”

“The Wild Hunt wants to join my court.” Aislinn plucked at his shirt absently, hating the barrier.

Seth grinned. Then he removed the shirt and pulled her close again. He dropped a kiss on the top of her head and teased, “Pushy.”

“Needy,” she corrected.

Silly as it might be, Aislinn was more relaxed just by touching his bare chest. She sighed and nestled into his arms. Later she’d be all the things she had to be—capable, strong, decisive,vicious—but right now, she was a woman in her lover’s arms. That was what she needed: the sliver of normal life that he could still give her.

“Chela’s offer felt like an insult to you,” Seth surmised. “Judgment for how far you are willing to go for the Summer Court.”

“Yes.”

Seth kissed the top of her head again, keeping her tucked into his embrace, as if he knew that all the little touches soothed some anxiety that she couldn’t quite voice.

“You want to protect them,” Seth said. “The Summer Court has had centuries of abuse, suffering, loss. And you are their head. Their heart. It’s only natural that you are protective—”

“Vicious.” Aislinn glanced up at him. “Tavish says that’s why. He thinks that’s what Chela’s offer says about me.”

“He’s not wrong.” Seth stroked her hair gently, as he had when they’d first started to get closer. It seemed like a small thing after all they’d done since, but the small gestures of affection were as important as the joys she’d known in his arms.

“If I could purr, I would,” Aislinn mumbled.

“What aren’t you saying?” Seth prompted with a little hug. “You aren’t just fixating on one word, one detail.”

She filled him in on the conversation with Keenan. Thatwasbothering her, too.

Seth snorted. “Sunshine is always melodramatic.”

A laugh escaped her at that. Five years later, Seth was no more tolerant of the man who had tried to steal her affection. It shouldn’t make her laugh, but it did. He trusted her, but he also held a grudge that made him possessive. Years later, he looked at Keenan with only thinly veiled irritation.

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