Page 42 of The King's Queen

“My son is my reminder every day. My reminder of why I destroyed myself.”

I swallow thickly. “Was it worth it?”

“Every second of it.” She steps ahead on her own for a moment, the stars shining on her long golden tresses. “The heart is a fickle thing, Verosa, I know, but you can’t have them both. You need to choose before someone gets hurt.”

Emilie extends that slender arm again, the limb of a wraith both haunted and haunting, and I guide her back to the house. I don’t have the heart to tell her it might be too late for that.

Chapter14

Rowan

Ihave officially decided that Duke Gadsden might be the most obnoxious man I had ever met, and if I had my sword, I would be tempted to skewer him if only to watch that smug smirk slide from his oily face.

Vera had told me stories of his various proposals over the years one of those days when she thought I wasn’t listening. His first proposal had come when she had turned fifteen, and the last about two weeks before we met in that alley. It took quite a bit of restraint for me not to laugh when she told me how she got him to back off, and it took more restraint now not to strangle him.

As if being a slimy pedophile wasn’t enough, he has to have the most boorish sense of humor and nasally voice that raises the very hairs on my arms.

“You’re quite a handsome gentleman, Lord Rowan. I would love to see what your mother must have looked like in her youth,” he cackles, a small snort interwoven with the guttural sound.

Just as I am beginning to plan my escape route for after I strangle him with his own toupee, a firm hand rests on my shoulder.

“Rowan,” Lucius says by way of greeting. “I was just looking for you.”

I plaster a smile on my face, though half of it is genuine relief, as I spin to face the other man. We are both about equal in stature, though I feel the need to square my shoulders each time I look him in the eye. If only the crown prince of Tesslari knew just who was hiding under all these fine clothes. Perhaps the royal would wet himself.

“What a coincidence, I was just on my way to find you.” I sketch a shallow and mocking bow. “Until next time, Duke.”

The slimy older gentleman, probably well into his fifties by now, offers a yellow-toothed smile and stalks back off to the end of the hall. Only when he is out of sight do I let myself sigh, exhaling the majority of my rage.

“How’d you wind up having to deal with that deplorable man?” Lucius’ voice is smooth with a soft lilt of amusement. His well-manicured nails pick at an invisible spec of lint off his finely tailored coat. The perfect picture of a cool and calculating prince, regal and kingly already.

“I was actually on my way to see you.”

“Oh?”

“It’s about Verosa.” At the mention of his fiancé, the prince’s lips form a hard line, and his eyes narrow in concern. “I know she has been feeling unwell, and I thought a trip to the sea would be helpful. I selected a location rich in history for her studies, with not enough wind for her to catch a chill.”

That wasn’t fully true, and I’m sure lying to the future king will come with its repercussions, but I’ll deal with that later.

Vera is almost always late to her lessons, giving me more time to peruse the royal libraries. Hidden back in the far corner of a shelf laden with dust and shadow is an old leather-bound book. A book on the power of the pureblood.

I’ve seen it before, that power simmering beneath the surface of her gaze, though she seems unaware. A few nights ago, when she was pinned beneath me, I felt it. Felt the air get cold and the lights flicker.

“That’s the Cliffs of Ialenia,” Lucius notes, eying the map in my hands. “Home of the great pureblood mages.”

“There’s an ancient myth that wading in the shallows of the ocean will speed up the healing process of any wound of sickness.” As well as increase the powers of any pureblood with magical abilities.

“But why come to me with this?”

“Well, as archaic as it might be, you’re her fiancé, and I don’t know who her parents are.”

“You don’t…” An incredulous stare.

“No. Verosa has been rather hush about it, not that I care. If she wants to keep it a secret, then it’s her secret to decide when to reveal.”

Lucius nods slowly, his jaw clicking as he considers what I’ve presented him with. His dark eyes shift under his furrowed brows. This man could have been melded from the crowns of fallen kings for all his regal mannerisms. A fitting king for this kingdom.

And yet Vera doesn’t want him.

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