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“Please, don’t,” I protested, attempting to wring the liquid from my waterlogged clothes. “I’m not your Queen.” Teller’s eyes darted between us. Slowly, he began to drop to his knees. “Long live—” “Oh stop it,” I hissed and grabbed his arm, hauling him back to his feet. “Not you, too.”
“When all else fails, keep moving,” I said to the empty room, echoing the command my father had drilled into me. “If you cannot run, then walk. If you cannot walk, then crawl.”
“Absolutely not,” I said, shaking my head. “I am not sharing a horse with you.” “It’s only a brief ride.” “Then I’ll walk. Actually, I’m the Crown. You can walk.” “You’ve taken to authority quickly for someone who swears she doesn’t want it.”
“I should put all four of your heads on a pike for treason. I just assaulted the Queen, and you cowards stood there and watched me do it. The next time someone lays a hand on her and you don’t kill them where they stand, I’ll carve out your eyeballs and feed them to the fucking hounds. It doesn’t matter if it’s me or the Regent or Blessed Mother Lumnos herself. Do your damn jobs and protect our Queen.”
🫦🫦🫦🫦
“I’m your Queen. Shouldn’t your loyalty be to me?” “It is to you. More than you know.”
“And I keep my promises, my Queen. Whatever the cost.”
“But rest assured, my Queen, when I do kiss you, there will be no confusion. You will know that I have claimed you—and I won’t have any desire to deny it.”
Like a moth to a flame, I was drawn to his glow, even as my wings burned and curled in the intensity of his fire.
His steel-blue gaze dropped to where my fingers grazed his coat, hovering for long enough that I snatched my hand away. “As you wish, my Queen.”
my beautiful Queen
“I’m not a child, Luther, I am a grown woman.” “Believe me, Your Majesty, I am well aware.” His voice was low and rough, heavy with implication.
Luther drew me in in a way I’d never experienced with anyone else. Fighting with him, teasing him—it was like lighting a fuse and closing my eyes, never knowing just how close I was to destruction.
“Fine, I suppose. What about Aemonn, why keep him around?” “I ask myself that every day.” I stopped still. “Luther Corbois, did you just make a joke?” “It’s been known to happen on occasion.” His hand slid to my back to nudge me forward and lingered there as I resumed my pace. “What about Taran, why is he there?” “Mostly to keep me from killing Aemonn.” “Luther,” I gasped. “Two jokes in one day! You’re going to need a nap to recover from this excitement.”
He smiled at me—a new smile, this one warm and humble, but also a little bit triumphant. I was so surprised at the casual sweetness of it that I nearly stumbled.
We walked for a few paces in silence. His hand finally dropped away from my back, though it paused as it fell, twining in the gossamer fabric of my skirts.
“Or maybe you prefer me in muddy pants and a borrowed tunic.” “Only when it’s mine.”
“Well, she seems like a real peach,” I drawled. “You obviously have flawless taste.” “You’re one to talk.” “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“A Descended mate is forever. We do not give our heart away unless we are certain, beyond all doubt, that the person we choose will stand by our side no matter what fate the Kindred have in store for us, in this life and all that comes after.” Shards of his magic clashed in his gaze. “I will not presume to tell you who to choose, I can only hope that you have friends, as I did, who care about you enough to tell you when you’re being a blind fool.”
“You could try to look a little less pleased with yourself every time you turn a new member of my family against me. Sorae used to adore me. Now when I use the front entrance, she tries to take a bite out of my arm.”
“And you... if you were my friend and nothing more, what would you tell me?” His answer came without missing a beat. “That if a man made you doubt whether his love for you would survive anything, he does not deserve you.”
My heart squeezed—Sorae was kneeling. This incredible creature was claiming me as her Queen, offering a fierce vote of confidence when I needed it most—as well as a deadly warning to anyone who might plan to do me harm. Movement caught my eye. I looked up to see Luther mimicking her bow, his fist beating across his chest as he sank to one knee and lowered his gaze to the floor.
My eyes stayed fixed on Luther, the strength in his gaze calming my pounding heart. It felt as if something in him had hooked itself on something in me. While my indignation and my insecurity battled for control, Luther held me firm, steadily reeling me toward him like a fish on a line. Certain death might await me on the other side, but for the moment, he was a shiny lure I couldn’t seem to resist.
The intimate contact took us both by surprise, at least if his sharp inhale was any indication. I nearly tripped on the long hem of my gown, and his other hand shot out and gripped my hand. Warmth flooded my body as he leaned me against his side to hold me steady.
“I’m not jealous,” Luther ground out, the words sounding so insincere that I looked at him in surprise. “And you shouldn’t lie to your Queen. Everyone knows your real favorite cousin is Eleanor.”
“You’re not going to die because I won’t let it happen.” Luther’s attention stayed fixed on the arena floor, his shoulders drawn tight. “We have a number of tools at our disposal to ensure you are coronated. I’ll use as many of them as I have to. You belong on that throne.”
“Any two Descended can attempt the mating ritual, but the bonding magic will only work if your love is genuine and unconditional, and if you freely commit to stand by your mate forever, in life and in death. Once you’re mated, your heart is bound to your mate for eternity. You can never love anyone else.”
“The mating bond is sacred,” he added. “It’s respected by all Descended, no matter the realm. Even if one mate is imprisoned, the other is permitted access to them at all times. To separate mates is an insult to the Kindred themselves.”
“We love a woman with her priorities in order, don’t we Lu?” Luther’s piercing stare pinned me in place. “We do,” he said, his voice heart-stoppingly soft.
“You loud-mouthed, uppity little—” “Careful, Uncle,” Luther rumbled. “She is Queen, and I am still Keeper of the Laws. Executions are my specialty.”
“Unleash, my Queen. Show this world what it means to Challenge Diem Bellator.”
My eyes lifted to Luther. Despite our very public surroundings, he had dropped his mask, revealing that same genuine, wholly unguarded smile he had given me after I released my magic for the first time. My heart sang at its sight. Unleash, my Queen.
“I watched him down there with you today. I saw how he ran to your side when things went badly.” He cocked his head and gave me a pointed look. “When he came to fetch me... I’ve rarely seen a man look so desperate.”
He smiled—a true smile, broad and exquisite, his face radiating such matchless brilliance that I pitied the sun.
“Luther,” I whispered. “My Queen,” he breathed.
I could sense his confusion, and I understood it. I was a coward, hiding from his desire in his very own arms.
“With all due respect to my lovely cousin, the only person I’m getting down on my knees for is you, my Queen.”
Eleanor tapped a finger against her chin and frowned. “Hmm. Diem, what do you think? Should I forgive him?” I shrugged. “You could make him beg a little.” “This is the greatest day of my life,” Taran breathed. “You have five seconds before I walk out of this room,” Luther warned.
I threw caution to the wind and leaned up on my toes to press a kiss to his cheek, just above his jawline, letting my lips linger on the rough skin of his scar for longer than I should have. I heard his sharp breath in my ear and felt his hand press again to the bare skin low on my back.
His hand curled into a fist, tugging at my hair—gently, but enough to pull a gasp from my lips and an arch from my back. He leaned into my ear. “If a kiss is the reward, my Queen, I’ll get on my knees for you whenever you want.”
His lips parted as he looked me over. Even from across the room, the heat of him pressed against me, drawing sweat to the back of my neck. His gaze traveled the expanse of my body, nostrils flaring as it caught on my bare thigh. When his eyes cut back to mine, the hunger raging behind them had my blood humming.
“Perhaps you’ve grown too used to women who are impressed with your fancy title.” I placed my hands on his armrests and leaned in closer. “Unfortunately for you, mine’s a little fancier.”
“Having been on the wrong end of Her Majesty’s power myself, I can assure you, Ethaline, there’s not a soul in Emarion that would find it insufficient.”
“A scar is a sign of survival,” I continued. “Of endurance. It’s a sign that its bearer triumphed over what might have killed a lesser person. To show off your scars is to tell the world you’re not ashamed of what you’ve overcome. Frankly, I can’t imagine any better symbol of strength. And if Luther were my King, then I would make him swear to me he would never remove it. I would hope he wore it with pride for the rest of his life.”
“I wish to speak with you in private.” Even without seeing him, I felt the dark rumble of his mood roll through the air. A storm was brewing. “In my room?” I asked lightly. “I wouldn’t want anyone to get the wrong impression about your interests.” “Fuck their impressions,” he snarled.
His tone shocked even the guards, who eyed us both with unease. One of them stepped into place at my side, hand resting on his weapon. “You will address Her Majesty with respect,” he barked.
“To see you healthy is repayment enough.” I took his hand and squeezed it, ignoring Luther’s grunt of displeasure. “But if you wish to serve me, I gratefully accept. I can think of no man in the entire realm who is more worthy to fight in my defense.” A bit over the top, perhaps, but worth it for the near-snarl that ripped out of Luther’s mouth.
Jealousy and anger mixed with indignation, layered with a stubborn determination to win this strange battle we were fighting, shaken by alcohol-decimated inhibitions, and poured over a lust I still wasn’t ready to acknowledge. It was a dangerous cocktail, and I was still in the mood to drink.
Yo JQKAJAJAJAJAJS
“Tell me then, my Queen, how would you like me to serve you?” Both palms dragged down my legs, resting low on my thighs and nudging them apart with the faintest pressure. “Shall I get back down on my knees until I earn another kiss?”
“It takes a lot of work to make me look this presentable.” “No, it doesn’t.” He crossed the room and batted my hands away, deftly untangling the clip and setting it aside. “You forget the conditions I’ve seen you in. I know how easily your beauty shines through.”
“What must I do to prove myself to you?” he breathed, sounding as desperate as he was furious. “Break from House Corbois, if you wish. It changes nothing—I will still serve you. Appoint every soul in the realm as your advisor but me. Marry your mortal. Worse, mate yourself off to that snake Aemonn.” His gaze turned dark as a moonless night. “Exile me from the realm. I will serve you from afar.”
Uno desesperado así por favor
