Tale of the Heart Queen (Artefacts of Ouranos #4)

by Nisha J. Tuli

There is also mention of pregnancy and its possible complications, though everything turns out fine.

BUT IS IT LOR AND NADIR OR HER GRANDPARENTS

The dogs are safe. Nothing happens or ever will happen to the dogs. They’re both very good girls.

Slay

“Very well,” the first guard says. “Follow me.” “Really?” I say, hardly daring to believe my luck. This still doesn’t guarantee Cyan will see me, but at least it’s progress. “I mean… yes, okay. Good. Take me to your king.” I throw my shoulders back again, trying to pretend I belong here. He starts to roll his eyes but catches himself like the well-trained soldier he is.

LMAO ok girl

Before I have a chance to react, two enormous male High Fae wearing Alluvion armor seize me roughly by each arm. “What are you doing?” I ask as a door swings open and they drag me through. “I demand to see your king!” The female guard walks ahead of us and calls over her shoulder. “You were told you’d be sent to the dungeons if you insisted on bothering the guards.”

LITERALLY

That bastard tricked me into following him inside, and I did so like a gullible little duckling.

And now youre in the dungeon

A neatly folded golden jacket lies on the floor in the middle of a cell. On top of it sits an ornamental gold crown, like an offering. Not an offering. A signal. The immutable evidence that Atlas was here and now… he isn’t. I recognize the crown and jacket he wore during the presentation when I tore apart my home.

No he escaped

“Please! Someone!” “Shut the fuck up!” shouts another inhabitant from his cell. “I’m trying to sleep!” “Rude,” I say, and then I start shouting again.

LMAO

The woman hovers over me and smiles. “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of you. That so-called mate of yours doesn’t deserve you, does she? But don’t you worry—Zerra will give you everything you need.”

FUCK NO

She shuffles closer and leans down, pressing her lips against mine. I make a sound that’s somewhere between surprise and protest, trying to move away, but she holds me in place with her cold hands pressed against either side of my face. There’s nothing passionate about the kiss. Just the press of lips against mine.

OH HELL NO

“Lor is a queen?” comes a voice from the corner. Apricia has stopped crying and is now staring at everyone. “Lor is the Heart Queen? That’s who I was competing with? What chance did any of us have!” Everyone in the room stares at her like she’s sprouted weeds from her ears, and she at least has the sense to look abashed at her narcissistic outburst.

LMAO thatts what she focuses on???

“Hi,” I say. “How are you?” “We’re here to keep an eye on you,” one says. Not what I asked, but I guess we’re bypassing the small-talk thing. “Oh. That’s nice. It’s good to have such strong, handsome guards.” I wink, and the one on the left frowns. “Is there something in your eye?” he asks. Right. I suck at flirting.

LMAO

“Oh, I’ve always imagined her as a woman with all those curves and lithe limbs,” he says, clutching his book to his chest. That’s… a very strange thing to say.

LMAO

She slides her hand lower, stopping at my navel, her fingers dipping a little too low to be innocent. “In fact, it’s nothing I didn’t see when my ladies bathed you.” Her eyes flick down and then back up. “And it was very impressive.” Oh, good gods. Did she just compliment my cock? I’m way too fucked-up for this.

FREE MY BOYYY

I struggle to sit up, but she places a hand on my shoulder and easily forces me back. I’m as strong as a baby bird. “Ah ah,” she scolds. “You’re staying here until you have some rest. I remember how you land dwellers require sleep. So inconvenient. Don’t worry—when you become mine, we’ll do away with such trifling needs. Being a demigod has its issues, but there are many perks, too.”

WHEN HE BECOMES YOURS???

I lift the hem of the sheet covering my lap, and yep, I’m completely naked. I try not to think too hard about how I got this way. Zerra’s a god, surely she wouldn’t— Except she’s watching me like she’s preparing for a show. “Could you leave?” I ask. “I’m not wearing anything underneath.” She smiles with a raw mania carved into the lines of her face. “Like I said, nothing I haven’t already seen.” She then gives me an exaggerated wink that I think is supposed to be sexy or cute, but it’s neither. It just makes me shudder.

FREE HIMMMM

Zerra waits at the end, still wearing her sheer robe, hanging open to show off her… assets. My lip curls with distaste. This is vile. And quite frankly, freaking me the fuck out.

“Feel free to tie that up,” I say, gesturing to her body. “I’m not interested in whatever you’re offering.”

LMAO

Zerra watches me with a simpering smile as I meet her gaze. “Did you just figure it out?” she asks, and though I’m not entirely sure what she means yet, my ribs seize with fear. “You’re here because of your mate. She’s the one who killed you.”

Ehhh technically true

By the time the sun rises tomorrow, it will be my final day to save Nadir. An oily green bubble expands in my stomach at the thought. I thought I died already when I lost him once, but losing him again would turn me from a violent scream into a whisper.

I shake it off. I have things to accomplish. I don’t have time to indulge in my trauma.

Real

bug. “Zerra has my mate, and she won’t give him back without the ark.” Something passes behind Anemone’s expression as she exchanges a loaded look with Cyan. “Why should we give a fuck about that?” Linden demands, still my best friend.

LMAO

“She. Killed. You.” “That doesn’t mean I’ll allow you to speak ill of her. I’m sure she had her reasons.” “Are you kidding me?” Zerra says, and now I’m kind of enjoying myself.

LMAO real

LOR ON THE RUN

LMAO

The door to the study pops open, and Hylene slides through the gap. Every eye in the room draws her way, a few sentences cutting off mid-complaint. It’s easy to understand why. There’s something about her that garners attention wherever she goes. She might be the only person within spitting distance with more than two brain cells to rub together.

LMAO

“Zerra,” I say. “I have a mate. We can’t get married.” “You just said you were staying.” “Yes, but I’m not marrying you. I can’t.” She shoves me in a playful way, but it’s a bit too forceful to be believable. My chair nearly tips due to her strength, and I grunt as I right myself. “Don’t be silly. Your mate won’t be alive much longer.”

WHAT THE FUCK DOES THAT MEAN

“She makes me want to be the best version of myself,” I say, realizing how true it is. “She’s like the sun, and everything else is just the stars lucky to be moving around her.”

LOR WHO THE FUCK KNOWS?—PRESENT DAY

LMAO

There’s so much concern and love in his expression that my heart expands in my chest. This cruel prince who kidnapped me and tied me to the foot of his bed while he threatened to feed me to his pets. This cruel prince who isn’t so cruel as long as he loves you. The prince who took my heart and held it in his hand and forced me to see him. But who would have handed it back to me if I’d asked.

If fate is intent on separating us, I’d be happy to spend countless years—lifetimes if I had to—waiting for her because what we have is inescapable. Inevitable. As constant as the moon and stars.