The Unseelie Throne (Maze of Shadows #3)

by Kathryn Ann Kingsley

Laughing again, she leaned against his arm once more, resting her head on his shoulder. She was surprised when he leaned his head to rest atop hers. They sat in comfortable silence for another long stretch.

Anfar

“It does not hurt. They can deflect arrows and swords. Your arse, while it could be considered an instrument of war, poses my wings no threat.” He smirked.

Valroy's wings

“You will be my queen, or I shall be dead. You must decide which it is you want. For I cannot—I shall not—live without you, Abigail.” He tightened an arm around her. “And I am quite pleased to say you shall have no say in the matter, dear witch.”

That seemed to catch him by surprise, his features smoothing from their snide callousness. When he did not reply, his eyes flicking between hers, she kept speaking. “I do not hate you, Valroy. I hate the things you do. I hate what you force others to endure. I will never condone your barbarity, or the anguish you cast upon others. But you…are what you are. And you have never sought to hide your nature from anyone, including me.” She smiled faintly at him. “I do not hate the wolf because it eats the sheep.”

“Never shall I lie to you, my princess. My queen. My wife. Never. For while you play idle with your words…if you but once gazed upon me with betrayal in your eyes, I would not know how to live with myself.” He grinned. “That is a depth too low, even for me. No, my darling, sweet little Seelie witch. You have my loyalty, and my honesty, until the stars burn to dust.”

“You are still too human for your own good. But I will not stop you. You are free to do as you wish. I will tell the trees not to molest you on the way out.” He grinned sleepily. “I appreciate that.” Leaning down, she kissed his cheek again. “I will be back before sundown.”

That sent the queen howling into laughter. She pulled Abigail into an embrace again and squeezed her tight. “Come what may, come what might pass between us in all the years to come, please know that I adore you, Abigail. And that I hope we remain friends in our souls, even if not always in our words and actions.”

She placed a palm to his cheek where she had struck him. She smiled faintly. “Valroy…I love you. I should not, but I do. So, yes. I will stand at the altar with you willingly, for despite what you might wish to believe, I want to marry you. Now, will you calm down, you overdramatic id—”

It dug deep into his ribs. Titania did not waver, did not even blink, as she yanked the blade from him and drove it in a second time.