Page 122 of Queen’s Gambit

‘When he comes out, seal this place shut. No one should ever enter this room,’ I said. Reynard’s eyebrows lifted, but as he opened his mouth, Irsha stumbled outside and emptied his stomach in the corner.

‘Fuck, Sana… he deserved it, but… fuck…’ he said, breathing hard.

Rey released me and entered the chamber. Time trickled by until the door opened again. Rey’s skin was pale and glistening with sweat. He swallowed hard, closing his eyes before reaching for my hand.

‘I’ll have someone brick up this corridor. Let’s go.’ We left with the solemnity of a mourning procession, but I couldn’t bring myself to regret it. A chapter of my life had closed, and Ernesto Tivala would never haunt my dreams again.

‘I’ll be leaving for Truso tonight. You don’t need me, Trouble, but could I ask a favour?’ Irsha said when we entered the courtyard.

‘Yes?’

‘Order Niersen to accompany me. Lily… she needs this too. Closure.’ Blade looked pensive, his eyes darting to the side as he avoided my gaze. I came closer.

‘She might not want this. Lily and I are different. However, she has the right to decide his fate,’ I said, placing a hand on Irsha’s chest. He flinched, and I bit my lip. ‘Take Tova with you and ask Alaric to examine him. Please.’

Irsha nodded, stepping away, and a tiny voice inside me whispered I was losing him, too.

‘I’m still me. Your Nightshade,’ I whispered, swallowing my tears.

He looked at me like a man facing the gallows. ‘I know, Trouble. I know, but Niersen, Tova and now the duke… It’s a lot to take in. Give me a little time.’

I nodded and wiped the tears away, then leant against Rey, who held me close.

‘Safe journey. I’ll send Niersen to you. He’ll follow your orders.’

Irsha left, and the strength keeping me going through the ordeal vanished with him.

‘You need to rest,’ Rey murmured, then scooped me into his arms. After Irsha’s reaction, I didn’t protest, grateful he hadn’t pulled away.

‘I need the world to be right again.’ I dropped my head onto Rey’s shoulder and snuggled in. The triumph I’d expected from Tivala’s punishment didn’t come, but neither did the fear. Instead, overwhelming weariness washed through my body.

The world would know the old duke died, interred in his own dungeon. That was for the best.

Only the two men I trusted knew the truth, and only one wasn’t afraid to touch me.

The guards saluted as we passed, Rey carrying me through gloomy corridors until we reached the bedroom. The fire was lit, and during our absence, servants had made the bed with fresh linen and scattered flowers over the pillows.

Rey frowned at the pale pink petals, and the absurdity of the situation made me snort.

‘Did they treat us like newlyweds?’ I asked when he rolled his eyes.

‘How can we marry if you’re going to Tangra?’ he answered, turning away.

‘I’ll return,’ I whispered, pinching his chin and moving his head back. ‘I need to do something worthwhile. I need to prove that I’m not just an abomination.’

‘Sana, for all the gods’ sake! You are not an abomination!’ he exploded, pulling from my grasp to face me head-on.

‘You saw what I did to Tivala, to Niersen, even the creatures from Piran’s Swamp recognised me as one of their own…’ My voice trailed off when he cupped my face and kissed me.

‘The bones in Tivala’s garden testify that nothing you did was unjust. Just because your magic is rare doesn’t make it wrong,’ he said.

My breath brushed over his hair, pushing unruly strands from his eyepatch.

‘I don’t deserve you.’ The words had barely left my lips when Rey flipped me over and caged me beneath his body.

He held his fingers close together in front of my eyes. ‘I’m this close to throwing you over my knee and spanking your arse red. Stop, Roksana, just stop.’

He caressed my lips with his calloused thumb, his eye softening despite the anger shimmering in his golden iris. ‘You saved countless lives—those of Dagome, Tangra and the fae alike. You and Tova saved the land itself. You are a queen who made difficult decisions and paid the price for every single one of them.’