Page 64 of Their Rejected Queen

He’s out there on purpose, waiting for his moment to strike.

Sounds like a hunter to me.

“I drank the poison, and I didn’t have the correct antidote,” I reply, stating the obvious. “That means we’re both dead.”

He shrugs. “Good thing I’m a prince of the dead. The poison only stopped your heart. That’s easy enough to restart.” He wiggles his fingers. “Just don’t get your pretty head ripped off your body or anything like that. My abilities only extend so far.”

“I’ll do my best,” I promise as I slide my fingers through his.

Then we’re not on the cliffs anymore. I’m sucking in sweet air and grabbing my chest with my free hand as my heart surges back to life.

Everyone is staring at us. I’m still holding Arwan’s hand, and this time, dark tendrils have crawled from his fingers to mine.

Reclaiming my hand, I watch as the darkness fades, but the icy sensation remains.

“We’re done here,” Godric booms. His voice slams into me like a wall.

He’s not pleased.

Arwan gives the Alpha a polite nod before I’m scooped up against the shifter’s broad chest.

I don’t have the strength to fight him. Everything burns as he holds me aloft with surprising gentleness.

My eyes drift closed as I stop fighting the fatigue draping over me.

And like every other night since the infusion, I fall right into my dreams.

“You didn’t warn me,” Godric growls, but he’s not talking to me.

I don’t open my eyes to see who he might be arguing with, but I can guess.

Gentle fingers run through my hair as I bury my face into the furs. Usually my dreams have silk sheets, but Godric seems to be invading everything. His scent of cedar and smoke overpowers everything else, as does his concern.

I whimper as pain throbs through my left side. Whatever Arwan had done to me to bring me back to life had either come at a cost, or linked us even further.

If this keeps up, the connection between us will never be undone.

I’m not sure how I feel about that as the Prince of Death rebuts the shifter with ease.

“You would have stopped it,” Arwan informs him. “King Njord wanted a show. And I needed to speed this up before the first combat.” A shuffle of silk suggests he’s leaned in, challenging the shifter. Anyone else would have a death wish, but I guess Arwan doesn’t have to worry about that. “Do you want her to be beheaded during the combat? I can’t save her from that.”

“You mean you can’t save your own skin,” Godric growls. “That’s all this is really about. You don’t care about her.”

Pain lances through me and I whimper again. The male stroking my hair shushes them both. He presses a kiss against my brow.

Then he⁠—

“Liliana, wake up,” a soft voice sounds, making me flash my eyes open.

I find Sofia blinking at me in return. She seems deeply concerned, if the crease down her forehead is any indicator. As I stare at her, she softens and then sighs in relief.

“I thought the poison was still affecting you,” she says. “I could hear your screams all the way from my place.”

I’d been screaming?

My dreams had felt peaceful enough. Although, what had they been about, again?

Something to do with Godric.