Page 146 of North Queen
When he heard her, he turned. “Salara,” he said as he bowed his head.
Norah was speechless, and it took her a moment to gather her wits. She thought of poor Kiran behind her, forced to contain himself and act detached.
“Are you all right?” she managed to get out.
“Most kind of you to ask, Salara. I’d taken ill for a few days, but I’m quite well now. I’m able to return to my work, which I am very thankful for.”
No doubt his excuse was for the benefit of her guard. She nodded, blinking back the tears in her eyes. “I’m glad,” she breathed. She was so very glad.
Norah tried to keep her eyes on the hall ahead of her, but they kept drifting back to Alexander as he walked beside her. She still couldn’t believe he was here. If she closed her eyes for a moment, would she find it had all been a dream when she opened them? Maybe she wished it were a dream. As much as she wanted him with her, as happy as she was to see him, she couldn’t think past the clawing fear that she could lose him forever to the forces that so badly wanted him dead.
Her voice came unsteadily. “Why did you come? It’s not safe for you here.” She needed to send him back, only she couldn’t bring herself to say the words.
His eyes burned a bright blue. “I would never leave you to face hardships on your own. Wherever you go, I’ll follow.”
“If anything happens to you—”
“Nothing will happen to me,” he assured her.
She shook her head. “You don’t know that.”
“Of course, I do. I have a destiny.”
Norah glanced back at the Crest guards in alarm. They were far enough back and didn’t seem to have heard, but by the gods, if she wasn’t going to have a panic attack. She grabbed his arm and dragged him down the hall into her sanctuary, away from listening ears.
“Those are words that will get you killed!” she said in a harsh whisper as the door closed behind them.
“No, Norah. I don’t die here. I do have a destiny.”
“A destiny Mikael will do everything in his power to change!” A destiny she found herself wanting to change.
He didn’t argue.
Norah straightened, bringing her hand to her forehead and forcing herself calm. She needed to send him home, both to see him safe and to help her manage her grandmother and the council. With Catherine refusing to come to Kharav, they’d obviously taken the news of the alliance more poorly than she’d hoped.
“What did my grandmother say?” she asked.
He sighed. “She’s having a difficult time, as you can imagine.”
A difficult time? Anger flashed inside her. What did her grandmother expectshewas going through? “What did she say?” she asked again.
His brow dipped, and his mouth turned down. “This isn’t your path, Norah. You can’t marry the Shadow King.”
“Does she not see this is the only way to bring our people peace?”
“You side with darkness.”
“I side against war!” she argued.
“The council feels it’s a righteous war.”
“Is that what you think?” she asked angrily. She turned away, but he caught her hand, drawing her back.
“Norah, I don’t want any more men to die. Ten years we’ve been at war, and I would give almost anything to bring its end.” He glanced down at her hand in his. “Anything but you.”
Her fingers laced through his, and the threat of tears stung her eyes. “My decision brings peace. It might not be the path any of us want, but it’s what’s best for our people. Does that not matter?”
He didn’t answer as they stood in the painful quiet. Then he pulled her closer. He dropped his head and rested his forehead on hers, and she let his warmth settle her. His arms moved around her and pulled her even closer.
