Page 172 of North Queen
Mikael reached up and brushed a lock of hair behind her ear. She didn’t pull away. His brow creased. “Salara,” he said softly. “I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what you need from me.”
His vulnerability stunned her. She swallowed and looked at the settee. “Maybe we can just sit for a while?”
Mikael let out a breath and nodded. He stepped back and sat on the lounge, and she sat beside him. A quiet hung in the air, but she felt no need to fill it. He rested his arm between them, with his hand open and palm up. An invitation.
Norah placed her hand on top of his, and he closed his fingers around it. He was asking her for closeness. She settled against him and laid her head on his shoulder—her silent reply.
Chapter forty-nine
Norahwokeundertherays of the morning sun, lying against Mikael with his arms around her. They were still on the settee. It was late afternoon when they’d come to the sanctuary. Had they really slept through the evening and night?
She let herself nestle into the warmth of his body. He smelled like belonging—something she hadn’t felt since… ever. Anywhere.
Mikael stirred, wrapping his arms tighter around her and pulling her close. “I didn’t expect myself so lucky as to wake up next to you,” he said.
“I didn’t expect it either,” she admitted. “When did you wake?”
“The middle of the night.”
She pushed herself up abruptly. He’d been awake since the middle of the night?
“I didn’t want to wake you. I didn’t want…” His eyes were bright. “I didn’t want to leave.”
Her stomach fluttered. “I wouldn’t have made you leave.”
He smiled as he brushed a lock of her hair back over her shoulder and drew his fingers over her cheek. “But it’s morning now, and I have to go for a few days to settle trade with some of the Horsemen tribes. When I return, I’d like to… talk more. Spend more time together.”
“I’d like that.” She needed that.
“The lord commander will be coming with me,” he told her. “So he won’t be a bother to you.”
There was no hiding her relief. “I’m glad to hear.”
“Salara, I know he’s a hard man to understand. But I hope you can come to. Eventually.”
She understood the commander perfectly.
He cupped her face in his hand. “I trust him above all others. He knows you’re important to me, and he’s loyal. I know you don’t believe this, but he’ll be loyal to you as well.”
He was right—she didn’t believe that. “I’ll keep busy while you’re gone,” she said, changing the topic from the commander.
He smiled. Then his brow creased faintly.
“What?”
“I have something for you,” he said. “Come with me.”
He pulled her up from the settee and led her out of the sanctuary toward the back of the castle.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“A place I think you’ll like.” He took her through several halls, outside the back of the castle, waving the Crest guard to stay inside. She couldn’t help the flutter of excitement in her stomach. She let him lead her, hand in hand, down a small embankment and toward a stone building. Mikael pushed open the carved wooden door and led her inside, and Norah’s breath caught in her chest.
It wasn’t a simple stone building. Once through the door, the room opened into a garden conservatory. The morning sun spilled through the wall of windows on the opposite side, kissing the greenery that filled it.
In awe, Norah clasped her hands together, walking slowly into the center of the conservatory. “What is this place?” she whispered.
“My grandmother was from Japheth. But when she came to Kharav, she was overcome with the longing sickness. My grandfather built this for her.”
