Page 176 of North Queen
At its hilt—the Destroyer.
The dark-eyed beast of a man pushed him back into the hall with the tip of the blade.
“I want to see her,” Alexander demanded.
A deep vibration came from the Destroyer’s chest—a chuckle. “I’m sure you do.” His face was covered, but his eyes burned with hate. “I knew you’d come.”
Alexander stepped back and put his hand on the hilt of his own sword. For a moment, he dared to feel the slightest hope—perhaps it was a trap, and Norah wasn’t hurt. “Where is she?”
“Let him enter,” the Shadow King’s voice called from inside her sanctuary.
The Destroyer’s eyes darkened through the slit of his wrap. He dropped the tip of his sword and took a reluctant step back.
Alexander’s breath quaked. This wasn’t a ploy of the Destroyer, and now he wished more than anything it had been. Norah had been hurt. Was she inside her chamber? Why wasn’t it her voice that called him?
Alexander pushed past him and pressed into the room, where the king stood at the foot of the bed. In its center, Norah lay as pale as the moon. Her cheeks lacked the color of her spirit—they lacked the color of life.
Fear gripped him. His heart dropped like a rock in his chest. He forgot about the king; he forgot about the Shadowlands. They didn’t matter anymore. If Norah was gone, nothing mattered anymore.
Alexander moved to the edge of the bed, his soul cold, desperation writhing within him. His hand trembled as he reached out and grazed the bottom of her cheek. He turned her face toward him. The faintest of breaths whispered across his palm, and it flooded him with emotion.
She was alive.
He blinked back the tears welling in his eyes as he dropped down beside her. “Norah,” he whispered. But she didn’t answer. “I’m here.” He cupped his hand against her cheek, silently begging for her to open her eyes. But she only lay on the cusp of death underneath his touch. “Norah,” he whispered again through his teeth. His breath shook and his eyes brimmed. “Come back to me.” He pulled her hand to his lips and kissed her fingers.
Her skin burned with the fire of fever, and her brow was damp; a cloth and basin rested on a small table beside the bed. He drew his hand back to her face and let his thumb graze her lips. A light salve covered them, keeping the skin from chapping. Her hair was clean and brushed, and a blanket lay over her. She was cared for. But it wasn’t enough.
He was suddenly aware of the king’s eyes on him. He had revealed himself—his heart—but he was too angry to care.
If Norah died…
The king’s gaze was still on him. Alexander straightened and stood, and his anger grew to a fury. An all-consuming fury. He’d kill this king—for everything he’d done, but especially for this. He’d kill him.
Now.
Alexander ripped his sword free. The Destroyer lunged forward, but with a blind rage, Alexander kicked him back against the door. Then he went for the Shadow King. The king was without a sword, but he blocked Alexander’s attack with the armor of his forearm. Alexander knocked him back against the wall and swept his sword to his neck, but in turn, Alexander felt the tip of the king’s dagger at his own. They both stood with their blades to each other’s throats.
“You were supposed to keep her safe!” Alexander seethed. “This is your kingdom. She’s in your care. This is your doing!”
In the darkness of the Shadow King’s eyes swirled emotion that Alexander couldn’t read. Sadness? Guilt? Shame? He should feel all those things. And now he’d feel death. But before Alexander killed him, he had to know. “What happened?” he demanded.
Still, the king didn’t answer.
Alexander bared his teeth, his rage growing. “What happened?” he demanded.
“Alexander,” came a faint whisper behind him. He jerked his head back to Norah, forgetting the king.
Her head moved weakly, but her eyes remained closed. She inhaled deeply, wincing.
Alexander released the king and was back to her side in an instant, taking her hand and pulling it to his cheek. “I’m here,” he said.
The Shadow King moved to her other side.
Her eyelids fluttered open, weakly. Then she saw Alexander. “You’re back,” she said with the faintest of breaths. Her face held only the whisper of a smile, but it lit the room.
He nodded. “I came as soon as I heard.”
She blinked slowly. “What happened?”
