Page 24 of Shadow Queen
His brows drew together. “He told you this?”
She nodded. “He said you made him promise in Aviron, when you wanted to make me salara.”
The corner of his mouth twitched.
“What?” she asked.
“I wanted you for salara well before Aviron.”
She drew her brows together.
He pulled open his shirt, revealing the crown marking from the ink mastera, Salta Tau, on his chest. “Battle. Blade. Blood. Crown.”
She hadn’t understood when they’d gone to Salta Tau, and she didn’t understand now. What did that even mean?
He reached and curled his hand around hers, and her heart beat faster.
“It was the day you cost me Bahoul. The day you threw my commander from his horse, cut my spear from my hand, and stabbed me with my own dagger.”
So much had happened that day she could barely recall it, but she couldn’t help the smile that came to her lips. “That sounds more magnificent than I remember.”
Mikael pulled her even closer. “You are magnificent.” He took her hand and pressed it over the marking on his chest. The nearness of him…
And then she knew—this was for more than peace now. It was for more than her people, or Mercia. It was for her. He had to see it—the power he had over her, not as an ally, not as a king. Just as himself.
His voice dropped to a whisper. “I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you. I’m sorry I wouldn’t hear you when you tried to speak to me. I wasn’t there when you needed me.”
She shook her head. “I know what compelled you. But you have to know I wouldn’t betray you, Mikael. I know words are just words, but I—”
Her voice fell as he lifted her chin and covered her lips with his own. His tongue tasted of want and fire, but it was tempered. Most of all, he tasted of remorse. Of safety. Of promise.
He pulled back and looked at her. “I believe you and your words. Let’s find the truth then. You can start with your lord justice when he returns from Aleon.”
The thought made her stomach knot, but she nodded.
The afternoon sun hung high, and Norah wrung her hands as she walked quickly back to her sanctuary from Mikael’s study. Worry writhed in her stomach, twisting and thickening, eating up the space for her heart to beat and her lungs to breathe. Alexander’s business with Aleon could be dangerous for everyone.
She pushed open the door of the sanctuary and gasped when she saw her maids, Serene and Vitalia. Her gasp turned to an emotional laugh as she rushed forward, hugging them both. “Thank the gods, you’re safe!” she breathed. While she’d sent them into hiding, Artem was cunning, and she’d still feared for them.
“And you!” Serene exclaimed. “Queen Norah, we were so worried.”
“I was worried about you both! You’re supposed to be with Kiran. What are you doing here?”
“Bhastian came and told us you returned just this morning,” Vitalia told her. “He brought us here.”
Serene nodded. “Artem’s soldiers were looking for us when you left. Sonal told Kiran they were going to search Kiran’s house, and he brought us to stay with his grandmother.”
“Sonal?” Norah felt her eyes well as she nodded. He was one of her less favored Crest guards.Perhaps she’d judged him too harshly. There were good men in this place.
“And”—Serene paused—“Bhastian told us Captain Artem was dead. But all he said was treason.”
Norah nodded, hesitant at first. “I threatened the lord commander, and Artem and his soldiers pulled their swords on me.”
Serene gasped. “What did you do?”
“I didn’t do anything. The lord commander and Bhastian killed them.”
Vitalia raised a surprised brow and shook her head. “Well, despite my loathing for him, he does seem to have his priorities in order.”
