Page 47 of Shadow Queen
Norah drew in a ragged breath of emotion. “It’s impossible for me not to,” she whispered. She hadn’t wanted to admit it, but it had been true for a long time. That scared her. Regardless of what he’d done—and perhaps more frightening, what he might do—she loved him.
He moved over her, covering her body with his. The dark pools of his searching stare swept over her face, as if not quite believing. But she’d meant what she said.
And he saw it. The faint flicker in his eyes—she knew he saw it. He bent his head to hers, but she reached up and gripped him at the base of his jaw, making him pause. “But if you touch him again…”
Mikael’s face grew serious. “I know,” he said softly.
And she pulled him down to seal her promise with a kiss.
Chapter fourteen
CheersrangthroughMerciaas the Northmen crossed the bridge and entered the courtyard of the castle. Families met their loved ones with hugs and tears. Alexander should have been happy to return, yet he wasn’t. He doubted happiness would find him again. Regardless, he covered himself with a smile as he nodded to the throngs of people who had come to greet them.
He dismounted and turned his horse over to a stable hand, then strode up the stairs of the castle judisaept to where he knew the council awaited him. As he made his way through the great hall, he stopped.
Catherine stood, alone in the hall, waiting, for news of Norah, no doubt. While she was regent in Norah’s absence and concerned with the health of the queen, she was also Norah’s grandmother, and she feared as a grandmother would.
He walked to her.
“Does she not come?” she asked when he reached her, her eyes brimmed with worry.
He shook his head. Norah hadn’t come. Shewouldn’tcome.
“Grandmother,” he said softly. He didn’t know what made him call her by the name he had used for her as a child, or what brought the crushing heaviness of emotion down on him, but it came suddenly and without warning. He couldn’t say any more.
“Oh, my dear boy,” she breathed, and pulled him into a tight embrace.
He clung to her and gave himself a moment—a moment to suffer his loss, to grieve, to feel the weight of hopelessness and defeat. So many feelings he denied himself, but he let them come this once.
And then the moment was over. He collected himself and pulled back.
“How is she?” she whispered.
“She’s all right,” he told her.
Catherine let out a long breath as she clutched her chest. She seemed to find the relief that escaped him.
It was true Norah was safe, but for how long? He’d been forced to leave her alone in the kingdom of a false ally, unable to see her, to protect her. Every day he faced the risk of losing her. Forever.
Catherine searched his face. “Why doesn’t she come home?” She clutched at the ruffled collar of her gown as she stepped back and cast her gaze to the floor around her. “Did she not read my letter?”
It was a rhetorical question, and one he didn’t answer. He wasn’t sure he could answer. He hadn’t seen Norah read it, but surely she wouldn’t have ignored a letter from her grandmother. He had placed it in her hands almost two months prior, seemingly a lifetime ago.
“I told her to come urgently. She must come home.” Catherine looked out the windows of the hall as she wrung her hands. “Why doesn’t she come?”
He offered the only explanation he could. “The peace between Mercia and the Shadowlands hangs in a delicate balance. She stays and works to sustain it.”
“She can’t sustain it! Foolish girl. The council won’t stand for this.” Catherine’s breaths became labored from her worry. “Phillip amasses troops at Aleon’s southern borders. He intends to advance. She can’t be there. She needs to come home, where she’s safe. I told her to come urgently.” She wavered slightly.
He grabbed her arm to steady her, but his mind reeled and his pulse quickened. “Phillip intends to advance against the Shadowlands?” With Norah there…
“No, against Japheth.”
Alexander settled, but only slightly. If Phillip moved against his brother, the Shadow King’s ally, the Shadowlands would join. No doubt that was the intent.
Catherine gripped his hand tightly, catching herself, then she released him. “We must go to the judisaept,” she said, straightening. “The council awaits.”
The council remained a governing body in the queen’s absence, even though Catherine was regent. If they had a unanimous decision on a matter, they could override her, and even Alexander. Alexander didn’t detest the council as Catherine did, but there were only a couple he deeply trusted, primarily James, who was more like a father to him.
