Page 92 of Shadow Queen
“Quiet,” she hushed him, and covered his mouth with her hand. “Seriously, Alec, you’ve no concept of whispering whatsoever.”
He grinned under her palm. But they both froze as the voices echoed through the hall and drew nearer to the door.
“Where has that girl gone?” he heard Catherine say. “Victoria, check the stables.”
Alexander’s heart beat faster, and he knew Norah felt it. She drew her hand down to his chest and looked up at him with smiling eyes. Her nearness intoxicated him, and she seemed to like it. He still had half the fig in his right hand, and he brought it up toward her mouth.
“Fig?” he breathed.
She smiled and cupped his hand with hers, bringing it to her mouth and taking a bite. He let his fingertips graze her cheek, and his thumb line her lips. He dipped his head and brought his mouth to hers, drinking in the sweet taste of fig and the honey of her being. She pulled him closer and kissed him back.
She gently broke their kiss, looking into his eyes. “Do you love me, Alec?” she whispered.
“I’ve always loved you,” he told her. “Surely you know this.” Then he bent his head to kiss her again.
When he pulled away, they were standing in the pool again.
“Did you see?” Alexander asked her, still holding her face in his hands.
Norah stood with her eyes closed, her mind swirling. A tear fell down her cheek, but not from the memory.
From failure.
She had felt nothing. Seen nothing. Remembered nothing. They’d come all this way, braving the dangers of the Wild. And for nothing. She’d lost them, her memories. They were gone.
She shook her head, opening her eyes.
“I’m sorry,” he said softly.
A trickle of blood ran from his nose, and she quickly forgot her sorrow. “Alexander,” she said, alarmed.
He moved to step back, but his legs gave out and he sank to his knees, nearly falling forward. His eyes closed as his consciousness faded.
“Alexander!” she cried, and grabbed him, keeping his head above the water. “Help me!”
Naavi and Sana grasped his arms and pulled him to the edge of the pool. Caspian grabbed him, dragged him out, and rolled him onto his back.
Fear surged through her. “What’s happening?” she cried.
Naavi pursed her lips together. “His shield is very strong. When he works against it, it’s too much for his body.”
“Why didn’t you say something?”
“We told you we don’t know what his power is!” Sana snapped. “We don’t understand it. We don’t know why he has a shield but not the sight. We don’t know how some of your memories came back, or how to bring back the rest. We certainly don’t know the consequences if we try!”
“Sana,” Naavi whispered, trying to calm her sister.
“Do you know if he’ll be all right?” Norah asked through her tears.
A heaviness hung in the air. “He should regain his strength with rest,” Naavi told her.
Norah knelt beside him, brushing the wet locks from his face.
“Try to look inside him now,” Sana told her sister, “while his strength is gone.”
“I don’t know if I like that,” Norah said.
“We’ve kept our part,” Sana said. “He promised us.”
