Page 121 of War Queen
“What do you want?” she demanded. She moved carefully around the far edge of the bed, to the end, until her thigh touched the bench.Just a little more.She took another step. The flow of her nightgown concealed her reach, and she exhaled a thankful breath as she found her knife and curled her hand around the hilt.
He didn’t answer her. His silhouette held no weapon—a mistake.
She moved closer, her knife now in hand and hidden in the hanging folds of her nightgown. “Why are you here?”
Still, he didn’t answer.
Norah cocked her head to the side. “I should tell you about the last time I woke to a strange man in my room.” She tightened her grip on her blade. “I hate to spoil a good story, but it didn’t end well for him. For any of them.”
She drew closer—she was right in front of him now, but still he made no move. Was he not here to harm her? That didn’t mean she wouldn’t harm him. Foolish man.
She whipped the dagger to his throat. “Final words?” she hissed.
He held his hands up, showing her they were empty in the pale light of the moon. Then, ever so slowly, he reached up and pulled back his hood.
Norah sucked in a breath. The knife in her hand clambered to the floor as she lost her grip on it.
Alexander stood, looking back at her.
The moonlight showed only half of his face, but there was no mistaking him—the high of his cheekbones, the line of his jaw.
She stumbled back. “What magic is this?” she whispered. No blood. No calling him. No going to the depths of her mind to see him. He was here. In front of her.
No. She had to be dreaming.
He didn’t answer, the same as before. But he stood, waiting patiently.
She stepped forward again, reaching out. Her hands shook as she tested her fingertips against his chest, and they met the hardness of muscle through his tunic. She spread her hand flat against him. Warmth seeped into her—the warmth of life. In the visions she could touch him, but she couldn’t feel warmth. Not like this.
She couldn’t be dreaming. He was really here.
“How is this possible?” she whispered.
Norah ran her gaze from her hand on his chest to his face. Tears sprang to her eyes as the emotion flooded back—the pain, the loss.
“How are you here?” All she could do was ask him the same question over and over again. But its answer still escaped her.
Still, he said nothing.
He raised a hand to her cheek, and she closed her eyes against his warmth. Life—it was life she felt in him now. He had a beating heart, blood coursing through his veins. This was more than a spirit.
And before she could stop herself, she threw her arms around him and pulled him tightly against her. He was really here. And just to embrace him—truly—she couldn’t do anything but simply hold on to him. She’d never gotten to tell him goodbye in life, not the way she wanted. But he was here now. He was here, and she clung to him.
Alexander hugged her back, his arms warm around her. There was a strength to him, and it permeated to her core. She needed this strength, and she soaked it in.
They finally broke, and she stepped back, but still held on to his hands. There were so many things she wanted to say, but no words would come.
He brought his hand to her cheek again and brushed her skin softly with the back of his fingers. She tilted her head into his touch.
Then he stepped forward and caught her mouth with his. Surprise jolted through her, and her eyes flashed open. His lips were firm—not harsh, but they weren’t tender.
He used his body to push her up against the bed, and she stumbled, but he caught her and laid her back on the feather mattress. She tried to blink back the still-swirling fog of her mind as he moved over her and brought his lips to hers again.
He smelled like smoky pear, deliciously sweet, but not like Alexander. And Alexander wouldn’t kiss her like this; he wouldn’t be here like this. Alexander knew her heart.
She spread her palms against his chest and pushed him to stop. “Alexander,” she breathed as she broke from him. “No.”
The shadow of his brows drew together, confused. Did he really not remember? He paused a moment, then dropped his head to hers again.
