Page 138 of War Queen
“Then don’t.”
“Would you not? If you were me?”
Soren couldn’t answer that, because his answer would be different from what he wanted the king to do.
Phillip moved even closer. His voice came softly, almost a whisper. “These past couple days have been… I didn’t think it was possible. To feel this way again. But…” Then he smiled that smile again.
Soren grabbed the king at the top of his breastplate and pressed him against the wall, catching him in a kiss. Phillip tasted of honey and sunlight and summer, and everything he never knew he needed. But now he knew.
They broke, but Soren still clutched Phillip’s breastplate firmly. “Donotfucking die. Do you understand me?”
Phillip smiled. “Very clearly.”
“I’ll send Adrian to you soon. Listen to him and take no risks. If Rael attacks and your forces are failing, ride for Mercia.”
“I can’t abandon Aleon.”
Spoken like a noble king. Soren hated it. “Then fall back to the mountains of Songs. I’ll come to you.”
Phillip smiled again, but not the smile of sunlight. It was the smile of sorrow, of not believing. “If you don’t, I understand.”
He clutched Phillip tighter. “Iwillcome for you,” he promised.
Chapter thirty-five
Norahsatatthedining table, barely breathing, staring at the letter in her hand. Phillip had departed for Eilor the day before, and she already found herself wanting to call him back. Not that he’d provide anything Mikael or Soren couldn’t, but they were all one team now—friends, allies—and a collective thought around the morning’s situation would certainly help.
She hadn’t recognized the letter’s seal—red with a short sword sigil—until the messenger had announced his master.
From King Cyrus of Rael and Serra,he had said. Caspian stood beside him, having escorted him in.
She sent the messenger away to read the letter privately, or as privately as she could in front of Mikael, Soren, and her justice. Why would Cyrus write toher?
Norah stared at the words and read them for a third time.
Queen Norah,
Is this not an unexpected world in which we find ourselves? Gregor’s cause is not my own. Yet we’ve advanced directly to the commitment of war, without even a conversation between us.
I wish to remedy that.
Are we not rational people? As I’ve come to learn more about you, I wonder if we’re not as different as I once thought. I would like us to meet, on neutral terms, if only even to grant each other the respect of acknowledgment.
I await your reply,
Cyrus
She passed the note down to Mikael and didn’t take her eyes from his face as he read it. Strangely, he seemed unbothered. When he was finished, he passed it to Soren.
“He only wants to meet Salara?” Soren asked.
“It’s a trick,” Mikael said.
Soren shrugged. “Or he thinks Salara’s the only one who won’t knife him.” Mikael looked at Soren and they both chuckled.
“What’s so funny?” Norah asked. “I’m the most peaceful person here.”
“You’ve literally stabbed everyone in this room,” Soren said.
