Page 163 of War Queen
And she sank deep into the water.
Its warmth took her in its arms, holding her, rocking her. The pool drank her tears, became her tears, and she emptied her sorrow into its depths.
And then there were no more tears. She floated on her back in the water, looking up at the clouded sky through the opening in the top of the cavern, and a ray of sun broke through. She closed her eyes, feeling its warmth on her face. She didn’t move as the light kissed her skin.
Alexander had called this a magical place. And it was. She felt him here.
As she opened her eyes, she splashed up abruptly. There was something she needed to do.
She waded back to the edge of the pool and clambered out, not bothering with her dress, and wove back through the tunnel of the cave, up the crag, and toward the castle. As she strode through the courtyard, Bhastian came running to meet her, with Titus close behind.
“Salara,” he said breathlessly. “What happened?”
Oh, right.She glanced down at herself. She supposed she did look a mess in her chemise and sopping hair in the snow. She hadn’t even felt the cold.
“I just want to get back to my chamber,” she said.
Titus handed Bhastian his cloak, and Bhastian swept it around her. “But are you all right? Where were you? What happened to you?”
“Bhastian, I’m fine. In fact, I’m better than I’ve been in a long while. Can you just see me back to my chamber?”
He nodded with his eyes still full of concern. “Of course.”
Norah took a bite of meat from her plate as they sat quietly at the table in the dining hall. Mikael and Soren watched her closely. Neither brought up the fact she’d shown up to the castle soaking wet in her undergarments, although they were quite aware.
She took another bite, giving herself time to chew and swallow before setting down her fork.
Then she took a drink of her wine.
“I’m going to send Alexander to the gods,” she said.
Mikael’s eyes locked with hers, and Soren set down his knife.
“Are you sure?” Mikael asked her.
She nodded.
“You don’t have to if you don’t want to.”
“But sheshould,” Soren said, casting a hard eye at Mikael.
Mikael shot a daggered glance back at him.
“I’m sure,” she said, bringing their attention back to her. “And I do want to.”
Slowly, Mikael nodded.
“I need to tell Adrian,” she said.
“Of course.”
“About Alexanderandabout Lucien,” she added.
Both Soren and Mikael leaned back in their chairs and cast worrisome glances at each other.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Soren said.
“I can’t keep this from him. He deserves to know.”
