Page 172 of War Queen
Adrian sat beside her. He took her chin gently and tilted her face up to the light, wincing as he eyed her.
“Is it bad?” she asked.
He grimaced. “No.”
“Your face says it is.”
“My face lies.”
“Well, your face is the one I believe.” She sighed. “I’m so stupid. I should have never gone.”
“It’s my fault. I wanted to see him.”
She shook her head, but Adrian took her hand.
“I mean it,” he said. “You gave me the choice, and I chose this. I’m so sorry.”
“You didn’t make me do anything I wouldn’t have done eventually.” She shook her head again as she let out an emotional breath. “I wanted so badly to believe I could stop this war.” But she couldn’t—just as Mikael had told her, just as Soren had. She couldn’t bring herself to face them now, but she didn’t have a choice as they barged through the door.
Adrian stood abruptly as they surged toward them.
“What happened?” Mikael demanded. His eyes traveled over her, and his face twisted in anger. And fear.
Her breath shook. “Mikael, I’m sorry.”
“What happened?” he asked again, his voice deeper. “Where were you?”
Might as well get it out.“I went to go see Lucien.”
Mikael’s nostrils flared. “You didwhat?” he thundered.
“I told you I would!”
“What’s the matter with you?”
Lots of things, at this point…
The lines of his jaw, bold even under the short cut of his beard, tightened. “Do you forget he tried to kill you?”
Yes, there wasthat.
“He deceived you, came to our bed under the guise of a ghost.”
And that.
“He conspires to destroy me. And you go to him—unprotected and trusting.”
Not her finest decision. She couldn’t argue with any of it. Not anymore.
“It was my doing,” Adrian interjected. “I wanted to go.”
Mikael and Soren ripped their gazes to Adrian.
“I wanted to see my brother.” He stood for their judgment.
“As I told him he could,” Norah added, “if he wanted to.”
Mikael turned back to Norah, and his shoulders sank. He sighed. Then he took her hand and pulled her up and held her to him. “You’re an infuriating woman sometimes,” he said as he held her tight. He turned her face up to get a better look at her. “I’ll kill him for this,” he said softly as he brushed the swelling on her cheek.
