Page 77 of War Queen
“And, Soren, I don’t want you to feel shame. Even now that you know who he is, if he… continues to occupy your mind, that’s okay. And if you ever find yourself… wanting to get to know him, that’s okay too. You deserve to be happy.”
“No one deserves to be happy. We’re all wretched creatures.”
She put her hand on his arm, making him look at her. “Well, deserved or not, I want you to be happy. I love you, Soren.”
His eyes glistened, and his nostrils flared. “Then you’re the most wretched of us all.”
She smiled as she leaned her head against his shoulder.
Evening had set over Aleon. Norah looked forward to the morning, for when they’d start the journey back to Mercia, but first, dinner with Phillip. She searched her mind for how to mend things after what had happened with Soren. Of course, she’d apologize, and she’d explain… What would she explain? She couldn’t tell him about Soren’s vision, or his struggles. She shook her head. She’d just have to rely on her own rapport with him and try to build their friendship further. It shouldn’t be terribly hard, with just the two of them. She stepped into her silk slippers and opened the door to her chamber, then stopped abruptly.
Soren stood in the hall. Without his head wrap. She could only gape at him.
“What?” he said irritably.
She shook her head, raising her brows in surprise. “I almost didn’t recognize you.”
“You know what I look like.” He missed her jest completely.
“I just didn’t expect to see you like this. Or to see you at all.”
He creased his brow. “I was invited.”
“I know,” she answered quickly. “I… I just didn’t think you’d come.”
He hesitated, glancing to the floor. Then he swallowed. “I wanted to come.”
“Oh,” she said. Then her breath caught.Oh.
“Stop grinning like a fat-fed hound.”
Was she grinning? She pulled her lips between her teeth.
They started their walk toward the dining hall.
Norah glanced at him. “You look nice.”
“It’s not my intention to look nice,” he replied, annoyed.
“Really?” He’d washed and trimmed his beard… and was actually wearing a tunic.Really?
“What?” he asked shortly.
She smiled. “Nothing.”
His brow etched deeper, and a shadow hung over his eyes. “What?” he asked again.
She wouldn’t say it. “Nothing,” she said again, and kept toward the dining hall.
They reached the hall, where Phillip was waiting. He turned when they entered. “Queen Norah,” he greeted her politely, but his eyes widened when he saw Soren. “Lord Commander,” he said in surprise.
Soren didn’t answer, but he gave an ever-so-slight, stiff bow of his head.
Phillip drew closer. Norah clenched her hands so tightly her nails dug into her palms. He was close enough. But Soren didn’t balk. He stood silently, giving himself to be looked upon. Phillip stepped even closer. His eyes traveled over Soren’s face—his pulled-back hair, his jaw, his lips—and back to lock their stare.
Norah pulled her gaze away. It felt… too intimate to watch.
“Thank you for coming,” Phillip told him. He waved his hand toward the dining table, then said to both of them, “Please.”
