Page 119 of Queen of the Crimson Throne

Declan pushed himself off the tree he had been leaning against. “You could have led with that.”

46

LUKA

“Do you think I made the right choice?” Lennox asked as we approached her room. She had been quiet since Luciana had deposited us back at the palace in Alethens.

“I do, I believe they will keep the journal safe—they have for centuries, so why wouldn’t they now.” I ran my hand through my hair, pushing the strands out of my face. “Besides, both of us would have regretted taking the journal from them for the rest of our lives, and you took the important information anyways, that must be why Astria wanted the journals destroyed.” Or she wanted to maintain her spin on the story that had been told for centuries, painting her in a more flattering light.

Lennox faced me as we approached her room, sucking her bottom lip between her teeth as she mulled over my words. I wanted nothing more than to take her lip between my own teeth and tug.

“You’re right,” she conceded, releasing her bottom lip. “I—I didn’t expect Luce to react that way. I mean what if Astria is upset?” She shook her head. “You know what—fuck that—I’m upset with her. She was deceptive and misleading, so fuck her and her wants.” I huffed out a laugh as she looked up atthe ceiling.

“That’s right Astria, fuck you.” She flipped her middle finger up to the sky.

A laugh rumbled from my chest. “I hope you haven’t cursed us with bad luck for the rest of our lives.”

“I’m already cursed, don’t you think?”

I couldn’t stop the twinge of pain that coursed through my body at her words, but I shrugged, trying to ignore it the best I could. “If that’s the way you see it.”

“Luka I didn’t mean?—”

“No, it’s fine.” I stopped her before she could continue. I didn’t want to hear what she had to say right now. “I know what you meant.” I turned toward my own door.

“Goodnight Lennox.” I called over my shoulder.

“Goodnight,” she said softly.

I let out an exhale at the sound of my door closing behind me. I needed to stop letting her little comments get under my skin so easily. I knew she didn’t mean I was a curse to her—but that didn’t stop my mind from thinking I was part of her life she saw as a curse. Our arranged marriage was a curse to her—that I was sure of. I was never good enough for anyone—why would I be good for Lennox?

I inhaled deeply, my head suddenly feeling light. I took a step—only to realize the ground in front of me had begun to shift.

“What in the Goddess—” I reached for something, anything, catching my hand on the dresser and knocking over the contents sitting on top of it. They fell to the ground with a clash. Something was wrong.

The air—it smelled slightly off. Was there something in the air? I stumbled forward, my feet unable to find steady ground.

My vision blurred at the edges. I needed help.Lennox. I needed Lennox. I turned back towards the door or where I thought the door was—running into a wall instead.

“Fuck,” I grumbled, reaching my hand out toward the wall to help guide me to the door. Only my hands didn’t meet a wall.A chest. My hands were gripping the chest of a large muscular male.

Fuck.

I stumbled away from the intruder, fumbling for my sword—its pommel felt heavier than before. Every movement felt languid—it took more effort than normal to raise my sword.

The figure in front of me laughed—low and rough as he easily blocked my sword—sending it careening toward the ground.

I ducked—I think—as his sword came towards me—only for my stomach to be met with his knee. I groaned, kneeling over and gripping my stomach.

“I’ve waited for this moment for a long time,” the male grumbled before his fist met my face. I tried to move, but I wasn’t fast enough. The force knocked me to the floor, my head cracking against the wood.

The male was on me before I could move. His body hovering over mine as he punched me again and again. Something cracked—surely my nose. Blood sprayed from my mouth onto the floor as I took blow after blow—unable to fight back as my body failed me. One of my eyes was already swelling—further impairing my vision. Stars danced at the edges of my blurred vision. It wouldn’t be long and I’d pass out and the pain would stop.

“After we’re done with you, your pretty little bride-to-be will hardly be able to recognize you when she comes to rescue you.” He laughed. “If she even comes to rescue you at all.”

A trap, this was a trap. Whoever they were, they didn’t want me—not really. I was nothing more than bait for the real prize they wanted: Lennox.

Crack, another punch to my jaw.

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