Page 132 of Queen of the Crimson Throne

I felt her words as they sunk into my bones.

“I’d say I have faith you’ll make the right choiceQueen of Blood and Stardust, but you might fuck it up like the stubborn child you are.”

And with that, she was gone. I was left alone in the cave. My mind swimming with all the information I had gleaned.

But one thing was clear. I fucking hated Astria.

52

LENNOX

The entire walk back to the palace I stewed over Astria’s words.

So what if she was a so-called “all-seeing Goddess?” What did she know? She didn’t know what was going on inside my head.

Either way, she had no business giving me advice when she had made such terrible choices in her own love life. She made a rash decision that cost her a lifetime of happiness and created a species of bloodthirsty vampires. Why shouldn’t I take all the time I needed to figure out where I wanted things to go with Luka?

We were getting married. We had the rest of our lives to figure out our relationship. He told me he would wait for me, however long it took.

Astria didn’t know shit.

Stars she was infuriating.

If I ever saw her again?—

“Lennox.”

I looked in the direction of Luka’s voice, finding him walking down the hallway towards me. His smile faltered as he approached, his brows furrowing slightly.

“Are you okay?” He placed his hand gently on my arm.

“Yeah, I’mfine?—”

“Is this about last night?” His shoulders straightened.

“No, Luka…” I wasn’t prepared to run into him again so quickly. I still needed more time to gather my thoughts about what our kiss meant.Our more than kiss.

“What is it?” He tucked a lock of hair behind my ear with one hand while the other moved to my waist, drawing me against him. “Lennox, talk to me.”

“It’s nothing, I—I summoned Astria again.” I let the words slip out, there was no use in hiding it from him, it would all come out eventually.

His hand fell from my face. “You did what? By yourself? Why?” He ran a hand through his hair.

“I’m capable of doing things on my own.” I crossed my arms over my chest, putting space between us. “And besides, I had something to discuss that was between me and her.”

“Okay, sorry. I know you’re capable.” He met my gaze again. “Do you want to talk about it? You look upset.”

“No I’m fine, I just need to process everything.”

He swallowed. “I’m here if you want to talk.”

“I know.” The concern on his face was genuine—it stirred something deep inside me. Something I wasn’t yet ready to confront, especially after my conversation with Astria.

I wrapped my hand around his forearm. Him, I needed him, that’s what I needed right now.

A distraction.

Heat coiled low in my stomach at the thought of what we left unfinished last night.

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