Page 15 of Queen of the Crimson Throne

“You don’t have to talk if you don’t want to, but I’m here.”

I took a deep breath, willing my magic to settle. “Coming here, seeing Luka, it’s—it’s made me feel confused.” Nico took a sip of wine as he waited for me to continue. I hadn’t talked to anyone about what transpired between me and Luka that last day. Not even Kara, but Nico—he made it so easy to talk to him.

And Ineeded to talk to someone. I needed to get these incessant thoughts out of my head.

“I came here convinced seeing him wouldn’t change anything between us. That nothing he could say would change things between us…” I came here ready to draw a thick line in the sand. We were to be partners in a business agreement, nothing else. But seeing him and hearing what he had to say—it shouldn’t have changed anything. It doesn’t, but why does it feel like it does?

“I know it’s not my place to speak,” Nico’s voice brought me back from my thoughts, “but I know how much he cares for you. Maybe your feelings have changed, but his haven’t.”

I wiped away a tear that threatened to slip out. “I don’t want to talk about Luka anymore. Let’s talk about something—fun.” Anything else, I’d rather talk about anything else right now.

A devilish gleam crossed Nico’s face at my words. He raised his glass to mine. “To friends.”

“To friends.” I clinked my glass with his before draining it.

Several hours later, Nico and I found ourselves sprawled across my bed, making shadow puppets on the ceiling using a ball of flame I had created.

What had started as an innocent childhood reminiscing quickly became a dirty game that had us in stitches.

Nico groaned as he rolled on his side to face me. “My head is going to be pounding in the morning, but it will all have been worth it.” He poked me in the side. “I got to spend the night with High Queen Lennox Adair.”

I giggled as I swatted him on the arm. “You wish.”

He propped his head on his hand. “Oh darling, you have no idea. If Luka hadn’t already claimed you as his when I first laid eyes on you I would have tried.” My smile dimmed at the mention of Luka.

“I’m sorry, L. I didn’t mean to ruin the mood by mentioning him.”

“No, it’s okay.” I waved him off, rolling onto my back. “I’m going to have to learn to not flinch every time I hear his name eventually.”

Neither of us said anything as we stared at the ceiling.

“How is he?” I spoke into the silence.

“He’s—he’s okay. He’s doing his best despite the circumstances. He keeps himself busy.”

“Looking for the spellbook?”

Nico tilted his head slightly in my direction. “He told you about that?” I nodded. “That’s all he’s done since he got back. He hardly sleeps. Spends all his time researching and traveling around to talk to anyone who might have a lead.”

I still didn’t know what to make of him trying to get me out of our marriage. I should feel grateful, right? Or relieved. I didn’t know how I felt about it yet, but it sure as fuck wasn’t that.

“I should go,” Nico mumbled as he rolled off the bed. I sat up as he collected his things.

“Nico?”

He turned toward me, “Yeah?”

“Will you tell him?—”

Nico held out a hand. “I’m going to stop you right there. Anything you want to tell him you need to tell him yourself. He deserves to hear directly from you. Not from me.”

He was right. Asking Nico to tell him was the coward’s way out.

“Tell him I need time.” I swallowed. “Can you tell him that much, please?”

“That I can do,” he said softly.

Some of the pressure from my chest lightened.

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