Page 151 of Queen of the Crimson Throne

I was too afraid to say it, but I would have waited countless decades for him too.

58

LUKA

I stared up at the ceiling as Lennox lay sleeping beside me. The sun had risen a while ago, we didn’t have long until people would come looking for us both to begin preparations for the wedding, but I wanted to savor as much of the morning with her as I could.

The events of last night kept replaying in my mind as I lay there. I was still unsure as to how we got here, but I was so fucking grateful.

Lennox Adair was my wife.My wife.

And by her own accord.

She chose me last night.

I brought my hand to my face admiring the mark that now tied me to her. The metallic ink infused with stardust glimmered as I shifted my hand in the sunlight streaming through the windows.

“What are you doing?” Lennox mumbled as she shifted beside me.

“Admiring our mark.”

She squinted and brought her own hand in front of us.

“It is pretty miraculous isn’t it.” I brought my hand next to hers so we could admire thetwo together.

“Do you regret binding yourself to me yet?” I nudged her slightly.

“Not yet, but give it a few hours.”

I tried not to wince. I knew she was joking—I brought the joke on myself for fucks sake, but I wasn’t yet confident she wouldn’t regret her choice one day.

“Hey.” She spoke softly. Her hand cupped my cheek and she turned my chin to face her. “I have never regretted you. Remember that? Even when I was mad at you, I never regretted you. I—I care about you. You’re the one that might end up regretting binding yourself to me.”

I took her hand from my face and kissed the center of her palm, directly over our mark. “Never.”

She smiled, but I saw the caution in her eyes.

I pulled her to me and she rested her head against my chest.

“How about this?” she said finally. “Let’s promise one another if we’re ever feeling uneasy or unsure or anything about our relationship we will tell one another. That’s the only way we’re going to make this work. No matter how stupid or insignificant it might be, we tell one another.”

“Okay.”

“I know you’re afraid of the people you love leaving you, but I’m not going to do that to you, Luka. I’m here,” she said softly.

I sighed. “I know, but it’s hard to remember that sometimes. Especially when everything is going so well.” I paused as memories assaulted me. “Everything was going so well before my father died.” Before he left me. Before everyone started leaving. Everything was going well before I messed up things with Lennox and she left me.

“We’re two fucked up people aren’t we?”

“But all of our broken parts fit together somehow.” I fiddled with the end of her hair. “How much time do we have before Gulia comes knocking on the door?”

“Not long.” Lennox glanced at the door.

I scrubbed my hands over my face. “But you could be in the bathtub when she arrives.”

Lennox sat up and looked at me. “You meanwecould be in the bathtub.”

“You’re insatiable aren’t you.”

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