Page 156 of Queen of the Crimson Throne

His expression softened as he searched my face, I looked away before he could look too long and made my way back into the crowd, leaving him behind.

61

LENNOX

“Congratulations my boy!” Arlos’s voice boomed from behind us. Luka’s shoulders caved inwards as Arlo’s hand clamped on his shoulder.

“Thank you, grandfather.” Luka let go of me to hug his grandfather.

“Yes, congratulations indeed.” Lorenzo appeared from behind Arlo. I tensed at the sight of both of them.

“Thank you,” Luka said.

“Yes, thank you both.” Luka’s arm snaked around me, his hand firm on my hip as he pulled me against him.

“What is this?” Arlo grabbed Luka’s hand and inspected it—turning it over and back. “A marriage mark?”

“It is,” I answered. “It appears the Goddess blesses our union.”

“Blessed indeed,” Arlo murmured as he continued to examine Luka’s hand.

“And you have one as well?”

“I do, an identical match.”

Arlo’s eyes glimmered. “May I see it?” He dropped Luka’s hand and extended his owntowards me.

I shifted, but Luka stopped my hand. “You don’t have to show him if you don’t want to.”

“It’s okay.” He dropped my hand, allowing me the space to extend it towards his grandfather.

Arlo’s finger brushed across the marks. “Remarkable.” He reached for Luka’s hand again, examining our hands side by side.

Finally, he looked back up at us, his eyes wide and glimmering as he released our hands. “I’ve never seen anything like it. You two are both truly blessed. Be thankful for the blessing the Goddess has given you.”

“We are,” we said in unison.

Arlo elbowed Lorenzo, who had been standing strangely quiet. “Looks like we might have a love match on our hands after all.”

Lorenzo’s frown deepened. “From the kiss at the end of the ceremony, it sure looked that way. Unless she’s another one of Luka’s conquests.”

Luka’s hand tightened on my hip. “That is my wife, and your High Queen, you’re talking about,” Luka growled.

“Lorenzo,” Arlo said sharply. Lorenzo’s smirk only deepened.

I took that as my window of opportunity. I despised the man. I didn’t care if he was Luka’s uncle—and I didn’t think Luka cared much either. “Just because we are now connected by marriage, do not think I will hesitate to end your life.”

Luka’s hand relaxed slightly on my hip as Lorenzo opened his mouth, but I continued before he could get in a word. “Not only are you speaking ill towards your High Queen but your High King as well,my husband. I know he would not hesitate to see you bleed either. You don’t want to cross us, Lorenzo.”

“She speaks true,” Luka added. “I’ve been on the wrong side of Lennox’s sword, it’s a place I never want to be again. She never misses.”

“Apologize to your queen, Lorenzo. Or have you gone stupid?” Arlo snapped.

The three of us stared at him, waiting for his next word. Lorenzo squirmed under our cumulative gazes. “I apologize, Your Majesty,” he finally managed.

“You owe Luka an apology too,” I added.

Lorenzo’s gaze was filled with disdain as he looked from me to Luka.

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