Page 83 of Queen of the Crimson Throne

“Oh, Len.” The tears were coming hot and fast now. I couldn’t stop them from falling.

“You can’t. I watched him fall in love with you. Once he started there wasn’t any stopping him. You tried to push him away but you weren’t able to, I doubt you can reverse it now.”She squeezed me tighter. “I just—I wish you would let yourself be happy. That you would stop resisting all of this.”

“Kara— “

“I know, I know why you do. I—I love you so much, I hate seeing you torn up like this because you don’t want to get hurt or hurt anyone else.”

“It’s not only that. I let the ball drop. People died because I was too preoccupied with Luka.”

“You could have never predicted that attack, Lennox. Even if Luka had left, there was still nothing you could have done. Declan wasn’t preoccupied and he didn’t anticipate it either. And you know Declan. He’s on top of everything all the time.”

“I don’t know what to do. Tell me what I should do.” I wiped the tears from my face with the back of my hand.

“I can’t, Len. This is up to you.”

I sighed. “I can’t go back in there.” Not only was I sure I looked like a mess, but I couldn’t face Luka again. Not right now.

She rubbed circles on my back again. “I’ll cover for you. You go.”

I wiped the remaining tears from my eyes. “Tell Luka—” What should she tell Luka? I’m sorry? The words seemed insignificant after everything he had confessed to me.

“I’ll handle it. You go.”

“Can you get Declan? He knows all the backways. I don’t want to be seen.”

“Give me a second.”

She returned a minute later, Declan in tow.

“You ready?” I nodded despite the hollow aching in my chest.

We were almost to my room when I stopped Declan with a hand on his arm. “How was Luka? Is he okay?”

Something flashed across his features, and his wings twitched. “He will be. He was agonizing over everything he told you. He’s afraid he scared you off.”

A rough laugh slipped from my lips. “I don’t know if scared is the right word. He shouldn’t regret what he said. I needed to hear it, but I need some time to process.” I looked at the harpy. “Can you tell him that?”

“Of course.”

“Thank you.”

33

LENNOX

“Where are you going?”

Luka’s voice from behind stopped me, my foot stilling mid-air on the stairs. I cringed, my hopes of escaping the palace walls quickly dissipating.

“Nowhere.”

Luka’s steps moved closer. “Dressed in your leathers? I have a hard time believing that.”

Fuck, I was screwed now. I had been able to avoid Luka for the last day after the ball, having kept to my room, but I was going stir-crazy. I had too much energy built up that I needed to get out. I had planned on wandering around the city looking for any signs of the Vanir. If I happened to shed some blood while I was exploring it would be an unexpected bonus.

“Tell me where you’re going, Lennox.”

I thought I’d be able to sneak out undetected, but it appears I was wrong. I took a deep breath, still refusing to turn around and face him. “There’s no way you’re letting me get out of here alone, are you?”

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