Page 94 of Queen of the Crimson Throne

I twisted the knob and pushed open the door, cringing as the door creaked open. But the figure in the bed didn’t rustle.

I closed the door behind me, pushing my back against the door as my eyes remained fixed on the bed. Still, he slept. His chest moved up and down slowly. He looked so peaceful.

A few rouge pieces of hair fell over his face making him look younger.

I should let him be.

I should leave.

I turned back towards the door, pulling it open to make my escape. I shouldn’t have come here.

“Lennox?” Luka’s voice was thick with sleep as it called to me. My spine stiffened and my hand halted on the door handle.

Slowly, I turned towards him. He scrubbed at his face as he sat up, the sheet shifting to reveal his bare chest.

“Lennox, what are you doing here?” His eyes scanned my face, his brows knitting with concern. “What’s wrong?”

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. If I started I wouldn’t stop. I closed my mouth, remaining with my back pressed against the door.

“Lennox.” His voice was soft.

I swallowed. “Can I stay with you?” I wiped a tear from the corner of my eye. “Only for a little bit.”

He dipped his chin. “Of course, you can stay as long as you need.” He pulled back the sheets and shifted, making room for me next to him.

My feet were silent on the wooden floors as I slowly made my way to the bed. I should have felt some sort of regret or embarrassment for coming in here, but I didn’t.

I needed him tonight.

“Thank you.” I crawled in next to him.

He pulled the blankets over us and I wrapped my arms around his middle, pulling him close and resting my head in the space between his shoulder and head.

He tensed for a second before embracing my hold, wrapping his arms around me in return.

We said nothing as we lay there. His fingers running a constant trail over my bare shoulder. He didn’t say anything as he continued to wipe the tears that streaked down my face. I didn’t know how much time had passed when I finally spoke, breaking the silence.

“It’s the three-year anniversary of their deaths.”

His fingers stilled for a second before continuing again. “This night is always hard. I can never sleep. The memories flood my mind. I—I couldn’t be alone.”

“You don’t have to justify anything to me, Lennox. I’m always here if you need me.”

I moved in closer to his neck, inhaling his scent as I wrapped my arms tighter around him.

“Do you want to talk about any of it?”

I wasn’t sure if talking about it would make it better or worse. But maybe talking was better than silence. Than thinking.

“Tonight I had a nightmare about when I was brought to see their bodies.” I swallowed. “They were practically unidentifiable. I don’t even think the vampires had drank from them—I don’t know how it would have been possible with so much blood staining the study. They had been ripped to shreds.”

He said nothing, continuing his soothing strokes on my shoulder.

“I burned their bodies right there. It’s a witch thing, butwhen someone dies an unexpected death sometimes their souls can be trapped in their bodies from the trauma. We burn them to ensure their souls are released.”

“That’s beautiful. Although I’m sure it was hard to see them like that, I’m glad you got to do that for them.”

“It was my first act as High Queen.”

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