Page 168 of Whispers and Wildfire

“Probably an hour. Why?”

“I think the queen deserves someone who will please her.” I licked my lips. “With his tongue.”

She shifted to her queen voice. “Do your worst.”

Pushing her onto her back, I took off her clothes and went to work pleasing my queen, just the way she liked it.

Later, we lay on the couch together, our bodies sated. My mind wandered as I traced idle circles on her skin. We’d laid ourselves bare, sharing our memories and wounds—even the ones we’d given each other. But there was one thing unresolved between us.

I still had a bet to win.

CHAPTER 43

Melanie

Fall washedover Tilikum like a cleansing shower. A solid week of rain helped control the wildfires and clear the smoke from the air. After the storms, the sun came out and the sky had never seemed so blue. The leaves turned, and the temperature was cool enough for a sweater.

With glee, I got out my favorite knee-high boots. Their time had come.

On a bright, crisp, Saturday afternoon in October, Luke and I arrived at Lumberjack Park. I was delighted to be wearing a cardigan with jeans and my boots. I’d missed my fall clothes, especially after such a long, hot summer.

Luke walked next to me, holding my hand, dressed in a dark orange flannel and jeans. It was a good look on him—gave him a lumberjack meets small-town mechanic vibe that kind of made me wish we were going home so he could takeoffmy boots and cardigan.

But there’d be time for that later.

My parents were already there, as were Nathan, Sharla, and the kids. Lucia and Zola were decked out in full princess attire, plastic crowns and everything. Lucia was probablygetting close to outgrowing her dress-up and play-pretend phase, but I was glad she hadn’t quite left it yet. Nico wore a black cape that had been serving as villain, superhero, prince, captain of the guard, or whatever character his sisters gave him.

Zola caught sight of us first. “Luke! Auntie Mel!”

The other two gasped and all three of them beelined for us. I wasn’t even mad that the girls hugged Luke first. I could hardly blame them.

“Look at you,” I said, as if I hadn’t seen them in costume a hundred times. “What beautiful princesses.”

They did their obligatory twirls.

“Grandma got us new crowns,” Lucia said, touching hers and fluffing her hair.

“They’re lovely,” I said.

“What an awesome grandma,” Luke said. “They’re perfect.”

We walked to their picnic table and said hello to the adults. My parents still looked at me with a certain anxiety in their expression, as if they expected me to fall apart any second. That seemed like a normal enough response to their daughter being abducted for the second time by the same psychopath. I gave them each a hug.

“How are you?” Mom asked. “I’m not pressuring you to talk about anything, I’m just wondering. But really, how are you? Do you need anything? Chocolate? Pickles? Chocolate-covered pickles?”

“I was about to say no, I’m fine, but chocolate-covered pickles? Do those exist?”

“Please, no,” Nathan said, and Luke chuckled.

“I don’t know, but if they do, I’ll find them.” Mom got out her phone.

“It’s okay, Mom, I can research later. And I really am fine. Probably more than I have any right to be, all things considered.” I glanced at Luke. “But everything is… really good.”

With a sigh, she put down her phone. “I’m sorry. I’m trying not to project my anxiety onto you. But it’s not easy.”

Dad gently rubbed her back. “You’re doing fine, my love.”

She smiled at him.

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