Page 164 of A Queen This Fierce and Deadly

Perhaps the gods were punishing us.

Or perhaps they were punishing me for reclaimingmy power. And everyone else would suffer for it.

ASINIA

Tonight would be our last chance to sleep before we were fighting for our lives. The moment the sun went down, everyone but the posted sentries crawled into their tents, taking whatever rest they could find. I found myself pacing the camp, listening to one of the children cry as his mother soothed him.

I’d never thought much about being a mother myself. Now, with Demos, I could almost see that future—just in time for me to accept that chances were low I’d live long enough for it.

Irony.

“Asinia.”

I turned to find Demos standing next to me. I hadn’t seen him for a few hours as he met with Herne and Vicer. I’d turned my attention to helping Tibris prepare the remaining hybrids to travel tomorrow.

Now, Demos gave me a look so heated, I almost blushed. But it was tempered by a deep tenderness that made my heart stutter in my chest.

He held out his hand. “Will you come to my tent?”

I knew what he was asking. We’d been sharing a tent since we arrived, but by the time Demos had fallen into the blankets next to me, I’d rarely woken. When I had, he’d been instantly asleep.

I didn’t hesitate, immediately taking his hand. “Yes.” The air was damp tonight, something that seemed unusual this close to the mountains, but Demos’s tent was cozy, a single light orb dancing above our heads, and several blankets hung in strategic places to buffer against any cool winds.

Demos turned to me. Cupping his face, I stroked my thumb along one of the small scars on his cheek. He turned his face into my hand, nuzzling my palm.

“You’re an incredible woman, Asinia. I knew it the moment I saw you struggling to survive in that cell. I knew it when you fought through the pain from your head wound to get to Prisca. And I knew it when you hauled me over your shoulder and carried my dead weight through the forest at night.”

My skin turned clammy at the memory. I’d thought I would lose him. Even now, I sometimes jolted from nightmares where Ihadlost him.

“You’re strong,” he said, bringing my mind back to this moment. “You’re loyal. You’re so beautiful it sometimes hurts to look at you. When I saw Tor…it brought up a lot of memories. Memories of being helpless when I lost the people I loved. And I pushed you away. I’m sorry for that.”

His eyes had darkened, but they remained serious as he watched me.

“I forgive you,” I said. “But you need to forgive yourself.”

He gave me a faint smile. “One day, perhaps.”

Leaning down, he pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead, the tip of my nose, my lips. I opened for him,and he wrapped one arm around me, pulling me close, until l could feel the thick heat of him against me.

I tensed.

Demos immediately lifted his head.

“Problem?”

“I’m just…it’s been a long time. And only once.”

His smile was wreathed in lust, tempered by something softer.

“Then we get to take this slow. I get to…savor you.”

Picking up my hand once more, he turned it over, pressing his lips to the sensitive skin along my inner wrist. Pure sensation danced along my arm, and he kissed his way up to my inner elbow.

My toes curled. And Demos took a step closer, guiding me back toward his bed.

Nerves fluttered in my stomach. I had wanted this for so long. Part of me was worried that we’d be interrupted again. But Demos was looking at me with eyes that seemed to see into my soul. And his mouth curved as if he’d found exactly what he was looking for.

My hands shook as I raised them to his tunic, attempting to push it over his head. Demos complied, revealing an expanse of smooth, golden skin gliding over rippling muscle.

---