Page 76 of The Witch Queen

“Of course,” he says resolutely. “We’ll take it slow, figure this out one step at a time. Whatever you need.” He looks at me with so much understanding, like he can see through all of my blustering and excuses and knows that it’s fear that keeps me from going further with him. I almost cave right then and there and give in to the months-long need that’s been burning in me, but the news of Nemesia’s betrayal still rattles in my mind. There’s just too much information for me to process right now, especially with my emotions in the fragile state they’re in, and I’m grateful that Thorne seems to understand that without me having to say it. We have to take this slowly and carefully, with research and consideration of the facts.

He gives me a cocky grin, breaking me out of my thoughts. “I still can’t believe that you thought I wassleepingwith Silene. After telling you there was nothing between us and shamelessly flirting with you! I can’t decide if I’m offended you think of me as the kind of male who would do that, or elated you think highly enough of my ability to seduce two females.” I blush, embarrassment washing through me for believing the worst of him. I too can see through Thorne’s blustering, and I can tell this hurts him more than he wants to admit. If I’m honest with myself, though, I’m not sure I evertrulybelieved it. I used it as an excuse to avoid confronting my complicated emotions about Thorne, and I want—need—him to know that.

“Thorne, I—forgive me. It was an easy excuse I used to keep you at a distance. I had a million opportunities to ask Silene, and I didn’t take them.” I lower my head in shame, but he forces me to look at him. He breaks my somber mood with a cocky grin.

“I know, witchling. You were so overwhelmed by your attraction and feelings for me that you had to pretend I wasn’t available to prove to yourself you could still be the big, bad, scary Witch Queen.” He says the words light-hearted, like they’re a joke, but we both know he’s struck right at the heart of the issue.

Suddenly, I remember something he said before, my lips pulling into a wide grin. “Wait… if you’re sleeping in the green room, and Silene has the primary bedroom—that means, Fionn…” I burst out laughing.

Thorne looks confused. “What?”

“Fionn’s bedroom,” I say between pants. “It’s the one we prepared for Silene based on what we were told by the Velmaran palace she would like. They sent us specifications for all of your rooms, actually. The room Fionn chose is completely pink, like, everywhere. The bedspread is floral, but the walls and all the furniture arepink.” I cackle in laughter at the image of the massive male sleeping in that pink room.

Thorne grins from ear to ear, and he laughs next to me, the sound a beacon to my frayed heart. “I’m so glad you told me that, witchling. I’m going to tease him so relentlessly.”

“How have you not noticed? Have you never been in there?”

“He’s not exactly the most forthcoming person in the world. It took him decades to tell me about his parents. And he always keeps the door closed. Now I know why.” We laugh together for another few beats, the sound bolstering me to face everything I’ve learned today.

“So…” Thorne says, eyes boring into mine, the same color as the dark green moss that covers the walls of the cavern.

“So,” I say back, feeling slightly awkward and suddenly becomingveryaware of the fact that I’m practically naked sitting next to him.

“What do we do now?” His lips quirk in a half smile, a genuine and open expression on his face. It’s the version of Thorne that makes my chest tug.

“Well, I think we should go back to the palace and speak with Admon. If anyone’s going to have information about mates, it’s him. Now that I know…” I trail off, not wanting to say the words aloud. I swallow, and his eyes steadily gaze into mine, patient and waiting for me to continue. “Now that I know Nemesia is the mole on my Council, we can trust Admon with this information,” I finish softly.

Thorne’s expression shutters with compassion and understanding but not pity. Thank the aether it’s not pity. “I’m so sorry, Laurel.” He takes my hand and squeezes. “Why didn’t you tell us you had a mole on your Council?” There’s no judgment in the question, just simple curiosity.

Guilt rears its head in my chest, but I stand my ground, knowing I made the only logical decision available to me. “I’m the Queen of Thayaria, and you were—are—the son of my enemy. Of course I didn’t tell you. I didn’t know why Mazus sent you, and I didn’t want you or anyone else finding out about a breach in my inner circle.”

His eyes flash with hurt for just an instant before he locks it away. “You’re right, I get it. But is that—is that still all you see me as?” The question is haunted, pleading and grieving all at once, and now I feel guilt for an entirely different reason.

“No,” the word rushes out of me. “I don’t really know how—what I feel—right now. There’s a lot that I’m trying to process, and I don’t do that easily. But you’re more than Mazus’s son to me. Much more. And you have been for a while.” He smiles, the gesture soft and vulnerable, and I allow myself to give in to the urge to lean closer to him.

“Silene figured out you had a mole immediately, anyway. We knew.” He smirks with not an ounce of shame. I’m not surprised, but I pretend to be and swipe an arm at him playfully. He catches my wrist, turning my palm face up and stroking gentle caresses over it. “So we go speak with Admon, hope he can give us some information. I can live with that as our plan.” He flashes me a dazzling smile, one that makes my chest tighten. “I guess we need to get our clothes back on, though I would be perfectly happy if you stayed in just that.” He winks, and I blush while rolling my eyes.

“Let’s get dressed.” I will the water to evaporate off both of our bodies, and Thorne stares at me in awe.

“Your magic never ceases to amaze me.” I say nothing, just pull my tunic over my head, then re-braid my hair.

When we’re both fully dressed, Thorne says, almost shyly, “We may need to make a few stops before we discuss things with Admon.” I raise an eyebrow. “Well, first, we have to tell Silene and Fionn that we’re back, otherwise they’ll be barging back here to pick me up. Silene aerstepped me here.” I realize I hadn’t asked how he’d gotten here, simply accepted his presence as if he belonged at my side. “And for Silene to aerstep me here, we had to break into your rooms to get thayar elixir for her. Which would have been completely fine, except Carex was there, and he found us out and tried to fight us. Well, he tried to fight Fionn, actually, and you can probably guess how that went…” Thorne trails off, finishing his rambling. He’s flustered, and I like it, but I pretend to be exasperated.

“What happened?” I ask with a groan.

“We just knocked him out.” When my eyes widen, Thorne continues. “He’s just unconscious. He’s fine. Probably. But we should check on him, especially since we left him in the room with your terrifying cat, and she didn’t seem to like him very much.”

“Lunaria has never liked Carex,” I say, remembering the way she would hiss at him every time he was near me. We had to meet at his townhouse in the city to avoid her for any sleepovers.

“She has good taste, then,” Thorne says smugly and with the barest hint of jealously that I can finally admit gives me a feeling of satisfaction.

“Are you ready for this?” I ask him softly. My eyes convey the real questions I’m not capable of speaking aloud.Are you ready to have to explain to people why we think we have a connection only told in myths? Are you ready for everything this might entail?Thorne takes the hand he’s been delicately cradling, then turns it so he can weave his fingers through mine.

“I’m ready.” His voice is full of unspoken meaning, confidence in whatever the future may bring. I wish I had his same surety. I only nod. Then I take a deep inhale, filling my nose with his calming scent, and aerstep us into the Velmaran apartment.

Fionn and Silene jump when we arrive. Shoulders hunched, hands clasping and unclasping, their body language gives away their nerves. Silene crosses the room quickly, wrapping me into a tight hug as she sobs into me.

She doesn’t let go as she says, “I’m so glad you’re okay. We were so worried. About both of you. Thorne said you were in danger.” When she releases me, her eyes are red, and her face is splotchy. She wipes away her tears, sniffling. “He also said you thought he and I might be really engaged. ThatImight want to marry him so I could become Queen or because Ilikedhim that way.” She shudders. “That would be the most disgusting thing I’ve ever done, for so many reasons.”

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