Page 92 of Flameborne: Fury
But when I finally made it through the silent dark to my building and rushed inside, my apartment was empty.
Dammit.
‘Kgosi, are you—’
‘She won’t be long. Akhane speaks with her, then she’ll come to you. Be patient.’
I frowned. I wasn’t sure why that raised my hackles, but I had to take a moment to stop myself snapping at my dragon—reminding myself that he’d set aside his mating and assisted us in getting this far against his baser instincts.
‘Thank you, Keg. Please, ask her to hurry.’
Kgosi grunted his assurance and I turned my attention to how to pass the time until she arrived. Once she was here we’d only have a couple of hours before we’d have to be ready for dragonback again. I knew she’d had a chance to bathe before the ceremony—which was when I remembered my ripped shirtunderneath this jacket and a full day and night of travel, sex, and sweat making my body clammy. Thank God no one had commented on my stench.
Stripping quickly, I hurried to my bathing room to clean my body and wash my hair, praying Bren wouldn’t be long, reminding myself I had no reason for the anxiety crackling up my spine. She was close, she was safe. And she was coming to me.
Twenty minutes later just as I was finishing my bath, I heard the front door creak. I leaped from the water, hurriedly toweling off as tentative footsteps crossed the living room and I remembered she hadn’t been into my apartment yet. She might be unsure if she had the right quarters.
“I thought Kgosi would tell me you were coming!” I called, scrubbing at my skin with the towel barely enough to stop myself slipping on the stone, and hurrying through my bedchamber. “I’m so relieved. There isn’t much time—”
I threw open the door from my bedchamber into the sitting room and froze, blinking, stunned for a moment as I tried to make sense ofDiaanstanding in my sitting room dressed in a simple riding habit, a tight blouse, waistcoat, and divided skirt, suitable for a wealthy noblewoman, but not aQueen.
She stood beyond my kitchen, hands clasped at her waist, her chin low and eyes locked on me warily.
It was only when her gaze dragged down my form that I remembered I was naked and cursed, hurriedly wrapping the towel around my waist, tucking it securely over my hip as I bowed.
“Your Majesty,” I said through gritted teeth. “I apologize. I didn’t expect you—”
“Don’t call me that when we’re alone, Donavyn,” Diaan said quietly, her voice softer and lessimperiousthan I’d ever heard it. She was often casual with me, but she’d always possessed an airof smug power. But now there was no sign of her usual arrogance or sly self-satisfaction.
It took me a moment to recognize her expression. It wasuncertain.Not something I’d ever seen from her before.
Shit.
“YourMajesty,”I said pointedly. “Forgive me, but, what are you doing here?” I glanced at the dark windows and the not-yet-dawn outside, then back to her.
Her throat bobbed and her eyes slid from me to the room around her.
A curl of unease coiled up my spine. “Is there a problem?” I asked quickly. “Did something happen to Alexi—”
“No,” she said firmly, avoiding my eyes for a moment, which wasveryodd. “He’s fine. Asleep already, I’m sure. I’m sorry for arriving unannounced, Donavyn, but I very much needed to speak with you alone. Without even a guard,” she said, gesturing towards her clothing. “They think I’m asleep as well. And I will be, eventually. Only—”
“Diaan, this isn’t safe. How long have you been sneaking out like this? You know it only takes one wrong set of eyes—God, look at what we’re facing right now! Anything you want to discuss with me, send a messenger. I’ll always come the moment I’m aware—”
“I know, but this is far more delicate. A messenger would have beeninappropriate.”Her eyes cut to measure me, then she looked down at her hands.
Nerves bubbled in my gut. “Have I angered the King in some way? Are you here to warn me—”
“No, of course not. He gets irritated when you challenge, but it’s half the reason he respects you. He knows he can trust you when you affirm something because you won’t only tell him what he wants to hear. That’s not what this is about.”
“Are you worried that Alexi would put himself in danger? You’ll have no obstacles from me when it comes to keeping him here. With an enemy on our border, I won’t let him—”
“No, that’s not—”
“Have one of my men been inappropriate? Do we need to speak to them about the servants again? I know it’s been some time since we—”
She closed her eyes and grimaced. “Donavyn, this isn’t aboutthe kingdom.”Her voice shook and when she opened her eyes again, they were locked on mine… andpleading?
Shit.Shit, shit, shit.Unable to divert her, or carry on the pretend ignorance, I stiffened and held her eyes with a warning in my own.
