Page 11 of Reigning
And failing.
“Where is Uncle Chalem?” Distrust, a knowing sort of distrust is in Linden’s gaze as he looks up at his mother.
“Come here, Linden.” Ellise stands, and with her palms splayed in a peaceful way, she gestures for him to come to her.
The prince’s attention shifts over his mother from the ends of her long white gown to the tips of her sharply pointed crown.
She won’t admit what she’s done here. She doesn’t have to. It’s very clear what Ellise has done.
“She’s not real, my boy. Your friend, your beloved Arlow, is playing tricks on you. That’s what mages do.”
Barron’s lips curl as if he might spit at us, but Linden doesn’t even seem to have heard him.
“Mom?” The strength he holds in saying her name and keeping his composure is impressive. He isn’t gasping or sobbing. He’s…defensive in a way. He appears to know without a doubt that she’s real. And he isn’t happy about it.
“I wanted to go to you every day. I missed you more than I missed my freedom,” Ellise whispers with tears glinting in her big beautiful eyes.
Oh, she’s good.
“Arlow brought you back to me. She led you back to me.”
Oh…shit.
Linden shifts his cautious gaze to me, pinning me in place with his skepticism.
It’s now or never.
Make or break me, I might die right now, either from the king’s wrath or the queen’s, I’m not even sure.
The weight of my dress pulls at my body the moment I stand. Linden watches my every move. A clicking sound announces my each step I take down the few stairs, and then I’m there. Right in front of the one man I’ve avoided showing affection to for years.
All that platonic effort I put into our relationship is about to come crashing down.
I wrap my arms around his shoulders, bringing him to me until my face is hidden in the crook of his neck, his beard skimming my cheek and reminding me of someone else entirely.
The thought of Chaos is enough to crack my heart wide open and show the room the mess of love I hide inside.
But he doesn’t let that happen. It takes a few hesitant seconds, but his palms eventually press low on my back. It’s the warmest embrace that I’ve missed so much. I can pretend all I want but I have missed being held. I’ve missed the protectiveness that falls across my body when a man holds me to him like he’ll take care of every fucked-up thing I’ve shoved into my life.
Good fucking luck.
“I’m so happy you’re here.” My voice is barely a breath of sound, but his arms tighten around me.
“You’re all right.”
His voice rumbles against my chest, and I close my eyes and imagine the calming comfort another strong man always brought to me.
“Arlow, leave us, darling. My dear husband and I have so much catching up to do.” Ellise looks to me, and I tilt my head up from Linden’s shoulder just long enough to see her gesture to her son with wide, hinting eyes.
I tangle my fingers in Linden’s and when I pull on his hand, he follows me like I’m the only person he’s ever cared about his life.
Just like she wanted.
Just like I wanted.
And the plotting thickens.
Five
