Page 133 of The Spider Queen
Part of me wanted to scramble as fast as I could to get to the ward—and what was behind it—but I knew it was better to take my time, lest one of my feet missed a rung and then…
Yeah, I didn’t need any more mishaps.
I’d lost count of how many times I’d almost died. If I were a cat, I would be on one of my last lives.
Are you okay? You went quiet.
Yeah, I’m okay.I lifted my face away from the ladder rung but refused to look up. If I did, I knew I’d be disheartened by how much more I had to climb.
Talk to me,I commanded him.Distract me.
What do you want to talk about?
You.I felt his surprise—it mirrored my own.Tell me a story about your childhood. Deities have childhoods, right?
He snorted.I’m not a deity. But yes, I had a childhood. It was a beautiful childhood.
Do you have siblings?
I had a brother.
Had?
We were twins. He was my best friend.Thane fell silent.
I’m sorry,I said, starting my ascent again. I was curious as to what had happened to his brother, but I wasn’t about to ask the insensitive question.Tell me something else. Something happy.
Happiness has always been fleeting in my life, Poppy. Happiness was a luxury I couldn’t afford.
Sadness for him overwhelmed me. All this time, I’d been battling him, hating him for things beyond my control, when in reality, he was just as much a casualty himself.
Was there anyone else, Thane?
What are you asking, Poppy?
Every generation, there was a woman… Did you love any of them?
Yes, Poppy. I loved all of them.
Jealousy shot through my veins, causing me to grip the ladder tighter.
Easy.
How can you—
I felt it.
Right.I sighed. Our stupid bond.
I don’t feel about you the way I felt about them. I might’ve loved them, Poppy, and did mourn when they passed. But I didn’t lose—I never felt like any of them were destined to free me. But you…you have no idea how much I want to touch your face, to feel your lips against mine, to hold you in my arms and never let you go.
I shivered with pent up lust, not knowing if it was Thane’s or mine, or both. But it was powerful, and it had me clearing the ladder faster.
We’ve already been together, haven’t we? I found my way into your prison and then—in the cave, to break the ward…
Our essences were together. Not our physical forms.
We have some powerful essences, don’t we?
