Page 26

Chapter sixteen

Adelyna

A delyna rolled over in bed, watching the dying firelight flicker off Nerine’s pristine skin.

They had some time before dawn, when Nerine would have to leave and her room became the courtiers’ spectacle.

Now, she was going to enjoy every minute with the woman she loved, buried in a sea of brocade bed coverings and pillows.

She kissed Nerine’s palm and proceeded to gently move her lips over her arm and towards the crook of her elbow, delighting in the sea of goosebumps that followed.

Nerine giggled. “That tickles.”

“Maybe I want it to.” Adelyna smiled. “Maybe I want to do many other things.” Adelyna’s hand delved between Nerine’s legs, to the little tuft of curls that waited for her. The slick heat that beckoned to her fingers.

“Only if you promise to pay attention to me this time.” Nerine took her hand away from where Adelyna was just beginning to explore. “I can’t claim all your attention, but when we’re together, I expect you to not be elsewhere. This is my time.”

Adelyna groaned and rolled onto her back. The cool air hit her exposed chest, making it prickle and her nipples harden to points. “What has brought this on?”

“Oh, come on Adi,” Nerine said, moving over to Adelyna’s side. “That was ill spoken of me. You just seem so distracted as of late.”

“Of course I’m distracted. I’m the Kor’yitz. And I’ve barely had a moment to myself.”

“I think we both know it’s more than that.” For a moment, the only sound Adelyna heard was Nerine’s breath and the crackle of the fire. “Did Qiana say something?”

“What? No.” Adelyna scoffed. “Whatever gave you that idea?”

“You haven’t been the same since she left.”

Women. Adelyna had no idea how men dealt with them, especially being married to one.

They were delightful—but, oh, were they exhausting.

Adelyna had long suspected that it had to do with boredom—with nothing else to occupy their time but gossip and clothes, who could blame them for their minds racing in circles?

88 But that didn’t change the fact that Adelyna had to contend with a dissatisfied Nerine.

“Qiana had to leave,” Adelyna said, “because she needed to meet her ward. She’s bringing a girl back to court. She’ll return in a few weeks. You know this.”

“Oh. That’s good,” Nerine said sincerely. Nerine was about as fond of Qiana as Adelyna was, in different ways. “Isn’t it odd, though?”

“What is?”

“Qiana’s so young. Is she even older than us?”

“No.”

“And now she’s a guardian?”

Adelyna shrugged, tugging the blanket over her. “I couldn’t remember if she said she had made the arrangement or her father did. Either way, she must take care of the girl. Whether or not her ward stays at court for more than a few weeks is another matter.”

“True. Qiana will probably get tired of watching her and send her back to the countryside.” Nerine nestled next to Adelyna, her warm skin pressing against hers.

This was bliss. Maybe Adelyna had been wrong—maybe moments like this were what made the hassle of dealing with women worth it.

“If it’s not Qiana bothering you—not that I wouldn’t mind less competition—what is it? ”

“You never have to worry about competition. Especially not with Qiana.” It was true—Adelyna cared for her friend, but being with her was like eating rich dessert.

A nice treat, but not something she wanted for every meal.

“We’d end up slaughtering each other if we tried to be together like that for more than a night. ”

Light laughter rang out as Nerine moved to give Adelyna a deep kiss on the lips. A tremor shot through Adelyna’s body, awakening her, reminding her of the sweet pleasures that waited within Nerine that were just within her grasp.

“Maybe,” Nerine said. “But something’s bothering you.” Nerine’s face fell, affecting an adorable pout. “Is it your horse?”

“No. He’s fine.”

“Hmm, something more dire then. The rumor about Aherin?” Nerine’s eyes perked up. “You should have told Vinay—”

“It’s not.”

“You’re a bad liar. To me, at least.”

Was there anyone in the court who hadn’t heard that the R?ll was considering replacing Adelyna with her brother? Adelyna looked at Nerine, who stared back at her expectantly. At her round, sad eyes. “Fine. Yes. I’m worried. I’ve heard this rumor endless times, but this time…”

“It seems true?”

Adelyna weighed her words. She trusted Nerine, but even Nerine may let something slip by accident.

But then, she needed to be able to confide in someone.

“Why hasn’t the R?ll sent me to the army?

That’s the heir’s duty—I’ve prepared for it.

And I’ve done everything expected. I helped him smooth out the Sun Holders’ conflict last summer.

89 I negotiated a trade agreement with Jelia last month, despite their issues with Pelia.

I’ve done everything expected of me my entire life.

And now…” Now the R?ll may very well give her brother, her foolish soft-hearted pleasure-seeking brother, everything she had worked for because her genitals were snug inside her body instead of dangling like a worm on a hook.

Nerine leaned towards her, her breasts tracing the bedspread. “Do you think it’s the curse?” she whispered.

Could it be? Could that explain why her father may be passing her over as heir, a decision that politically made no sense?

90 She never so much as whispered a critical word to anyone about her father, much less plotted rebellion like some historical heirs had.

Adelyna figured that with the way her father took care of himself—or more accurately, failed to—she’d be R?ll soon enough, without any prodding from her.

“Possibly,” Adelyna said reluctantly. “I don’t know. I can’t say if it is the curse.”

“I certainly don’t know,” Nerine said. “If it’s the magic—”

“He should have said something about Aherin long before this.” Adelyna huffed. “My not having the sight is nothing new.”

“I know,” Nerine said sympathetically—she lacked the sight as well. “But something is strange in the air now. Be careful, Adi.”

“I always am.”

“Not that. I don’t mean just with your brother. If it is the curse…you know that the curse acts to protect itself. Remember what happened to Qiana’s mother and father?”

She did.

“I’m not negotiating a five-way peace treaty,” Adelyna replied. “I know better than to expect peace between the kingdoms.”

A few years ago, Qiana’s parents, according to gossip, had gotten too close to the curse’s core when they actively worked towards a treaty to be entered into by all five kingdoms. The treaty had exactly one committed signatory—Ca’mail—before they were slaughtered on their way to the Cerdorani capital.

Ca’mail blamed Cerdoran, but reality was less certain.

How else would ambassadors have ended up impaled on the tallest branches of a tree with no sign of struggle?

This was both how the current conflict with Cerdoran started, and how Qiana Hefenthri ended up as a Sun Holder at the ripe old age of twenty.

According to the Sight Bearers’ whispers, over the centuries this same scene had repeated itself dozens of times.

Someone figured out a way to end the curse, 91 someone tried, and someone died.

As much as Adelyna wanted to join the Dahlk and discount the curse, there was no ignoring it.

A ruler needed to be ruthlessly pragmatic, especially when it came to their own faults. 92

“I’m not going to make their mistake,” Adelyna said. “They should’ve known better. The curse is a viper.”

“And it has to end somehow. There has to be a way.” Nerine huffed. “I don’t blame them for trying. Foolish as it was.”

“Don’t say that to Qiana.”

“I’d never.” Nerine brushed tousled hair out of her eyes.

“No matter what I may think of him, Aherin isn’t a curse,” Adelyna said. “And I need to figure out what’s really occurring at court.”

“Oh, Adi—”

Adelyna gripped Nerine’s hand and kissed it. “Don’t worry, Nerine. No matter what happens, I’ll be able to handle it.”