Page 21 of Of Stars and Lightning (Sun and Shadows #1)

Not rough with anticipation like that of the kingsmen—rough with desperation.

She dragged Nina through hallways, everyone parting for the Semmena Advisor and the Yarrow Hand. No one dared meet either of their gazes, and Nina didn’t blame them. A wrong look at Samara and she was even less restrained than Cas when it came to using her magic.

Though she never got punished for it.

Finally, they exited the castle, and Nina felt like she could breathe, inhaling gasps of the outdoor air to replace the filthy one from inside.

Samara continued to pull her through the gardens, passing the courtyards and rose bushes and lilies, all which Nina yearned to stop and touch. The scent of flowers and mud followed them all the way to the stables, but before they made it inside, she was called to stop.

“Miss Samara,” a breathless kingsman said, jogging up to their side. “The King said to do the lashes publicly.”

Nina’s breath hitched at the statement, but Samara laughed and threw the stable door open. “Fuck off, Kelvin. The punishment I am to give her for her insolence isn’t for the public.”

Kelvin blanched. “His—his majesty said lashings.”

Samara smirked and removed her dagger from a hidden pocket on the side of her baby-blue dress. “I say blades.”

Leaving the man stunned, Samara shoved Nina into the stable rooms and shut the door behind them.

Nina wouldn’t deny she missed the smell of the stables. As she landed on a pile of hay, horse huffs and startled whinnies in the background, a soft sense of nostalgia spilled through her. If anyone else other than Samara was before her, Nina would have begged for mercy.

Instead, she crossed her legs beneath her and looked up at the woman. “I don't need your help.”

Samara tossed the dagger aside, the blade glinting in the dim orange light. “You’re an idiot. Really, Nanette? Messing with the kingsguard as soon as you come back?” She shook her head. “Not the way I wanted to find out you were returning.”

“Surprise.”

“You could have written.”

“You never answer.”

Samara sighed and sat beside her. “I’ve missed you.”

The heat between them grew, sending Nina’s heart into a staccato. She curled her fingers into fists to resist reaching for her. But failed as she did every time.

She raised one hand to Samara’s neck, cradling her gently as she slid the other to her waist to pull her close. Samara obliged, melting into the touch, and shifting to sit on Nina’s lap, her violet eyes beacons in the swirl of her Shadows.

As their lips met, Nina had no other thoughts except the woman before her.

The chaos of the throne room melted with each kiss, and her anxiety drifted into the air, carried along by the tender caress of Samara’s Shadows.

Nina savored the sweet, rich scent of berries and pine, tracing the delicate slopes of her lips with her own.

Samara’s neck was smooth under Nina’s fingertips, the Shadow Wielder exhaling a shaky breath as she leaned into the touch.

Pressing their bodies together, Nina sighed against her lover’s shoulder.

“What’s wrong?” Samara protested as Nina broke their kiss.

“This.” She motioned. “This is wrong.”

“Don’t act like you don’t like it, Nanette,” Samara whispered, trailing a finger along the neckline of Nina’s blouse.

“And what will your court say when I don't have lash marks on my back?”

“The healers here work wonders.”

Nina sighed. “I don't need this, Samara. What about Cas? Your brother is likely to get thrown in the dungeons.”

Samara looked up at the ceiling. “He’s a brute, he deserves some time in there.”

It had been years. Years of the same thing, of sneaking around and late-night meetings.

Of Nina having to look at Samara with disgust in public instead of what she truly felt.

Nina didn’t know when exactly it happened.

It had started as subtle glances, then accidental touches.

Nina never dared anything more, for fear Cas would slay her.

Then, one night, Nina accidentally walked in on her and her mother having a heated disagreement, one that ended with Gina throwing Samara off the rooftop training rink.

From the entrance to the area, Nina had Earth Called the ground below into the thickest flower beds she could conjure, then ran all the way down to the side of the castle with a box of healing gear in hand.

Samara had landed on a mattress of interwoven tulips, so distraught and embarrassed that Nina had tended to her small cuts in silence.

Nina never learned what happened that night between her and her mother, but she had also never asked.

They spent the night on the bed of tulips before resuming their lives without explanation.

After that, Samara started sneaking into Nina’s room at night, using her Shadows to open her window and slide through.

Nina didn’t complain—she also learned that Shadows can be used for way more than just destruction.

“Sol will not easily agree to the Coronation Vows, you know,” Nina whispered, stroking Samara’s loose hair. “I may have just met her, but I know her enough to know she doesn’t like being told what to do.”

“Too bad. Ruling a kingdom has plenty of that.”

Nina peered at her. “You can’t truly agree with it.”

“It’s fun. Rimemere needs alliances, what better way than with a marriage?”

The Coronation Vows were an abomination, to say the least. By Southern law, a Royal must rule beside a political partner, be it man or woman, but never alone. Semmena ruled beside Mel until—well, until he didn’t.

There was no stipulation about having to remarry if the first one fell through. And the citizens didn't care. All they knew was it was a time to drink and dance and watch the prospects tear themselves apart for a chance to wed into Royal bloodlines.

The Rimemere Coronation Vows had always proved most heated, since marrying into a Yarrow line was the closest thing to the divine one could get.

“Irene hated it, too,” Nina commented. “Almost got herself exiled by breaking the rules at the end.”

“Which is exactly why your little Princess should just deal with it. I’ll be sure to select suitable prospects from the other territories for her.”

“She won’t agree to it.”

“She has to.”

“She doesn’t.”

“The king will find out she was in Yavenharrow, you know,” said Samara. “Jinn talk. It’s kind of one of their main skills.”

Nina scoffed, easing Samara off her. “Your point?”

“That you should’ve told the truth back there. Tell me, did you find her or were you just following Jinn and got lucky?” Her violet eyes flared. “Because it’s quite a blow to think you all searched for, what, three years with no luck, but a single Mind Slayer and finds her in a month.”

The words buzzed in her ears. “What?”

“You think you three were the only ones trying to find her? The entire South has been praying for their shot at her.” Samara leaned back, her gaze roving over Nina’s.

“You’re being quite uncharacteristically defiant for this girl.

” She reached a finger to Nina’s lips, tracing them with her thumb.

“Do I have to worry about competition now?”

Nina stood. “What are you talking about, Samara?”

“Lots has changed, Nanette. People are starting to see Rimemere’s weaknesses, despite Semmena trying to show the opposite. Sol won't be a good ruler. You’re better off killing her and letting Arnold be.”

Nina turned to look at her slowly, the ground beneath her shaking.

“Let me make one thing clear, Samara.” She lowered her voice.

“You so much as breathe the wrong way at Sol, and I swear to the gods the number of years we have known each other will not matter. I will protect her. She is the rightful Queen. And you better understand your place.”