Page 71 of Queen of the Crimson Throne (Queen of Blood and Stardust #2)

71

LENNOX

My heart felt like it was ripping in two as I looked between my sister and Luka.

But I knew what I needed to do.

Trust me. I told Luka.

I didn’t look at him as I slipped my hand from his and took a step toward the throne. I didn’t dare look back at him or I might give in. Choose him. Choose myself.

“Bring her to me,” Adreonas’ voice echoed through the room.

“Release my friends first and I will come to you willingly.” I approached the base of the throne.

Adreona narrowed her eyes. “Fine.”

“Bring the sister to the other witch. Release them, but keep an eye on the vampire.”

I kept my back to my friends as I approached the throne. Kara’s eyes searched mine as we passed on the stairs, but I kept my gaze forward. I couldn’t look at her or I might not be able to do this.

“You sacrificing yourself for your sister, for your friends, is not something I anticipated.” Adreona ran an icy finger down my cheek, I forced myself not to wince. “I look forward to working with you, Lennox.”

Her calling me Lennox was a slap to the face. While I was here, I was no longer the High Queen. I was nothing but a pawn in her game.

“Get the shackles.” A cruel smile curved up her lips. “I don’t want to, but you must understand Lennox, I cannot trust you yet.” The sounds of the chains clamoring as the guards climbed the stairs sent a shiver down my spine.

“Lennox!” Luka’s voice broke through the roaring in my head. I closed my eyes as the guard fastened the shackles around my wrists.

“LENNOX!” Luka bellowed. A tear slipped down my cheek at the sound of his voice.

I opened my eyes and found him, one last time. I could look at him one last time.

“Let me go!” he snarled. Declan and Nico held him back as he thrashed against their hold. “She’s my wife. Let me go.”

My wife. My knees threatened to give out at those words.

His eyes met mine. “Don’t do this,” he begged, falling to his knees as they continued to hold him. “Lennox. Don’t leave me.”

My chest heaved, the pressure was too much. This was all too much. I couldn’t leave him, but I had to. For Kara, I had to.

“I’m sorry,” I choked out. “I’m so sorry.” The words felt like sandpaper in my throat. Maybe someday I’d make my way back to him and we’d finally get our happy ending.

Someday.

Maybe.

“Luce.” I turned to my cousin, her gaze was firm, but her eyes were glassy. “Please. Get him out of here. Make sure everyone is safe.” She nodded solemnly. My chest cracked in two at what she was about to do for me.

I let myself look at Luka again. “I’m so sorry. Luka, I?—”

“No,” he growled. “You don’t get to say that now. Not like this. I’m not letting you leave with her. ”

I looked at my feet, holding back the words I wanted to say. Maybe it was better this way. “Please forgive me,” I told him. He continued to thrash against Declan and Nico. Oblivious to the witch approaching him.

He had no time to react as Luce pressed her fingers to his temples.

In a heartbeat, he was slumped against Nico and Declan.

“Brilliant idea.” Adreona clapped behind me. “You will be such a treasure, too bad your friend can’t stay too.”

Panic coursed through me. Would she try to keep them?

“If you want me to work with you willingly, let them go unharmed. Right now.” I wiped away my tears with my arm, my chains jingling.

“Fine, you’re no fun.” She waved a hand at my friends, my family. “Leave. Now.” Declan and Nico held Luka’s limp body between them. They all gave me one last look before they turned towards the door.

“Wait,” I called out.

They paused, and I ignored the glimmer of hope in their eyes. “Tell Luka I love him.” A tear slipped down my cheek as magic zinged through my body. I felt it pulsing through me, moving like a living thing as it made its way to my heart, caressing it softly. Whatever spell was on this place must have ended.

“Tell him I have loved him for a long time now, I was too afraid to say it before and now it’s too late.” I choked out. Even if he didn’t want to hear it like this, I still wanted him to know. He deserved to know how I feel about him. A sob wracked my body as my heart compressed in my chest. A whip of magic clenched it tight. My marriage mark tingled, a zip of magic tickling my palms as they were held together by the restraints.

I used to think my heart was in shards, incapable of loving and being loved. But I was wrong. My heart was still in me. It had been made whole again by him, and right now it threatened to crack straight open. Goddess, I loved him. I loved him so much. I loved him so much the feeling rattled my bones.

I straightened my shoulders, wiping my tears with the back of my arm. “Tell him I will try my best to find my way back to him.”

Kara shuddered, but it was Declan who spoke, “You can tell him all that.” He looked to Adreona behind me before looking back at me. “You’ll be back with him soon. I promise you, Lennox.”

A seed of hope threatened to take root in my chest, but I quickly diminished it.

I had no hope I’d be leaving here anytime soon.